also  pleased  with  visits  from  Mrs.  W.  A. 
Hart,  whoso  handsome  Imsband  has  Ed- 
RAXiized  Allegany  Co.  for  many  yeiu's,  Mr, 
Geo.  a.  Greene  our  Club  agent  at  An¬ 
dover  and  iVIr.  A.  P.  Wii.cox,  who  reports 
“  nil  right”  in  the  region  of  Hobart,  Del¬ 
aware  Co.  Mr.  Knatp  of  Whitney’s 
Point,  tdso  called  hi  see  what  we  had  to 
say  about  his  iuereivscd  list  of  uaiues  last 
year  and  Mr.  Smith,  all  the  way  from 
Canada,  was  mindful  of  our  whereabouts. 
Verily,  these  meetings  face  to  face  with 
our  patrons  and  agents,  arc  a  delightful 
thing.  Come  sUong,  one  and  all  and  don’t 
forget  to  call ! 
DEAD  DAIEY  EING. 
and  Avhile  not  assiuning  to  preach  a  hom¬ 
ily  on  such  affairs,  or  attempting  to  give 
directions  as  to  how  a  man  should  feed 
and  shelter  his  family  or  stock,  we  wUl 
oiler  a  few  hints  in  regard  to  the  import¬ 
ance  of  proceeding  in  these  matters  njjon 
tlio  supposition  tliat  the  winter  may  be  a 
severe  one  for  both  man  and  beast. 
It  is  a  question  w’orthy  of  consideration 
whether  it  is  best  or  safe  to  jircxieed  upon 
any  diflei'eut  byiiothesis ;  for  the  wisest 
weather-jirophets  often  fail  in  tlieh’  prog¬ 
nostications  and  promised  mild  winters 
turn  out  to  be  very  severe  ones,  and  those 
who  depend  tqiou  prophesy  are  frequently 
greatly  disappointed. 
Of  course  wo  are  not  disposed  to  turn 
alarmist,  or  urge  upon  our  readiirs  the 
necessity  of  making  extraordinary  i)re]i- 
arations  for  warding  oil'  calamities  which 
may  never  come  ;  still,  it  is  Ixdtor  to  be 
lirtqiarcd  for  a  long  siege  than  a  brief 
one.  The  man  who  provides  .an  almn- 
dauco  of  food  and  a  safe  and  (ioinforbible 
shelter  for  his  animals,  can  hnik  more 
complacently  upon  the  coming  storm  and 
fi-et  le.s8  uiiou  its  long  duration  than  ho 
who  has  made  no  such  ])rovision  for  them. 
The  same  is  true  in  regard  to  his  family, 
and  there  may  be  smiles  within,  while  the 
blast  howls  without,  when  the  larder  is 
full  and  old  Boreas  is  keiit  at  bay  by  solid, 
tight  w’alLs  and  close-fitting  doors  and 
windows. 
Every  recurring  spring  avo  hear  of  se¬ 
vere  losses  of  slock  through  a  scarcity  of 
food  or  exposure  to  cold,  and  severe 
storms,  all  the  result  of  carelessness  in 
making  jjreparations  beforehand  for  Avliat 
is  likely  to  ha2)p(!u  even  in  what  are 
termed  mild  olimaUis.  An  old  vetorina- 
i-ian  once  told  us  that  his  seiwices  were 
always  in  most  demand  in  the  latter  jiart 
of  winter  and  early  siirhig,  for  Avhen  warm 
Aveather  came  an<l  a  plentiful  supply  of 
wholesome  food,  his  services  Avere  seldom, 
if  over,  needed. 
Now  it  is  not  safe  to  “  guess”  that  next 
winter  is  to  be  a  mild  one,  for  it  may  turn 
out  to  be  (luito  the  contrary ;  therefore, 
Avo  say,  prejiare  for  the  worst,  even  if  a 
little  food  is  left  over  and  the  stables  and 
sheds  are  a  trifie  too  Avarm.  Every  green 
thing  Avhioh  can  be  made  available  should 
be  saved ;  tlie  smallest  turnips,  beets, 
carrots,  and  other  roots,  will  be  far  better 
tliau  none,  and  a  stock  of  bog-hay  or 
straw  mm'e  accei>tablc  to  youi"  stock 
than  a  snowbank.  If  you  wish  to  have 
stock  free  fi’om  fool-rot  and  frozen  feet, 
let  them  have  a  dry,  Avarm  }jlace  for  theii* 
feet ;  and  to  keep  aAvay  lice  and  other 
vermin,  attend  to  oleanliuoss  of  stables 
and  sheds,  not  forgetting  that  iiarasites 
of  this  kind  seldom  attack  well-fed  and 
wai’mly -housed  animals.  Prevention  in 
such  matters  is  far  cheai)er  and  better 
than  a  cure ;  and  it  is  not  safe  to  trifle 
Avith  what  most  jiersons  cull  fate,  but 
Avhioh  nine  times  out  of  ten  is  nothing 
more  or  less  than  the  legitimate  results  of 
some  infringement  of  the  laws  of  nature. 
Half  starved  and  unsheltered  animals 
are  the  natural  prey  of  parasites  and  con¬ 
tagious  diseases,  just  as  the  old  monorchs 
of  the  forest  become  the  rendezvous  of 
myriads  of  inscerts  and  cryiJtogamous 
jilauts  upon  tlie  first  indications  of  declin¬ 
ing  vigor.  This  fact  is  so  avcU  known, 
that  horticulturists  watch  their  trees  and 
BO  soon  as  they  find  one  which  is  checked 
in  gi’OAvth,  an  examination  is  made  for 
jjarasites.  So  long  as  a  plant  or  animal 
can  be  kept  groAving,  they  possess  the 
poAver  of  resisting  enemies  to  a  greater  or 
less  degree;  but  feebleness  from  any 
cause  invites  enemies.  When  our  farmers 
uud  others  learu  to  use  stimulants  just 
sufficient  to  preserve  health  and  no  more, 
they  will  have  found  one  of  tlie  best  pre¬ 
ventives  of  disease.  Under  such  a  condition 
of  things,  it  is  not  best  or  safe  to  trust  to 
uncertainties ;  but  projiarc  for  the  worst, 
and  then  we  Avill  come  out  so  much  ahead, 
if  our  fears  of  a  hard  Avinter  or  hard  times 
should  iirove  groundless. 
PROGRESS  AND  IMPROVEMENT 
THE  RURAL  NEW-YORKER 
“  When  rogues  fall  out,  honest  men 
get  their  dues.  ”  Tbis  avc  now  quote  from 
the  letter  of  our  Ooutonnial  correspondent 
on  another  jiage  of  this  issue.  Like  the 
Taveed  Bing  aud  the  Goal  Coiubiuutiou, 
this  <«>mbiuation  to  convert  the  Dairj' 
Exhibition  at  Philadeljiliia  into  an  im¬ 
mense  job  for  the  benefit  of  a  fcAV  inter- 
eshal  individuals,  has  fallen  by  its  own 
weight.  Intenml  dissensions  and  quar¬ 
rels  over  th(!  spoils  have  produced  a  result 
wliich  not  only  justifies  the  jiosition  taken 
by  us  in  the  beginning,  but  enables  our 
iiivirsiigator  to  get  at  facts  which,  iu  the 
time  of  ]ieace  among  the  spoliators,  were 
hidden  secrets.  We  could  name  scA'eral 
of  our  coutemiiorarieH  of  the  Agrieiiltural 
Press,  who  have  Avasted  more  jirintors’ 
ink  in  abusing  the  Bcrai.  than  AVe  have 
usihI  in  exposing  the  machinations  of  the 
Bing.  Wliat  have  they  now  t-o  say  ?  Has 
there  been  a  Dairy  Exliibitiou  at  tlie  Cen- 
te-uniul.  Is  not  nearly  the  Avhole  Dairy 
Bnihling  oceni»ie<l  by  and  used  for  a  cheap 
riistaurant,  the  jirofits  of  which  go  to  Mr. 
JkiiANDiNO  and  whomsoever  he  may  see  fit 
to  share  them  Avilh  ?  Has  not  a  resist- 
aneif  been  made  to  the  tmeronchments  of 
the  eating  house  and  has  not  the  man  avIio 
mailotlie  resistaucebeen  recommentled  for 
removal  by  several  of  the  veiy  men  who 
caused  his  ajqioiutment  ?  Is  the  Dairy 
Bnildhig  not  Avorth  much  less  than  Slb,- 
0i(0,  which  IS  charged  for  it  ?  Are  not 
the  Oommittee  ami  its  exeeutivo  head  at 
variaiKio  Avith  each  other  and  in  a  e<  instant 
(piarrel  ? 
When  these  few  questions  can  bo  an- 
SAA'ered  in  the  negnti\'e,  we  art!  willing  to 
admit  that  aa'C  arc  AATong  and  to  further 
admit  the  charge  of  personal  foeiing  in 
the  matter.  In  fact,  the  latter  chai’ge  Ave 
are  mnv  willing  to  admit  tor  the  following 
reasons ; — The  Burai/,  jirobably  more 
than  any  other  jiaj^er,  has  for  a  series  of 
yeaiTj  made  a  s|iecialty  tif  encouragement 
and  assistance  to  the  Dairy  interests  and 
information  to  Daiiymen  and  has  been 
always  so  deeply  iutenisted  in  the  jirogress 
of  this  important  iudustrj'  that  to  behold 
such  au  exhibition  of  jobbery,  trickery 
and  resultant  failure  in  a  iflace  whore  all 
nations  are  the  spectafiirs,  seems  like 
razing  to  the  ground  at  one  fell  swoop 
the  very  edifice  which  we  have  sjient  years 
iu  assisting  hi  erect.  Hence  our  feeling 
against  the  men  Avho  could,  iu  plain  A'iew 
of  all  the  nations  of  the  globe,  so  belittle 
the  national  chai'acter  of  our  Dair^'nieu 
and  HO  injure  the  reputation  of  their  man- 
ufactmes.  But  us  we  are  satisfied  that 
most  of  the  matter  printed  by  these  eou- 
temporaries  Avas  siqqilied  by  apologists 
for  uml  members  of  this  very  combination 
who  have  heretofore  borne  good  reputa¬ 
tions,  Ave  cannot  entirely  blame  them  for 
their  abase.  Now  however,  Avithuut  a 
refutation  of  all  the  statements  jjiiblished 
herewith,  avo  cannot  see  Iioav  our  friends 
of  tlie  Agricultural  I’ress  (and  friends 
AVO  certainly  riigard  them)  cun  continue 
A  NATIONAL  ILLUSTRATED 
ANDREW  S.  FULLER,  Editor 
Associate  Editor 
ELBEKT  S.  CABMAN, 
X.  A.  WILLARD,  A.  M„  LIUle  Falls,  N.  Y., 
Editos  of  Till  Dkpaktmknt  or  Daiky  Hubjianort. 
HARNETTv  I’liblUhcr. 
XcAv  I*ai>crs.— We  have  been  com- 
plimeuted  of  late  by  receiving  several 
new  excLauges.  The  Bed  Bud  Courier, 
Bed  Bud,  Ills.,  is  a  bright  four-page 
pajjer  devoted  to  Tn.iiEN  ami  local  inter¬ 
ests.  Tlic  Editors  say: — “We  have  en- 
tereil  into  the  enterimse  of  publishing  a 
weekly  paper  iu  this  city  Avhich  is  intended 
to  be  jirofitublo  to  oursi'lves.”  Illusive 
dream  !  Nevertlieless,  avc  Avish  oiu-  new 
contemporary  every  success. 
—  TUo  Wisconsin  Farm  Journal  is  a 
new  venture  in  Agricultural  jourualisiu 
iniblishcd  at  Matoson,  Wis.  It  is  illus¬ 
trated,  aud  if  Mr.  E.  Ik  Bollinh  Ihejpro- 
prietor,  sustains  succeeding  nuuibei's  in 
the  Hiurih'd  manner  Avliicli  distinguishes 
the  initial  issue,  he  may  be  justly  eoinpU- 
meiite'.d. 
—  East  Weymouth,  Mass.,  is  to  be  con- 
graluhite'd  ou  the  Ih-st  number  of  the 
Weymonlli  CJourier.  The  salutatory  is 
Honuiwliat  didactic,  as  it  iierlnqis  should 
be,  coming  fniui  Massuehusetts  ;  but  the 
make-iqi,  printing  aud  paiior  is  much 
above  the  average  of  local  iiapers. 
TERMS  FOR  1877,  IN  ADVANCE, 
INCLUDING  POSTAGE,  WHICH  PUflUSHERS  PREPAY. 
Sinirlc  Copy,  $2,60  por  A'e.ir.  To  Clubs  .—Five  Copies, 
and  one  copy  free  bj  A^fCDt  or  ifcttor  up  of  Club,  for 
$11.25;  Seven  Copies,  and  one  free,  for  $16  06;  Ten  Cop. 
icB.  aud  lino  free,  .$20-onJy  $2  per  cejpy.  The  above 
ratcK  iiiciiole  poitdve  (iiudcr  the  new  law)  bi  any  part 
of  tho  Unllod  Statoe,  and  tiio  American  poetnj.'e  nn  all 
copies  mailed  to  Canada.  On  paperH  jnailed  to  Enrojie, 
by  Rteainnr,  the  jioKtufre  will  1)0  86  cents  extra  for  cacU 
BubBcriptiou.  Dral'te,  I’oet-OtHee  Money  Orders  and 
ItCKisterf'd  1  .elters  may  be  mailei.l  at  our  rial!.  C  i!~  Lib- 
ei'al  Froiuitims  to  all  Club  A^renli  who  do  not  take  free 
copies.  Specimen  Numbers,  Sliow-lSills, 4ic.,  sent  Iree. 
ADVERTISING  RATES: 
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Address 
RURAL  PUBLISHING  CO., 
78  Duane  Street,  New  York  City 
Tliniul«*rlKiIts  in  Cili<^s. — A  late 
writer  lias  labored  hard  to  show  AA’hy  large 
cities  cscajjc  thimderbolts,  attributiug  it 
to  the  uuiuber  of  gas  and  Avatcr  2iilJes  iu 
the  ground  uud  in  tho  buiUlings  extending 
from  roof  to  basement.  Now  t  he  theory  is 
all  very  Avell  as  advaiiutal,  but  it  do<»H  not 
hold  good  when  tested  by  facts,  for  it  is  well 
knoAVu  that  our  cities  do  not  estaqio  thun¬ 
derbolts,  and  the  number  descending  to 
the  earth  in  them  is  fully  as  great  as  iu 
tho  same  area  iu  the  country,  or  Avhere 
there  are  no  buildings. 
SATUKDAY,  OCT.  14,  1876. 
PRICES  ARE  FALLING 
THE  PRICE  OP 
IJglitniiig  JIixls. — ^From  tho  num¬ 
ber  of  notices  of  swuidles  perpetratiid  by 
venders  of  lightning  rods  Avhich  have  of 
late  a2)2)eai’ed  in  the  columns  of  our  co- 
tem2)orarie8,  Ave  conclude  that  fear  of  tho 
electric  fluid  is  ou  the  increase  among  our 
rural  2iD2nilatiou.  But  if  a  lightning  rod 
Avill  allay  the  fears  of  a  man  aud  his  fam¬ 
ily,  it  is  a  good  tiling  to  have  alx^ut, 
Avhether  it  is  really  any  jirotectirm  or  not, 
as  most  of  our  troubles  iu'o  imugiuutivo 
at  best. 
TO  SUIT  THE  TIMES 
Olub  Prices  Eeduced  Proportionately, 
Mindful  of  the  preat  encouragement 
which  has  been  extended  to  us  in  our 
efforts  to  improve  The  Bural,  ive  have 
concluded  to  show  our  appreciation  of 
the  same  by  reducing  the  ptricc  of  The 
Bural  to  $2.50  2*cr  year, 
POSTAGE  INCLUDED. 
By  doing  this  we  ourselves  pay  ihc 
postage,  %vhic.h  has  heretofore  been  2iaid 
by  the  subscriber.  In  addition  to  this, 
wo  inaugurate  a  graduated  scale  of 
jmiees  for  small  clubs,  so  that  alt  who 
send  names  with  their  own,  up  to  ten, 
can  get  a  reduction  for  each  name  so 
sent.  And  for  a  club  of  ten  or  more,  a 
beautiful  premium  in  addition.  Now 
that  The  Bural  has  come  down,  let 
each  aubscriber  send  xvith  hia  or  her 
own  name  that  of  at  least  two  neighbors. 
Those  w?io  toish  to  become  new  subscrib¬ 
ers  or  agents  can  receive  Specimen  Copy 
and  Premium  List  free.  Address 
RURAL  PUBLISHING  CO„ 
78  Duane  St.,  Ne^/  York. 
RURAL  BREVITIES, 
The  late  decline  in  the  iirico  of  coal  is  a  bless¬ 
ing  te  tho  poor  of  all  our  largo  cities ;  they  will 
he  ahlo  hi  Keep  wuriii  if  not  Avell  supplied  Avilh 
food. 
The  ucAVspaitor  prophets  who  2>reilicted  groat 
dostructaoji  of  properly  hy  the  blowing  up  of 
Itolt  Crate,  had  belter  try  their  hand  at  sumo 
other  business,  as  they  arc  evidently  not  very 
trustworthy  prophets. 
Winter  apples  are  roixirtod  to  ho  both  abun¬ 
dant  and  of  excellent  (lUiiUt.y  this  year.  The 
late  varieties,  iu  most  localities,  aiipoar  to  bo 
fully  matmo  tjouaequently,  will  keep  Avith  little 
danger  of  loss  from  rotting. 
Our  foreign  exchanges  give  the  great  Centen¬ 
nial  show  siilendid  notices ;  in  fact,  in  some  in¬ 
stances  Ave  think  they  praise  some  depai  tinents 
more  than  tlieir  uierits  doBCia  e ;  still,  we  are 
used  to  cousidwable  iiraise  and  eau  stand  it. 
Tue  old  “Sweet  and  Bimr”  apple  is  again 
lieing  discussed,  and  many  are  the  claimants  to 
being  it*i  originator.  Now  gentlemen,  if  yen 
will  only  look  into  tho  I'omological  works,  yon 
may  lind  that  this  old  and  well  known  variety  is 
older  than  the  oldest  man  living. 
The  American  Tomological  Bocioty,  as  it  ap- 
2ieai'B,  did  not  hold  a  meeting  at  tho  CenleuniaJ. 
as  was  ex2R*eted.  'J'ho  illness  of  its  I’re&ident, 
Jloii.  Marshall  P.  Wiluer,  jireveuted  his  at¬ 
tendance,  and  as  the  Captain  of  the  Pomologieul 
ship  was  absent,  the  old  vessel  failed  to  obtain 
saiuug  orders. 
Rumor  has  it  that  the  “  Cbampion"  llauufac 
turers  of  Springlield,  O.,  have  purchased  of  the 
O'lTH  BBo  rnEits  tlie  "  Hayumker '  iiatents  and  will 
astonish  the  haivosting  conimnuily  with  souio 
eritii'elv  novel  combinations  of  inventive  geiuus 
next  season.  Verily,  friend  Whitelv  is  a  giant 
among  uiaoUine  men,  and  a  handsoiuo  man,  too . 
Various  misrcpruaeiitatious  have  been  niade 
by  boarding-hoiUie  nmiiers  upon  trains  p 
Pbiladelpbk,  that  the  Atlas  Hotel  is  too  fuU  to 
accommodate  iinv  more  guests  and  many  2>i'oplc 
have  therebv  been  induced  to  go  to  dearer  places 
for  lodgings.  Thu  AUas  has  aiccominpdatlons 
for  5,000  guests  and  can  always  take  iu  a  lew 
more. 
EURAL  NOTES 
A  Big-  Honey  Story — The  Editor 
of  Gleanings  in  Biie  Culture  com2)laiu8  of 
the  admission  into  the  Bural  Neav-Yobk- 
er’s  columns,  of  an  article  from  an  ex¬ 
change,  AA'herein  the  Avriter  says  he  has 
“often  known  a  good  strong  stock  to 
gather  fift^'  2>euiuis  in  the  long  days  of 
August,  Avheu  the  Avhite  and  Alsike  clover 
Avere  in  full  bloom.”  We  thought  tliis  a 
2)retty  sti-ong  story  at  tlie  time,  but  hav¬ 
ing  become  accustomed  to  “big  stories” 
from  bee  kee2)ers,  Ave  let  it  pass  Avithout 
cuuimeut  and,  Avhile  begging  tho  2>afdon 
of  tho  Editor  of  the  afore-mentioned  jour¬ 
nal  for  iniblisliing  the  offending  article, 
still  he  should  not  oeusure  us  too  severely, 
us  it  might  load  some  faithless  ones  to  go 
into  the  business  and  become  2uu-chaser8 
of  his  comb  foundations  or  Tea-kettle  Bee 
Feeders.  Who  knows  but  that  the  fifty 
Xioimd  stoi^  is  a  blessmg  in  tlisguiso  to 
our  complaining  Editor  ? 
IS  IT  BEST,  OE  EVEN  SAFE? 
Farmers,  like  men  in  other  jiftrsuits, 
have  diff'erent  ways  of  doing  the  same 
thing.  It  is  doubtless  true,  however, 
that  they  all  seek  the  shortest  rood  to 
reach  the  same  point,  u’hether  it  be  in 
fattening  cattle  or  raising  a  field  of  grain. 
The  near  a2)proai3h  of  Avinter  will  remind 
many  of  our  readers  of  the  fact  that  there 
are  many  things  to  bo  done  preparatory 
to  its  advent,  both  for  the  household  and 
the  animals  which  may  be  in  their  care  ; 
Saiictuni  l*ersoaals.— Among  the 
late  2>lea8ant  iiitrudei-s  iu  our  sanctum 
were  Frank  Bramer  of  the  Warrior 
MoAver  Go.,  Ijittle  Falls,  S.  N.  Gallui’, 
Geul.  Agent  of  tho  Bickford  &  Huffman 
Grain  Drills,  Macedou,  N.  Y.  We  Avere 
