•JAM, 48 
PROGRESS AND IMPROVEMENT.’ 
MOORE'S RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
A NATIONAL ILLUSTRATED 
RURAL. LITERARY AND FAMILY NEWSPAPER. 
D. B. T. MOORE, 
FoHnder and Conducting Editor. 
CHAB. D. BRAGDON, ANDREW 8. FULLER, 
A««ooiate Editors. 
HENRY S. RANDALL LL. D.„ Cortland Village, N. Y., 
Kmt-'U or thi« D>pahtmi>t or Saxir Hmuinir. 
X. A. WILLARD, A. M., Little Falls, N. Y„ 
Editor or ths DiriBTum or Diitr Huhbampkt. 
G. A. V. BARNETT. Publisher. 
TERMS FOR 1875, IN ADVANCE, 
INCLUDING POSTAGE, WHICH PUBLISHERS PREPAY. 
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Copies,and one free, $21.50—only per ropy. The. 
above rates inrlurh posf./rn (wh)cll we shall he obliged 
to prepay after .Tan. i, 1875, under the new law.) to 
any part of the I nited States, and the American 
postage on aii copies mailed to Canada. On papers 
mailed to Buroyc, by steamer, the postage will be 85 
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SATURDAY, JAN. 16, 1875, 
SHOWS, SPEECHES AND DINNERS. 
It is a pity the American farmer has not got 
a better stomach—or that he does not take 
better care of It. Perhaps, and probably, there 
aro some people who do not think It a pity. 
But when we read as we do weekly, of the 
meetings, shows, dinners and speeches of the 
British farmer, we are led to believe that the 
only way in which the American farmer couid 
ever be Induced to sit and listen to such inter¬ 
minable doses of heavy agricultural wisdom, is 
by getting his stomach first, distended by so 
good a dinner that be would not want to move, 
and could not if ho wanted to do so. The 
amount of agricultural speech making that is 
luflicted upon the British farmer, every week, 
ought to decompose Ids stolidity and dissipate 
his stupidity. It ought to make htm wild, In¬ 
sane, desperate to be and to do, even as he must 
have to suffer. 
The only way in which we can understand 
the phenomenon — that the funner* tolerate 
such speeches—is that they are too full and too 
sleepy to care what the speechmaker says, nor 
how long he is saying it, and that they are too 
wise to ever attempt to read it. It is not In¬ 
tended to Intimate that all speeches made at 
shows and dinners are stupid; that there are 
nowlsoand bright things said there; but the i 
bulk of them are bulkier than their fat cattle 
and about as much lacking in sprightllness. 
4 4 »- 
THE RURAL CLUB OF NEW YORK. 
This Club will have held its annual meeting I 
and elected its officers ere this paper reaches 
its readers. There is a misapprehension among 
some of our friends as to the purposes of this 
club. We are asked why It doos not hold public 
meetings for dlsoussiou—why the agricultural 
and horticultural wisdom that, centers In It i 
does not make itself felt throughout the land? j 
In reply to the last question, we answer it does. 
There Is scarcely a member w ho Is not, in some 
manner, aotlvely employed in disseminating 
knowledge t»r Rural pursuits or cultivating, in ! 
one way or another, a taste for Rural Life. In j 
a large city like New York, it la most difficult 
to secure a frequent gathering of those engaged 
in Rural pursuits or who are devoting their lei¬ 
sure to Rural esthetics. Life Is too exacting 
socially, in its business relations, or otherwise. 
Many of these men live In suburban towns and 
cannot control their time; many have no time 
underthelr control, Independent of their daily 
KING ALk'ONSO OB’ SPAIN. 
duties. Yet each feels that there should be a 
nucleus about which those of similar tastes 
may gather on occasion. This nucleus must 
necessarily be social. Accordingly, the Rural 
Club of New York was organized as this nucleus 
and upon the social plan—less with the purpose 
of making a name in the world aa an organiza¬ 
tion and more for the purpose of bringing 
together socially, men and women of like tastes 
and employments, that, they might, know, and 
bo known by, each other. The social meetings, 
according to the constitution, must he held 
quarterly, and embrace usually a dinner and 
reunion, or, in summer, a picnic to some place 
of Interest In the neighborhood of New York, 
with an essay (or not) upon some subjects in 
harmony with the character and purposes of 
the club, or off-band after-dinner speeches and 
discussions by Invited guest* and others. 
This much Is said of its purposes In reply to 
Inquiries we occasionally receive of this char¬ 
acter:—“What has become of the R-iral Club? 
Why don’t Itdosomethlug? We have not heard 
from It lately,” Ac., &o. It will he understood 
from what we have said That It performs its 
functions fully and regularly, and that It -ons 
not organized “to be heard from.” Its voca¬ 
tion la to take care of and enjoy Itself and give 
enjoyment to all who join it. Its members do 
their work for the public outside the fold and 
only enter it for rest and recreation. 
-4-4-4-- 
RURAL NOTES AND QUERIES. 
The Labor Problem,—A New England wo- 
man asks the Rural New-Yorker Can 
you solve this labor problem and tell us when 
the working class are to have work again in 
our manufactories, or if all manufacturing 
is hereafter to cease, comparatively speaking Y 
Just so soon aa there is a demand for the vari¬ 
ous manufactures and there Is a profit to be 
made by supplying the demand, manufactories 
will start and labor will be required. Whether 
all manufacturing ceases depends entirely on 
the state of facts above given. No man makes 
gloves, or boots, or cloths, or axes, or anything 
else, beyond tboso needed for bin own and his 
family’s use, unless he can sell them at a profit 
—at least for enough to cover the actual cost 
of production. When lie ceases to cover the 
cost, he ceases to manufacture, unless he ha* 
an abundauce of capital and great confidence 
in a future market at paying prices for any 
stock he may accumulate. There seetus to be, 
just now, nothing apparent in the future to 
warrant manufacturing Investments cr specu¬ 
lations—perhaps there are exceptional cases— 
and with the vicious tinkering with tariffs in 
Congress, the miserable quibbling policy of 
that body with reference to the currency, the 
demoralized condition of commercial and po¬ 
litical othios, the outlook would not be hopeful 
did we not know the elasticity of our people, 
tho vigor of our enterprise, and the vast food- 
producing population that must be supplied 
with every manufactured article. Dark as 
things may look to the manufacturer, it is diffi¬ 
cult, in these uncertain times, to predict what 
a day may bring forth. 
-»♦« 
Meehan has a Healthful Pulse.— MEEHAN of 
the Gardener’s Monthly announces he has been 
looking through the Rural New-Yorker 
carefully “ In order to feel how its puise is 
beating.” and asserts that he finds “ it in excel¬ 
lent health and spirits.” Now this is not a 
you-tlckle-me-and-I-tlckle-you paragraph (al¬ 
though the Gardeners’ Monthly i» the best 
Horticultural journal puhllshed in the United 
States) but one written to assert the soundness, 
mentally at least, of friend Meehan, indorsing, 
as he does, what we said a few weeks ago against 
the scheme to create a Bureau of Dendrology. 
The Gardeners’ Monthly “cordially Indorses” 
the fact that the whole scheme is “ too thin; ’ 
that the object or Its promulgators Is to benefit 
"a few individual*, who do not know what to 
do with themselves ami who believe the world 
owes them a living.” It Is of a class with the 
“charity" and “benevolent” dodge* of men 
who aro too lazy to earn an honest living and 
too fearful of the penalty of open seoundrcl- 
iom, who start “Charitable” or“Elevate-the- 
Poor” Associations, beg hard, get control of 
contributions, kick the needy down stairs when 
they apply for help, and live like fighting-cocks 
themselves so long as contributions flow in. 
The Bureau of Dendrology will lip Just as useful 
to tho public a* are these associations to the 
poor, 
♦4*- 
An Unprecedented Karpins, Any company 
can float with the current, either of prosperity 
or adversity; but to progress against, the cur¬ 
rent demands genius and an honest propulsive 
power. The Travelers Life snd Accident Ins. 
Co.’s statement Indicates push and thrift. 
Messrs. Batterson and Dennis are not lag¬ 
gards. The Company reports Its assets at 
3*3,188,2-10.00, and n gain since January. 1871, of 
$514,350.00, and total liabilities, $2,133-117.00. 
showing a surplus of $1,085,123.00, the largest 
surplus, In proportion to liahilitles. ever yet 
shown by any life company of Usage, We hope 
that the Hew York Insurance Department will 
not repeat the mistake It, made last year In 
charging the capital stock ($500,000.00) as a 
liability against the Travelers, without admit¬ 
ting it, as in other companies, as an arnit also. 
This blunder left the .Traveltrs under the im¬ 
putation of having an impaired capital, instead 
of a surplus of $380,000.00. We have confidence 
in the Travelers, and bespeak for it a hearty 
welcome everywhere. 
- *44 - 
The Health of the Family.—This is a proper 
topic for a “ Rural Note” at this season ; *or it 
is long since we have known a winter so chock 
full of colds of great severity that linger on and 
on, of influenzas that sour all enjoyment, of 
diphtheria and its terribly fatal results. The 
condition of tho physical system and its pro¬ 
tection front the effects of weather changes 
demand the most zealous attention on the part 
of parents. Diphtheria is increased, if not 
largely due, to overcrowding in schools, ill- 
ventilation, sudden exposure, &e. We know 
some people who wonld gladly have had their 
children grow up in comparative ignorance of 
school obtained knowledge, If thereby they 
could but fill up the vacant places about the 
hearth. This is only one phase. In general 
terms, we warn onr readers of their duty (and 
of the danger of not doiug It) to look vigilantly 
after their hygienic surroundings. We are 
simply doiug our duty thereby. 
To Gel Good Farm Help Cheap, and an abun¬ 
dance of it, Hon. M. L. Dunlap, a farmer and 
nurseryman of large experience, and who hires 
a great deal of help, says, “ Pay your day labor¬ 
ers at the end of the week or close of the day 
and those who work by the month at the end 
of the month.” Ho rightly asserts that the 
farmer who does this and gets a reputation for 
doing It will rarely be embarrassed Iu securing 
all the intelligent labor he needs. Our own 
experience on a farm confirms this —that a 
farmer had better borrow money of a bank 
wherewith to pay his help promptly than bor¬ 
row it of his employes. At this season Is the 
time to make the proper arrangements or pro 
visions for labor and for paying for It. The 
gain is in the quality of labor that will thus be [ 
secured and iu retaining good help when once 
obtained. 
King Alfonso of Spain.— We give herewith a 
portrait of the new King of Spain, a youth 
whose history has already been given in this 
Journal- Of course a boy of eighteen can only 
wield a mimic power, through the graco of a 
dominant party. Another proof of the impns.. 
slbility of maintaining among Latin people a 
Republican form of government. They may 
depose him, ere long, as suddenly and nnrea- 
sonably as he has been inaugurated. What 
Is mls-called Republicanism In Southern Europe 
Is really little better or more than a spasm of 
agrarianism. A Republic can only exist 
through the preponderating influence of a 
p Germanic or Anglo-Saxon element. 
-♦♦♦- 
American “Bug” and Blight on F.ngllsh 
Apple Tree*.—it Is stirringly amusing to an 
American, however stolid, we think, to read 
that an Englishman bought a place two years 
ago, finding “ the apple trees In a sad state, 
literally white all over with American bug!” 
And this loyal Briton assert-, that. Ivy the use of 
petroleum he got rid of the “American blight." 
and this year " no hug is to be seen.” “ Blight” 
and “bug," both “American.” each synony¬ 
mous with the other, both cured by the appli¬ 
cation of petroleum! Delicious! Delightful I 
- 44-4 - 
RURAL BREVITIES. 
Vick, the great Rochester Seedsman, has 
favored us with his highly-colored Cbromo for 
1875. 
They have a “ Bachelors’ Retreat Grange” 
down South somewhere. Are its members Pa¬ 
trons of Husbandry ? 
Mrs. C- w. Rabbf.th asks where the Scarian 
community is located. We do not know that 
any such community exists. 
TlUC Berkshire Breeder* of Illinois have 
adopted measures to establish a herd-book for 
the registry ol Berkshire swine. 
An American manufacturer of axes recently 
received an order for 5.000 for Norway, and an¬ 
other of like number for South America. 
There is a new horse disease called “ Pink 
Eye.” It is said to last three or four works. 
We have seen no description of symptoms. 
That “ good old stand-by,” I.anbreth’p Ru¬ 
ral Register and Almanac for 1875, issued hv 
David Landreth & Ron, Philadelphia. Pa., 
has arrived. 
It Is a good thing for any one to carry and 
use a note-book: it is especially profitable to 
the farmer who knows howto make a proper 
use of bis notes. 
A California correspondent asks who is 
Importing pure-bred Angora goats. We f jo not 
know, nur ” where mohair ran be sold at the 
| best advantage." 
How’s ibis for a name? The “Royal Dublin 
Greenboys,” who bold an annual Show of fat 
stork and roots. We note there were 74 entries 
I in black cattle at their last Show. 
Thank* to Prof. John E. Sweet of Cornell 
University, for a fine photngruph of the lato 
Ezra Cornell— the best likeness of --ur la¬ 
mented friend (hat we have seen. 
Dairymen are assured that Whitman & 
Burrell of Little Fails. N. Y., whose card to 
Cheese and Butter Manufacturers uproars on 
this page, are orthodox and reliable. 
The Border Post (New South Wales) notes a 
clip of six pure-bred Lincoln sheep the length 
of the staple of which was 12 inches; weight of 
fleeces, respectively, 24, 22, £0. 30, 2| and 20 lbs. 
A con respondent asks where (hero are apy 
colonles ol Northern settlers in the Southern 
States, where located and if some one will give 
a fair and true statement of particulars con-- 
corning them. 
The name of tho author of "Lobelia pumiln 
graudiflora plena" in last issue of Rural is 
that of the accomplished florist, H. E. Chitty, 
the carelessness or our proof-reader to the con¬ 
trary, notwithstanding. 
Thanks to friends, ail over tho land, who 
are favoring us with well-lined letters and 
words most encouraging. Such evidences of 
support uml approval are Inspiriting, and we 
must, perforce aim “ still higher," 
It does seem as Jf Mr. J. N. Baoo, the pub¬ 
lisher of tho American Ayrshire Herd-Book, 
might be badgered into saying something in 
his own defense If breeders continue to fire at 
himit while longer as they have been doing the 
past few months. 
We notice Mr. T. D. Warrall, said to he 
representing the Patrons of Husbandry of 
America, has been making a speech before the 
British Ag’l Co-operative Society, strenuously 
advocating the importance of opening a direct 
trade with the Mississippi Valley in co-opera¬ 
tion with the Grange movement. 
BUSINESS NOTICES, 
LEAKY ROOFS 
Easily made water-tight, wtth Sline’s Patent 
Roofing Paint, which saves reshingling, is prac¬ 
tically Ore-proof, contains no tar, is extremely cheap, 
and indorsed by corporations, public instltutlonsand 
leading men in every State. Local Agents wanted. 
Send for book circular, containing full particulars and 
thousands of testimonials. >\ Y. SLATE ROOFING 
CO., 6 Cedar St., New York. 
CHEESE AND BUTTER MANUFACTURERS 
Can obtain newest and most approved Apparatus, 
Fixtures, Ac., of Whitman & Burrell, Little 
Falls, X. Y. Illustrated Catalogue, containing Prac¬ 
tical /Tints to Dairymen, free. 
-4M-- 
There has never been found a person who 
knew ot Dobbins’ Electric Soap, and had tried It, 
that did not pronounce It at once the best soap he 
ever used, Thoso who have tried it. use It without 
exception. 
ConanmcVM of Silk find upon investigation that 
the Eureka 50 and 103-yds. spools are the best and 
most economical to use. 
