ss 
’S  RURAL  MEW-YORKER. 
ply  of  cereal  wealth,  corruption  has  radiated  from 
party  centers  into  legislative  haUs,  and  bad  men 
have  traded  in  votes  without  limit  and  without 
shame.  While  the  mon  who  own  the  soil  of  the 
country,  and  the  food  it  jurodnoes.  have  been  pa¬ 
tiently  working  to  inoreaso  the  yield  of  their 
acres,  and  to  furnish  bread  and  moat  to  the  i>eo- 
plo  in  larger  abundance  and  at  lower  cost,  these 
defiant  conspirators  have  added  to  the  atrocity 
of  their  plunder  a  still  deeper  wrong.  They  have 
demoralized  the  jxjoplc  the  fascinating  mag¬ 
nificence  of  their  crimes,  until  the  very  princi¬ 
ples  of  morality  on  which  societj'  reposes  have 
been  submerged  by  the  tidal  wave  of  dishonesty 
and  sterling  integrity  of  character  has  been  driv¬ 
en  to  the  wall  by  the  overbearing  iuaolonce  of 
organized  villainy. 
But  tbroiigU  the  whole  of  this  contrast  between 
the  two  clasHes  described,  pt!i  liai)s  tbe  strangest 
fact  of  aD  is  the  disparity  of  numbers.  While 
tlic  numerical  force  of  the  farmers  rises  to  five 
or  six  millions,  the  rank  and  filo  of  the  rings 
amount  to  comparatively  few  thousands,  and  tJm 
ring  leaders  themselves,  not  probably  exceeding 
a  few  score  in  numbers,  ai-e.  many  of  them, 
known  and  identified,  yet  hold  their  position  in 
society,  evading  aU  laws,  and  defiant  of  all  jus¬ 
tice.  CoMiAU  Wilson. 
Sloatsburg,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  1«76. 
POTATOES  GEOWN  FOE  ONE  SHIIJ;.ING 
A  BUSHEL. 
under  very  exceptional  circumstances.  Timothy 
may  not  bo  a  profitable  grass  for  farmers  with 
arable  land,  but  it  is  a  groat  deal  better  than 
nothing.  It  is  also  better  for  fields  soon  to  bo 
plowed  than  blue-grass,  which  will  inevitably 
gradually  creep  in  where  dying  Clover  has  found 
no  better  heii’  to  fill  its  jilacc;.  Hence  we  advise 
farmers,  when  sowing  Clover  this  spring,  to  add 
a  little  Timothy,  unless  they  are  quite  certain 
that  the  Clover  is  to  be  ]ilowed  under  the  year 
following.  Even  then  it  will  do  no  hurt. 
10,139;  Belgium,  9,375;  Canada,  4,300;  Brazil, 
4,000;  Sweden,  3,168;  Spain,  2,448;  Itussia, 
1,500,  and  Austria,  1,630. 
Tue  Main  Exhibition  Building  mil  bo  finished 
about  tbo  middle  of  February.  Little  remains  to 
bo  done  except  tho  interior  decoration  and  the 
floor-hying,  and  both  are  well  advanced.  Ac¬ 
cording  to  the  contract,  tho  builder,  Mr.  Dob¬ 
bins,  forfeits  S300  for  every  day  Uic  work  is  pro¬ 
longed  after  the  1st  of  January,  but  tbe  Board  of 
Finance  ^vill  probably  not  cxoi'l  tho  penalty. 
The  United  Slates  Oovenunent  building,  a  cru¬ 
ciform  structuro  with  a  large  gloss  dome,  is  now 
completed,  and  tho  portions  to  be  occupied  by 
the  different  dopartraeutH  aro  iudlcatod  by  tho 
decorations  on  tho  adjacent  walls.  Wliere  plows 
abound  as  numnl  ornaments  tho  Agricnltiu'al  De- 
])ai‘tmeut  will  naturally  bo  f(.iiunl,  anchors  point 
out  tho  location  of  tho  Navy,  swords  of  tlie  War 
Department,  and  so  on. 
The  Michigan  building  will  bo  begun  in  tho 
Park  next  week.  The  whole  structure,  except  tho 
foundation,  will  l»o  finished  hi  Michigan.  The 
New  Jersey  building  is  nearly  finiahed  and  makes 
a  haiuisoiiie  apjHiBrance.  Pennsylvania  will  liave 
tho  largest  of  all  tlie  Htate  buildings  if  tboljogia- 
Inturu  appropriates  the  $'15,000  wliich  it  is  asked 
to  give  for  tbe  pmposc.  'Die  plans  have  been 
made  and  taken  to  Harrisburg.  Ohio’s  head¬ 
quarters  have  got  as  far  along  as  the  foundation. 
POTATOES  MIXING  IN  THE  Hn.T, 
We  had  supposed  that  this  question  of  whether 
potatoes  ever  do  become  mixed  by  either  grow¬ 
ing  in  the  same  field  or  hill  hud  long  ago  lieen 
settled  in  tlie  negative.  Of  coui’se  we  know 
that  there  aro  farmers  who  still  adhere  to  their  I 
icilkd  belief  tliat  potatoes  do  frequently  mix  in 
tho  liill  and  wheat  turn  to  chesH ;  but  it  is  sel¬ 
dom  now-a-duys  Oiat  a  man  of  intelligence  who 
has  given  tbeso  subjects  careful  consideration 
and  oxamiiiation  will  stand  up  and  declare  his 
faith  ill  either. 
But  it  seems  to  bo  very  difficult  to  eradicate 
prejudice  or  the  influenoe  of  early  training  out 
of  tlio  human  cranium,  and  although  few  may 
believe  in  lucky  signs,  still  they  had  a  little 
rather  see  the  new  moon  over  tlieir  right  shoul¬ 
der  than  over  tlie  loft.  In  no  other  way  can  we 
account  for  tlie  appearance  of  a  late  article  in 
tho  Coimtry  Gentleman  by  Mr.  CuAs.  Arnold  of 
Ontario,  Caiisila,  cn  this  snbjetd  of  potatoes 
mixing  in  the  hill.  Mr.  .\rnoi.d  is  widely  known 
as  a  scientific  horticultmist,  being  one  of  tho 
few  men  who  have  been  successful  in  raising 
hybrid  grapes  and  raspbmTiee,  stiU  he  seems  to 
be  incUoed  to  take  tlie  attlniiulivc  side  of  the 
pota,t/i-mixlng  theory.  In  fact,  he  says: 
“But  still  T  shall  choose  the  affinuativo  side 
of  the  question,  and  assort  positively  tliat  pota¬ 
toes  do  become  changed  entirely  in  the  hill  into 
quite  distinct  potatoes  from  those  that  were 
planted. 
“The  fact  is.  Nature  has  more  and  greatei- 
facilities  for  producing  new  viuictios  in  the  veg¬ 
etable  kingdom  than  she  generally  gets  credit 
for.  Wc  arc  all  too  apt  to  overlook  tJm  fact  that 
tho  whole  vegetable  world  is  capal)lo  of  pro¬ 
ducing  new  and  valnablc  varieties  by  bnd  hy¬ 
brids,  or  siiorts,  or  whatever  else  they  may  l)c 
culled.  Of  tbe  conditions  favorable  for  pnxlnfmg 
new  varieties  in  tliis  way  but  little  is  known,  but 
that  new  and  valuable  fruits,  flowers  and  veg^y^ 
IJcs  aro  i>rodaced  is.  I  boheve,  admitted  by  all. 
And  no  doubt  thousaniis  of  valualfie  variations 
Ihns  produced  pass  into  oblivion  unobserved. 
They  aro  ‘  Iwrn  to  blush  unseen.’  " 
After  referring  t<v  some  other  similar  freaks 
known  to  have  occurred  among  various  kinds  of 
fruits,  he  tolls  us  how  ho  became  converted  to 
tho  mixing-in-thc-liill  theory,  as  follows: 
“  Four  yoai'B  ago,  when  digging  my  favorite 
IKjtato.  the  diinax,  I  oliserved  that  nisjn  one 
sUilk  of  pure  white  Climax  one  jmfato  was  much 
larger  at  ouo  end  than  the  oGior,  and  th.-it  the 
largo  cud  was  quite  red.  I  at  once  concluded 
that  this  was  a  sjK'rt,  and  reasoned  viUj  myself 
about  the  probability  of  this  red  end  cnntiiiuiiig 
to  produce  red  j)olate«;s,  and  larger  than  the 
parent.  1  laid  the  potato  carefully  away,  and  in 
tlio  Hjjring  I  planted  tho  white  jwrti|in  in  one 
hill  by  itself  and  the  I'ed  poiliou  in  another  hill 
by  itself. 
“  In  tlie  fall  when  they  were  dug  the  one  lull 
was  all  pure  White  Climax,  and  the  other  hill  all 
red.  liue-sdzcd  potaUws,  not  quite  so  long,  but 
larger  and  rounder  than  its  paj-ent.  llieKc  po¬ 
tatoes  have  shown  no  disjiosition  to  sport." 
Following  this  sdugular  ajipeal  to  unbelieversy 
wo  arc  given  a  description  of  the  snporlative 
proiX'rticH  of  the  new  sort  produced  in  such  a 
sportive  manner.  But  wc  confess  oiu’  inability 
to  see  bow  Mr.  Aunoli>  can  make  out  that  the 
production  of  the  so-callotl  sjHJrt  or  variety  lias 
anything  to  do  with  tho  “  mixing-in-the-hill " 
theory.  Ho  docs  not  inform  us  wlietlicr  tliero 
was  or  ever  had  V^een  any  red  ])otatoes  growing 
on  Ids  ground  to  mix  with  the  CTmax ;  and  even 
if  there  had  been  at  tbo  time  of  the  discovery  of 
the  sport,  it  would  not  have  been  proof  of  a 
mixtimo. 
Now,  this  whole  story,  which  to  some  others 
besides  Arnold  may  be  eonvinoing  pro(.>f  of 
the  mixing  theory,  really  has  no  foiuidatiou  be¬ 
yond  tho  well-known  fact  that  iwtatoes  often  do 
“ sport”  or  vary'  from  tho  oiiginal  type,  and  the 
variety  or  sport  thus  appearing  remains  fixed  and 
can  bo  perpetuated.  The  White  Peach  Blow  is  a 
well-knowji  sport  of  the  rod,  and  not  a  seedling. 
There  are  also  two  or  three  varieties  of  Late 
Rose  potatoes  which  originahsl  in  the  same 
manner,  but  they  are  not  snpiiosed  to  be  the  re¬ 
sult  of  any  mixing  in  the  hill,  and  to  claim  for 
them  such  an  origin  is  to  further  mystify  a  mys¬ 
tery'.  It  is  not  at  all  strange  that  our  common 
varieties  of  the  potato  should  sport,  because  they 
all  came  originally  from  tho  same  source,  aud 
there  is  likely  to  be  a  little  red.  black  or  blue 
“blood”  even  in  such  apparently  pure  white 
sorts  as  the  Climax. 
AN  EXAMPLE  OF  SUCCESSFUL  FAEMING, 
“  Will  farming  pay  ?”  is  tho  frequenl.  inquiry. 
I  herewith  give  you  my  experience  for  the  yeai' 
1875,  and  should  you  deem  it  of  .suilicieiit  im- 
j>ort  to  insert  in  your  valuahlo  pajHir,  and  should 
one  of  your  nmnerous  reailers  be  ls;<nefited  in  the 
least,  I  will  be  fully  compousated  for  the  short 
time  it  requu'cd  to  compile  from  niy  day  books. 
My  fann  consists  of  240  acres,  uhoiit  116  in 
cultivation.  TliO  remaining  121  in  pasture  and 
hay  laud,  except  for  orchard,  young  timber,  y'ards 
and  roads,  to  the  extent  of  about  10  acres.  Tho 
%urc6  aro  as  follows : 
For  Ittlior of  help,  ciiltlvatinx.  hiirvcut,  sf<)rinjf,..Hi487  21 
Mr-rdlnjf  iina  ford  for  ratilr  of  tlio  fiiriii .  21 
I.niubor,  |»ostj»  for  addititloiml  yard .  !tl  35 
llrcakinK new  liind ,  , .  ....  ..  7U  Id 
Taxes  of  197'l,  paid  In  Keb.,  isTR  . . . . .  S4  si 
I-lvp  anUuats  wi  reolawi  tlio-i  disponed  of  ...  UJl  ‘.O 
culler  expenses  of  llvln>f  for  faniily,  from  a 
paiier  of  needlos  loan  over-Kannenl,  Ijoard 
of  help,  small  rej>alrs  of  fim  a  tools,  paiut- 
UiK,  etc . . . .  ,  .  .  ....  68U  7d 
Total  exitneea  of  fann,  as  alwve  atated,  $2,169  36 
Ik’ccipts  in  cash  as  follows : 
From  cattle  (fat) . .V . $2,127  2(1 
Hogs .  956  '.(6 
HurpliiB  gram  (com) .  839  .5(1 
Butloj' .  37  38 
Hay .  3  (K) 
tsunilrtes . 6  26 
Total  cash .  $3.97d  (19 
Not  Income  overall  oxiHmsc.  . $],8lu  73 
Am  now  in  winter  qiiarters,  with  a  small  in¬ 
crease  of  live  animals  of  about  equal  value  of 
January,  1875,  with  about  $180  woiih  of  small 
grain  for  future  use  of  the  crop  of  1874,  and 
were  I  to  compile  tlie  cash  value  of  jMjrk,  beef, 
Hour,  milk,  butter,  poultry,  cogs,  and  a  plentiful 
supply  of  vegetables  that  has  been  all  the  pro¬ 
duct  of  tho  farm  and  the  greater  portion  of  our 
living,  are,  with  justice,  disiiosed  to  say  that 
fitrming  will  pay.  1  do  not  labor  on  the  fann, 
that  is,  make  ii  hand,  and  am  not  ovcr-watehful. 
but,  as  a  rule,  ko('p  things  in  tolerable  ninning 
order.  Am  (piite  satisfiod  that  this  or  any’  oOier 
farm  of  equal  number  of  acres,  aud  of  equal 
soil,  all  other  things  being  equal,  run  to  full  ca¬ 
pacity,  would  show  a  net  balance  sheet  of  fully 
100  isn-  cent,  greater.  Joseph  Z.  Moore. 
Gutlirie,  Iowa,  1876. 
CLOVEE  AND  TIMOTHY 
The  eonunon  practice  of  many  fanners  in 
sowing  Clover  and  Timotliy  seed  together  is  ob- 
ji'cted  to  because  Ihey  are  not  ripe  and  ready  to 
cut  at  the  same  time.  F.  It.  EbLiorr  advises  to 
BOW  Corn  with  Orchard  OraHs,  as  the  two  are 
better  snited  to  each  other  for  hay.  Without 
saying  anything  against  this  recommendation, 
(he  growing  of  Clover  aud  Timotliy  on  tlie  same 
soil  has  some  good  argumeuts  in  its  favor. 
First,  we  premise  that  Clover  is,  or  slionld  be, 
in  noaiiy  every  case,  the  imiioitant  crop,  and 
wherever  Timothy  is  grown  it  sUoiild  be  entirely 
a  Kocoiidary  consideration.  TIk’iv.'  are  only 
cnoiigb  exceptions  to  tills  to  establish  its  valid- 
it.v  as  a  general  rule.  Considering  that  we  are 
aimiug  at  mostly  Clovm-,  tliere  aro  very  good 
reasons  for  adding  a  little  Timothy.  If  tlie  aim 
were  otluirwiso— to  make  Timothy  Uio  main  crop, 
as  may  sometime.s  be  advisable  on  rich  river  bot¬ 
toms,  vvher(!  bay  is  grown  for  sale-  -the  addition 
of  oven  a  small  amount  of  Clover  would  ho  a  de¬ 
cided  di.sad  vantage.  To  bring  the  liighest  price  in 
most  markets,  Timothy  Hay  ought  to  be  as  piu  c 
as  possible.  Clover  in  a  field  of  Timothy  grown 
for  market  is  simply  a  wood— a  useful  and  beuo- 
tieial  weed  for  the  soil,  it  is  true,  liut  none  the 
less  dctriinental  to  tho  value  of  the  crop. 
When  Clover  is  made  the  main  waiding  crop, 
the  addition  of  a  Uttlo  Timotliy  is  not  at  all  olr 
jectionalile.  Tho  farmer  need  not  delay  cutting 
his  CloviM'  a  day  on  account  of  Gie  Timothy. 
Cut  the  Clover  wiicii  the  blossoms  begin  to  oikhi, 
just  (he  same  as  if  there  wore  notldng  clsiv  on 
tlie  field,  as  in  point  of  fact  with  a  gotsl  catch  of 
Clover  there  will  be  little  else  the  first  yoai'. 
Early  in  the  season  tho  young  Timothy  will  be 
BiiuiH  and  imniatnro,  but  what  tliere  is  will  dry 
ninch  more  rapidly  tliau  tlie  coai'ser-stalked  Clo¬ 
ver  aud  aid  in  curing  the  whole  into  liay.  Far¬ 
mers  who  grow  imre  Clover  arc  every  year 
plagued  by  large  ejuautitioB  houting  and  some¬ 
times  rotting  in  stacks  and  mows,  dosivito  every 
care  in  curing.  A  little  Timothy  mixed  with  the 
Cl(.>vor  (piickly  bcconu's  thoroughly  dry  and  aids 
ill  absoiiiiug  sniierlhums  ruoisliire.  Farmers 
who  have  drj'  straw  can  use  it  between  layers  of 
Clover  hay  in  the  mow  for  the  same  pimixiso, 
and  with  excellent  effect. 
If  Timothy  is  sown  in  the  spring  with  Clover 
seed,  it  will  not  the  first  or  second  seasons  inter¬ 
fere  in  the  least  with  tlio  Clover.  The  farmer 
will  get  just  as  nmeli  Clover  as  if  there  were  no 
Timothy,  and  llio  additional  grass  will  he  so 
much  clear  gain.  If  the  field  is  to  ho  plowed 
the  second  season,  the  Clover  will  have  lienelited 
Uic  soil  just  as  much  as  if  it  alone  oeoupied  tire 
noil.  The  Timothy  grass  and  remts  only  occu{>>' 
spuce-s  that  would  otherwise  liave  been  x'acant  or 
filled  vvitli  weeds.  If,  however,  the  Timothy  was 
sown  the  fall  previous  to  sowing  Clover  seed, 
there  is  danger  that  it  will  (Kcupy  the  land  and 
less  Glover  will  catch.  In  all  eases  where  a  crop 
of  Clover  is  desired,  six  quarts  or  a  ^>eck  of 
Clover  seed  should  be  sowu,  and  the  Timothy 
seed,  whatever  the  amount,  be  put  in  extra. 
If  for  any  reason  the  field  cannot  be  plowed 
after  the  first  Clover  crop  has  Ik'PIi  taken  off, 
flio  Timothy  will  then  come  forward  and  occupy 
the  land.  Sometimes  in  very  dry  seasons  the 
Clover  catch  fails  entirely,  and  Oien  it  is  impor¬ 
tant  that  land  seeded  one  or  tw’o  years  before 
bhould  be  kept  in  grass,  and  then  Hie  Timothy 
with  Clover  comes  in  good  play.  Clover  is  a  bi¬ 
ennial,  dying  out  after  the  second  year,  unless 
3tirt«strial  (Toiiifs 
THE  FAEMEES  AND  THE  EINGS, 
It  is  not  hi  ho  denied  that  the  general  depres¬ 
sion  of  tho  rimes  is  unusually  severe,  that  trade 
is  more  stagnant,  and  fnmne.es  more  emlmrrassod 
than  wo  aro  aecnKtoriied  to  wilness;  while  tho 
shi’iitkage  of  values  is  still  going  on,  aud  tlio  pre¬ 
vailing  distnistis  ci'oaring  anxiety.  At  the  saino 
time  it  is  evident  that  in  iKilirica,  as  weU  as  in 
business,  tlie  standard  of  morals  has  fallen  from  > 
its  ancient  level,  and  is  still  tending  downward.  I 
Tliis  is  not,  I  admit,  a  very  clieerfnl  view  of  ' 
affairs,  but,  if  tlie  facts  are  mainly  true,  tlicy  | 
deserve,  at  least,  some  recogniUon.  To  look  al¬ 
ways  and  only  ou  the  bright  sido  of  things  is  not  , 
tlio  dictate  either  of  policy  or  wisdom.  There 
may  be  many  and  amj'lo  rcasc.nis  for  anticipating 
a  brighter  and  hctl<T  future.  But  certainly  one 
of  the  means  for  inKuring  siicli  a  fulnre  is  to  un¬ 
derstand  the  present,  and  tho  canacs  that  have  [ 
made  it  what  it  is.  If  had  uu-n  are  mainly  rc- 
s-poiisihlc  for  the  existing  state  uf  affaii's,  wo 
havo  tieaiiy  nothing  to  gain  by  ignoring  Unit  fart. 
Wliile  tlio  inquiry  is  on  every  tongiux  “  tVlio  is 
rosiJonsiblo  for  exisliiig  evils?"  it  is  in  order  for 
every  man  to  vindioato  his  calling,  and  as  agri¬ 
culture  is,  by  far.  tlie  largest  industry  iii  the  na¬ 
tion,  it  is  pci’rinout  to  inquire  w'hat  relation  the 
farmers  hold  to  their  country,  and  t'>  its  present 
condition.  As  a  class  of  men,  engaged  in  au  in¬ 
dustry  of  the  highoflt  utility  aud  henefioence, 
there  i.s  mucli  that  may  he  said  in  thoii'  favor 
without  Uio  imputation  of  flattoiy.  Li  tlie  ab¬ 
stract  tbey  are,  perbaps.  neither  bc(ttcr  iior  worse 
than  other  men.  As  individuals,  they  are  like 
tho  rest  of  maukiiid.  But:  as  a  class,  their  daily 
lives  are  passed  luidcr  influences  that  tend  to 
elevaU'  the  mind  and  give  value  to  the  character. 
Ou  the  other  hand,  tliere  ai'c  classes  of  men 
whose  position  and  asscxiiatioiis  have  mode  them 
as  different  fmm  tliesc  as  possible ;  whiise  train¬ 
ing  and  CTUToundiiigs  have  fitted  them  for  evil 
coiu'sOK.  and  whoso  c.arccr  is  in  striking  eouti’ast 
to  that  of  tho  farmer.  There  are,  "for  example, 
brokers  aud  siK-culutors,  who  make  oomei's  in 
gi-ain ;  who  convert  tlic  market  into  a  lottery 
wiiero  the  blanks  arc  divided  between  tho  pro¬ 
ducer  aud  consumer,  while  the  prizes  aro  draxni 
by  harpies  who  gamble  away  in  an  hour  the 
farmer’s  profit  of  a  year.  There  are,  also,  polit¬ 
ical  jobbers,  and  ring  conspiratoiK.  lobbyists  aud 
retainers  who  represent  the  organized  rapacity 
of  the  eountay,  swarming  everywhere  through 
cities  and  tow'us,  and  groxving  continually  more 
formidable  in  numbers  and  more  daring  in  crime. 
Wliile  the  tillers  of  the  soil  have  been  steadily 
working  by  unjiroved  methods,  and  increased 
production,  to  (Hoate  new  values  in  agriculture, 
aud  new  sources  of  national  wealth,  the  rohbiirH 
of  the  ring  have  been  relentlessly  devouring  tbe 
substance  of  the  iHsople  ou  a  scale  of  magnitude 
measured  only  by  millions.  While  successful 
farmers  have  been,  from  year  to  year,  steadily 
pom  ing  into  the  channels  of  trade  incredible  sup¬ 
THE  YEAE  1875  ON  A  WISCONSIN  FARM 
le  south  and  the  sun 
Tci^ay  the  wind  is  in 
shines — a  beautiful  day, 
Outagamie  Co.,  Wis.,  Jan.  7,  1876, 
