every village in Hie land witnesses of their just¬ 
ness In paying, to the uttermost farthing, the 
claims of the widow and orphan, and of their 
liberality in distributing to each an equitable 
share of accumulated surplus, and this record, 
everywhere accessible and everywhere intel¬ 
ligible, is, after all, the best guide to policy 
seekers. 
FALLACIES OE LIFE INSURANCE,—IX, 
Tare on Butter Pack ages.—The butter deal¬ 
ers of New York have adopted the following 
resolution, to w hich the attention of producers 
and country buyers Is called : 
Wfifirca*, Dealers In butter, both receivers 
and jobbers, have been subject to great loss 
and annoyance from incorrect tares on pack¬ 
ages, and In order to protect the trade from 
further loss, and to establish a just and honest 
rule for our government, we, the undersigned 
merchants, dealers In butter, do hereby agree 
that we will instruct and bind ourselves and 
agents in all rases to test the tares of oil pack¬ 
ages of butter bought for our account, and to 
accent nothing less than actual tare, and not, to 
pay i or wood, salt or pickle, in warm weather, 
w r hen the butter is too soft to strip, we will re¬ 
quire i bo seller to guarantee the tare to be cor¬ 
rect, as marked, and a certificate of a city 
weigher shall be evidence of the correctness of 
the tare; and we further agree to hold our 
agents personally responsible for any loss that 
may arise from any neglect to comply with this 
order. 
PROCRESS ANO IMPROVEMENT 
A NATION At. ILLUSTRATED 
RURAL NOTES.AND QUERIES, 
CHAS. D. BRAGDON, ANDREW S. FULLER 
Associate Kditors. 
HENRY S. RANDALL LL, D„ Corlland Village. N. V., 
Euitox or ran DrrAKTWnst or Sursr Hoshanoky. 
X. A. WiLLARD, A. M., Little Falls, N. Y., 
Editom of tmk Dupaiitmhnt Dairy )I ufua ndry. 
The I Mill'd Kmtr* Ucntefiulal Commission. 
Thirty-three members of this Commission 
were present, May SO, at a meeting in Philadel¬ 
phia. A financial statement wan made rlmw- 
lng the total subscriptions to be 14,405,300; 
total expenses to May 1, including plans and 
work on the grounds, $144,713; and the esti¬ 
mate of the total cost of buildings according to 
the designs, $8,750,000. tint the cream of tin* 
proceedings is found in the following para¬ 
graph from the report of the Executive Com¬ 
mittee relative to t he refusal of Congress to 
pass an appropriation for the Centennial: 
“Profoundly impressed with the responsi¬ 
bility resting on the Commission, and lining 
conscious of having performed to the best of 
our ability the duty imposed on us by an net of 
Congress, we respectfully submit that without 
Government aid, which lias bi.-cn requested, it 
will be impossible to render the celebration 
creditable to the nation, and worthy of the oc¬ 
casion it is intended to commemorate. The 
responsibility, therefore, for the success of l,he 
Centennial International Exhibition now clear¬ 
ly rests with Congress. 
f/slen to ye plaintive wall® of yeCcntcniiialle 
C<untilissionorea—ye younger© none of ye fami¬ 
ly® SI—“ Profoundly impressed with the respon¬ 
sibility resting on me, and being conscious of 
having performed to the beat of my ability the 
duty imposed upon me by my father (?), I re¬ 
spectfully submit that without my father's aid, 
which has been requested, it will be impossible 
for me to go into business very heavily and 
make Tor myself the fortune which would be 
creditable to me; and unless my brothers and 
sisters give me such pecuniary aid as I ask for, 
1 cannot live in ease and luxury and go down 
to posterity on the historical white elephant. 
1 have tapped on their pocket-books and been 
refused admittance, and rny blood bo upon 
tlieir heads, not mine!” 
Exit patriotic younger son, weeping. 
TERMS, IN ADVANCE: 
Hubscriiilioii.- Single Copy, $3,50 per Year. To 
Clubs: Five Copies, and one copy free to Agent or 
getter up of Club, for $12.50; Seven Copies, and one 
free, for $16) Ten Copies, and one free, $20—only $3 
per copy, As we are obliged to pre-pay the American 
postage on papers mailed to f oroigti e< tun tries. Twenty 
Cents should be added to above jutes for each yearly 
copy mulled to Canada, and One Dollar per copy to 
Em ope. Drafts, Post O (lice Money Orders am! Regis¬ 
tered betters may lie mailed at our risk. pT Liberal 
Premiums to all Club Agents who do not take free 
copies, specimen Numbers, Show-Mile, &c., sent free, 
Dinner of the Rural Club of .Yew York.— This 
Club nte its regular spring dinner at Delmoni- 
eo’s May 19, President H. 15. 1’a ttso NS presiding. 
There was a large attendance. Among the 
guests of the Club were James Pakton and 
Miss MlDY MORGAN. No formal paper was read 
nor was any formal discussion had. Very pleas¬ 
ant speeches were made by several of the guests 
and members, and serious topics were broached 
and discussed informally, In n conversational 
way, the ladies participating. Socially, the din¬ 
ner and reunion wasa great success. The Club 
was invited by Mr. DBLA MATER to visit BeaOOll 
Stock Farm on the occasion of its first summer 
pic-nic next month. This Invitation was ac¬ 
cepted. 
ADVERTISING RATES: 
Inside. Dth and 1 >t h pages (Agate space).Rite, per line, 
" Uttli page...70 
Outside or last page.1.00 ** 
Fifty percent, extra for unusual display. 
Special Notices, tended, by count. 1.25 " 
Business *• .1.60 “ 
Reading “ ... . ,,....2.00 “ 
Discount on 4 Insertions, 10 per et.; H ins.. 15 per et.; 
13 ins., 20 per et.: 20 ins., 25 per et.; 52 ins., S8K per cl,. 
JjrVNo advertisement inserted for less than $3. 
French Farmers Overtaxed.—A French cor¬ 
respondent of the Massachusetts Ploughman 
says: -“French farmers are being so overtax¬ 
ed, owing to the immediate necessities of the 
situation, that in the case of several of their pt o- 
ducts- sugar and alcohol—they cannot dream 
of competing in foreign markets. To add to 
their heavy burdens, the tux on goods Iran- port¬ 
ed by railways has been Increased, and the same 
fate probably awaits salt . The weigh! ingof the 
transport of agricultural merchandise with now 
charges is deplorable." 
PUBLICATION OFFICES: 
78 Duane Street, New York City, and No. 67 
East Main SI, (Darrow's Bookstore, Osburn 
House Block,) Rochester, N. Y. 
Snail* Eating Cotton.—The Democrat-Courier, 
Natchez, Miss., has the following paragraph, 
which will attract attention : 
We are Informed by a gentleman residing 
three miles from the city that a new enemy to 
the cotton plant, has made Its unpoaranc© on 
his place, being a small black snail. These may 
be seen In countless numbers all over the fields, 
and as soon as the first two leaves of the cotton 
make their appearance above ground, these 
pests "go for them ” and eat them, totally de¬ 
stroying the stand. About half of the crop 
was up and has thus been destroyed, making It 
noehssary to replant. These snails work some 
on the young corn also, but will not damage it 
much. 
Atnericnn Short-Horn llcr<l-Bo</k, Vol, 13, 
Is now ready for delivery to Short-Horn breed¬ 
ers. It is prepared and published by Hon. 
Lewis F. Allen, Buffalo, N. Y. Mr. Allen 
states that Mr. Wm. M. Bailey, who has assist¬ 
ed in compiling the last five volumes of the 
Herd-Book, will hereafter be associated with 
him In compilation. This volume embraces 984 
pages and records 2,740 bulls, and we do not 
know how many cows. The frontispiece Is a 
fine lithograph of the 8th Duchess of Genova 
the fatuous $40,000 cow—at seven years of age, 
and is fully Illustrated with portraits of other 
noted Short-Horns. Mr. ALLEN estimates that 
during the past lour years "About three mil¬ 
lions of dollars have been invested In the pur¬ 
chase of Short-IIorn.s for breeding purposes and 
extension of their blood alone—not a dollar 
being expended for their value as articles of 
consumption.” Great pains seems to have boon 
taken to make this record as correct as possi¬ 
ble, and we see no evidence of partiality or of 
purpose to favor any family or herd invidious¬ 
ly. Of course, every Short-Horn breeder will 
want this book, the price of which is $10 by 
express or $10.70 by mail. 
SATURDAY, MAY 30, 1874, 
ANOTHER RURAL "BRANCH. 
Designing, Engraving, Printing, Ac 
In announcing, some weeks ago, the removal 
of the principal Publication Office of this Jour¬ 
nal to No. 78DuaneSt., New York, it was stated 
that the new premises afforded “ enlarged space 
and greater facilities for the transaction of out- 
increasing business and the branches now (and 
to be) connected therewith." Allusion was also 
made to the Book business, (which had long 
been a successful branch,) and the establish¬ 
ment of the Rural purchasing agency, in 
charge of a competent Manager, was announced 
ill the same paper. 
And now, as will be seen by reference to an 
illustrated advertisement, on page 3(10, the Ru¬ 
ral New-Yorker has inaugurated another 
essential branch of business that of Design¬ 
ing, Engraving, Printing, &c„—in which It is 
believed many of Its readers will be Interested. 
Like our Rural Purchasing Agency, this 
new Department is distinct from others and In 
charge of a most competent Manager. The 
gentleman having control of this Important 
branch or bureau, is Mr. Edy/ARD Sears, an 
excellent artist, who has for yours owned and 
superintended one of the best and most exten¬ 
sive Designing and Engraving establishments 
in New York. That he will respond to all orders 
or inquiries with fidelit y and accuracy we are 
confident, and lienee can safely refer such of 
our readors as may desire anything in the line 
of Illustrations, Printing, &c„ to the manager 
of this new department. Manufacturers, Nurs¬ 
erymen, Seedsmen, and indeed all wishing to 
securo first-class designing, engraving oi „ri»t- 
ing, will wisely make a not ? of this important 
branch of the RURAL Publishing Co,’8 busi¬ 
ness and act accordingly. Those desiring either 
designs, engravings, electrotypes, etc., or illus¬ 
trated or other bills, catalogues or books, will 
find it for ( heir interest to send their orders tor 
apply for estimates) to Mr. Sears before mak¬ 
ing arrangements or contracts elsewhere. 
The large number (several thousands) of il¬ 
lustration* which vve have on hand enables us 
to promptly furnish electrotypes of engravings 
oti u great variety of subje. s, and also to 
appropiiately illustrate drcul .v-, bills, cata¬ 
logues, etc., at a come r v ely small expense. 
Indeed, we regard t u lture ol the new de¬ 
partment a9 worthy tit h.ular attention of 
publishers, nurserymen, seedsmen, florists, and 
others wishing illustrated a •.oat. eti-ents. 
A Chance for 1‘otnto- Digger Inventor* is 
offered by the Agricultural Association of 
Veendam, Netherlands, which offers a prize of 
1,000 guilders for the beat machine for digging 
potatoes, and >300 guilders for t lit* second beat. 
It no machine, according to the requirement, 
is sent in, a compensation of 100 guilders i< 
offered fortho best ol' the machines offered In 
Competition, and 00guilders for the next heist. 
The match is at Veendam early in October. 
F, U. Van Tell, Veendam, Netherlands, is 
secretary of the association. 
The ,\r\v ,fer*ey Cranberry \-xix-i/iilon, an- 
nouneejhrough its Foreign Trade Committee, 
that arrangements have been made with P. T. 
Quinn, Cor. Sec. State Ag. Soo., who sails for 
Europe in June, to take tin active part in the 
work of introducing cranberries into the mar¬ 
kets of Europe. The Association is well satisfied 
with the results of shipments already made, 
and intends to follow up the mat ter vigorously. 
Till- Farmer*’ Political Movement in Illinois 
does not please some of the politicians and 
gratifies others. A recent, convention claiming 
a constituency numbering half the voters of 
the Suite, is characterized by the Chicago 
Evening Journal as nothing more than a con¬ 
ference of “bogus farmers," who will find 
themselves unable " to boss the real hard-fisted 
agriculturalists,” and it ventures to predict 
that the latter will quietly show these " ofliee- 
hungry political spiders who are inviting them 
into tlieir parlor that they are something more 
thun the stupid files they take them for,” The 
wbole movement, the Journal says, Is a cun¬ 
ning game of the "repudiated and sore-head 
politicians of the old parties,” whosemnly ob¬ 
ject is "to organize a new party by combining 
with the fragments of the old Democratic 
party such Republican sore-heads and dead¬ 
heads as they find lying around loose in various 
parts of the State, In order to get themselves 
elected to coveted offices.” 
RURAL BREVITIES 
The New York State Fair for 1874 Is to be 
held at Rochester, Sept. 14-18. 
We have inquiries for the Champion Boiler 
from our readers. The manufacturer should 
advertise It. 
Rev. W. J. Clarice, well known as a writer 
on industrial topics, has been appointed Rector 
of the Provincial Farm and School of Agricul¬ 
ture of Ontario. 
W IT. Gregory Should address any seedsman 
advertising in our columns for the grass seeds 
he names. Probably most of the New York 
seedsmen keep them. 
A letter without date but received May 23, 
from Noble Co.. Minn., says: ” We have a large 
supply of grasshoppers at present, about one- 
fourth of an Inch in length." 
A Cotton Growers' Congress is called at At¬ 
lanta, Ga., June 3, "to consider the practica¬ 
bility of lessening the acreage of cotton and 
increasing that of grains and grasses.” 
The article on "Lucerne or Alfalfa.” In our 
issue of May 23d, was written and read hv Col, 
F. D. (not F. B.i Curtis of Charlton, N. Y„ be¬ 
fore the Farmers*Club of the American Insti¬ 
tute, and not as credited. 
Th e “ National Horticult ural Society," which 
is said to have been organized in this city and 
is advertising an exhibition, is of such a ques¬ 
tionable character as to warrant us in caution¬ 
ing our readers against being "sold" by it. 
The Illinois .State Board of Agriculture holds 
afield trial of plow's, ditching and road-making 
machines, corn harvesters anti huskers, grain 
binders, hedge trimmers, bay loaders, &c., near 
Alton, 111., June 23. The trial is free to all. 
Entries can be made any day before the trial by 
addressing the Secretary, A. M. Garland, 
Springfield, III. 
The State Fair is not to be in Utica.—We 
learn this from the Herald, which thus oonsoles 
itself:—"We did not really desire the State 
Fair in Utica this year; we say if frankly. We 
could not take the risk of detracting from the 
symmetrical beauty and completion of the Cen¬ 
tral New York Agricultural, Horticultural and 
Mechanical Association Exhibition by annexing 
to It an unknown quantity. It is true, we did 
not desire to appear inhospitable, and offered 
ourselves for devouring v/hon the State Society 
w'ent up and down seeking whom it might. 
But we really had no Intention of compromis¬ 
ing our annual display by tiny jointure. We 
were going to offer the Executive Committee 
of the State Society a vacant lot, and give them 
every opportunity to make a fair show'. Now 
that the State Fair has gone West, we shall rent 
the lot for a lemonade stand, if the premises be 
deemed wide enough." 
