oo 
liitry of a litmdisi 
DAILY RURAL LITE. 
From the Diary of a Gentleman near New 
York City. 
1'ritiiIiiK Trees. 
Nov. 20.— Authorities ou pruning trees 
vary so widely in their recommendations in 
regard to the best time and manner that one 
can scarcely go amiss as to season or mode 
of performing the operation. For my own 
part, 1 prefer the autumn, after the leaves 
have fallen, to auy other time. The branches 
of deciduous trees are then all naked, and 
one can determine what branches need re¬ 
moving to give a tree the desired form. But 
when every branch and twig is covered with 
foliage, it is often difficult to tell just where 
to cut, on account of the many obstructions 
in the way. Another and more important 
consideration in favor of autumn or early 
winter pruning is, that trees which naturally 
produce new shoots from the stumps of sev¬ 
ered branches will do so with greater vigor 
than if pruned later in the season. Some 
kinds may be severely pruned, even to with¬ 
in a few feet of the ground, and next sea¬ 
son they will make up in now and healthy 
growth all that has been lost iu pruning. 
Maples, butternut and all similar kinds 
of trees from which sap flows freely when¬ 
ever wounded in late winter or spring, 
should never be pruned except in summer 
or lull, unless transplanted al the time the 
operation is performed. We often have old 
apple, pear and other fruit, us well as orna¬ 
mental trees, that require renovating, and 
there is really no better method of doing it 
than by pruning iu autumn. If a man is at 
all skillful in this matter of pruning, he will 
be able to produce very striking effects, even 
in an old and neglected place, for trees 
severely hcaded-in usually produce a rapid 
growth of young branches the following 
year. Many an old tree, now going to 
decay, might be wholly restored by judi¬ 
cious pruning at this season. 
{'reserving Periodicals. 
Nov. 21.—1 received from my book-binder 
to-day, quite a large box of volumes of the 
those I have mentioned to preserve them for 
information and reference, they might do it 
as a money-making operation; for there are 
few of our leading agricultural and horticul¬ 
tural journals that, preserved, do not in¬ 
crease in value, lias any one of the hundred 
thousand subscribers of the Rural Ne\y- 
often do we see herds of cattle nipping the 
last green spear in autumn. 
Boardinc Hired Help. 
Nov. 24. — An acquaintance writes to 
know if I board my lift ed help; if not, how 
do I manage to obtain the requisite amount 
so far away from a city or country town? 
wages, and never insult your own ideas of separately and wrap it tightly in thin paper 
domestic happiness by advertising for help of any kind and place it in the papev-cov- 
^ ith the too fiequent affix of “ a single man ered box, and continue to place them in lay- 
piefened, oi a man and his w ife, without ers uutil the box is.fuli. when it should have 
children.” I do not board my help, and 
employ none but married men. 
Too Hindi Slmdc. 
Nov. 25.—In selecting a location for my 
office and library, I was very particular in 
choosing one among a dense clump of large 
trees. In summer, when every branch of 
the great oaks, chestnuts and hickories are 
clothed with leaves, their shade is particu¬ 
larly refreshing, but I came to the conclusion 
the past season that I had secured a little too 
much of a good thing, and a change was 
necessary. During long continued rains in 
hot weather, mold appeared upon books, in¬ 
sects and various things in my cabinet. 
ered box, and continue to place them in lay¬ 
ers uutil the box is.fuli, when it should have 
the lid or cover fastened on and then cover¬ 
ed with paper in the same manner as the 
sides and bottom of the box were. 
When all this is done set the box in a dry 
place, secure from the effects of frost, and 
you will find that Baldwins treated in the 
above manner wilt be fresh, round and 
plump the following June; some of the bet¬ 
ter keeping varieties will last until the earli¬ 
est apples arc ripe the next year, provided 
the fruit is put up after the “ sweating ” is 
over and before the close of November. 
It will bo well for those who may adopt 
this plan another year to gather the fruit to 
be treated rutber early in the season, as lhat 
More light and air was determined upon, will prevent it from going to early decay.— 
and several large trees marked for the ax this G. R. D., Pittsfield, N. 11. 
fall. The leaves have fallen, the light pours 
in, and I almost repent of my promise, while 
“ W oodman spare that tree,” comes forcibly 
to mind. I have not been alone in this folly 
of keeping too many large shade trees near a 
dwelling, for scores have done the same 
thiug, producing sickness in their families 
without once dreaming of the cause. Plant 
shade trees abundantly, but let their number 
be few near the dwelling, for light and a free 
circulation of air is as necessary to health as 
darkness and dense atmosphere is to disease. 
I ontological. 
A Second Crop of Apple*. 
I send you this day an apple of the Early 
Bracken variety, that I picked from the tree 
on the 29tli of the present month. If you 
are acquainted with this variety of apple, 
you will know that it is a summer variety, 
ripening hi July, This apple is of a second 
bloom, and I think to be a rare thing.—F. 
W. Rayley, Loicell, 0. 
We have often known apple trees to 
bloom a second lime late in the season, but 
do not remember having seen the second 
crop of fruit come so near maturity as the 
specimen you send. Trees that bloom a 
second time usually fail to bear a crop the 
following year. 
SAXIFRAGA MAAVEANA. — SEE NEXT PAGE. 
Yokkeu a complete list for sale ? 11' so, let 
me know the price. 
Atuericnu Ilolly. 
various magazines for w'hich I subscribe, 
As the numbers come to hand, they are 
read and carefully laid aside, until a suffi¬ 
cient quantity has been accumulated to send 
to the binder’s, with samples of the style 
of binding 1 desire. Of course 1 do not 
have any two different magazines bound 
in the same colored binding, because that 
would make one’s library appear rather 
monotonous, but by having each set in a 
different style, it gives a variety, not only in 
appearance, but makes each us distinct, 
which is usually a great convenience where 
one lias au extensive collection. Every two 
or three years 1 send all the periodicals lhat 
have been preserved to the bindery, and 1 
confess to having realized much pleasure iu 
this periodical addition to my store of valu¬ 
able books. Few persons seem to know 
how readily and rapidly a valuuhie library 
may lie accumulated, just by saving the 
various magazines and papers which they 
read. If they do not have the first volumes 
of a periodical, and would like to make the 
set complete, watch the old book stores or 
sales of family effects, and pick them up in 
this way. As 1 look at the shelves in my 
library, I can sec many valuable works 
which have been saved and gathered to¬ 
gether at very little expense, either in 
money or time. Ilovey’s Magazine of Hor¬ 
ticulture complete thirty-four years, giving 
a very concise record of the rise and pro¬ 
gress of horticultural during- that time. 
On an adjoining shelf stands a complete 
set of the Horticulturist, 1846 to 1871. Bui 
1 cannot help mourning over the rapidly de¬ 
parting glory of this formerly leading horti¬ 
cultural journal of America. The size of the 
volunmes lias decreased at least one-half 
since the days when the vigorous pens of 
Downing, Smitix and Barky made each 
page a treasure to ruralUja. Next, shelf, 
Gardener’s Monthly, twelve years no change 
of editors, and no change of good tilings, al¬ 
ways full of excellent matter, put upon 
miserable paper. A regular Rip Van Win¬ 
kle, a good fellow, in rather shabby clothes. 
In strong contrast with the last, is a set of 
Tilton’s Journal of Horticulture, a perfect 
“Beau Brummel” in dress, but—well, pot 
quite as good inside as one might expect. 
Thirty years of the American Agriculturists 
on the ndjoinfug shelf show a vigorous 
growth from a very small beginning up to 
ils present stature. Scores of other maga¬ 
zines besides these, that arc purely horticul¬ 
tural or agricultural, fill a place in my 
library, but enough lias been said to illus¬ 
trate my idea of accumulation of books. 
The questions that are asked and answered 
in almost every number of the Rural New- 
Yorker show conclusively that every i 
subscriber does not read, preserve and have ; 
cacli Volume bound, where it can be referred i 
to when information upon the thousands of I 
topics discussed in them is desired. If people i 
do not care enough about such papers as { 
Nov. 22 .—In looking at some vigorous 
plants of the American Holly (Ilex opaca) 
growing in my garden, I am reminded lhat 
the time will soon arrive for gathering 
Christmas greens, and thousands of noble 
specimens of this small but elegant tree cut 
down and sold ill the streets of our city. 
The deep green leaves of the holly, and its 
bright red berries in winter, are certainly 
highly ornamental, but it is a pity that so 
many thousands of plants should be sacri¬ 
ficed every year, while few or none are being 
raised to fill their place. Why are our 
American people so stupid as to neglect this 
noble native plant while, at the same time, 
they are constantly importing foreign species 
and varieties of less beauty, none of which 
will thrive unprotected in the Northern 
Slates. Young seedlings of our native 
Holly can lie obtained from the woods, and 
if carefully transplanted and severely pruned 
at the time, they wilt soon make elegant 
plants. 1 have specimens that were treated 
in this manner, and they are doing well, sev¬ 
eral of them making a growth of three feet 
the second season after removal. The deep 
green leaves, interspersed with bright red 
berries of our native Holly, should be in 
I themselves sufficiently attractive to make 
every one desire at least a few plants to give 
home surroundings a cheerful aspect during 
the long dreary winters in Northern climates. 
I'llMttirluK Grain iu Ailluitiu. 
Nov. 23.—During the past few weeks 1 
notice that some of my neighbors have 
turned their cattle out to pasture upon the 
fall-sown grain. The object is probably 
two-fold: First, to benefit the cattle; and, 
second, prevent the grain growing too rank, 
as some fanners assert that if the leaves be¬ 
come loo numerous or large in autumn 
they are liable to smother the crown of the 
roots. There may be instances known of 
such results from rank growth, especially in 
regions where the snow falls to a great 
depth and remains until late in spring, but 
they are certainly extremely scarce, aud 
this fall pasturing of grain is a practice that 
should not be encouraged. I have seen 
scores of cattle, in the past few weeks, 
treading the young rye into the soft ground 
at a fearful rate; and this, too, upon land 
the owners of which think fifteen to twenty 
bushels per acre a good crop. If grain is to 
be pastured at all in autumn, the animals 
should not be turned into it until the 
ground freezes, at least not when the ground 
is wet and soft. Sheep and young stock are 
As this subject is an important one to al] 
who have to hire laborers, 1 will give my 
private view ami practice very briefly. In 
the first place, 1 do not board any of my 
laborers, for many good reasons, but princi¬ 
pally because men usually ask almost as 
much wages with board as without it. They 
are always in the way about the house, 
make the womeu folks unnecessary trouble, 
besides there is uo profit in keeping a board¬ 
ing house for your own laborers iu the 
country. Another and still more important 
consideration is the kind of labor. 1 choose 
married men, for they are, ns a class, more 
industrious arid steady in their habits, a 
family being a good tow-line to keep a man’s 
head up stream, if not much above high 
---- Iliuyiiuj Apples. 
GRAPES TESTED. Have any of the readers of the Rural- 
- New-Yorker had any experience in keep- 
I desire, through the columns of your mg apples during winter by burying them 
paper, to notice the success in growing some U? tlie gionnd ? If so, with what result?— 
of the new grapes which have been intrusted F ' ( Richards. 
to my care for testing iu this State. Among lN llie absence of good cool cellars, we 
BARREL OF LARGE APPLES. 
water mark. No matter how low a man 
may be in the scale of intelligence—even 
down to the Darwinian starting point—lie 
will work for his offspring with more per¬ 
sistency than for any other consideration 
that could be offered him. To secure such 
laborers, a man must necessarily have tene¬ 
ment houses, but these need not be very 
elegant or expensive; in fact, the extra 
amount of money spent in many a country 
farm house to accommodate 1 lie farm labor¬ 
ers boarded, would build them a separate- 
dwelling. Scores of farmers’ wives are an¬ 
nually killed by overwork id caring for the 
laborers on the farm—not only in cooking, 
wnsking and ironing for them, but in keep¬ 
ing the extra rooms required in order, both 
when in use as well as when unoccupied. 
to my care for testing in this State. Among 
the most valuable I would mention them in 
the order namedSenasqua, Croton, On¬ 
ondaga, Carpenter, Eumelan, Sumner, Grant. 
These have proved to be good, healthy 
growers, and the fruit all that could be de¬ 
sired. As to their hardiucss — they stood 
exposed last winter while for two weeks the 
thermometer ranged from 16° to 22° below 
zero. 
Senasqua will undoubtedly rank as a su¬ 
perior grape. 
Onondaga, I think, will prove very valu¬ 
able on account of its keeping qualities. Its 
flavor will compete with the Delaware. 
Thomson'8 Carpenter is a grape of very 
superior quality, and if it stands the winters, 
it will be the Black Hamburg of America. 
Eumelan is very early and of good quali¬ 
ty, but there is a disposition iu the vine to 
mildew. 
Walter lias proved a failure so far. 
Paxton , Worden’s Seedling, Perry’s Ma- 
llnda and Siglur give promise of value, from 
their general healthy and hardy appearance. 
Arnold’s Hybrids are very line growers, 
and have resisted mildew well. 
Weehawken, if of a foreign origin, may 
prove hardy; has growu remarkably well 
this seasou. 
I have many other vines from Messrs. 
Thompson, Stewart, Graves and Cay- 
wood, whose value in all respects is yet to be 
tested, and for the good of horticulture 1 pro¬ 
pose to test them thoroughly and carefully, 
expecting many of them to prove valueless, 
while some may rank high.— J. H. Haynes, 
Delphi , Did., Nov., 1871. 
—-■ 
P0M0L0GI0AL GOSSIP. 
Barrel of Twemy-Ouiicii A|iple«. 
Inclosed 1 send you a photograph of the 
finest barrel of Twenty-Ounce Apples that 
lias ever been exhibited. Thinking vou 
would be pleased to have such a photoirraph, 
I remain, very respectfully, Charles S. Up¬ 
ton, Spenoe/'port, N. Y. 
P. S—I will give $100 for ninety-nine 
Twenty-Ounce Apples that will equal these. 
—C. 8. u. 
We have made an engraving of the bar¬ 
rel of apples from the photograph sent us. 
We learn that the apples were grown by A. 
Greenman, Hamlin, Monroe Co., N. Y. 
The barrel of apples weighed one hundred 
and forty pounds, including the package. 
We think, in the season for this fruit, South- 
have known apples kept in perfect condition 
by burying them much as oue would pota¬ 
toes. Clark Chatten, a large orchardist in 
Adams, III., recommends the foil wing mode: 
“ Put the apples in a large pile, pyramidical 
form—but before you do this dig a hole 
some two feet deep right in the center and 
cover it with boards; this will let all damp¬ 
ness off. Then cover the apples over with 
hard-wood boards, then put on a foot or two 
deep with straw', and throw on the dirt, 
leaving a hole at the top about six inches 
square, in which place a box and pack the 
dirt close around it. This open hole lets all 
the heated air pass off the apples, and pre¬ 
vents their rotting. This hole should be 
kept open except in extreme cold weather. 
'portsman. 
NOTES FOR SPORTSMEN. 
Blv<l and Rabbit Dos. 
Will you, or some of your many sub¬ 
scribers, be so kind as to tell me wlmt breed 
of dogs to cross to obtain a good bird and 
rabbit dog?—A Constant Reader. 
Wooljrnr's I'anreROue. 
This is a name given to an English con¬ 
nivance for sportmen which will doubtless 
be speedily introduced in this country:—As 
a waterproof coat or cloak, it is equal to 
any made for that special purpose, forming, 
as its name is supposed to imply, a cover-all. 
On horseback it will supply a desideratum 
to the sportsman who in pursuit of game, 
lias many a weary mile to travel in the pelt¬ 
ing storm. He will be enabled not only to 
The barrel of apples weighed one hundred protect himself but also his horse from the 
and forty pounds, including the package. ^ U1 T tempest. Hut whether as ped- 
We think, iu the season for this fruit, South- CBtliau 01 ’ equestrian, if benighted, he will 
era Illinois, Missouri. Kausas or Iowa, could 5t > "'lien used as a ground sheet, a sure 
take Mr. Upton’s $100 very easily. protection from the damp; and in addition, 
- it may be used as a tent. Our illustration 
Keeping Apples. allows two pantegoues in use, forming a tent 
Apples be.ug very scarce .a lius vomit,-, of suffl cicm dimensions for three or four oc- 
eveept those brought I, om Western New ln tllis casc . lUe p alltcg01)( , s are 
York *” d am thinking a few f, svt . n6 d together by attaching the buttons 
enpcnuiems of mine ... regard to keeping of onc tUc buuon . hoIe3 of u 7 e second, anti 
fruit will be appreciated by .he readers of the JasWug , tlMU porllou fo „ ni , lie 
Rural New-1 ouker who are so fortunate Lood . It u spokm of ln the highest , crms 
as to be the possessors ot apples with which ,,y those who Lave used it. 
BANK OF TREES. —SEE NEXT PAGE. 
Iso preferable, on account of lesser weight, 
to larger kinds. The growth of grain next 
year will depend very much upon the size 
and strength of the roots; and how can 
these become strong and vigorous if de¬ 
nuded of their leaves ? This same rule holds 
good in regard to meadows, and yet how 
This is all wrong, and my advice is, build 
cheap hut convenient dwellings, and the 
best kind of laborers, with their families, 
will as surely come to occupy them as the 
birds to fill the cozy nest put up in your 
orchards aud groves. Prepare a place for 
good, steady, industrious men, offer good 
Keeping Applm. 
Apples being very scarce in this vicinity, 
except those brought from Western New 
York and Michigan, I am thinking a few 
experiments of mine in regard to keeping 
fruit will be appreciated by the readers of tlm 
Rural New-Yorker who are so fortunate 
as to be the possessors of apples with which 
to make the experiments. Having tried the 
follow ing plan for several years with none 
but satisfactory results, it is confidently 
urged upon all those wishing to have fresh 
apples throughout the entire year. 
About this time of the year, select sound 
aud lair specimens of late-kcc-ping apples, 
and, having first covered a moderately tight 
box with whole or unpunctured paper, of 
any kind—good newspapers make as good 
as the best covering—take each specimen 
niimit'MOta Game Law. 
In answer to J. F. Prator we copy the 
first section of the game law of his State: 
Section 1 It shall be unlawful for any 
person to kill, destroy, or take any w'ood- 
cock, except between the 4th day of July 
and the 1 st of December in any year or any 
prairie lien or chicken, or while breasted or 
sharp tailed grouse except between the 1 st 
day of August and the 1st day of December 
in any year. 
