JAN,2© 
THE 
NEW-YORKER. 
flats, did not attempt to remove to land a foot 
or so higher; and from further facts recorded 
bj r Dr. Fitch, it becomes evident that its natu¬ 
ral abode is in the wild grass of our swamps, 
or on low lands. During an excessively dry 
Summer, these swampy places dry out, and 
the insect, having a wider range where the 
conditions for its successful development are 
favorable, becomes greatly multiplied. The 
eggs are consequently deposited over a greater 
area of territory, and if the succeeding year 
prove wet and favorable to the growth of the 
worms, we shall have the abnormal condition 
of their appearing on our higher and drier 
lands, and of their marching from one field to 
another ****** Thus the fact at once be¬ 
comes significant and explicable that almost 
all great Army-worm years have been unusual¬ 
ly Vet,, with the preceding year unusually 
dry, as Dr. Fitch has proved by record. The 
appearauee of the insect last Summer of 1868 
was unusually dry and hot, while that of 1869 
was decidedly wet." 
In his eighth report (1876) he reaffirms the 
same view with emphasis. “ It Is a well estab¬ 
lished fact that all great Army-worm years 
have been unusually wet, preceded by one or 
more exceptionally dry years; and the wide¬ 
spread appearance of the insect in 1875 formed 
no exception to the rule. The explanation of 
this fact originally given by Fitch is beyond 
doubt correct iu the main, but need6 further 
elucidation." 
Here, then, we have his assertions based 
upon his own investigations during two Army- 
worm years, that ** it is a well established fact 
that all great Army-worm years have been un¬ 
usually wet." In 1880, all this evidence, so 
positively affirmed, is thrown aside, Dr. Fitch’s 
theory, formerly pronounced correct in the 
main “ beyond doubt, - ’is also pronounced erro¬ 
neous. Jloeven adds that “the view that the 
Army-worm has its proper home in the wild 
grasses in the swamps, as Dr. Fitch has as¬ 
sumed, must also be considered erroneous—an 
opinion which he also affirmed in his former 
writings. 
When we find by new evidence that an opin¬ 
ion formerly given is incorrect, candor re¬ 
quires that we should abandon it and acknowl¬ 
edge our error, and ProfeseorRiley is generally 
free to confess the changes in his own vicw6, 
though in this particular point not so fully as 
justice to Dr. Fitch required. But the point I 
desire to urge in bringing forth these facts 
is this : as Professor Riley expressed his 
opinions so positively heretofore, based on a 
much larger amount of evidence than he has 
for his present view, and as bis changes in 
reference to many of the most important char¬ 
acters and habits of the 6pecies have been so 
repeated and radical, can we feel satisfied with 
his present viewB in reference thereto? And 
more especially are we disposed to hesitate 
when we find hia new views based upon such 
slender evidence, and differing iu some most 
important respects from those expressed by 
Professor Comstock, 
CATALOGUES, ETC., RECEIVED. 
Large Sale of JaRSBT Cattle.— Catalogue 
of 45 head of imported Jersey Cattle for sale at 
public auction at Degrauw Farm, at Jamaica, 
LoDg Island, on Wednesday, February. 9th. 
These cattle were imported from the island of 
Jersey last October and are all entitled to regis¬ 
ter in the American Jersey Cattle Club. 
Quarterly Report of the Kansas State 
Board of Agriculture for the quarter ending 
December Si, 1880 
-*♦«- 
MISAPPREHENSIONS CORRECTED. 
A friend from Preble County, Ohio, writes 
us: “ Those subscribers whose names I sent in 
were surprised when they received their pota¬ 
toes—they look 60 much like a small Errly 
Rose. The picture in the Fair Number of the 
Rural looked so large and fine, and those 
tubers we received so small!” 
I We beg to say that In our “ Plant and Seed 
Distribution " announcement it was stated that 
a White Elephant Potato of medium size would 
be sent to applicants. It will appear that the 
postage on each is five cents, not to speak of 
the cost of box and packing. Now we charge 
our subscribers but six cents on the entire dis¬ 
tribution. Were we to send a larger speci¬ 
men, we should have charged our subscribers 
more postage. No matter what the size, we 
guarantee them to be true White Elephants.— 
Eds ] 
“ 1 do not know whether you have the his 
tory of the Blount Corn ; but about the year 
1858 there was great excitement In the agri- 
cultuial papers about Peabody's Branching 
Corn. 1 have seeu as many as eight small ears 
on a stalk of it. A good many paid very high 
prices for seed, but soon abandoned it. It was 
too late for tbi3 climate aud was too tedious 
to husk. Is the Blount Corn the Peabody 
Corn on its periodical rounds?—[Oh, no.— 
Eds]. I thiuk from the picture of your 
Chester County Corn that it would he too late 
a corn for this country. We try to get a large 
ear with a small cob necessarily, aud a long, 
slim grain—more of a gourd-seed or shoe-peg 
style. 
[We do not pretend to know whether the 
“ Chester” is worth growing in your climate 
or not. We do uot recommeud it to anybody 
or for any section of couutry. It is so with 
Blount’s, Wc would not advise our next-door 
neighbor to grow it. We. have merely told 
what it has done at the Rural Farm and our 
methods of treating it. Wc have no interest 
in either variety beyond that which utlaohes 
to our tests. Our earnest advice to our friends 
is, touch all untried things cautiously.— Eds.] 
KIND WORDS FROM RURAL FRIENDS. 
As to the last point, I am inclined to hold, 
as I always have doue, the same view that 
he expressed in 1870, because the facts sustain 
it. The year 1855 was wet in Ohio, as the 
testimony of Mr. Kirkpatrick shows : Schott's 
Rain Tables not only eoufirm it, but show that 
this was a wet year in all the Northwest. That 
the Spring of 1861 was not only wet, but cool, 
in Illinois and the Northwest is seen by refer¬ 
ence to the “ Reeord of the Season” in the 
Prairie Farmer of April and May, 1861. The 
following records of annual rainfall in the 
East also correspond with what is well known 
to have been the fact in the West:— 
Inohes, 
Burlington Vt., average.34.15 
Boston, Mass., “ 44.99 
Providence, R. I., “ 41-54 
Penn Yau, Is. Y., “ . 28 42 
Marietta. Ohio, " 42.7U 
IncheB. 
1881—12.58 
1881—50.07 
1861-44.25 
1881 -32.74 
1881—48.41 
In the West the chief rainfall of this year was 
in the Spring, many of the stations, taking the 
whole year, not rising above the average. To 
the fact that the Springs of 1869 and of 1875 
were wet Professor Riley bears testimony in 
the extracts already quoted. In the year 1817, 
so far as the few recoids made show, the an¬ 
nual rainfall in the New England States was 
slightly below the average, while in Eastern 
Pennsylvania and Maryland it was slightly 
above. But it is a somewhat singular con¬ 
firmation of Dr. Fitch’s theory that at New 
Bedford, the only monthly record we have, the 
rainfall in June, 1817, was more than double 
average (Blodgett’s Climatology, ’58 aud 81 ) 
The year 1816 was dry, but was unusually cold, 
being equaled (during the first half of the cen¬ 
tury) only by 1812. The facts, therefore, so 
far as they can be ascertained, are largely in 
favor of Dr. Fitch's theory. 
Before the questions as to the number of 
broods at different latitudes and the method 
of hibernating can 1 e definitely settled, it 
will be necessary to ascertain the average 
length of life of tbo individuals from the time 
the eggs are deposited until the resultingmoths 
deposit their eggs; aho. whether they appear 
in definite broods. I have collected facts hear¬ 
ing on these points, but will defer their dis¬ 
cussion to a future paper. 
I could not farm without your valuable ad¬ 
vice. N. B. Booth. 
Pittsburg, Ind. 
Without any idea of flattery I can truly say 
the Rural New-Yorker is improved in an 
extraordinary degree, for It is interesting to 
everybody, old and young, rich or poor, and it 
is at the same time instructive and amusing. It 
is such a cheap publication, too! Just consider 
how superior it is to some monthly papers, 
each number haviug more valuable informa¬ 
tion every week than the others have every 
month, aud yet, not reckoning the seeds distrib¬ 
uted, etc., it costs less to have 52 lively papers 
than 12 dry, laboriously commou-place ones 
full of old and uninteresting advertisements. 
George Gardner. 
I think the Rural heads the list as an agri¬ 
cultural journal. The contents are well selected 
and reliable, and are well printed on good 
paper. Then, too, it always arrives on time. 
Ft. Atkinson, Wis. D. B. Morrison. 
The Rural is either growing more valuable 
from week to week or else I am becoming more 
interested through better acquaintance. 
G. E. Thorne. 
Farm Manager, Ohio State Uuiversity. 
The Rural New-Yorker is the best agri¬ 
cultural journal in existence.—Vindicator, 
Cameron, Mo. 
The Rural New-Yorker is certainly one 
of the best agricultural papers published, and 
a general circulation of it in this county would 
do much towards developing the agricultural 
resources of the county.—Messenger, New 
Martinsville, W. Va. 
The Rural New-Yorker is one of the fore¬ 
most agricultural weekly journals of the age. 
It is worth its weight in 60lid gold.—Planter 
aud Farmer, Richmond, Va. 
Being a farmer, 1 feel most Interested in—the 
whole paper. My wife says she cannot do 
without it, and the children cry for it. 
Covert, N. Y. A. H. Cole, 
The Rural has come to be a necessity to us. 
Its suggestions, positive instructions, experi¬ 
ments, advertisements, and everything about it 
are a constant help, and invest agricultural 
pursuits with frteh interest E P. Afthokp. 
The lady of the house, Mrs. Wallis, says 
the Rural is tho best paper of the bunch we 
receive, and I have never disputed it. 
Will N. Wallis 
Prop’rExp. Farm, Collin Co., Texas. 
The Rural is tbe best of papers. 
Cortland Co., N. Y. J. G. Bingham. 
I consider tbe seeds, etc., yon have sent me 
worth several times Ihe subscription money I 
have sent you; and then there is tho paper 
itself! 'Tis a store of useful information which 
far surpasses all the “ farm books ” I have 
ever seen. Can't you give an index to each 
number ? I suspect this is asking a great deal. 
I save every number, and when 1 want to refer 
to a recipe or article I am obliged to look over 
many numbers sometimes, pace by page, till I 
find It—frequently overlooking it. especially 
if the article is a short one. I can’t tell you 
which department of the paper I like beBt. 
Each member of the family is eager to read it 
when It comes. W. Manning Lemen. 
Shepherdstown, W. Va. 
I received tbe sewing machine works three 
days later, all right; am very much pleased 
with the machine. Many thanks. I feel well 
paid for all my trouble. 
Suffolk Co., N. Y. L. Beecher Hallock. 
The reasons I give for taking the Rural 
New Yorker another year are, first, its per¬ 
fect truihfuluessaud reliability—when a prom¬ 
ise is made I know it is as sure as a note—also 
its instructive and moral reading. 
Clinton, N. Y. B. Elphick. 
I have been taking the Rural for 16 or 17 
years. It is without a doubt the best paper of 
its class in existence. I can see but little room 
for improvement, if any. C. W Hamilton. 
We cannot do without the Rural. We have 
taken it for at least 12 years 
Bergen, N. J. J. H, Spofford. 
The Rural units me exactly, or at least the 
nearest of any agricultural, horticultural, flori- 
cultmal, or any other ’cultural paper that I 
have seen, and I have quite a wide range of 
reading iu these lines. Your original engrav¬ 
ings are very good, and the articles from the 
leading writers in the country are what make 
it my favorite. Frank McMahon. 
Red Bank, N. Y. _ 
It does one good to see the variety of experi¬ 
ence in fruit growing from all parts of the 
country as described in the Rural. We look 
for its opinion, and trust to it, particularly in 
its full and varied information regarding our 
own specialties—apples and grapes, and the 
cultivation of flowers. Annie L. Jack. 
Prov. Quebec, Canada. 
The Rural is one of the best agricultural 
and household journals in the world, and it 
gives away to every subscriber each year, free, 
more thaD the worth of the subscription price 
in valuable farm and garden seeds.—Observer, 
Pembroke, Ont. 
I have been readingthe Rural New Yorker 
nearly a year, and I like it much better than 
any similar publication I ever read. 
Norton, Kansas. D. E. Stevens. 
I have been a reader of Ihe Rural for about 
20 years, and do not intend to do without it as 
long as I can raise the money. I have sent in 
a club this year. N. L Carter. 
Marshall Co,, Iowa. 
The Rural New Yorker is one of the best 
agricultural papers published, and should find 
a home in every farm-house in the country. 
Its managers work 82 acres of land as experi¬ 
ment grounds, not only giving through their 
journal the result of these experiments, but 
also distributing free to theii subscribers many 
valuable and rare seeds.—Jourual, Wyoming, 
Iowa. _ 
It is now generally conceded that the Rural 
New-Yorker is the leading agricultural aud 
horticultural authority of this couutry. Its 
experimental grounds of 82 acres, which ave 
worked in the interests of subscribers ; its free 
distributions of new and valuable plants and 
seeds, have greatly added to its popularity, 
while its pages, filled with original contribu¬ 
tions from the best writers in the world, pro¬ 
fusely illustrated with drawings from nature, 
render the paper invaluable to every farmer, 
gardener or fruit grower in the land.—Patriot, 
New Lisbon, Ohio. 
I am highly pleased with the very valuable 
knowledge for the tanner aud gardcuer gained 
from the RurulFarm aud Experiment Grounds. 
It Is almost Invaluable. 1 would suggest that 
each plant be thoroughly tested, aud that you 
should then state whether it is hardy or not 
in the latitude of New York. This I consider 
a point of much value to beginner* in farming 
and gardening, also to the more experienced. 
Our plant and seedsmen fail to do this, and 
consequently thousands of persons yearly lose 
their money and time by buying seeds and 
plants that will not stand their climate. 
Glens Falls, N, Y. E. W. Knight. 
Canned Meat.— A writer in tbe Maine 
Farmer frightens us in tbe following manner : 
“There have been men all through this coun¬ 
try buying what they call ‘canners,’ which 
consist of old sheep, no matter how much dis¬ 
eased ; anything that could stand alone, such 
as were so poor that the farmers could not 
Winter them ; also old diseased cows and old 
bulls with wolves on their jaws—anything 
does to can. I was at the village the oiliet day 
and saw a large amount of these old sheep’s 
Carcasses that were being shipped to Portland, 
and they did uot look fit for dogs to eat; and 
iu fact, I think it dangerous for any one to eat 
Buch meat.” 
What Power for Churning?— During a 
recent meeting of the Elmira Farmers’ Club, as 
reported in the Husbandman, Ihe question, 
“What is the best power for propelling a 
churn ?” was diseu^ed : 
J. Bridgman —The cheapest animal power 
is a calf, I think, where the dairy is no more 
than six or eight cows. There is a dairyman 
in my acquaintance who milks from a dozen 
to 16 cows and churns with a yearling calf to 
which he feeds the buttermilk liberally, but in 
other respects the animal fares the same as the 
yearlings at pasture. The one that does the 
churning always outstrips tho others in 
growth. 
Charles Heller —Thecburning for a dairy 
of 13 cows on my farm, last Summer, was done 
by a sheep. But there is an objection to the 
use of 6beep and calves tor churuiDgin the bad 
odor they impart to the room. 
G. W, Hoffman—I) o you use a wheel power, 
or the endless chain principle ? 
Charles Heller —The endless chain tread 
power. All thiugs considered it is better than 
the wheel—more convenient and easier for the 
animal. 
J. Bridgman— When a calf or a sheep is 
used, the wheel or machine should be placed 
where the odor of the animal will not enter 
the churn room. There is one rule that i 
would lay down as imperative—that some 
force besides man power should be used for 
churning. If I had buL two cows I would em¬ 
ploy something besides human muscle to do 
the churning. A fanner can make a calf do 
the work without trouble, aud the power will 
then make no cost beyond the machinery for 
using it. That is a better way than any other 
in most dairies where not many cows are kept, 
but with large dairies a larger animal must be 
employed. 
Pyrethrum.— From au interesting and im¬ 
portant paper read by Professor Cook before a 
Michigan Horticultural Society, is taken the 
following purls which should be found in¬ 
structive to all personsThis substance has 
long been in the market under the name of 
Persian and Dalmatian lnBect. Powder and sold 
as a destroyer of house flies, roaebeB, etc. But, 
owing doubtless to the fact ibat the effective 
element is a vola'.ile oil, the foreign substance 
often failed to destroy, as it did in my hands. 
The essential element had escaped. 
In 1879 Mr. Wm. Saunders, of Ontario, ex¬ 
perimented with the Persian Iu6cet Powder, 
the pulverized flowers of Pyrethrttln carneum 
and P. roseurn, aud the Dalmatian, the powder¬ 
ed flowers of P. cinerarinsfoliutu. He found 
the latter the most efficient. It ouly kills by 
coining iu contact and seems to paralyze the 
insect at first and finally kills it outright. Mr. 
Saunders experimented with bouse iltce, blue¬ 
bottle flies, grasshoppers, plant lice, etc. ne 
found that all fell upon theii backs in from two 
to six or eight minutes. The insects remain 
paralyzed sometimes for two or three days be¬ 
fore they die, and a few were seeu to recover 
so far as to walk or fly away. 
Professor C- V. Riley has also attacked this 
problem. His experiments show that this sub¬ 
stance is equally effective against nearly, if not 
quite, all our insect foes. He has found that 
mixing the pyrethrum with Hour in the pro¬ 
portion of one part of the pyrethrum to 
twenty parts of flour, in no way injure# the 
value of the application, and that when mixed 
with water at the rate of one tablespoouful to 
one or even two gallons of water, it Blill is 
potent to destroy. 
The great argument in favor of pyrethrum 
is its harmless nature as affecting man and 
other animals of the mammalian branch. 
When breathed it is no more disagreeable than 
any vegetable dust. 
Heretofore the cost of pyrethrum has been 
a bar to its general use. It has been sold »<• 
k 
