©ORE’S RURAL flEW-YOB 
hov. 2 
Jfomt department. 
NOETH WINDHAM, CONN.’ 
The notice I sent the Rural New-Yorker 
of farming in North Windham and vicinity, 
has brought me such an amount of corre¬ 
spondence from parties, 1 thought best to 
trouble you with more of the same kind, if 
you will give it place in your columns. Onr 
which drew my attention was fi ’>m a cor¬ 
respondent to your paper from somewhere 
in Pennsylvania. He thought the land there 
was cheaper than land in North Windham. 
I think the person who wrote that article 
must have plenty of means, if he owns mam 
acres of such land spoken of, and at such pri 
• ces ; but a person of limited means, after a 
comparison of the two localities, might 
think differently. Both places, we will say, 
are. old localities, in one of which land can lie 
bought at £12 an acre ; the other at $100 an 
acre. I will say of this section, there is some 
poor land and some good land. It is notcon- 
sfdcred profit able to cultivate rocky and poor 
land ; let it grow up in timber for spools. 
&<•., and cultivate the best. We can raise 
corn, potatoes, beans and grass ; bnt com is 
not considered profitable ; other crops will 
pay better. 1 have raised 800 quart* of 
strawberries on eight rods of ground. TJirow 
the manure on to the land and you can gel 
good crops, and there are good markets, if 
a person can only be contented to stay among 
strangers, it would require only a small cap¬ 
ital to start with; but land, even In this sec¬ 
tion, unless the immigrant can be induced 
to come, judging by the past, may be belt! 
at such prices for years to come. A person 
of means can invest money in land at $101 
per acre, or $500 if lie choose ; but 1 should 
advise a person with only a small sum of 
money to purchase the $12 land in Connecti¬ 
cut rather than the $100 or $500 land in any 
State, or rather than go to the fertile regions 
of the West alone and single-handed, if h< 
can go with a colony to the West, and go oi 
the plan of co-operation, perhaps it would 
be better ; for in such a case land would la 
sure to rise in value. 1 know of no chance? 
so good in the East, for a persun who expect? 
to spend his days on it, as in the vicinity ol 
North Windham. But a young man that 
does not want to settle down in life can, il 
he clioo.se, go West. It is far better for him 
to stay in Connecticut than to tight his way 
Wests among sharpers and fleecers, unless h< 
can unite with others and emigrate with 
them in a body, and with such a company a? 
would be respectable ; have gamblers, rum- 
sellers and speculators kept out of it. I my¬ 
self would join such a company if one could 
bo found. Unless it could, 1 should, by far, 
prefer to stay among the hills of Connecti¬ 
cut, where the land can be bought so cheap, 
and markets are So good. 
George E. Smith. 
FROM BEATRICE, NEBRASKA. 
Dear Rural :—It is a long lime since I 
have written to you. In the interval there 
has been a breaking up of old associations 
and surroundings, and a new home made in 
this laud of beauty and breezes, (and we hope 
health) where we trust uew friends will be 
found, and life go on as happily as in dear 
old Wisconsin. 
We made a pleasant visit in Chicago—and 
of course, a visit to the Exposition—stopped 
a few clays iu the beautiful city of Blooming¬ 
ton, Ill., and then, with high hopes, many 
kind wishes, and a Well-filled lunch basket, 
wc started for “the West.” Weave arrived 
at our destination, but don't find ourselves 
“out West,” by any means—“Out West” 
means Utah, California, Oregon. “ What 
will people do, when they reach the Pacific ? 
They can't go West then,” says one. But 
won't, they ? What power is strong enough 
to stop the great wave of immigration gath¬ 
ering strength and force each year ? And 
while the wide-spreading borders of half- 
civilized Asia, lie waiting In the West, will 
not the irresistible Yankee, with his train of 
foreign populace, go over ana possess it f 
The first half day we were in Nebraska, we 
were decidedly homesick. It was the 14th 
of October, that terrible day when the prairie 
fires raged all around, and those ten little 
school children were overtaken on their way 
home, and gave up their lives to its power. 
It was an oppressively hot day, the wind 
blew fiercely, and the air was filled with dust, 
for there had been uo rain for months. To 
add to my general uncomfortableness—an 
old resident remarked that this was “ merely 
a mild breeze,” quite ;ypleasant day, in fact. 
“ Hoes the wind ever Blow any harder here?” 
asked one. “ Well, if yeu don’t find that it 
does, just let me know,” was his cheer¬ 
ing reply. Paterfamilias, sitting opposite, 
laughed at me slyly, and asked what made 
my face so long, 1 was to be the prop of 
drooping spirits and let no one become 
homesick ; and was I the first to succumb ? 
I wouldn’t acknowledge it then, of course, 
and since that day, have had no occasiou. 
VV e like it here very well, if I may except 
the wind. I never did like wind ; it’s disagree¬ 
able, and sometimes I am afraid of it. But 
here we have a great many windy days, 
some very windy and a few the very windiest. 
Yet we do not lack for beautiful, quiet days, 
Last week, and Hundy and Monday of this 
week, were as warm and calm and lovely, as 
any early September day T ever saw; but to¬ 
night the wind blows terrifically, while a 
lurid light in the east shows where a prairie 
fire rages. It seems strange that, with the 
anneal recurrence of these destructive fires, 
fanners are not more anxious to be prepared 
for fhein. A little work of plowing about 
property, would save their grain, hay, houses, 
and perhaps lives. Yet they are very indif¬ 
ferent. One worthy man entirely lost his 
patience, because the partner of his bosom, 
ventured to remind him that he “had better 
plow around those stacks to day.” Do you 
thiok I'm such a fool as to let the fire cone 
and burn up my grain ? was his withering 
reply. Before uight, he had neither gratn, 
bains nor house. There was,his land and 
there was his family—all that was left to 
remind him of what a “/ool” he had been. 
(And I hope she did remind him of it to her 
heart's content). 
The wind, though strong, seems to be dry, 
and one feels none of the disagreeable effects 
which the raw, damp winds of other States 
produce. To be sure it brings plenty of dust 
at times ; but it is generally very invigor¬ 
ating ; and then there’s nothing like being 
used to it. But can I ever get used to it on 
washing day ? Indeed, 1 see there’s no regular 
washing ilay here. But, “watch your 
chance.“ Before 1 learned to do this—a sheet 
was demolished, u sleeve torn off a shirt, and 
a strip a foot wide torn straight anti clean off 
one side of a good bed-quilt. I know I have 
your sympathy, my sisters. I suppose it is 
good discipline for me—and I hope that pa¬ 
tience wi 11 have her perfect work. 
Now, I hope I’ve not given you an unpleas¬ 
ant idea of Nebraska. 1 didn’t intend to, 
and wo enjoy it here, ’much. But Eastern 
people have no correct idea of a Nebraska 
town. When I’ve been here longer, and can 
giv 3 you a more accurate account of things 
than at present, I will write again. 
Nov. 11, 1873. Dora V. Wheelock. 
.37 and 38°; it is well watered, having numer¬ 
ous springs and ever-running streams of good 
water. Spring River, the principal stream, 
is fed by springs, and affords an abundance 
of water for any and all purposes. Carthage, 
the county scat of Jasper Co., is situated on 
Spring River. It was burned down during 
the war,“but in the bust few years has grown 
to a city of seven or eight thousand inhabi¬ 
tants. It siqiports three large flouring mills, 
a large woolen factory and a planing mill, 
beside wagon factories, foundries, &c., <tc. 
It ha* about 800 school children and a school 
house to suit the demand ; in fact, it is keep¬ 
ing pace with the times, “panic or no 
panic 1” 
The climate of Soushwest Missouri is de¬ 
lightful, and at this date it is warm enough 
to allow one to go in his shirt sleeves. Teh 
those folks up in Iewa, Wisconsin and Min¬ 
nesota, who are now frozen in, to take a trip 
down this way, and see the green grass, and 
feel the soft, southern breezes, and they will 
exclaim “Eureka 1” 
The mining resources of Jasper County are 
being developed each day. Lead is found in 
great quantities in the southwestern part ol 
the County, and coal is found in almost every 
part of it. The Memphis, Carthago and 
Northwestern Railroad runs through Car¬ 
thage, and on through the great coal fields of 
Kansas. 
We have an immigration society at Car¬ 
thage. Persons wishing to ask questions in 
regard to Jasper County, can address E. P. 
Searle, President of the Society, and he 
will answer all questions free of charge. 
Ibid. 
I'ltariT of it JfrtraM 
THE GREAT ARKANSAS VALLEY. 
Any one who lias ever looked over the 
imps of the Great West, must have noticed 
tlu.t there are several great valleys, some 
running in one direction pud some in anoth¬ 
er. The Great Dos Moines Valiev, in Iowa, 
has become famous the world over for its 
wonderful agricultural productions; then 
there me several less extensive valleys along 
the Platte River and its various tributaries, 
but these are all localities in which the 
fruits and grains suited to cold climates must 
necessarily be cultivated ; but as we go fur¬ 
ther South the list of products can be con¬ 
siderably extended and the profits increased, 
inasmuch as the winters arc not so long nor 
severe, nod the cost of keeping stock pro¬ 
portionally less. One of the most, beautiful 
valleys if all that we have visited west of 
the Mississippi is that of the Great Arkansas 
Riveras it bends northward in following it 
from its mouth up through the Indian Ter¬ 
ritory into what is called the Arkansas Land 
District. But if one wishes to see a magnif¬ 
icent country, let him take the cars, ns we 
have, at Topeka, on the Atchison and Topeka 
Railroad, and ride for two hundred miles, or 
more, through the Great Arkansas Valley. 
The land is as rich as the richest, and the 
climate mild and healthy. There i8 room 
here for many thousands of farmers, who 
can grow the products usually produced on 
Nort hern forms, and many additional; cotton 
and tobacco will probably* become two of 
the great staples of this valley. The Atchi¬ 
son and Topeka R. R. Co. own the land for I 
t wenty miles wide on both sides of the track, j 
but they offer it at a reasonable price and on 
long credit. A mild climate is one <Jf the 
great attractions of this region of country, 
and it is one that one feels to be attractive, 
especially as the cold north winds search into 
our very bones at this season. 
- 
FROM JASPER COUNTY, MO. 
Jasper County lies in the southwestern 
part, of the State, between the parallels of 
f DAILY RURAL LIRE. 
i _ 
From the Diary of a Gentleman near New 
York City. 
) 
\ A GREAT MEMORY. 
, Nov. 15.—A friend bus just been telling me 
, about a man he met the past summer in Cal¬ 
ifornia who, it was said, could name at sight 
5,000 species of insects. As 1 happen to know 
something of the said naturalist, I can read¬ 
ily believe him capable at such u feat were 
he inclined to try his mental powers to that 
extent. But the question naturally arises in 
one’s mind, How came this man in possession 
of such a wonderful memory—not only for 
remembering names, but the objects to which 
they belong ? No doubt some will say, It’s 
a peculiar gift, which he inherited. This, in 
one sense, might be true, but in another it is 
not ; for no inherited or natural mental fac¬ 
ulty is worth a straw to n man unless it is 
cultivated—or, in other words, developed by 
being used. Tuldut of any kind only means 
a certain faculty cultivated and nothing 
more ; and 1 will venture to say that not one 
person in a thousand has the least conception 
of wlmt she or he is capable of doing men¬ 
tally or physically. As a race wa are unde¬ 
veloped. merely pigmies of what we might 
be if there was more widespread and general 
disposition to try. We frequently hear a 
person referred to as a genius, or ns possess¬ 
ing a wonderful talent for accumulating any 
particular kind of knowledge ; still, few ever 
stop to think what this genius or talent may 
have cost the possessor iu downright hard 
labor. Ol course, I do not wish to deny the 
fact that one person may possess natural 
abilities not vouchsafed to another; but a 
majority do inherit talents of some kind 
that would, if developed, make their acquire¬ 
ments very conspicuous as well as highly es¬ 
teemed by civilized men. Let us for a mo¬ 
ment, examine the case of the naturalist al- 
| ready referred to above. We will suppose 
he has been studying Entomology for the 
past 20 years, beginning when he was 20 
years old. Now let us suppose that he learned 
the name of one insect every day for 300 of 
the 805 days in each year ; he would, by this 
slow process, have been able, to know and 
name 6,000 ill the 20 years. But there are 
few men possessing sufficient perseverance 
to acquire knowledge of this sort, or retain 
it when acquired ; hence the very bad mem¬ 
ory of many who would be learned if it did 
not cost so much labor. But the point I 
would make is this Let every person, young 
or old, endeavor to add something to their 
store of knowledge every day, even if it is 
nothing more than the true name of some ob¬ 
ject which they are likely To meet at various 
t lines through life. A boy who will add cue 
word or a name of a thiDg to his vocabulary 
every day, rehearsing the same often enough 
to retain it, ca nnot fail to become conspicu¬ 
ous for his talents long before he is what we 
•- usually term an old man. But it must not 
d be supposed that the mere accumulation of 
i, words will add greatly to one’s store of 
e knowledge ; they are, however, to the man 
>, what the alphabet is to the child—the step- 
□ ping-stone to something higher. 
* TRCUBIC WITH HOUSE PIAHTS. 
Nov. 17,—The season for trouble as well as 
' pleasure with house plants is just commenc- 
'■ ing. Soon we shall hear the ladies begin to 
’ complain cf failure with their Camellias, Co- 
• leuscs, Verbenas, or some other kinds of 
choice plan a which they are attempting to 
h keep t’irou( h the winter. Perhaps I should 
J extend the: e remarks to some of the more 
pretent this establishments where there are 
line conservatories under the charge of men 
who call them selves professional gardeners ; 
for ?r-j 'ores are almost as numerous in ama¬ 
teur collections, under such circumstances, 
as among those who only undertake to keep 
a few plants in windows. The failures in 
both eases frequently arrive from the same 
cause, the Camellias, Verbenas and Daphnes 
thriving admirably, while the Coleuses, Bego- 
1 nias, Pepperomias and Fittonias fail, which 
puzzl'js the inexperienced—or perhaps I had 
' better say the ignorant—gardener as well as 
the amateur, who makes uo profession of a 
' know ledge of gardening. 
Of course, there? are excellent gardeners 
who ha 'e charge of private establishments. 
Any failure of success with certain kiuds of 
plaG ts should not be considered as arising 
from l&iy want of skill on their part, but 
simply the result of being directed by their 
employ* rs to undertake impossibilities. Em¬ 
ployers (.f gardeners who are frequently as 
■ ignorant of plants or their requirements as 
they nie of the vegetation of the moon, will 
expect to have every choice tiling grown in 
one house, even to the most delicate air 
plant ard the lichen of Greenland. If the 
gardener fails to bring them all to the great¬ 
est perfection, of course it is because he does 
not understand his business or is negligent of 
duties 1 A very little study iu regard to the 
native habitat of the different kinds of plants 
cultivated in Conservatories, would soon con¬ 
vince tbn most inconsiderate novice that the 
atmosphere and temperature that, would best 
suit, one species, would certainly be death to 
another. The professional florist assorts his 
plants, placing those requiring u eool atmos¬ 
phere in one house, the opposite in another ; 
then. by. i little judgment exercised iu water¬ 
ing, sharing and sprinkling overhead, he will 
manage to succeed with quite an extensive 
variety. But in very large establishments a 
half-dozen houses are required if the range 
of plants to be cultivated hi very diversified 
or extensive. These being well known facts, 
the amateur who has only one green-house, 
or perhaps nothing more extensive than a 
few pal lor or dining-room windows ln which 
to kee[ plants, should not, attempt the cul¬ 
ture of too great a variety. Verbenas, Ca¬ 
mellias, Daphnes and Carnations will succeed 
in quite a coal atmosphere ; and if given a 
very warm one, are sure to fail. But the 
mo,;t beautiful and showy of all bedding 
plant:;, the Coleuses and AchyranthuB, will 
lose tieir leaves, if the} 7 do not die outright, 
in i he very atmosphere where the Camellia 
succeeds best. Now the only way I have 
ever discovered to got out of the dilemma 
wa* to do as the jockeys say, “Split the dif¬ 
ference,” making each class suffer a little, 
expi ctiug, of course, an occasional loss, while 
not obtaining perfection iu any. I have been 
prompted to write the above from hearing 
many complaints in regard to the failures of 
cert i n species of house plants, and offer 
the? e remarks as a kind of “ soothing syrup” 
to th-se unfortunate lovers of the beautiful 
among flowers. 
AKDTHER GIANT! WATER BUG. 
Daily Rural Life My brother found 
the inclosed iu tixe river, under the ice, close 
to the shore. He said he had seen plenty of 
small ones about one-eighth as long as this 
one, but never saw one so large before. I 
would like to know what it is. I commenced 
saving insects when I was 12 years old ; I 
am 16 now, and have quite a'collection— 
Faxntc M. Tii-pett, Vernon Co., Wis. 
The insect is a gigantic water-bug, not a 
beetle ; and its name is lielostoma grandis, 
Linn. It lives by feeding upon other aquatic 
insects. If you look in the small ponds in 
summer, many beautiful water beetles as 
well as bugs may be found, all of which are 
worth preserving in your cabinet. Always 
endeavor to obtain the names of every spe- 
cieR, and then your cabinet will increase in 
value as well as interest to yourself and 
friends. Send mo any species which you 
desire named, retaining duplicates corres¬ 
ponding with the numbered specimens sent. 
-- 
Let our readers tell us of their daily rural 
life the past season—what they have learned. 
