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THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
JAN.22 
THE 
Rural New-Yorker, 
PUBLISHED EVERY SATURDAY. 
Conducted by 
ELBERT 6. CARMAN. 
Address 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER, 
No. 84 Park Row, New York. 
SATURDAY, JAN. 22, 1881. 
We want tlie Director of the New York 
Experiment Station, as the Ithaca Club 
Bays, to be a man who has clear concep¬ 
tions and a just appreciation of science. 
Such a one can suggest lines of scientific 
experiment that may be more valuable 
than any the scientist can suggest. 
« ♦» - 
Severely just criticisms on the sins of 
commission and omission of public offi¬ 
cials are not only the privilege but the 
duty of the public press; but a fair 
measure of care should be taken in inves¬ 
tigating the subject discussed before at¬ 
tributing blame, lest in the desire to 
benefit the public, injure a public func¬ 
tionary, or advance some private interest, 
injustice may bo committed. Elsewhere 
in this issue, it is clearly shown that the 
charge made by a highly esteemed con¬ 
temporary against the Commissioner of 
Agriculture, with regard to his action 
concerning pleuro-pueumonia, is entirely 
unfounded. 
-- 
The Rural Illustrations. — Thus 
writes Col. F. D. Curtis : “ The new de¬ 
parture of the Rural New-Yorker in 
furnishing its readers with life-like or 
exact pictures of animals, as nearly as 
they can be transferred to paper, is an 
enterprising and honest attempt in the 
right direction. These pictures may not 
(latter the animal, but they are real, aud 
on this account valuable, because they 
give a correct idea of the animal or breed, 
whereas the common illustrations of ani¬ 
mals and breeds are often fanciful—pur¬ 
chased cuts which are made to sell aud 
are used for different animals and differ¬ 
ent breeds. These cuts, always ‘on 
hand,’ are much cheaper, but coupled 
with their cheapness there is delusion 
and fraud. They deceive their admirers 
and are not what they represent. The at¬ 
tempts of the Rural to right this wrong 
are praiseworthy, and should be sustained 
by all honest breeders. ” 
♦ •»- 
A Sad Loss.— Fires in country places 
seem to be unusually numerous and dis¬ 
astrous this year, but the most lament¬ 
able that has come to our notice is the 
horrible destruction of the splendid herd 
of Jersey cattle at the Elizabeth farms 
near Brickville, Pa., between 12 and one 
o’clock last Saturday night. The herd num¬ 
bered 52 registered Jerseys, including the 
bull Coxswain, valued at $3,000, and was 
the finest Jersey herd in Pennsylvania, if 
not in the entire country. Ic belonged 
to the estate of the late G. D. Coleman, of 
Lebanon, and was under the management 
of Colin Cameron. The bam in which 
the animals were stabled, together with a 
large amount of hay and other property, 
was entirely consumed. Above the roar of 
the flames rose the agonized groans and 
bellowings of the cattle as they were roast¬ 
ed alive chained in their stalls. The fire 
was decidedly incendiary, and the money 
loss about $41),000. In some of the States 
arson is still a capital offense—does not 
the cruel, malicious wreten who caused 
so much suffering and loss deserve the 
halter ? 
■ ■ 4 ♦ » 
A Desirable Beginning. — The weather 
warnings of the Signal Service have hith¬ 
erto been of practical use almost exclu¬ 
sively to the shipping interest, which has 
been largely benefited by the forewarn¬ 
ings of approaching storms, given at the 
chief ocean and lake ports. We have 
frequently called attention to the great 
benefit agriculture and kindred indus¬ 
tries might derive from similar forewarn¬ 
ings, aud are therefore pleased to learn 
by a telegram from Washington last Sat¬ 
urday, that the first step has just been 
taken in this direction. The Texan 
“northers” have frequently proved ex¬ 
ceedingly destructive to the Hocks and 
herds of the Lone Star State, and General 
Hazen, the new Chief of the Signal Ser¬ 
vice, has given instructions, we are told, 
to have the approach of these storms 
telegraphed in time for the shepherds 
and herdsmen to take measures for the 
protection of their charge. How this is 
to be done with herds and flocks scattered 
over the prairies or wide ranges is not 
any plainer than how forewarnings are to 
be sent to those regions. The important 
point, however, is that the first step has 
been taken in rendering the Signal Ser¬ 
vice of advantage to those who make a 
livelihood by land, as well as to those 
who make fortunes by sea. 
-» ♦ ♦- 
Stock-raising or Agriculture — 
Which ? — A measure is to be introduced 
into Congress giving 650 acres of the 
public land to any person who will Bink 
an artesian well on the Great^Western 
Plains, and thus secure a permanent 
supply of water. The cost of such work 
would render it impossible for the ordin¬ 
ary agricultural settler on the frontier to 
accomplish it, whereas Htockmen desir¬ 
ous of extending their ranges would find 
the outlay an excellent investment, and 
by sinking wells in the names of their 
hands, they might soon seize upon all the 
most eligible localities. Already there 
is much complaint by small farmers 
along the frontier that the wealthy stock- 
owners are monopolizing all the springs 
and water-courses on the plains by a 
somewhat similar trick, and should this 
measure be adopted doubtless such com¬ 
plaints will be louder and more numer¬ 
ous. Stockmen, however, claim that the 
plains between the 100th meridian and 
the Rocky Mountains are unfit for tillage 
and suitable only for grazing. This 
question should be promptly investi¬ 
gated, and should it turn out that that 
vast, but at present arid, region is fit 
only for pasturage, it would be wise in 
the government to favor the above plan 
as likely to foster the great cattle inter¬ 
ests of our Western territories. 
- 1 » > 
ROOT-PRUNING VS. SHALLOW CULTURE 
FOR CORN. 
Dr. Sturtevant, in a late N. Y. Tri¬ 
bune, speaks of the yield of corn of Mr. 
Bowditch, of Massachusetts, and how it 
was produced. On 17} acres of land he 
raised 100 bushels per acre. The land 
was in “fair—not high condition." It 
received for dressing 123 bags (200 
pounds each) of “corn manure,” or about 
8 bags per acre. “After the plants were 
from oue-and-a-half to two feet high, the 
cultivator was used—one of those which 
straddle the rows and whose discs cut 
deeply and lift the soil.” It was “run 
frequently and as close to the plants as 
was possible and as deep as it would go.” 
By such means the plant, whenever it 
obtained a rampant growth, was at once 
checked by the severe ‘root-pruning,’ 
and reminded, so to speak, that its pur¬ 
pose was to grow grain and not leaf. 
Dr. Sturtevant concludes that this root- 
pruning was one of the secrets of the 
large crop. He cites as evidence that a 
neighbor (in friendly rivalry) used more 
manure and planted a smaller field; using 
greater labor in band work and ignoring 
root-pruning. But he secured but “ 78} 
bushels of crop.” 
At the Rural’s farm we raised, as has 
been shown, over 150 bushels of shelled 
corn on one acre, with but 350 pounds of 
“corn manure” in one instance, and 
over 130 in another, with 500 pounds of 
concentrated fertilizer. The cultivation 
was confined aB nearly as possible to the 
surface. The plants were in no case 
reminded that their “purpose was to 
grow grain and not leaf. ” 
Now, a neighbor upon a field but one 
field removed from ue, used 1,200 pounds 
of special fertilizer broadcast, besides a 
small quantity in each hill, and used the 
sort of cultivator which Dr. Sturtevant 
describes, viz., one which “straddles the 
rows and whose discs cut deeply and lift 
the soil.” His crop, as we have ascer¬ 
tained within the last few days, was be¬ 
tween 75 and 80 bushels per acre on 
three-and-a-half acres. Is not our evi¬ 
dence, as given above, as forcible against 
“root-pruning” as Dr. Bturtevant’s is in 
its favor ? 
-»-*-♦■- 
THE WORLD’S FAIR. 
In view of the unanimous election of 
General Grant to the presidency of the 
World’s Fair Commission, and the 
promptness with which subscriptions 
are being handed in, we may confidently 
look for a successful Exhibition in 1883. 
Though the time for preparation is short 
and the work to be done is great, yet, we 
have no doubt but that,with zeal and per¬ 
sistence in pushing on the work, it may 
be all accomplished in due time. 
Large sums of money have already 
been subscribed, but most of it condi¬ 
tionally. It seems as if the capitalists of 
the city and country should come out 
fearlessly and give a certain amount 
positively, not hypothetically, and thus 
the lingering doubt as to whether there 
is to be sufficient financial support may 
be removed. Mr. Vanderbilt promises 
$250,000 provided $4,000,000 are raised, 
and others agree to give $10,000 if two 
hundred similar subscriptions can be 
secured. If these $4,000,000 are not 
raised within three months it will be 
wisdom on the part of the commissioners 
if they postpone the time for holding the 
Exhibition a year or two. 
But $4,000,000 will be far from suffi¬ 
cient to complete the work; it will be sim¬ 
ply enough to insure a beginning, At least 
$10,000,000, and perhaps $12,000,000 
will be expended by the Committee 
before the close of the Exhibitiou. Con¬ 
sidering the fact that the receipts, after 
the Fair is opened, will defray the ex¬ 
penses in part, that should not prevent a 
hearty response to the present call for 
funds. 
A failure to carry out the proposed 
plans for the Exhibition where success 
depends almost solely on financial con¬ 
siderations, would justly invite the sar¬ 
castic sneers of our foreign friends, and 
be somewhat humiliating to us as a na¬ 
tion on whom the sun of prosperity is 
shining in full effulgence; but we Relieve 
that our capitalists and the people at 
large have the good name and the best 
interests of the country too much at 
heart too allow any such issue of. affairs. 
With regard to the proposed site at 
Inwood, there are some objections, but 
not more than would be connected with 
any other site in the vicinity of the city, 
and many of these objections may be 
removed or greatly modified if no time 
is lost in the preparatory work. 
-- 
A GIGANTIC MONOPOLY. 
During the past week the commercial 
world, which from necessity largely 
patronizes the telegraph, has been great¬ 
ly disturbed by the announcement that 
the Western Union, American Union and 
Atlantic and Pacific telegraph companies 
have formed a scheme of consolidation 
on the basis of a largely increased nom¬ 
inal capital. The present capital by 
which these companies are represented 
is much greater than the actual outlay 
made by them, and the projected increase 
will certainly entail higher rates in order 
to earn dividends on the floating capital, 
while the gigantic monopoly of the tele¬ 
graphic facilities of the country will 
enable its managers to levy whatever 
tax they please on the public at large 
who may find it necessary to ubo the 
wires. A project is on foot for the for¬ 
mation of another telegraphic company 
so organized as to prevent its being ab¬ 
sorbed by, or consolidated with, any other 
company ; but even if such a company is 
formed it will be years before its lines 
are so extended as to be of benefit to the 
general public, as its rival will certainly 
obstruct it in every way. 
Legislation, State or national, should 
promptly protect the public welfare from 
the odious tyranny and exactions of this 
and other huge monopolies. Already 
the prospective consolidation of the 
three chief lines in the country has 
strengthened the feeling in Congress 
in favor of adopting the postal telegraph 
system under oontrol of the government, 
and it is reported that several bills pro¬ 
viding for its establishment will be intro¬ 
duced into the House to-day. Although 
we are strongly opposed to the meddling 
of the government in undertakings that 
should be carried on by private enter¬ 
prise, still the protection of the citizen 
against his foes is the chief end of all 
governments, and the most formidable 
enemies of the American citizen to-day 
are the monopolies that are constantly 
extending their baneful influence. If it 
is necessary therefore in order to protect 
the public from the exactions of monop¬ 
olies that the government should tako 
control not only of the telegraphs of the 
country, as in England, but also of its 
railroads, as in France, we shall heartily 
support the measure; for the best inter¬ 
ests of the public are ours. 
-♦--♦“*- 
BREVITIES. 
Lady Apples are now selling for $5.50 per 
barrel. 
The announcements of seedsmen, nursery¬ 
men, etc., may from now on be looked for in 
our advertising columns. 
All subscriptiona received after this date, will 
be placed on our lists to receive the Rural New- 
Yorker one year, counting from the dale when 
the subsct'iplion is received. We have no back 
numbers. 
We receive some compliments that we value 
more than others. Here is one from Prof. E. 
W. Stewart: “ I am glad to see strong evidence 
of your prosperity. Your paper is an honor 
to journalism."' 
Oua respected contributor, B. F. Johnson, 
of Illinois, writes :—“ I have 6een some large 
specimens of corn, but the ear of Chester 
Mammoth you gave us a cut of in the Corn 
Number is ahead of anything I have ever seen.” 
A citron was brought to the office by Mr. 
E. Williams who received it from Florida, 
measuring 7x12 inches in diameter. It is 
said to be the largest citron on record. The 
weight istenpoundB. 
Let the 18th session of the American Pomo- 
logieal Society be the grandest thiDg of the 
hind ever held. President Wilder, as we have 
already announced, appoints the 14th of next 
September as • the day—and Boston as the 
place. 
TnKR® is a Yellow Calla Lily (Ricbardiahas- 
tata), a colored plate of which ie figured in a 
recent London Garden. Although introduced 
into England 23 years ago it is yet. quite rare, 
the stock beiDg held by Hooper & Co. of 
Covcnt Garden, who are now sending it out. 
We understand that Ex Governor Furnas, 
of Nebraska, is beiDg strongly supported as 
the successor of Gen Le Due at the head of the 
Agricultural Department, should the latter, 
like the heads of the other Departments, go 
out of office on the accession of the next Presi¬ 
dent. A better man for the posiiion could 
scarcely be named. 
We see a marked difference now from an 
advertisement in the Rural, as compared with 
four or five years ago. The letters from our 
advertisers are more than double, which is the 
best proof we can get that the paper has a good 
circulation with a good class of people. 
Ft. Atkinson. Wis. Cornish & Curtis. 
A boy, a visitor at the late Fat Stock Show 
in Chicago, on returning home was asked to 
describe in his own words some of those won¬ 
derful fat steers of Mr. Gillett, of which the 
newspapers had so much to say. He hesitated 
a while, and then said Gillett’s red steers 
looked more like a street car, with a head aDd 
a tail to it, than anything else I can think of." 
Eurotas's yield of 778 pounds of butter a 
year, or about 15 pounds per week the year 
round, does not seem to gain a hearty credit 
across the Atlantic.to judge by the remarks 
thereon in our English exchanges. Well, we 
have a few doubting Thomases here at home; 
and faith in wonders naturally grows less 
with distance of place as well as of time. 
How accounts do differ! The official re¬ 
port of the French Government places the 
yield of wheat in France for'80 at 270,200,000 
bushels, and the average yield at 32 bushels 
per acre. Moreover, it is stated that for the 
past 10 years the average yield has beeu 31.3 
bushels, and the average annual production 
267,938 600 bushels, while the country has for 
the last decade imported 34.110 400 bushels, 
making the average annual requirement 302,- 
044,000 bushels. English author ities have beeu 
putting the average yield of wheat in France 
at 15 bushels, whereas it thus uppears it is 
greater than the English yield. 
Many singular discoveries have been made 
among manufacturers bv the census enumera¬ 
tors in the course of their investigations. For 
instance, it has long been known that dealers 
are in the habit, of adulterating honey with 
glucose on the plea of thus improving its 
keeping qualities. In Boston, however, there 
is a firm dolug a large business in making 
honey entirely from glucose much In the same 
way as manufacturers elsewhere tnuke butter 
from suine and oleomargarine. The comb is 
molded out of parafine lu excellent imitation 
of the work of bees; then the eclla are filled 
with pure glucose and scaled by passing a hot 
Iron over them, and the product is sent to 
Europe as our best clover honey. The busiest 
Italiau bees couldn’t compete with this firm 
in turning out honey, any more than could 
a Eurotas-like Jersey breed compete iu butter 
making with our deft manipulators of lard 
and tallow. 
During the week an effort is to be made in 
the House of Representatives to pass a bill 
giviDg to the head of the Department of Agri¬ 
culture a seat in the Cabinet. The Rural 
New-Yorker has been, for years, an earnest 
advocate of such a measure, confident that 
good results to the agricultural interests of 
the country must accrue from its adoption. 
We have in the past so frequently advocated 
the measure, that we shall confine ourselves 
here to wishing success to the approaching 
attempt to secure its passage, The present 
Congress will come to an end in a few weeks, 
without having hitherto greatly distinguished 
itself by the wisdom of its legislatiou ; but 
should it raise the Department of Agriculture 
to the dignity due to the vast interests it 
represents, it will have done much to make 
up for its legislative shortcomings. That the 
elevation of the Department of Agriculture to 
the level of the oilier Departments is only a 
question of time—at most of a few months— 
seems to bo generally conceded, and if the 
present Democratic Congress fails to reap 
the credit of passing the measure, the next 
Republican Congress Is pretty sure to do so, 
thus bespeaking the good will and support 
of the vast agricultural community. 
Are we not in danger of having too many 
agricultural societies of national scope. Last 
year the American Agl Association which 
was to tako charge of the agricultural interests 
of the nation, was founded iu this city with 
much eclat; the other day the National Farm¬ 
ers’ Alliance, which is to cover the same 
ground, and branch out a little into politics, 
was started iu Chicago by an enterprising 
local paper; and last Wednesday a dozen or 
so highly respectable gentlemen assembled at 
Washington and revived the old lluited States 
Agricultural Society, which was founded 29 
years ag", or so, to take charge of the farmers’ 
interests everywhere in the Union. This ven¬ 
erable society, however, with the wisdom of 
age, passed two excellent resolutions:—First, 
it resolved that itB congratulations should be 
conveyed to the Hon. Marshall P. Wilder, 
“ the founder and friend" of the Society; and, 
second, it resolved that the question of its 
consolidation with the A. A. A., should be 
referred to the President aud Secretary with 
full power to act as they might deem proper. 
One vigorous society would, in our opinion, 
be of more benefit to the farmers of the coun¬ 
try than a trio of 6emi moribund ones. Can 
any of these societies do more for the farmer 
than the Grange has done ; or is any of them 
more capable of benefiting him, socially, 
educationally or politically ? 
