'9 
T^WWS 
CONTENTS OF THIS NUMBEB. 
P*8* 
iJ»T>*C*M OAJtDWriHO. — 
Home DutoTfclUb r OfS*- 
BieoUl Ho»»i W*tm (11 ]«!*• 
Irated ;) CouiiLr/ Sidewalks ill 
Titer* Cri.ru*■. WlioM C»l- 
turn — FloUt-'♦'!» of Crot*, 
Ivifi'l Plruiar, Manuring Wf 
Wheat, l'h'**|‘itata, llow to 
Prvveul Smut, M nt» o! Sow¬ 
ing j Gyi^mi mi a Kvrlfl* 
F/*.‘r ; Growing potato**- Beat 
Way; Clnv«r and (»Y(Muiti j 
Potato 1ft ik* ; Ap|j)yitiv Hut 
Manure to Corn In the HU); 
Nov* Scotia r*. W«i|iro 
PI m tar.189 
ll*«r Hi?Ma«vnitv. — N, y. 
State Shm*j» Sait ; ** («r#a*a 
and Gum i** Worm in the 
K<x-t: Will Timuthv liay 
Klii Sheep. 
Farm Eco\uwv.—Farm Con 
trivanMiUbimj Pmli and 
Sl*m>ll)j( Bl-xlt (ill iltMttd J 
A Wagon </•*.!» (IJhulraUd;) 
Oiling and diluting Hnrt.tw; 
To Prtrvenl flue! on Plow*; 
Removing Foul Air from 
Well*.|gfc 
Twe A 1*1 a m a v,—The lieu Ki- 
odu*; Boa Feed , ft** Man¬ 
agement; Intioduniug Italian 
Queen* to black It*** ..183 . 
PoMOLoaiCAi.. — The UiUton 
Pippin Apple (liJuaLral.fii ;) , 
New York rriiliLUt; Huy- 
•be’* Victoria P**r (Hlua- 
tratrd ;) Swuet and fUar 
Apple ; Wild fioftee Plum ; f 
Cun:olio in Apple* .184 
Arb>'KK U l.TL'Klt.— Kvergrren* 
from Seed , Fair Premium* 
—A Hint to the Manager* of 
Agricultural and Horticul¬ 
tural Sm ietlo*; Tree* for i 
North III.ii.-I* j Koreat Cul¬ 
ture in (lliuuif; AliuU Trraa 
— Dtatam e In PUmtiig , The 
Tea Plant In T«nn.; Arbori- \ 
culture in N'obmiku ; Cut¬ 
ting Chm* from Hearing Ap 
i>lo Tree* ; To Seelire Young 
Fruit Tree* In Winter; Scotch 
Lurrb ; IVauetdanting Kv©r- 
rrceot; Itabbil* ami Tree* ; 5 
Life of Apple *1 ree*...184 
VjtnitTA ni.k Gaanie. In the ^ 
Garden—AaiiJiragua; Tomato 
Culture; Women Garden¬ 
ing; Uipunlog ’J'oiuatoea... .186 
Fj.ORtCtM.TUKC. — Nr.t«>* on 
Flowering Plante; Night Air 
forPlauu; About Ante. 
DiKcpMaioa*. Now York Far* 
'tnvr*’ Club—Surrey Co. t Vc ( 
Value of Crudr Polaeh, !m- 
proved Stovepipe, About 
HumbUgn, Preparing Sumac 
lot Merkel, G*p«» In Foul- 
try, (imp**-• In** U and Va- 
rinlia*, Green Sand Marl, 
LouUhuiii Agriculture-.,180 
Trig PouLyny - Yari». — Food T 
for Poultry ; Gnnue in Cblck- 
•u« ; What i)ue Farmer 
Went* , A Poultry Yard (II- w 
lu*l rated) ..186 
Tug Hokhxma* breeding m 
ll- r*c« — Cau breeding He 
Made to Pay ; SawUiimI for 
Bedding| Weaning ColU ..186 
Page 
Stafn* and Warts ; Monday 
Cake : Hew Ural* Should 
Bedding j Weaning Colt* ...166 ^ 
Tiik Hwifu Hmn, Manage- 
merit of Swine— Direction* 
for Hrecdlng end Feeding... J8b 
Daikv llua&A'.naY. - Soiling 
Milch Cowi Where Luml le 
Cheap ; FloaUng Curds — 
Treatment > KuihfoM Dalry- 
imin’* Association , Kemwdy 
foi Kicking Cow*-....... 187 
DoNIBTK? Ecowum v.—Concern¬ 
ing Broad ; The Heel Apple Ta 
Pie; Inquiries; Coloring Cot- 1 
ton Blue ; Removing Apple 'J 
Cake ; Hew Hami Should 
Stand ; Qllircr bread ; Mealy 
61 Potetoee. I iled Cake* , Flour 
BlanoMang# ; Itch I’revant- 
lv# . Medr of bifting Meal; 
Washing New Cntloo....... 1|H 
EniToiiiAut. K.rc. — Horaee at 
Fair* . Free Trade In Europe; 
Rural Note* and Qucrie* - 
Weaiher.CrofNt.Ar., to West¬ 
ern N.y., About Free A dyer* 
t!*tng, From and About Mis¬ 
souri, The KU* of Maple 
.%»p,Abortion in Quwa, Mama 
59 Prumloine for Wheat, feor- 
ghum in Nebraska, Oblof 
Short-Horn Salsa, Crop Proa* 
pe* t* In Indiana, For Farm¬ 
er* felwirt of Hay. The Norn 
her <d Bushel*. Plan of Mlik- 
Hnui* H»ntel, A Aquaeb 
Story. Salem Grape,Trust*** 
111. loduelrial Universilv, 
Indiana'* Sugar Crop, Mak¬ 
ing Compost, Clover Seed. 
Potato Digger ; Industrial 
F«K'.ietl«a i CateJoguee, Ac., 
Received..... 188 
a IlieroaiOAi. —The Mormona-— 
Pen and Peru* 11 Sketch** lb 
liistratlng tlinr Early Hla- 
lory— J If (IlJuaUated).18P 
8 Tm Re view a a.—N#w Publi¬ 
cation* Reviewed.......189 
Stoui** roB Kt.KAt.irre.— 
Tborwald*oD f e Flf*t and 
Only Lev*,..__.189, 190 
For Youao Paori.a. — The 
l Baby .Nhov (Poetry|) Jloi- 
mlee lt|',i House; Men 
W’anted ; Ale ami Buer 
Mreaure*. Rural Four-Year 
Old*. ..190 
La nta*' PoKT-Ptu.io.— Mated 
lPoetry ;; Plueaanl Ulutioui; 
a .Sad Pltturr. Equality of 
the S*x»* , Our Spies Box.. .191 
Modm awu Man*Iks.—T able 
Etlquctle What a Farmer’* 
Wire WanU ; Etiquette in 
Munich ; Cloak and Veil ; 
Tieatinenl of Hair.191 
SAMum tie adino- -Ave Ma¬ 
rla ( Poetry ;) Our Croat,.... 191 
Nrww nr nit WkitK,—Dome*- 
Ik- New* — Including N«w» 
(r on) W**bMigtori,Nvw York, 
Maine, Ni-w 11 ampshire,Ver¬ 
mont, MaiHachusclu, Rhode 
island, Pcnniylvajdu, Dell* 
ware, Maryland, Virginia, 
W«*t Vlrgniia, Louisiana, 
TeftttMMv, (fhlo, Indiana. II- 
JlnoU, Mu lligan, Iowa, WU- 
cotiilb, Missouri, Karnae.Cal- 
lfornU, Colorado, Doinlniou 
of Caimda, Pr»nr> Edward'* 
Island; Foreign News —In¬ 
cluding New* from Greet 
Britain, France, North Ger¬ 
many, Hu**ia, Spain, Ac. 192,196 
Till Makkatw. — Stock anil ' 
Money , Produce and Pro- 
vUlon* ; Live Store. .193 
Nrwa anp NotbltiK f.—Con¬ 
taining Twenty-two Item*.. 194 
TwaNnwe CV»*oiNflKB.—Over 
SUly Late loteronttng lkrev- 
ttJM . ..I9t 
M'rr i"n HpmoU. — Smne 
Question**, Plowlmndle Pa- 
pnrt Mai, Plowlutndlo Pre¬ 
sent* a lialfar to Mr*. Gan. 
Grant, In Buhalf of hie Con¬ 
stituent, John Smith - lie 
Make*aSp**»'.b-(Jen.Grent’* 
R**p<m»w ; Gliirilmw ef Gen- 
1u* ; Nualcrted Chicken* A 
Mirror mr Fashionable Mo¬ 
ther* (Illustrated).19i 
Tk* Pttfti.lB. — Enigma*, Il¬ 
lustrated Rebus ; Scripture 
Transposition; Problem,Ac. 198 
Sjljc publisher’s Sesb. 
PUBLISHEE’8 SPECIAL NOTICES. 
Send u» Nftnif* ! — Subscriber* and others fre¬ 
quently apply lor copier of the Rural to send to 
distant friends as specimens. If those who wish 
their frlendstoseethepsper.and thus aid In extend¬ 
ing Its circulation, will rend us the names and poat- 
oOlce addresses of such friends, near aud distant, 
we will mall each a specimen of the enlarged and 
Improved volume. Give us the names and we will 
cheerfully respond. 
Additions to Cltibsnre always In order, whether 
In ones, twos, lives, tens, or any other number. Many 
agents, after sending one club, form others, and thus 
secure additional or larger premiums. A host Of 
people are dropping other paper* about these days — 
many have already changed to the Rural— and our 
Agent-Friends should Improve every occasion to 
secure such ns recruits for the " Rural Brigade.” 
Address to No. 41 Kark Row, Now York.— 
Though the Rural Is published In both New York 
City and Rochester, N. Y„ the principal printing and 
mailing offices are In New York, and hence all agents 
are requested to address 
It. It. T. .nooitE, 
No. 41 Park Rmv, New York. 
Unck Numbers of this Volume will be supplied 
to all new subscribers, unless otherwise ordered, for 
some weeks to come. As most subscribers desire the 
complete volume for binding, reference, etc., we 
continue our rule to send back numbers to all who 
give no special directions to the coutrary — a course 
which has generally proved satisfactory. 
New Subscribers.—By the term new subscribers 
In our Premium List, we mean, as therein stated, per¬ 
sons who did not take the Rural during the year 
180s. A change of initials, or to the name of some 
other member of an old subscriber's family, does not 
constitute anew subscriber by any means, and can¬ 
not be so counted. 
Howto Help ike Rural.—' There are numerous 
Ways In which Its friends can aid tn circulating the 
Rural. First, show the paper, or talk to your 
friends about It, or both. Get up a club, or aid some 
friend to do so —or Induce your P. M. to act as agent. 
Our premiuma are liberal aud sure. 
llow to Remit.— The best way to remit for clubs, 
as we have often stated, Is by Draft. If $20 or over, 
send by draft, us there is no risk. For smaller 
amounts It Is best to send by P. O. Money Order,—but 
if you cannot do that, send In Registered letters. 
The Rural la Not a Monthly. — In presenting 
the claims of the Rural, do not forget to say It is 
not a monthly of only 12 Issues a year, but a Large 
and Handsome Weekly of Fifty-Two Numbers. 
No Traveling Agents are employed by ns, but 
any person sc disposed cau act as Local Agent, on his 
or her own authority, and secure premiums, etc. 
For Other Notices see last page of this No. 
BUSINESS NOTICES, 
AN ESSENTIAL ARTICLE IN EVERY 
FAMILY. 
Coloatk & Co.'s Toilet Soap Is an essential 
article in every family. We feel safe In saying that 
a better article cannot be obtained .—Northern Chris¬ 
tian Advocate. 
VALUABLE FARM AND COUNTRY SEAT, 
At Elmwood, N. J., to be sold at Auction, March 21th. 
Very desirable property. See advertisement on last 
page lor particulars. 
Ktttatinny Blackberry . — See announcement 
under Special Notice heading, page l'JS. 
“PROGRESS AND IMPROVEMENT.” 
MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER, 
AN ORIGINAL WEEKLY 
RURAL, LITERARY AND FAMILY NEWSPAPER. 
D. D. T. MOORE, 
Conducting Editor and l*roprietor. 
TERMS, IN ADVANCE! 
Subscription — Three Dollars a Year. To Clubs 
and Agents, Five copies for $li; Seven, and one free 
to club agent, for $19: Ten, and one free, for $2&—only 
$2.50 per copy. As we pre-pay American postage, $2.70 
Is the lowest Clnb rate to Canada and $8.50 to Europe. 
I The host way to remit is by Draft or Post-Office 
Money Order,- and all Drafts and Orders made pay¬ 
able to the Publisher SI AY BE MAILED AT HIS risk. 
Advertising - Inside, 75 cents per line. Agate 
space: Outside, $1 per line. For Extra Display and 
Cuts ,m prloeaud uhulf. Special and Business Notices 
charged according to position. No advertisement In¬ 
serted for less than $3. 
The large and rapidly-increasing circulation of the 
Rural New-Yorker renders it necessary to put 
the form* to pres* earlier than heretoforehence 
to secure Insertion advertisements for the Inside 
should reach the New York Office on Friday morn¬ 
ing, and for the outside pages on Saturday morning 
of the week preceding publication. 
SATURDAY, MARCH 20,1869. 
HORSES AT FAIRS. 
Tiik Michigan State Agricultural Conven¬ 
tion recently discussed the question of horde- 
racing at fairs in a very lively way. Good 
strong Saxon was used by' the opponents to 
testing the speed of horses. One gentleman 
said that racing damaged the horses of the 
State for agricultural purposes—that M racing 
and gambling men come to the fail's like an 
army of locusts upon the farmers, selling 
them light, worthless horses, and encour¬ 
aging their sons to bet on races.” Another, 
who admired the horse, and desired to im¬ 
prove him to the highest degree of perfec¬ 
tion, asserted that “ horse fanciers—that is, 
horse-racers or sporting men—are fit only to 
manufacture collars or break stone in the 
penitentiary, and every such man in Mich¬ 
igan ought to be now enjoying one of these 
luxuries.” 
We like to hear men talk strongly when 
they feel strongly. We sympathize with 
men who are opposed to making race courses 
and betting grounds of agricultural fail- 
grounds. Rut it seems to us that it is not 
altogether impracticable to test tlie speed of 
a horse on a fair ground without involving 
in such test any of the obnoxious features of 
a race. Speed can be secured without a 
race, just as the draught powers of an ani¬ 
mal may be exhibited. And all betting or 
gambling may be suppressed on a fair 
ground if tbe members and officers of tbe 
society are determined it shall be. Let it be 
known that the man who openly offers to 
bet will be arrested or expelled from the 
grounds, and there will be no betting. Tbe 
fact is, tbe practice of admitting all sorts of 
side shows to fair grounds is far more de¬ 
moralizing to farmers sons than races and 
open betting on the course. These “shows” 
are simply tbe screens behind which the 
most abominable swindling is practiced upon 
confiding youth. Sweat-boards, faro banks, 
dice tables and other utmamable man-traps, 
are agencies in the hands of scoundrels who 
riot in the gains thus obtained, because tlie 
managers of fair grounds get rent of these 
“ shows.” 
If reform in racing is to be attempted let 
it also extend to, and embrace, all these 
swindles, and then there will be more con¬ 
sistency and good sense in talking reform. 
-- 
FREE TRADE IN EUROPE. 
Tite subject of tbe judicious and just pro¬ 
tection of home industries is one which has 
commanded and will command the attention 
of the political economists of this country. 
The necessity for such protection has become 
more apparent than ever since the burthens 
the war entailed upon us have begun to ad¬ 
just themselves to our shoulders so as to be 
onerously felt. And there is no considerable 
class in this country, among candid, intelli¬ 
gent, thinking men, which does not now 
concede its necessity. There is a large in¬ 
terest here, however, representing foreign 
manufacturers, earnestly propagating tree 
trade doctrines. Our attention has been 
called to this subject by the perusal of a pri¬ 
vate letter from a gentleman, a German, ot 
many years experience as a manufacturer in 
this country, who is now in Prussia. The 
letter is addressed to one of the Editors of 
the RukaJj, and from it we extract the fol¬ 
lowing paragraphs, which teach a lesson 
needing no furl her enforcement: 
“ One of the greatest topics of interest among 
Germans, and In fact most of the Europeans, 
when discussing American Adairs, is the tariff 
question. "Whenever I have a ehanoe to talk 
about it, either with merchants or manufactu¬ 
rers.! do so; and have not fuuud a man who 
does not denounce *»ur taritf as oppressive and 
ruinous. Bui 1 tell these French and German 
complainants that If our tariff is only oppressive 
to Americans, they may consider themselves 
lucky that their interests are not in America; 
but if they mean that it is ruinous to European 
manufacturers, I tel] them that Americans 
hardly consider it their especial mission in this 
world, where everybody looks out for himself, 
to make European manufacturers rich and sup¬ 
port pauper labor. 
“But after one has passed through such an 
ordeal as I often have ho will Involuntarily ask 
where is the boasted free trade of Europe, which 
these men talk bo big about, and which they say 
ought to be adopted in the United States without 
delay. Let me give you one little specimen of 
European free trade. One hour before the rail¬ 
way train left, Bremen the American passengers 
of the steamer Dutcbland appeared at the Cus- 
I tom House to have t heir baggage searched pre¬ 
paratory to entering the“Zolt Vcrein,” where 
every manufacturer or merchant talks free 
trade. As t ho officers did not talk American, I of¬ 
fered my assistance to An American lady from 
New Haven in order to see her through it. The 
appearance of a common lunch basket in the pos¬ 
session of the lady attracted the official’s atten¬ 
tion. He asked ns to Open it. Now, a loving 
New England mother had stocked it In true New 
England stylo, arid the lady, even with our as¬ 
sistance, had not entirely demolished the con¬ 
tents. No soom r was the basket open than the 
eyes of the 1 man of duty 1 began to sparkle; for 
he pulled out two half-bottles of champagne 
and four oranges. He was on the point of placing 
these ominous articles on a ‘free trade' scale. 
Which would have done honor to a goldsmith, ns 
it indicated the small fraction of an ounce, 
when I informed him that the two hall-bottles 
were no articles of merchandise, but of dire ne¬ 
cessity, in traveling through the haul of lager, 1o 
people who had no German stomachs. ‘But,' 
says he, ‘too half-bottles are too much for one 
lady; but, being told that two friends of the 
lady took great interest in the stock of cham¬ 
pagne, and were not accustomed to lager beer, 
he consented to the return of the bottle to the 
lunch basket. 
“ ‘But here,' he began anew, ‘is tropical fruit,’ 
taking bold of the few oranges, ‘ which we can¬ 
not allow to enter without paying duty.’ I told 
him I had heard a great deal about free trade, 
and had lost all notion of paying duty, espec ially 
ou * tropical fruit,' aftd il he would not consent 
to their return to the lunch basket I would 
throw them out of doors and make him a pres¬ 
ent of the fourth. 
“ ‘ That would come under the head of bribery,’ 
be said, ‘and as people here have a patent on 
honesty they do not allow any infringement.' 
Accordingly he called a higher officer to lay tite 
whole case before biro. By ibis time our Amer¬ 
ican friends bad collected around us, and each 
took an orange ready to peel it; so this ‘ man of 
duty ’ found five people too many for blm and 
four oranges and gave up tbe uneven contest, 
but saved his honor by instructing his subordi¬ 
nate not to be particulai—with Americans! 
“ I may soon take occasion to give you a list of 
the duties paid in this free trade country. With 
the exception of raw material, such as they can¬ 
not, produce here, no article Is admitted free; 
aud il we take a higher duty on silks than they 
do, it only shows that ours is a tariff for the peo¬ 
ple, and not for the favored few. Free trade 
sounds very flue, but it is never practiced liy 
those who talk most about it. Americais looked 
upon here as a milch cow which everybody 
thinks he has a right to milk, and no one con¬ 
siders it his duty to feed. One thing is certain, 
free trade In America Is a very good thing for 
European manufacturers, but not for Amer¬ 
ican.” 
- *-*-*■ - 
RURAL NOTES AND QUERIES. 
Weather, Crops, Ac., in Western !Y. V.—The 
weather, during the first half of March, was 
more severe than any since that of the corres¬ 
ponding period of December. The mercury 
dropped once to zero, and has averaged much 
lower than in February, January, or the latter 
part of December. High winds, driving snow 
storms, and snow blockaded roads, have been 
permanent features of the month. In (bis region 
(Monroe county) sleighs have been used since 
the first of December, with tbe exception of a 
few days. The season has been favorable for 
winter grain, which, so for as can be observed, 
looks well. At present, the fruit crops are very 
promising, nothing having occurred to injure 
the most tender and uncortaln varieties. The 
soil is well saturated with water, springs and 
streams being full, and farmers are not looking 
for as early a plowing season as that of last 
year, when the earth was unusually dry, aud tbe 
snow, thawing suddenly, ran off the frozen 
ground instead of sinking into it. In some lo¬ 
calities large flocks of birds have wintered, liv¬ 
ing apparently on the buds of trees, as the 
maple and apple, and the seeds of weeds, etc., 
which they pick up. They are nearly the Bize of 
the robin, brown in color, and the crests and 
wing feathers of the males are tinged with rod- 
dish hues. They are new visitors. 
About Free Advertising.—Under the heading 
of “Honor Bright” Major Frbas of the German¬ 
town Telegraph, thus “speaks out In meeting” 
concerning a matter which has aforetime both¬ 
ered us not a little“ We are in the daily re¬ 
ceipt of circulars, catalogues, propositions and 
plana from various shrewd persons in different 
seotions of the country, who aim at getting some 
conspicuous advertising done in our columns 
for a little package of seeds, a vine, or a pic¬ 
ture, none of which is of any value to ub; and 
If they were, we would much prefer buying 
them at their market price. These attempts to 
place editors of public journals under a forced 
obligations will not succeed with us, and ought 
not. with any one. We, therefore, give notice 
that we are ready to do all lawful advert!slug at 
our regular rates, which rates all honest men 
can afford and are willing to pay; and this is the 
only way that our columns can be reached.” 
The Major is correct, in the main, as usual. It 
is certainly frigid for a business man to ask a 
widely-circulating Journal, in which he never ad¬ 
vertises, to notice and commend his wares to the 
public; aud our general rule is not to aid in aug¬ 
menting the profits of those who depend solely 
upen dead-heading, or free advertising. 
--- 
From and About Missouri,— A subscriber wri¬ 
ting under date of “ Andrew County, Missouri, 
March 6, 18(59,” gives us these facts and items :— 
"Missouri is rapidly becamlng a great State. 
Her population has increased fifty per cent, in 
the last four years. Her debt is rapidly decreas¬ 
ing. The western part of the State presents | 
extra inducements to emigrants. St. Joseph and 
Kansas City have each a population of about 
30,000. Tbe style of farming i3 not so good as in 
the East, but is being improved. Corn is the 
principal crop. There is very little rotation in 
crops. Necessity will make a change. The corn 
crop was almost a failure last year; causes, the 
drouth and the white grub worm. The grass¬ 
hoppers came in September, and deposited their 
eggs here; consequently very little fall wheat 
was sown, and that little late. The winter has 
been severe and t he wheat does not look well. No 
plowing bus been done this year. There are few 
sheep, but many hogs and cattle in the country. 
High prices lire diminishing the number of 
hogs.” 
-- 
Tlie Flow of Maple fcap _Wit. P. GAGE, Bel¬ 
low's Falls, Vt., wri tea us:—“Among the notes of 
the discussion of the New York Farm Ota' Club, 
in your issue of March 0, is one concerning tho 
llow of sugar sap in maple trees. Tlie question 
whether sap would be sweet ii not frozen is ab¬ 
surd. It cannot be obtained without frost any 
more than loaves can be produced without heat.. 
Each of these are produced by opposite causes; 
but the learned members of the Club have con¬ 
founded them together. What, would these 
gentlemen say to, or of, the Individual who 
should attempt to explain the secretion and 
flow of milk us a part, of the life blood of the 
animal which produces it7 Yet they have un¬ 
dertaken Hint which is exactly similar. Bugar 
is produced in tbe tree In the growing season. 
PYost supplies the water to wash it out, and it 
will flow if tiio tree freezes and the atmospheric 
conditions are favorable at any season when 
freezing Is possible." 
-»♦» - 
Abortion in Cow*. In Lewis county. N. Y., 
tills disease has been more prevalent than ever 
before known, tn many dairies tlio loss amounts 
to more than one half the whole dairy. If any¬ 
thing could be suggested that would prove a 
sure preventive against abortion In cows, there 
would be thousands of dollars added to the 
wealth of our county. Borne have recommended 
bone dust, a tablespoon ful once a week, to be 
fed in the early part of fall. The calf, It is ar¬ 
gued, lacks tint matter, which enters into the 
composition of bone. 
Mr. I). L. Savage, in the Kim at, of Feb. 27th, 
says he believes abortion ia produced by tho 
cows standing with their hind feet considerably 
lower than their fore feet, and by eating too 
much oil cake- Our cows do aland with i heir 
hind feet considerably lower than their fore feet, 
and we have lost thirteen out. of thirty; but wo 
have never ted any oil cake. —R. WA icefield, 
Lowvitlc , N. Y. 
-ra- 
Maine Premiums for Wheat.—The Maine 
Board of Agriculture recently voted —which 
vote is mandatory according to aot of the Legis¬ 
lature “That the several Agricultural Socie¬ 
ties receiving bounties from the State be, and 
they are hereby directed, to offer In premiums 
for the encouragement ol' wheat culture, a sum 
not less than one-fourth of the amount of 
bounty so received during the present year, 
(18(i0,)iimi during the two succeeding years, to 
wit., In 1870 and 1871. Provided, however, that 
if the Legislature by statute enactment;, pro¬ 
vides for u bounty on wheat culture during 
either of the years herein indicated, then for 
such year or years the liefore-menttoned require¬ 
ment upon Agricultural Societies shall be null 
and void." 
-to- 
Sorghum In Nebraska. The Central Union 
Agriculturist, Omaha, Neb., very sensibly usks; 
“ Why don’t our farmers pay more attention to 
the cultivation of sorghum? Every farmer 
should raise enough, at all events, to make mo¬ 
lasses to supply his own family. Thousands of 
dollars could thus be saved to Nebraska, and the 
money thus saved Could be spent in making im¬ 
provements on the farm, or tn purchasing other 
articles of prime necessity, which cannot be 
produced at home." This will apply to other 
Statesas well. Grow sorghum and make it into 
sirup. It cau he used for culinary purposes. 
And even if sirup is not manufactured from it 
an excellent quality of milk may be. It is one 
of the best of soiling plants, and deserves tn be 
grown for that purpose alone on dairy farms. 
-- 
Ohio Short-Horn Sale*.—The following sales of 
short-horns have recently been made from the 
herd of D. McMillan, Esq., of Xenia, Ohio:—To 
E. lies, Sangamon Co., HI., Mary Washington, 
by imported Challenger, 32-L; dam, Sarah Gardy, 
by Wellington, 2,306, Clementine, by Sir Robert 
Alexander, 3,440; darn, Lillie Bell, by AlWm, 
1,173. Escort, by Duke of Madison, 6,6(55; dam, 
Clementine. Frederilca, by General Grant, 4,825; 
dam, fourth Duchess of Oakland, by Duke of 
Thorndale, 2,787. To John R. Erwin, Gibson Co., 
Ind.Airdrie Duke of Oakland, by eleventh 
Duke of Airdrie, 5,533; dam, Highland Lady, by 
King Alfred, 3,053 (14,760.) To Jno. A. Foos, 
Marion Co., Ohio:—Grand Commander, by Gen. 
Grant, 4,825; dam, Lucy, by Y ouug Marquis, 3,603. 
-- 
Crop Prospect* In Indiana.— John Drake, 
Swan, Ind., writes" There was a large breacth 
of wheat sown last fall; through December the 
ground was covered with snow, aud no frost in 
the ground; January and February were like 
spring, and the wheat never looked better; for 
the last fifteen days Die ground has been well 
covered with snow, and the coldest weather of 
the season; the ground under the snow is free 
from frost. From present appearance we pro¬ 
phecy a good crop of wheat." 
For Farmer* Short of Hay. —If fthe farmer is 
short of hay he should resort to the straw stack, 
the straw of which, if cut the proper length by 
qhe aid of a straw or stalk cutter, dampened 
with water, and meal, or even buckwheat or 
wheat bran, sprinkled over it, at the rate of a 
quart of meal to a half bushel of shortened 
straw, will furnish a quality of food relished by 
horses, cattle or other stock, that will keep them 
In better health and at less expense than by 
purchasing hay.— l. d. s. 
«♦«-- 
The Number of Uuehels.—I send you the fol¬ 
lowing rule for determining the number of 
bushels any vessel will hold:—Multiply the solid 
contents in feet by eight. The result falls short 
three and a half bushels in 1,000 cubic feot.— 
Subscriber. 
--- 
Plan of Milk-IIouse Wanted. — A “Young 
Farmer," Homer, N. Y., writes: — “ Will you, or 
some of your correspondents, please give some 
information, through the Rural, about a milk 
house, I wish to build one this spring for about I 
fifteen or eighteen cows. Shall I settle it into 
the ground or raise it up a few feet? How cah 
I best ventilate it, and would it be better to 
chink the sides with sawdust, or not? " 
A Squarti Story —The following i 3 from a 
Subscriber in Oneida county, this State:—“I 
have read some pretty large squash stories of 
late, and will toll you what I raised last year. 
From two seeds of the mammoth Squash, 
planted with coal ashes, T had four squashes 
weighing three hundred and twenty-six and a 
half pounds. One weighed one hundred and 
fourteen and a half pounds, and measured sixty- 
five and one half inches in circumference.—A 
SunscnruER. 
-*♦*- 
Salem Grape.— I notice in your last Rural a 
description of the “Salem " Grape,and peeking 
very highly of It. Can you tell me where I can 
obtain it in sufficient quantity lor vineyard 
planting?— Jamb-' Edwards, Buffalo , N. Y. [We 
presume the parries who advertise the Salem in 
the Rural of March (5, and also in this number, 
can supply the quantity wanted.] 
Truxtco* Illinois Induxtrinl University, — Tlie 
following are the newly nominated and eon- 
ftrmed trustees of this Institution: I ick- 
bum, A. ll. .. ii. B. Edwards, I. 8. Mai an. J. 
B. Slade, Paul It. Wright, L. B. McMurray, J. S. 
Johnson. J. It. Scott, J. S. Picard. These are re- 
nominations except threeMessrs. Dunlap, 
Quick and Hammond, late members, retiring. 
Indiana's Sugar Crop.—We see a paragraph 
circulating that last year's crop of sugar nnd 
molasses in Indiana is worth twenty million 
dollars. We don’t believe tlicit Indiana produced 
one-tenth that amount, although we know she 
produces a good deal of sorghum. We should 
like to be corrected if we are wrong. 
-- 
Making Comport.—Having a quantity of coarse 
manure, T wish to inquire how r may best con¬ 
vert it into a fine compost, with lime and plaster, 
during the summer, so as to be suituble for top- 
dressing winter wheat.— k. 
-*♦*- 
Clover Weed. — A correspondent asks for the 
experience of our practical renders as to the best 
time to sow clover seed, the kind and quantity 
per acre to sow for pasture, to turn under or to 
cut for seed. 
--- 
Potato Digger. ~D. J. Mooue, Topeka, Kansas. 
We have no “description of the best potato- 
digger in use” that we can forward you. 
INDUSTRIAL SOCIETIES. 
Ohio Grape Grower** A**oclatlon.—The of¬ 
ficers elect for 1869 are: President— Dr. J. W. 
Dunham, Co Hamer. Vice-President —George W. 
Campbell, Delaware. Secretary—M. B. Batcham, 
Painesviile. Treasurer—Ro v. R. H. Leonard, 
Collatner. Directors— Addison Kelley, Kelley’s 
Island ; Colonel D, C. Richmond, Sandusky; J. 
Terrei 1. Avon Point; Captain J. Spalding, Cleve¬ 
land; J. D. Clarke, Lancaster; J. E. Mottier, 
Northeast Pennsylvania; A. S. Moss, Fredouia. 
North wcatern Poultry Association. —The fol¬ 
lowing are the officers elect for I860: President 
— L. L. Greenleaf. Vice-Presidents — W. W. 
Corbett, James Grant, H. B. Bateman, A. W. 
Sawyer, Josluh Tildcn. Corresponding Secretary 
—W. T, Sheppard. Recording Secret ary — J. J. 
Kearney, Treasurer— O. W. Beldon. Executive 
Committee - H. Howland, N. T. Wright, D. 
Worthington, H. N. Hibbard, J. K. FaJcb, E. M. 
Teall, Ira Bowen. 
New York State Poultry Society, — This So¬ 
ciety hold their first exhibition at the Third 
Avenue Skating Rink, in New York City, March 
22d to 27th, Inclusive. We have received the 
premium list, which Is very full and complete. 
From present prospects the show bids fair to ex¬ 
cel any poultry show ever held in America. The 
Society has our best wishes for its success and 
prosperity. _ 
Lorain Co. (O.) Ag. Soc.— The officers elect for 
1869 are:— President — Wm. A. Beaman Vice- 
President — Joseph Swift, Jr. Secretary and 
Treasurer— Clias. W. Johnston. DirccU/rs for 
two years— Chas. S. Welle, Richard Baker, L. G. 
Byington and L. F. Parks. Holding over — P. 
W. Sampsel, 8. B. Dudley, D. Johnson Peck and 
Benj. S. Corning. 
Canada Poultry Show.— Tlie Ontario Poultry 
Association will hold their fourth Exhibition of 
Poultry and Pigeons at the Horticultural Hall, 
Toronto, on tho 21st and 22d of April next. The 
prizes to be awarded amount to ahont one hun¬ 
dred and fifty dollars, the highest is four dollars 
and the lowest one dollar. 
DefLall) Co., III., Ag. Soc.—The officers elect 
for 1869 are: Prarfdcnt— Henry Wood. Vice- 
President—$. C. Hale. Recording Secretary— T. 
K. Waite. CoirtspondAnQ Secretary— Samuel Al- 
den. Treasurer— R. A. Smith. Executive Cotn- 
mittee— Moses Dean, 8. G. Rowen, Wm. M. Byers, 
A. V. L. Smith, Alonzo Ellwood. 
Fairs for 1 stiff.—The Nineteenth Annual Fair 
of the Warren Co., Ohio, Agricultural Society 
will be held at Lebanon September 21-34. The 
McLeod Co., HI., Fair will be held September 
14-18. The McDonough Co., HI., Fair, September 
21-24. The Stark Co, HI., Fair, September 21-28. 
Delaware Co. (O.) Ag. Soc—The officers elect of 
this society are:— President—R. Derfey. Treas¬ 
urer—V?. T. Watson. Secretary — F. M. Joy. 
Managers— Lewis S. Felkner, Geo. Nelson, John 
MoEIroy, D. Elliott, T. C. Jones, Wm. G. McFar- 
lin, F. Black, Hugh Cole, N. W. Hodges, G. M. 
Perfect, J. P. Thompson and John Finch. 
CATALOGUES, &c., RECEIVED, 
C. W. Seelye k Co.’S Catalogue of Choice 
Green-House Plants, Select Bedding Plants, 
Chrysanthemums, Roses, &c. Cultivated ana 
for sale at the Rochester Central Nurseries— 
Rochester, N. Y. 
Catalogue of the Rochester Commercial Nur¬ 
series. William S. Little, (Successor to H. E. 
Hooker & Co.) Proprietor, Rochester, N. Y. 
EaolE Seed Sower, and Clipper Wheel Hoe. 
Patented and manufactured by E. D. & o. B. 
Reynolds, No. Bridgewater, Mass. (An illus¬ 
trated piiunphlet.) 
Edo aw Sanders’ Twelth Annual Catalogue of 
Plants. ■ fcc», cultivated and for sale at the Lake 
View Fl' iwer Garden, Chicago, HI. 
Catai. lomcs of Flower and Vegetable Seeds 
for sale by Alfred Bridgeman, Grower, Im¬ 
porter at id Dealer—New York. 
