482 
MARCH 42 
THE EOIAL MEW-VORRER. 
JUairtirg for tjjr fouitg. 
FARMING i OR BOYS AND GIRL8-NO. 14 
EI-KNRY STEWART. 
How Plant* Fet'd. 
Plants do not feed on the soli. They are sup¬ 
ported by the soil and their roots spread In It and 
take a Arm hold upon It. They find their rood in 
the soil, and search very actively for It. The roots 
are provided with a very large number of organs 
called root hairs, each of which is a feeder for the 
plant and Imbibes whatever liquid food It may 
find In the soli. This food Is dissolved from the 
soil by the water which is held bet ween the small 
particles In the manner previously explained 
When a plant has become 
provided with roots it. Is able to 
flu l its own food, and this It 
does by pushtngout into the soil 
from the roots a great number 
of very tine tlbers called root 
hairs. If a young wheat plant 
Is carefully lifted from ihe soft 
moist soil Jt will appear as 
shown at Hg. 151. A quantity of 
flue soil will adhere to the 
root fibers which cannot easily 
be shaken off. It the root is 
carefully washed with water it 
appears to be made up of a 
miff,bar of flue, white tlbers. 
if we look at It more closely 
through a magnifying glass, 
each dber will too seen covered 
with short hairs, as shown at 
a, fig. 162 . it Is these hairs 
which take such firm hold upon 
the soil for they force them¬ 
selves between the smallest 
particles of it and are only 
freed lrorn these toy carerul 
washing to avoid breaking them, and then many 
are broken off In spite of the care, because of their 
linen ess. 
These hairs are the feeding mou tbs of the plant. 
As they force themselves Into the soli they con¬ 
tinually suck the moisture from between the 
small particles, which would be dust If they were 
perfectly dry, and pump It up through the roots 
Into the stem, from which It goes into the leaves. 
If a small piece of a root doer should b8 still more 
closely observed under a good microscope It ap¬ 
pears to bB made up of a number of cells as 
show at b, figure 152, and from some of these cells 
the root, h airs wouia be seen lo proceed. 
The caljR differ In shape. Some are round and 
some arc oval, hut when they are pressed together 
as they Increase In size ihey become flat-aided, or 
six sided, and longer or shorter as the case may be 
The walls of the root hairs and the cells consist of 
a very thin membrane without any openings that 
are visible under t he most powerful microscope, 
and yet the atom or food substances In the. soil, 
which are also too small to be seen.can pass through 
these walla of the cells, and entirely through the 
plant. In these mile cells there Is always going 
on a work which requires for its execution a Vdfct 
amount of force. This force Is often seen in oper¬ 
ation In the most wonderful manner, as when a 
growing Iree forces a heavy stone wall from its 
place or raises, by Its roots, a heavy pavement, 
and this force which Is greater lhan any man 
could exert, is the work or these little cells which 
seem so weak and fragile t hat a breat h could de¬ 
stroy them. 
iH 
a 
FtO. 152. 
The food absorbed by the plant from the soil 
passes Into the cells and from one to another by a 
very curious process known as osmose. This is 
the passage of liquids of different kinds through 
vegetab e or animal membranes. It Is more easily 
described as follows, than explained, if a wine¬ 
glass Is filled with pure water, and a piece of blad¬ 
der is tied very tightly over the mouth ot the 
glass, and this glass Is then Inverted In a bowl of 
salt or sugared water, tbe pure water In the glass, 
and the salt or Sweetwater from ihe bowl, pass 
and repasa through the bladder until the water In 
the glass la as salt or sweet as that In the bowl. 
Sometimes one substance would pass entirely from 
the glass Into the bowl, and another from the 
howl Into the glass, thus changing places. This 
operation Is going on continually In plants and in 
animals ; the plant food In the soil, thus absorbed 
by the roots passes through many millions of cells 
and membranes before It reaches the leaves; arid 
l he food of an animat dissolved In the stomaou 
passes through ihe walla or the Intestines Into the 
blood vessels by the same process., so the blood Is 
purified In the lungs and the muscles are built up 
from the blood In l he same way. T ndeed, the sim¬ 
ilarity between a plant and an animal goes much 
further, lor ihe rood of the plant, forming the sap, 
goes to the leaves, where It Is acted upon by the 
air, Is digested, and fitted to build up more cells 
by depositing the matter dissolved In It In the 
parts of the plant where new tissue la needed. 
Thus the plant grows from day to day. 
A WORD TO THB COUSINS. 
Perhaps some of the Rural cousins think It Is 
not quite right that their letters do not appear in 
print, but let me explain. Our space Is quite lim¬ 
ited, hence we can insert only a part of the many 
letters we receive, and, as it is our motto to give 
only the best of everything to our readers, of 
course we must follow the rule here, it would 
please me great ly to gratify all my j oung corres¬ 
pondents, but I think they will admit that the 
best letters should have the preference. But I 
would not have them discouraged It a letter, now 
and then, finds Its way to the waste basket. “ Try, 
try again.” Is a good motto and It applies well 
here. 
Now as spring Is coming on, f want all the 
cousins to see how well they caD do with the seeds 
which we shall send them. Any questions which 
any one may ask, we will endeavor to answer. If 
there Is anything the cousins wish to ask about 
gardening or floriculture, rarmlug or fruit-raising, 
1 shall be glad to aid them as best I cau, and in 
this way we shall derive much benefit from our 
correspondence, i I M. 
®J )t $ till Iff. 
TENNYSONIAN ENIGMA. 
“ To their 17, 4, 21, 2,19 under the hill.” 
“ To love once and 10.30, 23, 13, 21, 6,11.” 
“ The hounds of 29,11, 6,, 15, 9, 24 wider yet.” 
“ Two little 1, 23,14, 26, 7 that meet.” 
“ lie turned and 5,12, 7, 7, SI, 15 her where she 
stood,” 
“ And 20, s, 13, 2G loved the queen." 
*‘ Sainted Juliet, dearest 10, 25, 3, 27:” 
A legend of good 16, is, 3, 22 19.” 
The whole la a line lrorn Elaine winch contains 
much truth. 
rsy - Answer In two weeks. 
HIDDEN TITLES FOR MALES. 
1. I had a set of pearls. 
2. I’d call “or"disjunctive conjunction, 
3. Yes, I realize It sadly. 
4. They have no bar on the boat. 
r>. ico, untie my shoe. 
6. The Hindu kept silent. 
7. l met Kyp K. In Cecil Co. 
8. V is counted as five. 
9. What a dark night. 
10, “ From Arqul,” said the card. 
11. This quire of paper will do. 
S~&~ Answer In two weeks. J.ittlk One. 
PUZZLER ANSWERS-Feb. 19. 
TTidokn Fishes.— 1. Sword-fish. 2. Sheepslieart. 3. 
Bull-pout L Parlwlukle. 6. Nautilus. « Pollock. 
7. While-fish. s. Devil.fit-h. 9. Bream. 1(1. Kpawuer. 
11, squill. 12. St ir-fish. 13. Slicker. 14. Tan og, 15. 
Testoreean. 16. 1 brasher. 17. Torpedo, 18. Dace, 19. 
Narwhal, 
Quadruple Crossword Enigma.— Kent, Cass, Lake 
Leon. 
Word Square.— 
DAME 
A C E H 
MEAN 
E R N B 
Charade.— Jar—Bing (-Tarring). 
Rheumatism comes from Inactive kidneys. Hop 
Bitters never fall to cure it. 
$tcck aafl 
40 Clydesdale Stallions 
AND MARES—Mostly Imported, 
60 Ilambldonian Stallions, 
AND MARKS OF THE FINEST BREEDING. 
Largest Herd ot 
HOLSTEIN CATTLE. 
With largest milk records lu America, 
Separate Catalogues of each class of stock with 
milk record of cows. Denote which Is wanted. 
tsr correspondence solicited. 
SMITHS A- POWELL, 
Lakeside Stock Farm, 
Syracuse, N. Y. 
FOWIMaIa IS ISO'S, 
Sprlngboro, Crawford County, Pa. 
THE MOST EXTENSIVE IMPORTERS OP 
CL mJESn.lLL$ 
IN AMERICA. 
One Importation for 1881 already received, and 
another on the way, and another ready to leave 
Scotland, and others Btm to follow, 
Largest and Finest Collection ever seen on 
the American Continent, 
ALSO, 
HAMBLETOmANS, 
And other strains of trotting Stock. 
HOLSTEIN & DEVON CATTLE. 
Catalogues sent free. Addresa as above, and 
mention the Rural. 
200 KENTUCKY MULES. 
All grades and sizes, constantly on baud, for sale 
low. E. B. BlHllOP’8 SONS, 
63u Grand Bt., Jersey City, N. J. 
PLYMOUTH ROCK EGGsT^ 
GILMAN’S STRAIN. 
Raised on farm with unliniiled range. Pure blood. 
Beautiful plumage, distinctly barred leathers, large 
size—8to 11 poumlB. A strain posiessing excellent lay¬ 
ing qualities, with hardy constitution and early mi. 
turity. 13 eggs, Hecurely packed, by exprei-B, $1.60. 
W. C. HART, Rural Poultry Yards, Walden, N. Y. 
BIOWELL. 
giant#, 
THE COMING STRAWBERRY 
The Genuine 
11 eattu u a r ter 
Slock. Having se¬ 
cured t roin the 
originator all of 
his stock and also from Mr. T. T, Lyon. Tres’t Mich. 
Pom. Society, and riBsominator f the Bid well, all the 
stock owned ami controlled byhjm.Iam able to supply 
this most promising of the new st raw berries in limit¬ 
ed quantifies. I he Erst Premium was awarded to the 
Rldwnli ns the ” Best Now Variety and Plant." by llie 
N. V Hort. Society iu 1881 ). Also a superb atock of the 
celebrated. 
CUTHBERT RASPBERRY. 
An exceedingly liberal offer of Hit so two line fruits, 
with my book Success with Small Fruit*.” Descrip¬ 
tive Catalogue free Address 
E. P. POE, 
CnriiwnIl-on -IIudtioti, N. Y. 
GET YOUR VINES AND BERRY PLANTS OF 
E.&J. G. WILLIAMS, 
Catalogues Free. 
Mnniclnir. N. J. 
FOR 30 GTS. I WILL SEND 
A package each of VERBENA 
BLOTCHED PETUNIA. DOUBLE 
PINK and Sugar Trough GOURD 
SEED. Also my 1 i.lustuated Self- 
SurrouTiNa 
Truss Fence Plan. 
Flowers the choicest. Gourds hold from 3 to in gallons 
each. Fence portable, and :uj cents a rod ehe.nper than 
post and board. 'I lilrty oerila pays for all. Address 
WALDO F BROWN. Box 70, Oxfo*d, O. 
M ill bt mailed mm lo .11 applicant., ■nd to cu*tom#r« without 
CrUoriiie It. It contain* hvo colored plate. 600 ♦nCTavinei. 
about S00 page, an.l full description*, price* and direction* for 
planting 1SO0 varleiu* of Vroeiable and glower Sordi,Plant*. 
Roee*, etc. Invaluable to all. S*nd for It. Addre**, 
D. M. FERRY & CO., Detroit, toich. 
JOHN SAUL'S 
CATALOGUE OF 
New, Rare and Beautiful Plants, 
Will be ready February 1st with a Colored Plate. 
ItlH full In really Good and Beautiful Plants. Nepen- 
th< b, nrw Dmcmms. New Crotons,New Pelargoniums, 
N* w Roses, Geranium*, Fuchsia*, etc., with * rich col- 
Jei linn of Fine Fhliave andothcr linen house and Hot- 
UOU88 Plants, well grown and at Low Prices. Free 
to ai.l oun Custom cur; to others, Id cts.; or a plain 
copy free. Catalogue- Needs. Hoses, Orchl'le. Fruits, 
etc., free. JOHN RAUL, Washington, D. C, 
BLOOMINGTON NURSERY. 
Established 1952 13 Greenhouses. GOO Acres. New 
Spring wholesale and Plant (nlujngiic, mint. 
BAIRD it TUTTLE. Agents, Bloomington, Til. 
WANTED—A MANAGER 
Fora Model Dairy Farm, worked on strictly business 
principles. A thoroughly practical, but EDUCATED, 
1 tinner required. This is an excellent opportunity 
for an accomplished farmer who understands his bus¬ 
iness lu every detail and cun instruct a few youugmen 
in it if necessary. Apply with references, which must 
he first ciase, to VIODKL DAIRY, 
Office of Ritual New-York eb 34 Park Row, N.Y. City 
GARDEN AND FARM SEEDS. 
SEND FOR_-W CATALOGUE. 
VANDEUBILT BR 23 FULTON Bt.. N. Y. 
H0VEY& GO.BOSTON 
8j:m> their new catalogues of 
SELECT SEEDS 
NEW AND CHOICE PLANTS, 
For 1881 FREE to all who apply. 
HOYEY & CO., 1C So. Market St . Boston, Mags 
30 DlffJ furi-nnts, Crapes. Tree*, Asparagus, 
Arre- Ut U etc. ; I OO beat aorta. Plante by mail orex- 
n r>TVT>--nri J’ r( ' SB Hoe our prices before buying Cata- 
.D uKJttlijb iogtoelr. e. il.ui Bros, 8. Glastonbury,Ct. 
C.K‘S f 
Illustrate^) 
Is an Elegant Book, of 10" Pape*, Oue Colored Flower 
Plate and 6UJ ILLUSTRATIONS, with Descriptions 
ol the DEBT FLOWERS, VEGETABLE*, and Di¬ 
rections lor growing. Bent tree, by mail, for 10 cents. 
In English or Gninian. 
VICK’S HEEDS urn thn host in the world. Tbe 
Floral Gujok will tell how to get and grow them. 
Vnin’* lT.Lrd'iu/.TEP Mo.-iTHi.r Magazine— 3.;Pages, 
a Colored Plate in every numhur and many tine En¬ 
gravings. Price $1.25 a year; Five Copies for $6.00. 
Specimen Numbers scut for lu cente; a trial copies for 
26 cents. Addrei*, 
JAMES VJCJR, Rochester, N. Y. 
s,““S°box CHURNS 
Clinupeal mid licet.—No 
iusi do li x lures, an d HI U‘U t/a re¬ 
liable. Six sizes of each kind 
made. 7 hr*.'isizes of theLev- 
er Butter Worlmr made. Best 
material need, amt every 
Churn and Butter Worker 
warranted exactly as repre¬ 
sented. One Churn at whole¬ 
sale where wo have no agent. 
___ _ Heud postal for Circulars. 
COKNISn“dkT'UUTIf, Fort AlUlimon. Win. 
Our large fllmtratcd 
Cataloyueol everything 
lor Farm slid Garden 
mailed free to nil. 
CLf7“Roml lor it at once. 
It cost* nothing: may 
_ save you a great. deal. 
BENSON, IY1AULE & CO. 
41 **». NICE CONCORD OILU’K-VIlIBB 
lug lor til, liy mail pusl-paid. Think oj it' Order 
H H «f now for carl v Spring shipment. Circular* free. 
“ v Wm. It. Reed, Cbambersbur); ti nr- 
series, Clin*nl*oi-«l>urg, Pn. Mention this papor. 
BEST VARIETIES 
Grape Vines, Strawberry, Raspberry', Blackberry. 
Currant and Gooseberry Plants. 
Also the Largest Establishment in the world for 
Thorough-bredPoultry, t-jf' Send for catalogues. 
WHO. H. JOSSELVN. 
_ Fredouia* N, Y. 
_ Established 1803. 
DUTCHESS NURSERIES, 
iMJ Small Fruit Plants a Specially, 
TIUTCHESS SEED STORES. 
iVt'tne. but Tested Sends sent out. 
„ T Combined catalogues free upon application. 
N* • L.FKItKIs, JR,. Poughkeepsie, N. Y. 
Office of N ursery and Seed Store. 3o6 and 387 Main St. 
Over l;»0O dlstinei varieties. All strong Plants, 
each labeled, delivered safely by mail. I.nrgesr uesort- 
liieitt. Low prices. In lm»tn*e« 27 year*. Guarantee 
nnWfnction, blOdc comprise* all 't'”lrable rariefiet Only 
mature plants sent, Ouriiew illnMrnted fiunrl-ilook, 
petit tree, contain-* name and description of each plant,with 
met ruction, hv rucce-wml cuhlvat’en. Don'tpure}, uk plants 
euswhtr* ocf rir* 7 />,, unr uric LI II I)rt nhni/ 
AllloveiMof fiotrern should huveear HMrlU”uUUl\ 
Every buyer of rfif<xp»loiOga}ionhl have it, Everv one want- 
Oheuby Hill NuitaEittes, West Ohestor, Pa. 
BEAUTIFUL. EV 
CONARD CO’S 
Th?^ on !y establlshmant making a SPECIAL 
BUSINESS OF ROSES. 50 LARGE HOUSES 
for ROSES alone. We deliver Strong Pul Plants, 
iblft for immtxlmttt bloom, w,fel * “ * i | 
35 for 85 7 75 Vor 8IO; IOO for 813.' We CIVE 
AW AY,lu Premlumaand Extra a, more ROSES 
than most eatablLrhrnent* grow. Our NEW GUIDE, 
o coinfilitr. Trent,.** on the Roeg. 70 pp. elegantly tttui.tr'ilea, 
deacnbesCOO newest and choicest variutir* —/V« to all, 
„ THE DINCEE & CONARD CO. 
Rose Growers, West Grove, Chester Co., Fa. 
ONION SEED! 
Danvers Yellow filobe, White Portugal, 
Red Wethersfield, an<l all other tarietiee. 
Illustratkd Cataloou* sent free on receipt 
of address on postal card 
HIRAM SIBLEY & CO 
Rochester, N. Y. and Chicago, li! 
READER, !U°" ” v * 
T/ Af It * 
Keene, N. il. 
Flowers, choicest 
until, address P.LLi H BRnTHKRS, 
it will astoniyh mid please. !>'It HE. 
# 
xpostpuKtsjiiar* 
fantcetng safe urrirnt \n ijotnl\ 
~condition . our choir* of' *arf*. 
60 $l SETS: Ly; 
HI s SO Vorbonn*, HI; 
15 BuxkH or Bediiing Plants, HUy 
O Geranium*,Sf l; lO Tuboro:e>> I; 
Hardy Flcuvuring Shrubs, >11 ; .md : 
Mi"i'iv«fc" 5 NEW AND RARE 
r V Fur your choice of vamrtie-t, -r* our 72-pu«c 
rntulOHilc.with celopvd nlati-Trcc loalL W**] 
offer i; n Immtnui* gfork of O M All EDIIITQ 
Oropo-ViniM, Fruit and OtYlALL rnUl I « 
Ornamontnl Tret**-, Evergreen*, etc.; H Cin-rnnts. 
7 li Strawberries,)* 1* 8 
•1 Pear.lSls S P«neh,! 
__, x l| 1 OO Hardy Oatalpo, 
S1; etc. Catalogue (with 11 col’d strawberries) tree. 
27 th Pear. 18 Greenhomng. 400 Acres. 
8T0RRS. HARRISON & CO- Palnesville, 0-1 
RAPE VINES. 
AH leading varieties in supply. Warranted true 
to name. 1'rioes low. Also ihe celebrated NEW 
WHITE tJRAl’K, i’ll KN TINS. A l*o trees, small 
fruits,etc. X. ^ HUBBARD, 
FREDON1 A. N. V. 
SEE DS. 
Garden, Flower and Field Seeds, 
Reliable Fresh and Pitre, at reasonable prices. 
(Kstaulikhkii 1839.) 
A. <_!. KENDALL. 
Successor to HTAlJt & KKNDALL, 
Cleveland Seed Store, ( I rv*‘lmid , Ohio. 
SEEDS! f : ?e 
i tn-y are b,iinc-grown (they 
have stood the t' atof years. 
Try (Item. Handsomelyi’lus- 
tnUrd Garden Manual, 
mallei two. BEN VISE to 
send for this before ordering, 
‘"urltel (Jimh-m r* write 
for Special lb-ice List. 
J. B. ROOT & CO., 
Seed Growers, Rockford, IU- 
