JAN. 4 
T 
E RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
THE 
Rural New-Yorker, 
PUBLISHED EVERY SATURDAY. 
Conducted by 
ELBERT E. CARMAN. 
Address 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER, 
No. 34 Park Row, New York. 
SATURDAY, JAN. 1, 1881. 
SPECIAL NUMBERS OF THE RURC L NEW- 
YORKER. 
The Next Special Number of the Ru¬ 
ral New-Yorker will be devoted to those 
hardy shrubs and trees best suited to the 
(/rounds about, the country or suburban 
home. Having tested at the Rural’s Ex¬ 
periment Grounds, duriug the past eight 
years, all of theold well-kuowu kinds and 
all of the newer species which have seem¬ 
ed to be worthy of trial, our notes will be 
drawn from actual observation and expe¬ 
rience. The next special thereafter will 
be a small-fruit number ; and the next 
wili.be devoted to Wheat. The Rural 
Farm has made the testing of wheats a 
specialty for several years. We have now 
77 different varieties growing, none of 
which are very well known, while many 
of them are new cross-breeds which have 
never been offered for sale. 
The best of these varieties we shall cul¬ 
tivate with a view to placing them in our 
Free Seed and Plant Distributions, 
so soon as a sufficient amount of seed 
can be grown for that purpose. 
- -* * * - 
We find, upon looking over the Index 
for 1880, that the Rural lias published 
(under “ Everywhere ”) 665 communi¬ 
cations from different parts of this and 
other countries. 
Considerable importance, as we have 
remarked elsewhere, is by many attached 
to having the rows of corn run North and 
South, when the seed is drilled in. The 
rows of the Chester and Blount were Ease 
and West. 
■■ ■ —*-+•♦ - • 
Many of our new readers may think 
that a good deal might have been said in 
this number about corn which has not 
been said. It may be remarked that the 
Rural New-Yorker of March 8, 1879, 
was also a special corn number, and we 
have endeavored, in so far as it was possi¬ 
ble, not to repeat in this what appeared in 
that. 
• ♦- 
An experiment, easily tried and which 
would demonstrate to farmers whether it 
is more profitable to plant corn in hills 
or drills, iB the following: Measure off a 
strip, let ns say, 16 feet wide, extending 
entirely across the field, or, if desired, a 
distance only of from 28 to 80 feet, or any 
other number divisible by four. Plant 
com in drills four feet apart and a foot 
apart in the drills. In another strip of 
the same dimensions, plant in hills four 
feet apart each way, four kernels in a hill. 
It will be seen that the number of kernels 
in each strip will be the same. Give the 
same manure, preparation and culture. 
We believe that most farmers who will 
fairly try the above experiment will en¬ 
tirely abandon hill culture of Indian Corn 
-- 
Time Required for Fixing a New Va¬ 
riety of.Indian Corn.— Five years ago, 
according to memory, we made a cross 
between Stowed’s Evergreen and the 
Black Mexican. Several of the kernels 
from this cross were of a rose color. Such 
kernels were selected and planted the 
next year. From this cross the rose-col- I 
ored kernels were again selected and so 
on until last year. From last year’s se¬ 
lection we have before us five ears. 
Taking one that seems to be an average 
of the progress made in fixing the rose 
variety, we count as follows: 
Whole number ot kernels on the ear.330 
White (like Evergreen). 76 
Black or dark colored. 120 
Boss colored. hr 
Variously colored. 99 
From the above, it would appear that at 
least five years more will be required to 
fix the “ Rose ” Corn; that is, so that all 
the kernels shall be uniform in color and 
size. 
- 4 4 4 - 
GREAT POULTRY SHOW. 
At the one which recently came off at 
the Crystal Palace in England, there were 
800 exhibitors, showing 3,865 pens. Of 
these, 2,200 were of cocks and hens, 122 
ducks, six geese, seven turkeys and 1,530 
pigeons. 
We are surprised to find so few geese 
there, as England is a great goose-breed¬ 
ing country. The flocks there frequently 
have hundreds in them, far exceeding 
those in America; but as for turkeys, 
there are few compared with ours. Iu 
pigeons they excel, and the varieties are 
astonishing—one can hardly keep the run 
of them, so many new are brought out 
from time to time there and iu other parts 
of Europe. 
At the later Fat Cattle Show at Bir¬ 
mingham, the poultry and pigeons ex¬ 
hibited numbered 3,062. So far as we can 
judge, these seem to be considerably on 
the increase in England, and it ought to 
be the same iu the United States. Consid¬ 
ering their flesh and eggs, liens, at least, 
are the most profitable stock we can ke p. 
IT IS NOT MANURE ALONE. 
Dr. Sturtevant, who has studied corn 
as closely as any person we are acquaint¬ 
ed with, once told us: “ Were theaveraga 
farmer to be asked to name the one thing 
most essential iu growing a large yield of 
corn, ho would reply ' manure aud yet 
there is no greater mistaken belief current 
than that applying manure will produce 
the large crop.” And this is our own be¬ 
lief from our experience in raising our 
large yields of Blount and Chester. It is 
strengthened by the fact that one of our 
best farm neighbors applied at the rate 
of 1,200 lbs. per acre of Lister’s Chemical 
Fertilizers on the half of a seven-acre 
field, besides a handful in the hill; and 
twenty-five loads of farm a ami re on the 
other half, with the same chemical ferti¬ 
lizer iu the hill, and yet his yield was not 
over 80 bushels to the acre of Bhelled corn. 
His field was naturally aud by better 
treatment a more productive field than 
ours. His corn ( White Dent) was plant¬ 
ed in hills four feet apart, four kernels to 
the hill. The corn was hilled up and the 
land cultivated with a plow only. Why 
did we raise over 150 bushels of shelled 
corn with 350 pounds of chemical ferti¬ 
lizer, while, with over 1,200 pounds, he 
raised but 80 on a naturally more fertile 
field ? 
- 4 » 4 - 
A HIGH-PRICED RAM. 
The owner of a ram exhibited at a late 
show at Melbourne, Australia, was of¬ 
fered aud refused for him XI,500 (say 
about $7,200 of our money.) His breed 
is not reported, but we presume it was 
one of the varieties of the Merino sheep 
as on account of the numerous large 
flocks of them in that country, and the 
greater value of their fleeces, they have 
been held at far higher prices than mut¬ 
ton sheep imported from England. 
American Merinos have found great 
favor in Australia for some years past, 
and quite a number have been exported 
thither. They yield more wool for their 
weight than any other class of Merinos, 
and although of not qnite so flue a fiber 
as the Saxon or Silesian, it is still fine 
enough for all useful purposes, aud 
oounts as the most profitable fleece, prob¬ 
ably, upon the whole, that is grown 
among the flock-masters, 
We believe rams of this sort bred in 
Vermont, have been sold at a higher price 
than was offered for the above in Austra¬ 
lia. If we recollect aright, $10,000 to 
$15,000 have been refused once or twice 
for such. Whether the offers were in 
good faith we do not know, and do not 
see how rams costing anytning like the 
above sums, can pay a profit from their 
breeding, any more than Short-horn cows 
and bulls at $10,000 to $30,000. Such 
prices seem to us altogether exorbitant, 
and no prudent breeder can be justified 
in paying them. 
- 4 - 4-4 - 
SHALLOW CULTIVATION FOR CORN, 
We cannot think that there is any kind 
of cultivation that cuts or displaces the 
roots of corn that can increase the yield 
of grain. We want to encourage root 
growth in every way. We want to sup¬ 
ply the roots with every condition favor¬ 
able to their healthy existence. They 
supply the grain through the leaves and 
stalks with the food which is necessary 
to their fullest development. 
From our own experience, we condemn 
the deep working of the soil after the roots 
of corn have begun to spread laterally. 
Disturb them not any more than we would 
these of a tender flower during the hot 
sunshine. Cultivate shallow—the shal¬ 
lower, the better, so that the crust is 
broken and germinating weed-seeds kill¬ 
ed. Keep the surface soil mellow, that 
it may drink in the air and moisture, 
which are both drink aud food for the 
tender root fibrils. Root pruning in the 
case of perennials of vigorous wood 
growth induces fruitfulness. But it not 
the less impairs vitality. An earlier pro¬ 
duction of fruit is thus secured. But 
more than is gained in this way, is, per¬ 
haps, lost iu later years. 
The corn plant is an annual and needs 
all of itB roots for the never-ceasing labors 
of a short, busy life. If our “corn grows 
to stalks and leaves,” instead of ears, this 
is not because it lias too many roots, but 
because from want of sunshine or suita¬ 
ble nutriment its equilibrium iB destroy¬ 
ed, aud its energies are spent in the least 
laborous and exhausting of two labors. 
HAPPY NEW YEAR. 
To-day, as greetings are exchanged be¬ 
tween friend and friend, while all hearts 
are happy, and faces radiant with the joy 
which the first day of the year is peculi¬ 
arly fitted to bring, the Rural pauses a 
moment from its corn deliberations to 
wish its readers, one and all, a Happy 
New Year! The old year, with its op¬ 
portunities improved and unimproved, 
with il s duties performed or unperformed, 
with its sorrows and its joys—is gone, 
and another page of our life history is 
written. 
To-day, the poet’s words come to us, 
in the fullness of their meaning, and we 
realize, indeed, that 
■’ The corridors of Time 
Are lull of doors—the portals of closed years; 
We enter them no more, though bitter tears 
Beat hard against them, and we hear the chime 
Of lost dreams, dirge-like, in behind them ring 
At Memory’s opening." 
And, yet, we would not hastily dismiss 
the old year from our thoughts, for it has 
been laden with unusual blessings, espe¬ 
cially to the great body of “ tillers of the 
soil,” who have reaped a full reward in 
abundant harvests, and good prices. Re¬ 
covering from the discouraging effects 
of a small remuneration for almost un¬ 
ceasing toil, the rural population have, 
now if ever, great reason to be happy, 
and if they make “ economy and indus¬ 
try” their motto, they may reasonably 
expect a continuation of the present era 
of “good times.” Economy—not parsi¬ 
mony—iB what farmers, as well as others, 
must practice if they would prosper, and 
this, combined with an advanced enlight¬ 
enment and a laudable ambition to mako 
farming more of a profession, will make 
farmers happier men aud farming a more 
attractive pursuit. 
With the assistance of our able corps 
of contributors ; with abundant means ; 
with the valuable aud trustworthy in¬ 
formation gained from the Rural Experi¬ 
mental Grounds ; with a careful and con¬ 
cise statement and discussion of the vari¬ 
ous subjects pertaining to the farm, gar¬ 
den and household, and with the promise 
of the largest list of subscribers the 
Rural New-Yorker has ever received, 
we shall continue our best endeavors to 
make this journal a reliable source of in¬ 
formation on all topics of which it treats, 
so that it ever may find a hearty welcome 
from its subscribers and friends. To 
those, then, whom we, to-day, greet for 
the first time, we extend a most cordial 
welcome, while to such as have been 
with us in the past, we proffer our sin- 
cerest thanks for their support and en¬ 
couragement, wishing, again, for one and 
all, the Hap piest New Year of all their 
lives. 
•- 4 - 4-4 - 
BREVITIES. 
“ Oh, anybody can grow corn!” 
FIoe I Everyone, hoe 1 Give ear to corn’s 
talks. 
Our last special devoted to corn was March 
8, 1879. 
Dr. Hfxamer’s method of raising sweet 
corn as occasionally followed is original and 
peculiar. 
Mary are fond of blowing their own trum¬ 
pets. The best horn to blow is the born of 
plenty— corn-ucopla. Blow that! 
It seems that the American Entomologist 
has been abandoned altogether. This is a sur¬ 
prise and a disappointment. The magazine 
was well got up—well edited. 
Ir it were as hard to breed good seed, and 
it required as long a time as to breed good ani¬ 
mals. there would be some excuse for our 
indifference as to the former. 
There is a ready sale for the cobs of such 
kinds of corn as Chester Co. Mammoth, They 
are manufactured into pipe heads. Smaller 
cobs do not so well answer the purpose. 
Dr. Sturtevant thinks, after careful inves¬ 
tigation, that we Lave not as yet one strictly 
good seed corn in the market He thinks 
Blount’s the best, though not for New England 
culture. 
It appears from Mr. Brown’s letter (Butler 
Co., Kansas) that he has raised at the rate of 
112 bushels of Blount’s Corn to the acre. He 
h»s a good word to speak for Chester Co. 
Mammoth, 
The question as to whether it pays to sucker 
corn has been experimented upon in various 
places—notably at the Michigan Agricultural 
College and at Cornell University. The results 
agree in showing that suekeriug does not pay. 
Those of our friends who next season adopt 
the methods of corn cultivation recommended 
in this number would greatly oblige us if they 
would make memoranda of all notable steps 
and results and send them to the Rural for 
publication. 
Thu Rural New-Yorker gives information re¬ 
specting oil hardy flowers, trees ami shrubs—all 
sorts of bulbous plants—house plants which are 
best adapted to (he Country Home. All such plants 
are tested In the Experiment Grounds oj the Rural 
New-Yorker, and impartially estimated. 
The A. A. commences the New Year reduced 
iu size not less than one-quarter, according to 
our reckoning. We must congratulate our 
esteemed contemporary upon er er-upon its 
—what shall we say? Well—we simply con¬ 
gratulate our esteemed contemporary. 
Acorns for Poultry —In situations where 
aeorus—and children to collect them—are 
abundant, the following German recipe for 
preparing poultry-food is said to serve a good 
purpose: “Roast the acorns, grind them to a 
coarse meal, ami bake the meal to bread.” 
It is a pity that some simple remedy could 
not be hit upon to destroy the corn worm which 
iu many parts of the North, West and E ist is 
every year heeomlug more plentiful and de¬ 
structive Of our several varieties of corn, the 
YeJlow Flint was most infested. It haB been 
suggested that late Fall plowing would destroy 
many of the chrysalids. 
We have reserved the pai ticulara of the cul¬ 
tivation and treatment given to our corn-fields 
during last stason for this number. We 
claimed that both the Chester County Mam¬ 
moth aud the Blount’s were the largest yields 
ever before produced when the cost of their 
production was duly considered, and we have 
since seen nothing which has invalidated this 
claim. 
[77^ Rural New- Yorker gives much space 
to the decoration of lIu home; to Domestic Econ¬ 
omy. to tlic Agricultural news of the world. Its 
market reports ore made a specialty. Its first 
aim is to supply, in one journal , all the reading 
matter needed in (lie country or suburban home.] 
It Is well to bear It) mind that the Yellow or 
White Flint Corn may be planted close to, or in 
the midst of, such varieties as Blount or Chester 
Co. Mammoth without any fear that the two will 
mix. The Flint blinds its pollen a month be¬ 
fore the others. But if the Blouutand Chester 
were planted near each other they would be 
certain to mix, as their season of bloom is 
nearly the same. 
When corn is planted in drills, the drills 
should run North and South, it is reasonably 
said. In this case the Eastern part of the corn 
receives the morning sun, the Western the 
afternoon sun. Were the rows to run East 
and West, the North side of the rows would 
receive sunshine only at midday. To what 
extent the crop is affected by the direction of 
the rows is a fit subject for experiment. 
Wb have been looking over a great number 
ot experiments with different kinds of concen¬ 
trated fertilizers upcm corn. The conclusion 
that must be drawn is, that while bone has 
shown the best effects in a majority of instan¬ 
ces. in many others it does not appear to have 
produced any appreciable effect. We can only 
repeat what we have already said many times, 
that this is a question which each farmer, by 
careful observation and experiment, must de¬ 
termine for hiuiBolf. 
We would remind our readers that the Win¬ 
ter is the best time to destroy the tent cater¬ 
pillar. The nests of eggs can now be plainly 
seen encircling the small twigs, having the 
appearance of a dark’ polished ring. They 
are easily removed by splitting them with the 
thumb nail. Go over the orchard carefully, 
collect the nests in a basket, and burn them, 
but not in the kitchen stove- Wehavc known 
thlB to be done, and the whole household 
driven into the open air in consequence of 
the horribly offensive smell. 
It is said that “ a merciful man is mer¬ 
ciful to bis beast.” If this be so, can he 
be a merciful man who leaves his cattle ex¬ 
posed in the pasture lots night and day, to 
the inclemency of Buch weather as we have 
experienced duriug the past month or so ? 
Aud yet. iu u large dairy district ou the Har¬ 
lem Railroad, cattle are exposed in this way 
in such numbers that one might be justified 
in concluding it was the rule aud not the ex¬ 
ception Stacks of hay are left out tor the 
cattle to feed on, but the poor beasts have a 
hard time of it, especially where the stacks 
are covered with snow; and their frowsy 
hideB and pitiful looks clearly show that they 
Buffer. Those who indulge in this kind of 
cruelty excuse themselves by saying that the 
animals gradually get need to it, and do not 
mind it; but the looks and motions of the 
poor animals ure uu eloquent reply to such 
shallow reasoning- Self-interest, at least, 
should teach these men that ihure is no gain 
but great Iosb in ibis unfeeling exposure. The 
experience as well as the teachings of the ad¬ 
vanced agriculture of to-day all go to show 
that shelter for domestic animals is profitable 
for both man and beast. 
