PPOCRE88 AND IMPROVEMENT.’' 
but be guided by the wise Proverb which saitb, 
“ All labor i* Profitable, hut the Talk of the IAjx 
ten(Mh only to Penury .” 
Meantime all persons specially interested 
in our welfare will please observe Subscription 
and Advertising Rates and govern tncmselves 
accordingly. 
aeeu stores, auora tnose who sell them an ex¬ 
traordinary per cent, of profit; but peddlers 
are irresponsible creatures, and you cannot go 
back on them If your seed proves worthless. 
Rut a regular seedsman, well established. Is in¬ 
terested In sending you seed that will grow, 
no matter what he charges for it. Then, ir you 
have to buy seeds, buy of the seedsman with 
the best, reputation; but grow all the seed you 
can yourselves. Don’t buy If you can grow it. 
A NATIONAL ILLUSTRATED 
RURAL NOTES AND QUERIES 
HOME INDUSTRIES 
Conducting Kditor and JPutolisslier, 
»<ry ivucoiiruging are many letter* we are 
receiving uow-a-days. For example, here is a 
no(:- from an Agent-Friend in Saratoga Co., 
N. Y., who, among other pertinent things, 
says: “Tile UmtAL holds its own in these 
parts. My own club for 1873 was small, because 
I understood that two or three of my former 
subscriber* were trying to get up dubs In terri¬ 
tory which 1 had formerly canvassed. A widow 
lady who dropped the Rural last year Tor an¬ 
other paper, hailed me as I was passing her 
house the other day, and said she wanted the 
Tit kaj. next year. And she is but a specimen 
of several who were induced to leave the Rural 
for some other paper." 
And she (and probably they) regretted the 
change. Well, all wo have to say is that the 
Rural for 1874 will, if our programme is car¬ 
ried out, be so good that no one will regret, 
subscribing therefor, or inducing their friends 
to do likewise. 
CHAB. D. BRAGDON, ANDREW S. FULLER, 
Asaooiate Kditore. 
HENRY S. RANDALL, LL. D., Cortland Village, N. Y., 
EniTOB O* TUK DtFJLKTMCNT Of ShUHF HuHHAKDUY, 
X. A. WILLARD, A. M., Little Falls, N. Y., 
Eonroa of th* Domutmint of XUlitr Hcmuxdbv. 
The Produce Markets, according to th® State¬ 
ments of our reportriVs, arc steadily improving 
in most departments. The sudden closing of 
the Erie Canal, thus locking up a largo amount 
of freight, had to do with this. Added, there 
has been a resumption of business In many 
manufacturing localities, which has led to in¬ 
creased demand for articles which men out 
of work compel themselves to forego. The 
panic led dealers to refuse credits, preferring 
to hold stock rather than sell it where there 
was an uncertainty as to pay; hut as soon as 
money began to circulate, the low stocks of 
goods at place* usually supplied from New 
York, were replenished, creating a strong de¬ 
mand. Things look brighter for producers. 
TERMS, IN ADVANCE: 
BabHcrlptloUi-HInde Copy, $2.50 per Year. To 
Clubs;—Five Copies, and one copy f roe to Agent or 
getter up of Club, for $12.0(1; Seven Copies, and one 
free, for $l(i; Ton Copies, and one free, *20—only $2 
per copy. As we are obliged to pre-pay the American 
postage on papers mailed to foreign countries, Twenty 
Cent* should bo added to above rates for each yearly 
copy mailed to Canada, nod One Dollar per copy to 
Europe. Drafts, Post-Office Money Orders a ad Regis¬ 
tered Letters may be mailed at our risk. £/T Liberal 
Premium* to all Club Agents who do not take free 
copies. Specimen Numbers, Show-Bills. Ac-.»om free. 
Schools, Magazine* and Papers—Should re¬ 
ceive the attention of thoughtful, wise parents 
about these days. 11, is the first duty of fathers, 
at this season, to provide for the instruction 
and mental improvement of their children. 
They should first look to the district school or 
academy which their children attend—to *oo 
that the teacher Is competent, and that proper 
books, etc., are provided for the use of their 
sons and daughter*. Next, they should pro¬ 
vide suitable books ami periodicals for family 
reading during the long evenings and leisure 
days of winter. This is important, and should 
not bo neglected. Good books and naners an, 
ADVERTISING RATE8 : 
Inside, 14th and 15th pages (Again space).90c. per Hue. 
“ 7th and l.'ltli pages.. 1.00 “ 
Ou tside Or last page.1.50 “ 
Fif ty per cent, extra for unusual display. 
Special Notices, leaded, by count.2.00 " 
Business “ ....2.50 “ 
Reading *' ...3.00 •• 
£37“ No advertisement inserted for less than $3. 
PUBLICATION OFFICES: 
No. 5 Beekman Street, New York City, and No. 82 
Buffalo Street, Rochester, N. Y. 
the country merchants and grocers with all 
they could sell—making iOCI per cent, profit on 
every dollar's worth of labor expended In the 
cultivation, preparation and manufacturing of 
the willow. 
His wood binds yielded him proportionate 
profit. The ax-helves, ox-yokes, wagon hubs 
and spokes, and axles, frames for harrows, 
timber for shingles, &o„ &c., which his wood¬ 
lands furnished would have astonished many 
who liav« more resources than he had. Yet he 
kopt his woodland intact. The moment a tree 
had readied maturity—when It was growing 
no better- it was cut down and converted into 
something useful and marketable — at least 
such part id' it as could bo thus converted. 
But nothing was wasted. The wood-house 
was kept full of the best of fuel. Every twig 
and limb of any size was so cut as to lie util¬ 
ized. The amount of fuel he thus obtained, 
which most men would waste, was enormous 
It was the best kind of kitchen fuel, too 1 
Ho wo might go on and enumerate a hundred 
things that he utilized, which most farmers 
waste. His labor was utilized. Yet lot no one 
suppose that he had. nor gave his employes 
The Perkin* A House Safety Lamps mid Cans 
are more popular than ever. Absolutely safe 
in use, elegant in form, and cheap Ijj price, 
they form Indispensable adjuncts to comforta¬ 
ble house-keeping. No better present for this 
holiday season could be devised than one of 
those safe, cleanly, elegant lamps and the con¬ 
venient safety-can. They are sold by the 
Cleveland Non-Explosive Lamp Co., 42 Barclay 
8t., N. Y., and Cleveland, Ohio. 
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1873. 
Men from the Trade* on the Farm.—Some¬ 
time ago we advised farmers to give men work. 
It seems that some parts of the country are fill¬ 
ing iij) with men from the trades seeking work 
to do. The cities and largo manufacturing 
centers have overflowed their unemployed 
population into the small countri r towns. 
Many of these men will not work on a farm- 
will not offer to do so. Some of them, how- 
over. are seeking work on l he farms, and prove 
to be good farm hands. They are methodlsal 
and exact in their work. One farmer writes us, 
however, that some of those whom he has em¬ 
ployed are not worth their board—they retain 
i heir city notions in regard to the number of 
hours that constitute a (lay's work, and adhere 
to them, oven if they are turned out of doors. 
Muny of these men are good mechanics, and 
can be utilized in repairing or making tools, 
repairing and fitting up buildings, Ac. The 
wide-awake farmer will take advant age of this 
superahoutiding labor to get such odd Jobs 
done; and he could benefit many worthy men 
by so doing. 
TO OUR SUBSCRIBERS AND AGENTS. 
NOW is THE XI Mid 
V 4'npital ChrlxtmaM ntory, i, y au a bi e a ,m 
popular author, will be given in our next num¬ 
ber. Look for it. Young People, and “all the 
world and the rest of mankind.” 
RURAL BREVITIES 
NKAKt.v.mooo tons Of wheat and flour have 
been shipped from California this season. 
Tut Iowa Homestead ha*(wothink umvlsclv) 
changed Its name to Western Farm Journal. 
Patrons of Husbandry are beginning to 
complain of the expense attending the organ¬ 
ization of Granges. 
The consumption of wheat flour is said to 
be increasing rapidly in Scotland, and that of 
oatmeal decreasing. 
The next (second) mectiug of the New York 
State Grange of Patrons of Husbandry is to be 
held at Albany the third Wednesday In March. 
Many of the Connecticut Valley tobacco 
growers have two crops (of 1872 and 1878) on 
hand. It is said there is very little market 
for It. 
Cooking Food eoh Stock Is a good thing, 
and Prindle’a Steamer, advertised in this paper, 
we believe to be among the best inventions for 
that purpose. 
A Colorado paper says that “ more thor¬ 
oughbred stock has been brought to Colorado 
this year than during any former year since the 
settlement of the Territory." 
Article 1 of the by-laws of the National 
Grange says" The fourth day of December, 
the birtn day of the Patrons of Husbandry, 
shall be celebrated as the anniversary of the 
order.” 
We are sorry to learn that Twelfth Lady of 
Oxford, of the New-YorkMijUe herd, purchased 
by Mr. HOumn of England for $7,000, died 
The Department of Agriculture seems to 
have been entirely ignored by President. Grant 
In his annual Message. We wonder why ? Has 
he got disgusted with it ? Or has Commissioner 
Watts brought it to such a stuta of efficiency 
and perfection that there is nothing to recom¬ 
mend in its behalf? It seems to us Commis¬ 
sioner Watts, who Is ao eloquent pleader in 
behalf of the seed distribution business, ought 
to have wedged in a paragraph of some sort 
into this exhaustive Message. It would have 
been a satisfaction to us had the President 
told us what proportion of the seeds distri- 
WHAT IS YOUR LABOR WORTH 1 
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN.” 
[The following article, given in the Rural 
New-Yorker, under the ubovo heading,nearly 
a year ago,—and since adhered to as rigidly as 
possible,—la now reiterated with unction :] 
The Editor and Founder of t his Journal here¬ 
by announces his retirement, as speedily as pos¬ 
sible, from all business enterprises, offices, etc., 
not connected with Its •i.anagemem. Having, 
during t he past twenty years, permanently in¬ 
vested for the ostensible .benefit of individuals 
and the public, through the persuasion of 
friends, various small and large amounts—and 
meantime held sundry time-absorbing and 
otherwise expensive offices of trust ami honor, 
(but mu, one sinecure,) our ambition is amply 
satisfied, and the decision now made and re¬ 
corded “ means business.” Therefore all per¬ 
sons wanting to borrow money, place us in 
office, or make us rich by the use of “only a 
trifle" of our currency, time or influence, are 
advised that we are “ not at homo" to. or ner- 
Agricultural Book* 
A Young Farmer” is 
informed that we do believe that every farmer 
should read agricultural books, just as we be¬ 
lieve every lawyer should read law books, every 
physician medical works, and every minister of 
the Gospel his Bible. Now we <lo not know 
“ Young Farmer's" specialty in farming. If he 
has any he should select from our list such 
books as relate to Buch specialty—buy one at a 
time and master it. Ho will quickly discover 
that It will be profitable to buy another and to 
All up his library with books upon agricultural 
subjects for reference as well as Btudy. The 
time has passed when a farmer can compete 
In the work of production with success unless 
lie keeps thoroughly posted in all that pertains | 
to his vocatiou. 
when five days out from Quebec, en route for 
England. 
We see it asserted that the 1st Duchess of 
Oneida, of Mr. Campbell's herd, which was sold 
for about $30,000, has given birth to a heifer, 
11th Duchess of Oneida, for which the modest 
sum of $50,000 is demanded. 
The National Crop Reporter is hereafter to 
be issued—when it is issued—semi-monthly. It 
has some neat tables C figures In it, but it lacks 
tho quality of being of any use to anybody. 
That is the only thing that ails it. 
BUSINESS NOTICES 
Does the storm keep you from the lecture? Do 
the winter eveoingB seem long? Havethe old games 
become worn and lost their freshness? Get now 
Avilude, or Game of Birds. No game lias so happy a 
combination of keen enjoyment in its play, with no 
much useful information conveyed by the beautiful 
pictures of Birds and their fine and correct descrip¬ 
tions. Sent, post-paid, for seventy-five cents, by 
West & Lee, Worcester, Mass, 
Seeds of Seed Peddlers.—A correspondent in 
Indiana says there are seed peddlers traveling 
there who offer any kind of flower aud garden 
seeds, almost at from 20 to 50 per cent, below 
what the same seeds cost at a seed store. He 
askB if it is safe to buy. them. Ou general 
principles, no! Tho prices paid for seeds, at 
