i 
THE  ByBAL  j^iEW-YOBMEB. 
TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 
Practical  Departmektp; 
About  House  Plants . 
MlsoeHanea.. . . 
<?ataloKuo* . . . . 
Failure  and  8iic<tb» . 
ARrlculturiil  fheinlstry . 
Farmers'  Nned . 
India  Kiibber  Hu iide  for  Trees . . 
FaiiltT  Cheese . . . . . 
Improved  Butter  Houses  in  the  Northwest . 
Centennial  Dairy  Hhaw . . . 
Bitter  Cream........... . . . 
"Coitsiock”  . 
Her«i3il  Co.  Pnultrv  Hbnw . 
ProHtof  Hens  to  latriic  Numbers . 
KiiA'aelt.y  of  a  Fowl. . 
Hheep  Ifnsbtindry  III  Illinois . 
Three  .Millions... . . 
Wlilffa  Ironi  Cnnadn... . . . . . 
The  Houl  of  Wine  . . . . . . . . . 
Vine  Stoek  and  f’lirlloxera . . 
Fuels  and  Fancies  Irotn  ihe  Uoeky  Mountains.. 
The  PblloHophy  of  Mnrnis . . . 
Protection  iiKnlnst  fipnrfjioien . 
Scent  in  Dous.  .  . . 
Fall  I'luntine  of  Hardy  VcKotables . . . . 
Wllson>  Early  IJIncklierry . 
The  Kitchen . . . 
Dietetic  Buneombe.... . 
itepiy  to  M.  l> . 
North  Carullna  Notes . 
EjtiToniAb  Pa  nr: 
Holiday  !*ri-hent" . 
Who  Dares  Hay  she  Was  Wiodf? . . . . 
Qiieatlonuhlo  ICconoinv . 
Notes— Brevities....... . 
IilTKKAIlV:  ~  '  * 
Poetry . . . .%!,  ,382. 
Obituary— C.  I).  Brajidun . 
.^lory . . . 
Itecent  Idteratiire . . 
Habhalh  Ileadlna . 
J.iidips'  Portfolio.... . 
Beadina  for  the  VounK . 
I’ubllahers*  Notices . 
News  of  the  'Vaok . 
Markets . . . 
I'erHoimIs . 
Answers  to  Correspondents . 
Humorous . 
Advertisements . 385,  38C,  3Sr?, 
T  TI  E 
RURAL  NEW-YORKER. 
PUBLISBED  EVERY  SATURDAY. 
ANDREW  S.  FULLER,  Editor. 
ELBEBT  S.  CABMAN,  •  -  Associate  Editor. 
X,  A.  WILLARD,  A.  M.,  Little  Falls,  M.  Y., 
Editob  or  TH«  Dspabtusmt  or  Dstav  Husbandby. 
G.  A.  C,  BARNETT,  Publisher. 
Address  rjjRAL  PUBLISHING  CO., 
78  Duane  Street,  New  York  City. 
SATURDAY,  DEC.  9,  1876. 
HOLIDAY  PKESENTS. 
As  the  year  tlraws  near  its  close  a 
goodly  proportion  of  the  forty  millions  of 
iuhabitanteof  the  United  States  orecudgel- 
iug  their  brains  about  Holiday  Preseuts. 
They  who  have  plenty  of  money  and  are 
consequently  able  to  give  whatever  and  to 
whomsoever  they  please,  find  it  difficult 
to  decide  not  only  who  shall  he  tlie  recip¬ 
ients  of  their  gifts,  but  what  the  gifts 
shall  be ;  and  on  the  other  hand,  many — 
and,  we  are  sorry  to  say,  mostr— ore  trying 
to  solve  the  difficult  problem,  how,  with 
their  stinted  means,  to  procure  even  trif¬ 
ling  tokens  for  such  kindred  and  friends 
as  they  would  be  glad  to  remem’ber. 
The  custom  of  holiday  gift-making  has 
become  much  more  common  of  late  than 
it  used  to  be.  The  old  New  Englander, 
true  to  the  teachings  of  his  Piu-itan  an¬ 
cestors,  took  no  note  of  Cliristm.'is  except 
to  denounce  its  observance,  and  the  de¬ 
scendants  of  these  New  Englanders  who 
were  among  the  earliest  settlers  of  all  the 
new  States,  foil  owing  the  old  custom,  took 
with  them  more  or  less  of  this  feeling  and 
engrafted  it  on  their  new  homes.  But^m 
increase  of  liberality  in  religious  ideas 
and  a  more  enlightened  view  of  Cliristinn- 
ity  have,  to  a  great  extent,  overcome  this, 
and  there  are  now  but  few  who  do  not 
welcome  with  gladness  the  luinual  return 
of  the  day  we  celebrate  in  reiiognition  of 
the  birth  of  the  founder  of  the  Christian 
religion  and  the  head  of  the  Christian 
church,  and  aid,  so  far  as  they  can,  in 
making  a  merry  Christmas  for  all  around 
them. 
For  the  growing  custom  of  gift-making 
at  Christmas  time,  we  are  largely  indebted 
to  our  German  friends ;  for  while  our 
English  ancestors  were  not  wanting  in 
their  recognition  of  the  day,  never  failing 
to  decorate  their  homes  with  the  holly 
and  ihe  mistletoe,  their  festivities  con¬ 
sisted  more  generally  in  family  gatlier- 
ings,  in  eating  and  drinking,  and  the  more 
boisterous  sports  for  the  men  during  the 
day  and  dancing  for  all  at  night.  With 
the  Germiius  it  is  different.  The  ohserv- 
auces  took  a  more  quiet  fonn,  and  the 
Cliristmas  tree,  with  its  gift-hnlen  branch¬ 
es,  was  found  in  every  house,  and  the 
exchanging  of  presents  between  friends 
almost  universal. 
WJiat  U)  give.  It  depends  much  on  the 
ctrciimsLani^es  of  the  recipients  and  their 
relations  to  the  owner.  A  well-lilled  purse 
would  by  one  be  received  with  thanks 
and  pleasure,  while  by  another  it  would, 
and  properly,  be  considered  an  insult. 
To  some  wo  would  give  articles  of  prac¬ 
tical  value,  while  for  others  wo  should 
select  gifts  more  for  their  beauty  and  ele¬ 
gance  than  tlieir  cost  or  asefnliicss.  For 
one  class  we  would  select  what  wo  think 
they  need  )mt  cannot  afford  to  purchase  ; 
for  another  that  Me  kuoM'  is  as  well  able 
jmrehaso  as  we  are,  something  of  less  in¬ 
trinsic  value  would  doubtless  be  received 
M’ith  (jnite  us  much  pleasure. 
In  selecting  presents  for  children,  it  is 
well  to  considi^r  their  peculiar  tastes  and 
disjiositions  and,  moreover,  hi  remember 
tlmt  they  arc  children.  A  dime  jiroperly 
e.vpeuded  will  make  a  child  hujipy  as  a 
king,  when  a  dollar  used  to  purchase 
something  in  M’hich  it  has  no  interest, 
is  M  asted  ;  and  the  same  consideration 
may  very  properly  be  hail  in  choosing  for 
children  of  a  larger  growth.  One  young 
lady  Mould  jirizo  a  hook  or  picture,  M'hile 
the  next  M'Oiild  prefer  feathers  and  rib¬ 
bons  ;  and  a  young  gentleman  would 
choose — Mhat?  Nom',  miss,  don’t  you 
wish  wo  M'Ould  tell  you  ?  Haven’t  you 
said  an  himdred  times,  it  is  so  difficult  to 
think  of  auytliiug  to  present,  to  a  gentle¬ 
man  ?  It  is  so  long  since  we  weic  a  young 
gentleman,  mo  liavo  almost  forgotten. 
But  M’e  M’onld  not  give  him  slippers,  for 
if  you  do  they  pi'obably  M'ill  not  fit ;  nor 
a  ^ipe  nor  a  cigar-case,  as  they  might 
encourage  him  in  forming  a  habit  you 
may  be  sorry  for  one  of  these  days.  We 
are  confident  he  would  prefer  something 
you  have  made  M'ith  your  ow’U  fingers  and 
into  M-hich  you  have  wrought  your  omu 
thoughts.  But  it  will  make  little  differ¬ 
ence  w'hat  it  is,  so  tliat  he  sees  in  your 
eyes  that  it  pleases  you  to  give  it,  and  can 
be  happy  in  believing  that  after  a  while 
you  will  give  him — yourself. 
Above  all  things,  keep  from  your  holi¬ 
day  givings  everything  that  ^vould  make 
them  appear  like  donations  or  alms-giv¬ 
ing.  Better-  not  to  give  at  all,  than  that 
tlie  gifts  sliould  carry  m  ith  them  a  feeling 
of  oldigation.  Give  because  you  M  ant  to, 
not  because  you  must ;  give  M'ith  kind¬ 
ness  and  love.  Give  because  you  feel  in 
your  soul  of  souls  that  it  is  more  blesseii 
to  give  thau  to  receive.  Then  you  will 
have  what  you  deserve — a  Merrj'  Christ¬ 
mas  and  a  Happy  New  Year  ! 
- -- 
WHO  DAEES  SAY  SHE  WAS  WEONG  ? 
It  seems  to  be  nature’s  laM-  indelibly 
stamped  upon  humanity,  that  it  should 
M-orship  something.  In  some  instances  it 
is  the  sun,  in  others  it  is  tho  M-ooden  idol, 
and  in  still  otliors  it  is  a  spiritnul  exist¬ 
ence.  The  motive  of  all  kinds  of  worship 
is  the  same  and  neither  the  degrees  nor 
the  object  of  the  devotion  ciiu  alter  that 
motive  or  its  purity.  A  man  may  make  a 
mistake  in  the  object,  but  if  the  motive  is 
there,  who  dares  say  he  is  wrong  V 
TTie  tnith  of  the  above  M'otild  have  been 
brought  mtire  forcibly  to  the  mind  of  the 
render  by  witnessing  a  scene  w  hich  oc¬ 
curred  in  this  citj'  during  the  past  w'eek. 
In  order  to  advertise  tho  changes  of  pro¬ 
gramme  and  to  keep  their  attractions  be¬ 
fore  the  public,  the  theatrical  managers 
of  this  city  have  established  large  bulletin 
boards  in  many  prominent  places,  upon 
which  they  are  accustomed  to  paste  their 
play-bills.  To  render  these  still  more 
attractive,  they  have  acquired  the  habit 
of  using  for  them  large  pictures,  includ¬ 
ing  portraits  of  star  actors  and  actresses. 
Among  others,  at  the  time  spoken  of,  was 
the  portrait  of  a  celebrated  actress  which, 
though  unsuggested,  would  hardly  be 
susceptible  of  Ijeing  mistaken  for  the  Vir¬ 
gin  Maby  yet,  at  tho  suggestion  of  the 
idea,  such  an  error  w-as  just  possible. 
Before  this  port-rait  knelt  in  abject  devo¬ 
tion,  making  the  sign  of  the  cross,  an 
old,  decrepit  woman,  whose  weary  life 
had  almost  spent  itself.  Ignorance  and 
siiporstition  were  depicted  on  every  linea¬ 
ment  of  her  face  and  lier  attatmlc  was  that 
of  abject  w'oi-sbip.  Mistaking  the  theatri¬ 
cal  jiorlrait  for  that  of  the  Virgin  Maby, 
she  had  liowcd  herself  before  it  and  was 
performing  the  manual  exercis&s  which 
she  had  been  taught  in  her  youth  w'cre 
the  means  of  grace  and  the  salvation  of 
her  immortal  soul.  Unmindful  of  tlie 
curious  and  scrutinbr.ing  gaze  of  tho  pas- 
sers-hy,  she  was  worshipping  in  the  only 
manner  known  tn  her.  While  the  spec¬ 
tators  M-ore  all  struck  with  tho  liuiicrous- 
ness  of  the  mistake  she  had  made,  none 
seoffinl  nor  did  luiy  iuh'rferc;  hut  tho 
greater  number  w-ero  touched  at  the  spec¬ 
tacle  and  pasRwl  her  in  reRiicctfnl  silenco. 
They  all  looked  behind  the  funny  mistake 
and  saw  the  sincerity  of  the  w'orship  and 
tlie  jmrity  of  the  motive  which  prompted 
it,  Wlio  dares  say  she  w-as  wrong  ? 
QUESTIONABLE  ECONOMY. 
Thebe  are  many  heads  of  families  who, 
in  their  anxiety  to  practice  economy  the 
coming  year,  will  commence  or  extend  it 
to  the  cutting  off  the  family  newspaper. 
This  is  what  we  would  call  poor  ecomimv, 
especially  if  the  paper  nr  jiapers  suli- 
scribod  for  are  really  good  ones,  contain¬ 
ing  information  of  wliich  the  family  stands 
in  net?d.  Of  course  w'«  are  not  pleading 
for  the  Bubajj  New-Yobkcb  any  more 
than  for  the  hundreds  of  other  good  and 
iuslrucLive  periodicals  of  ita  class,  but  for 
one  and  all  the  aim  of  which  is  to  make 
the  home.s  of  our  people  better  and 
brighter  by  their  presence.  It  is  certainly 
among  the  reasonable  probabilities  that  a 
family  may  get  along  just  as  well  and  be 
116  happy  if  they  should  not  know  all 
about  every  murder  or  cose  of  theft  imd 
like  incidents  constantly  occurring  in  idl 
parts  of  the  M-orld,  but  periodicals  M'hich 
give  instructions  in  mutters  pertaining  to 
the  duties  of  eveiy-diiy  life  and  M’elfare  of 
the  laboring  classes,  cannot  bo  dispensed 
M’ith  without  serious  loss. 
If  M-e  throw  out  of  the  account  the 
pleasure  derived  from  tho  perusal  of  sunh 
papers,  also  their  value  as  instructors  in 
general,  there  still  remaius  an  almost  uni¬ 
versally  admitted  certainty  that  during 
the  year  some  one  article  or  paragraph 
wdl  convey  information  to  the  render 
worth  far  more  thau  tho  subscription 
price  for  a  tMelvemonth  or  more.  It  is 
to  be  hoped  that  every  one  of  our  readers 
will  think  of  this  subject  thoughtfully 
before  deciding  not  to  renew  their  sub¬ 
scription  for  those  papers  which  insti’uct 
both  the  old  and  young  members  of  the 
family.  Let  nothing  short  of  n  depriva¬ 
tion  of  tho  actual  necessaries  of  life  pre¬ 
vent  you  from  subscribing  for  at  least  one 
good  newspaper,  and  in  making  a  selection 
chose  the  one  which  will  give  the  most 
and  best  information  upon  the  business 
pursued  or  the  wants  of  your  family. 
- ».»  » - 
RUKAL  NOTES. 
Willow  Culture. — ^Again  we  notice 
that  there  is  an  attemiit  made  to  got  up  a 
“  basket  M'illow  fever,”  and  the  old  story 
of  five  millions’  or  more  worth  of  M-illow’ 
and  M’illow- ware  being  annually  imported, 
is  going  the  rounds  of  the  pre^.  Nom'  as 
a  word  of  caution,  Ave  suggest  that  before 
farmers  or  others  invest  heavily  in  willow 
culture,  they  look  into  the  subject  ver>- 
carefully  and  mark  the  difference  in  the 
jirice  of  labor  in  tins  country  and  abroad, 
M'hence  M'e  obtain  the  imported  arti- 1 
cle.  The  cost  of  freight  across  the  At¬ 
lantic  and  other  unavoidable  expenses  of  ! 
bringing  over  wiUow-w'are,  scarcely  make  i 
up  for  the  difference  in  the  price  of  labor 
on  the  opijosito  sides  of  the  big  2>ond.  , 
We  can  raise,  basket  willow  enough  in  any 
one  of  our  States  to  8Ui)2>l.y  the  M-hole 
world;  there  is,  hoM'ever,  an  “if”  and  a 
“but”  in  the  way,  M'hich  have  been  very 
troublesome  to  those  who  M-ent  into  the 
culture  of  this  plant  in  years  past.  i 
- - 
The  Kigiit  Name.  —  There  is  a 
movement  on  foot  to  oom2jel  the  raaniifac-  ; 
turers  of  oleomargarine  butter  to  stamp 
the  article  by  its  right  name,  in  order  tliat 
the  purchaser  may  know  just  what  he  is 
buying.  We  second  this  movement,  and 
would  uot  stop  with  butter  and  cheese, 
but  have  it  extend  to  all  articles  25laced 
on  sale,  from  a  pound  of  cheese  up  to 
silks  .and  broadcloth.  If  people  will  not 
bo  honest  through  prmcJ2>le,  let  us  have 
laM’s  to  compel  them  to  be,  and  see  how 
the  thing  mYU  Avork  for  a  fcAv  years,  if  not 
peiqaetually. 
- - 
Another  I>iscovory. — One  DANtEn 
M.  Cook,  of  Ohio,  claims  to  have  discov¬ 
ered  a  neAv  and  inexhaustible  source  of 
electricity,  and  ho  proposes  to  light  cities 
and  furnish  almost  unlimited  poAver  for 
dri\'ing  anything  from  a  neeille  up  to  a 
bar  of  2fig*iron,  through  82Aace  out  into 
regions  beyond  the  influence  of  gravita¬ 
tion.  It  is  to  be  hoped  he  will  not  go 
into  2>artnershi2i  M’ith  the  “Keely  Motor” 
man  and  keC2)  us  A^iting  another  hundred 
years  for  an  exhibition  of  his  wonderful 
discovery. 
.\  Book  About  t'ats. — It  is  an¬ 
nounced  in  “Our  Dumb  Animals,”  that 
a  Avoinau  in  an  adjoining  Slate  is  alxmt  to 
publish  a  Avork  on  Cats  ;  but  whether  in 
favor  of  or  against,  mo  are  not  informed. 
We  M’ill  venture  to  say,  however,  that  it 
is  in  favor  of  the  feline  race,  as  that  is  the 
only  truly  AA-oimmly  view  to  take  of  the 
subject,  and  she  may  count  us  in  as  a 
subscriber  in  advance. 
Tlie  New  Crop. — The  Department 
of  Agriculture  reports  that  tlio  cotton  crop 
will  fall  someM’hat  short  of  that  of  last 
year,  but  wall  rank  among  the  largest 
criqiB  ever  knoAvn  in  tho  country.  The 
season  has  been  favorable  for  gathering 
cotton,  excc2>t  in  North  Carolina.  The 
filler  is  of  superior  quality  in  the  South¬ 
ern  belt  ancl  the  estimated  number  of 
bales  is  4,202, 100. 
- 4.  »  » 
BUBAL  BBEVITIE8. 
Maiunk  Intellioescf.. — The  mouth  of  tho 
“  TM'ced”  ia  cloaed. 
The  Czar  ia  doing  a  Rusaiau  business  in  the 
now  Government  loan. 
It  was  not  an  editor  who  bought  that  boauti- 
fui  six  million  dollar  Tweed  siut. 
Ouii  Market  reporter  quotes  potatoes  a  “  shade 
slimmer,"  and  justilies  himself  bj  saying  that 
those  he  saw  had  their  “  jackets”  off. 
The  “cold  spell’’ which  has  come  upon  us 
M'ithm  the  past  few  days,  may  prove  to  be  a  gen¬ 
uine  “lock-up”  to  many  tielas  of  roots  which 
indolence  hau  loft  to  the  mercy  of  the  elements. 
Tue  Apiarians  are  still  discussing  the  value 
of  certain  iilants  for  bee  pasturage  and  wo  think  it 
time  well  spent, as  there  is  yet  much  to  be  learned 
in  regard  to  tho  honey  iirbducing  properties  of 
thouesanda  of  species  ns  yet  scarcely  known  to 
bee  keepers. 
Another  shower  of  Ilesh  is  reported,  but  this 
time  it  toll  in  South  Carolina.  The  flesh  is  said 
lo  rusembic  hoef,  and  wo  would  uot  be  surprised 
if  tho  hard  times  continue,  that  mo  should  soon 
h.ave  hhoM'ers  of  beef  and  mutton  ready  cooked 
fur  tho  table. 
It  is  now  cnrrently  reported  that  the  famous 
IvEELY  Motor  is  to  be  rciidy  for  exhibition  at 
tile  great  Paris  show  in  1878  ;  and  should  any¬ 
thing  occur  to  prevent  it,  one  will  certainly  be 
ready  for  our  Ri-Centeunary  exhibit  in  i976. 
Encouraging,  verily. 
Tue  College  ivbich  at  present  commands  most 
atteuliou  is  known  as  the  *•  Electoral,"  and  there 
are  many  anxious  persons  awaiting  its  decision. 
Roth  the  “ins’  and  ‘‘outs’’  at  office  are  just 
now  on  the  “  anxious  seat,”  but  we  can  scarcely 
decide  which  deserves  most  pity,  for  a  man  who 
seeks  office  is  a  patiable  object  at  best. 
We  have  just  learned  that  our  old  Editorial 
friend,  £.  H.  TnArrox,  is  at  Dansville,  N,  Y. 
Ho  is  prejiaring  u,  lecture  on  "  Newspapers  and 
Newspaper-men."  His  extended  knowledge  of 
journahsta  and  jom'ualism  will  be  an  assurance 
of  an  interesting  discourse.  Therefore,  if  any 
“Lecture  Committees  are  out  gunning  after  tal¬ 
ent,"  they  can  ad'iress  him  as  above, 
Fobti-tubee  iicrc.%  of  farm  land  under  the 
highest  state  of  cultivation,  with  neiv  buildings 
and  outhouses,  are  offered  for  sale  by  Mr.  T.  K. 
Pnocixiu  of  Ragg  s  Hotel,  Utioi,  N.  Y.  Unusual 
advantages  are  offered  to  the  iiuroliaser  of  this 
fai'm,  who  can  contract  to  supply  Bagg's  Hotel 
with  necessaries.  All  who  are  lookiug  for  a  cheap 
faini  Mould  do  well  to  address  Mr.  Pkoctou. 
The  crop  of  Bronze  Medals  this  year  has  been 
tho  largest  over  known  lu  this  country ;  besides, 
they  are  of  good  size  ami  color.  Just  how  many 
hinmels  have  been  produced  is  beyond  our  knowl¬ 
edge,  but  it  is  Bale  to  say  that  there  Avill  be 
enough  on  hand  to  supply  every  child  horn  in 
tho  next  hundred  years  with  at  least  one,  as  a 
Bouvenii'  of  tho  great  C-entenuial  show. 
We  are  in  receipt  of  N.  W,  Avre  k  Sons'  new 
Advertiser's  Cluido.  It  is  in  the  shatio  of  a 
monthly,  and  the  subscription  price  is  50o.  per 
year,  postpaid.  We  have  seen  no  journal  de¬ 
signed  to  be  of  service  to  the  advertiser  that 
embraces  as  maaiy  excellent  and  novel  qnalitioH 
as  the  one  under  notice.  We  congratulate  tliis 
euteiprisiug  firm,  and  fuel  sure  that  once  seen 
the  Guido  will  be  a  constant  and  trustworthy 
com]iauiou  among  those  whom  it  is  designed  to 
benefit.  Avbe  Sii.x,  by  tho  way,  have  recently 
removed  to  spacioun  and  elegant  quarters  in  the 
new  Times  building,  Chestnut  street,  Philadel¬ 
phia. 
