298 
APRIL 30 
lleatrmg for t|f Hflitttg. 
FARMING FOR BOYS AND GIRL8-N0. 20. 
HENRY 8TKWART. 
(summer Follow*. 
It would be a great mistake to suppose that 
books relating to the artot farming are new things. 
Some persons have made themselves merry over 
what they scornfully call “book farming,” by 
which they mean farming by means of certain 
practices described In book3. But these persons, 
who thus try to show their own peculiar wisdom, 
only prove their own Ignorance, for books have 
been written about the art of farming for more 
than soo years. These very farmers referred to 
grow clover and know Its Talue and how they 
could not do without it, and yet It was by means 
of a book written by Walter Blythe about the year 
1600 chat the value of clover was first made known 
to English farmers. But there were even In those 
days silly Tanners who scorned a book farmer, for 
clover came very slowly Into use, and it was not 
until a second hook was written, advocating its 
cultivation, by Sir Richard Weston, that It. became 
a common farm crop. Richard Weston Introduced 
the rotation of crops, and In his book explained Its 
principles ana described the practice. 
Soon after, the benelits of draining wet land were 
made known In a book written by Samuel HartUD, 
& friend of the great poet, Milton. Then followed 
a description of the feeding of sheep on green for¬ 
age crops, which was published In a periodical de_ 
voted partly to agriculture, entitled Houghton's 
Collections on Husbandry and Traie, and this Im¬ 
proved and valued practice was thus made known 
and became popular. After some other books ou 
agriculture had appeared there eame a most valu- 
abieone in 1731, entitled. Horse-hoeing Husbandry, 
by Jethro Tull, who first made known the advan¬ 
tages of cultivating crops and of the bummer 
fallow. 
This most especially concerns the subject we are 
now considering, and we need go no further In our 
reference to books on farming, and to book farm¬ 
ers, than to notice that the foolish people who Joke 
about book farmers actually owe to them and their 
books everything of value that they now know and 
practice In tfielr own farming. But for these men 
no doubt we might to-day be plowing with crooked 
sticks and growing our potatoes and corn among 
weeds and grass and on ground filled with water, 
and might have been as poor farmers and as poor 
people In every way as the poor Indians we think 
so much beneath ua. But we want now to learn 
what Jethro Tull knew about summer fallows aDd 
what advantage they are to us In these later days, 
when we think we know so much more than our 
fathers ana grandfathers did. 
What Is a summer fallow ? It Is the constant 
working of the soil during the whole summer sea¬ 
son ; plowing, harrowing and cultivating It, but 
without sowing any seed and without growlDg any 
crop upon It. For what purpose? For the lm- 
provement of the soil, by killing weeds and by 
adding to Its fertility. We have learned that the 
particles of the soli are dissolved by exposure to 
air and to water, and we know that weeds rob the 
crop of food that It requires, and so prevent Its 
full and profitable growth. And so In tne working 
of a summer fallow the soli Is turned and broken 
up so that the rains and dews can moisten It thor¬ 
oughly and the air can penetrate It and the sur¬ 
face ot each little particle becomes dissolved In the 
water held In the soil, and thus a new supply of 
plant food Is provided and stored up for the next 
crop. Besides this, a vast number of seeds of 
weeds are made to sprout and grow, and are killed 
as fast aa they appear, and so the soil Is cleaned 
as well as made rich. 
But wise persons live and learn, and we have 
learned a good deal In the past few years, since 
books and papers relating to farming have become 
abundant; and also since mere have been more 
book-farmers or leading farmers For we nave 
learned t hat It la a w aste of time to work the bare 
ground which lies idle and produces nothing, 
when we cau Just as well grow a crop and gain all 
the advantages of the summer fallow. And so we 
plant (he field that we wish to clean and enrich, 
with beans, or peas, or potatoes, or corn, and work 
these crops thoroughly with the cultivator, and 
the hoe, If need be, and kill every weed and stir 
the soli and gain all the bemfiis possible rrom 
these labors, and produce a crop besides. It was a 
part of tne old system to spread manure on me 
bare fallow and work It into the soil by the repeat¬ 
ed plowlngs and harrowlng3; In the new system 
we prepare the ground for future crops but secure 
that which we call the fallow or cultivated crop. 
THE SEED DISTRIBUTION. 
Our fourth annual offering of seeds to the mem¬ 
bers of the Horticultural club was announced last 
week, and now a word on their cultivation. 
The Japan Judas Tree or lied Bad, as me Amer¬ 
ican Judas Tree la called, is attractive at, ail times 
during the season, but the rosy tinge of the small 
red buds amoDg ihe shlniDg leaves make It doubly 
beautiful In spring. H rarely bears truit and 
seeds in Hits climate, but the specimens on the 
Rural Grounds bore sufficiently the past year to 
enable ua to send some seeds to the young folks. 
It was desired to place these In tne regular Seed 
Distribution, but enough seed could not be pro¬ 
cured, so the cousins aie to be congratulated on 
their good fortune. 
Tne seeds should be sown In pots—about three 
seeds In each-as soon as received, and the pois 
should be pul la me ground and covered with 
glass, See Hut they have good drainage and 
keep the soil moist. When four leaves have 
formed, remove the plants eiretully aud cover for 
the Winter. The seeds are Blow to germinate, but 
patience In waiting will be amply repaid. I would 
thank the Cousins for leaves and flowers of the 
THE RURAL ISEW-YOBKER. 
Red Bud, as any change In form may prove of 
value to those interested In Its culture The 
Judas Tree Is classed on the lawn with medium 
sized, slow-growing shrubs; the leaves are sessile, 
f. e , rest directly on the Btem, and. as the pods 
suggest, It Is a member of the pea family. 
Tub Crimson Dwarf Celert Is an excellent 
variety. The seed should be sown In light, rich 
soli In April or early May. Sow tn rows about ten 
Inches apart and about half an Inch deep, and 
press them down to prevent drying up. Keep the 
young plants clear of weeds aod In July they may 
be transplanted to rows four or nve feet apart, 
and six inches apart In the row. The rows or 
trenches should he about eight Inches deep. Two 
or three months after transplanting they may be 
earthed up In order to be well blanched before 
storing tor the W Inter. 
Now, then, members ot the Horticultural Club, 
there is a chance for you to compete with your 
parents, and I have do doubt but that you will 
surprise mom with your successful attempts at 
gardening, and Uncle Mark for one nopes that 
this year may be the beginning of a happy horti¬ 
cultural career to rnauy ot the cousins. We make 
no charge for postage, simply asking you to report 
the success you have In the work. 
We have received from Commissioner LeDuc 
some packets of seed of the Pyret hrum Roseum or 
Persian insect Powder. It has been much sought 
after and Is raised in but one place in the United 
states, and the firm declines to furnish any one 
with seeds and plants, tne object being to make a 
fortune out or It. Now If any ef the Cousins wish 
to try to cultivate this plant and will use great 
care m doing so, I will send them free of postage 
and on their application, a small packet of this 
valuable seed, In so far as our limited quantity 
will permit me to do so. I hope none will apply 
who have not the facilities for giving these seeds 
good care and cultivation as I wish a good report 
from each one who receives me seed. 
Uncle MARk. 
-♦♦ ♦ 
Dyspepsia, Biliousness, Nervousness and mis¬ 
erableness all cured with Hop Bitters. 
-»♦ » 
THE “YOUNG QUERIST.” 
M. F, Durand, III., asks If E. G. liideout, of 
New York, Is trustworthy. 
Ans.—W e believe he is, 
W. S. B, Lime Hill, Pa„ asks. 1, how to graft 
roses, and 2 , how to propagate them from cuttings, 
Ans.—T he wood of the rose being, by nature, 
pithy, grafting It somewhat uncertain. The 
methods used are similar to those in iree-grattlng, 
as Illustrated In the Rural ot Feb. 12. For cleft- 
grafUng, the stock Is cut off, wlHi a sharp kulle, 
just above a bud, so t hat the bud may help draw 
the sap n)i to the cion The stock can be spilt 
with a knife, making me cleft about an Inch in 
length. The cion should be about lour inches long. 
Make the lower part of the cion wedge shaped, 
and inseit It, being careful to fit the hark ot the 
cion and stock exactly. Bled tae stock and cion 
with a strip of cloth covered with beeswax and 
rosin in equal parts and a little taUow to make it 
pliable. The cion will unite in two or three weeks. 
Whlp-graitlng and rind-graftlng are other meth¬ 
ods, but cleft-graftffig la the surest for new begin¬ 
ners. 2. cuttings should be made In the Fall or 
early Winter. They should be about six Inches long 
and of « ood of the season's growth. Cut the lower 
end square, close to a bud, then put them tn dry 
sand In the cellar. A callus will form on thl3 end 
during the Winter, and when planted in the 
Spring, roots will at once shoot out Plant early 
In Spring In light, sandy loam, with at lesst one 
hud above ground. Tread down the earth about 
them and water If the season Is dry. Cuttings can 
he made In spring, but they are not as sure to 
grow. 
A, L.P., Milan, N. H., wishes to kuow, l, If the 
crab apple calltd Briar’s Sweet Is a Winter apple, 
and 2, if Whitney's No. 20 Is a good apple. 
Ans.—W e have never heard ot Briar’s sweet 
Crab, and If there Is such an one it must be ot re¬ 
cent Introduction, can any or the cousins answer 
the question ? 2. Whitney’s No. 20 is a handsome 
and very good fruit; quite as good to eat out of the 
hand as to make preserves of. 
LETTERS FROM THE COUSINS. 
Dear Uncle Mark :—I like very much to read 
the children’s letters In the Rural and would like 
to join the Club. 1 have several pets, but the 
greatest pet of all Is a very large hen. When she 
was a very little chick, last spring, her mamma 
died, and we had to put the little chick in a basket 
of cotton to keep her warm We call her •• Peep.” 
She would fly upon our shoulders or heads to roost 
and would try to pick the food from our forks when 
we were eating. She likes to stay with us better 
than with the chickens. She comes to the house 
every day to lay her eggs, l like to go with my 
brother hunting after rabbits and squirrels, but 
when he goes for deer I stay at home, lie shot at 
a young mountain lion last summer. He thought 
It a large wUdcat. It might have attacked him lr 
he had not been high on the rocks above. He hit 
It, for he made the far fly, but It only hissed at 
him and ran. I have a little gar-den every Summer 
and I like to work on It very much, but I like the 
flowers most. We have no schools here, so we 
have to study at home. We have a piano and 
mamma Is going to teach me music. 
Deer Valley, Park Co., Col. Alice Taylor. 
Dear Uncle Mark:—I am so glad papa Is send¬ 
ing his ren 3 wal. W’e can’t do without tue Rural 
for we lute to read the letters from the cousins so 
much. Our flowers did weU last year, and our 
Surprise Melons were so nice. W’e had some seed 
ot Wax Ball, we call It, to send you, so you could 
raise some and tell us the right name, hut the 
mice got them. It la a hardy shrub and has 
bunches of white balls which are so pretty In the 
Fall, it has been so dreadful cold this Winter we 
could hardly save our flowers from freezing. Our 
geraniums all froze but four. W T e thought our 
fuchsias were all dead, but now we see they are 
all putting forth their little leaves again. We 
have twenty fuchsias, geraniums, laotannas, etc. 
W’e think we will not loose any more with proper 
care. We had a salvia come up In one ol our pots 
last February. It commenced to bloom the last 
of May and It was In constant flower until the 
middle of December, it was growing nicely until 
the night ot December 2 T, which was too cold for 
it. We have another now abont two Inches high. 
We don’t know whether we can save it or not. 
From your little nieces, 
Lizzi e, Barbara and Eliza Pound. 
Wilsonvllle, Spencer Co., Ky. 
Dear Uncle Mark It you will let me I would 
like to Join the Club and become oue of the “ cous¬ 
ins.” Vy home Is in Vermont, which Is called the 
Green Mountain State, on account of Its long 
range of green mountains. It Is a very beautiful 
State, and It is said by people who have traveled 
a great deal that the scenery of this state Is 
among the finest tn the world. We have had a 
very cold Winter, but I expect we have not suf¬ 
fered with the cold weather as much as the people 
lathe Western States, as we are more accustomed 
to the cold and are better prepared 1 or it. My 
mother has taken the Rural Nrw-Yorkkr a long 
time and we like It very much. 1 am very fond of 
flowers, and we have some beautiful plants. 
Mother had some pretty ones sent her from the 
Experimental Grounds, but some of the names 
were so twisted that we could not pronounce them, 
bo we called them Rurals. Sadie . 
Randolph, Vermont. 
Dear Uncle Mark—W e all look lor the Rural 
as for a dear friend. We tease mamma or papa 
until they read the cousins’ letters to us. We are 
two little girls, aged eight and live years. We have 
two little brothers. Clarence Is three years and 
Georgle Is three months old. We wonder where 
you get the seeds which you send to the cousins. 
Mamma says she don’t know whether you have 
lots of houie-plants or not, but we tliluk you have. 
Mamma has some nice ones. The Rural flower 
seeds did not grow, but t he garden seeds did well. 
We like to work in the garden, and are to have 
plots of our own next season. I (Millie) com¬ 
menced to help mamma when t wo years old. She 
set a bed or oulons and I followed, gathering them 
up In my apron. We would like to have this put 
in the Rural so we can hear it read. 
Mildred and Kate Jack. 
Rockland, Venango Co., Pa. 
Dear Uncle Mark We bavetaken your paper 
for about, two years and like It ever so much. I 
have always read the letters from the cousins, and 
have wanted to Join tue Club i have one sister, 
named Edna, ten years old. and a little brother, 
Oscar, nearly two years old. We have no flowers 
now, except chrysanthemums, mignonettes, and a 
few pinks, but in the Bummer we have a good 
many flowers We sent and got seeds ot John Saul 
last year. The seeds we received from the Rural 
did not grow. Papa raised a Mangold Wurtzel that 
weighed 13 pounds, but he was not trying for the 
premium. Iamarrald this will reach the waste 
basket, so I will close. Your true niece, 
Woodland, Yolo Co., Cal. Adella Fisbkr. 
- ♦ ♦ 
[ Advertisement. ] 
A NATIONAL BLESSING. 
(From the Philadelphia Record.) 
Tub nineteenth century above all other ages has 
been noted lor Its many Inventions; it has given 
us the steam power in its thousand-fold applica¬ 
tions, the Telegraph, the Telephone, the Eteot rlc 
light, and innumerable other discoveries, all bless¬ 
ings to humanity; each day bringing us new sur¬ 
prises, until we have become bo accustomed to the 
exhibitions of the genius of our century that any 
new development Is at once received as a matter of 
natural consequence, and most people will simply 
remark, “ I told you so.” As an Instance ot this 
fact, we would only call attention to that wonder¬ 
ful discovery St. Jacobs oil. A few years ago this 
great German remedy had never been heard of In 
tnis couutry; to-day you eau hardly find a man, 
woman or child In the United States who has not 
used the remedy for some pain or ache, or at least 
has witnessed its use and seen lt.s wonderful ef¬ 
fects on a fellow being. 8t. Jacobs oil has become 
a national remedy, for It is known In every city, 
town, village and hamlet In the country, it is a 
cosmopolitan preparation. Tor it Is praised by the 
Americans, Germans, Italians, Bohemians, Daues, 
Swedes, Portuguese, Spanish, French, yes, even 
by the •• Heathen Chinee.” It. may be termed the 
universal blessing, for it is Indorsed by the rich 
and poor, the clergyman and the physician, the 
merchant and the laborer, in fact by ail classes of 
the community. St. Jacob3 on, by its almost mar¬ 
velous properties, can be employed for a simple 
cut or sprain, or the worst ease of inflammatory 
rheumatism. Persons who have been confined 
to their bed tor years with that terrible dis¬ 
ease, rheumatism, have been completely oured 
by the use of a single bottle. Such cases 
have been quoted by the leading journals 
of our country. For Instance, the 8t. Louis 
Post Dispatch says: Under the title of “Old 
Probabilities,” one of the most useful and valuable 
officers of the U. 8 . Government, Is most widely 
known. But quite as well known Is Prof J U. 
Tice, the meteorologist of the Mississippi Valley, 
whose contributions to hla favorite study have 
given him an almost national reputation, on a 
recent tour through the Northwest, the Professor 
had a narrow escape from tho serious conse¬ 
quences ol a sudden aud very dangerous Illness, the 
particulars of which he thus refers to; The day 
after concluding my course or lectures at Burling¬ 
ton, Iowa, on the 21st December last, I was seized 
with a sudden attack of neuralgia In the chest, 
giving me the most exoruclatlng pain and almost 
preventing breathing. My pulse, usually 80, fell 
to 35; Intense nausea of the stomach succeeded, 
and a cold, clammy sweat covered ray ent ire body. 
The attending physician could do nothing torelteve 
me; after suffering for three hours, I thought,— 
as 1 had been using St. Jacobs Oil with good effect 
for rheumatic pains,—I would try It. 1 saturated 
a piece ot flannel large enough to cover my chest, 
with the oil, and applied It. The relief was almost 
Instantaneous. In one hour I was entirely free 
Trom pain, and would have taken the train toflU 
an appointment that night In a neighboring town 
had iny friends not dissuaded me. As It was, T 
took the night train for my home, St. Louis, and 
have not been troubled since. The Boston Globe 
says: Chas. s. Strickland, Esq, Builder, No. it 
Boylston Street and 106 Harrison Avenue, Boston, 
thus speaks: The pleasure which I hereby attempt 
to express, can only be half conveyed by words. 
Physicians of very high character ar,d notoriety 
have heretofore declared my rheumatism Incur¬ 
able. Specifics, almost numberless, have failed to 
cure or even alleviate the intensity of the pain, 
which has frequently confined me to my room for 
three months at a time. One -week ago I was 
seized with an attack of acute rheumatism of the 
lenee. In a few hours the entire ltnoe joint became 
swollen to enormous proportions aud walking ren¬ 
dered impossible. Nothing rematned for me, and 
1 Intended to resign myself, as best I might, to 
another month’s agonleB. By chance, 1 learned of 
the wonderful curative properties of St. Jacobs 
oil. l clutched it as a straw, and in a few 
hours was tree from pain in knee, arm and 
shoulder. As before stated, 1 canuot And 
words to convey my praise and gratitude to 
the discoverer of this king ot rheumatism. 
The Ohlcago Times says: Everybody on the 
South side knows J. 1). L. Harvey, Esq., who has 
been a resident of C hlcago for over t wenty years. 
Mr. Harvey expressed himself on the “ oil sub¬ 
ject ” as rollows: “ I have spent over $ 2,000 to 
cure my wife of rheumatism. Two bottles of St. 
Jacobs Oil accomplished what all the medical 
treatment failed to bring about. I regard It as a 
greater discovery than electrtelty. It Is a boon to 
the human race, and 1 am very glad to have this 
opportunity ot testifying to Its remarkable effi¬ 
cacy. I cannot speak too highly of It, and 1 would 
be recreant to my duty to those alfficted, did 1 not 
lift my voice In its praise.”—The Philadelphia 
Ledger says: Mr. George I. Graham, S20 Nine¬ 
teenth street, Philadelphia, is a Journalist or 
many years’ experience, and Is actively connected 
with the Philadelphia Sunday Mirror, a leading 
theaulcal and musical Journal. During the “ late 
unpleasantness” Mr. Graham was Captain of 
company ic„ One Hundred and Eighty-third 
Pennsylvania Regiment, and through exposure In 
the field he contracted a variety of Ills, and he 
says a very troublesome case of rheumatism in the 
right leg and toot was a war Inheritance tnat he 
had In vain tried to get rid or, until he was recom¬ 
mended to try “St. Jacobson.” He states that 
he felt a slight relief even on the first application of 
the on. Before the first bottle he purchased had 
been used up he had but few traces of ids rheuma¬ 
tism, and at this time he says the disease has 
entirely left him, which he attributes entirely to 
the use of 8t. Jacobs OH. He remarks: “ No per¬ 
son need suffer with rheumatism lr St. Jacobs 
Oil can be obtained; to those who are afflicted with 
that complaint It Is worth ltswelghtln gold.”—The 
Chicago 1 nter Ocean says: capt. Paul Boynton, the 
world renowned swimmer, thus speaks of the Old 
German Remedy: " From constant exposure I am 
somewhat eubject to rheumatic pains, and noth¬ 
ing would ever benefit me, until 1 got hold of this 
Old German Remedy. Why, on my travels 1 have 
met people who had been suffering with rheuma¬ 
tism for years; by my advice they tried the OU, 
and It cured them, I would sooner do without 
food for days than to be without this remedy for 
oue hour. In fact I would not attempt a trip with¬ 
out St. Jacobs Oil as i do not see how 1 could get 
along without it. St. Jacobs Oil has been endorsed 
by persons or national reputation; who would not 
lend their names U they were not convinced that 
It was a duty they owed to suffering humanity; 
they have experienced the wonderful effect, of the 
great German remedy and they want their rellow 
creatures to know the result. We would only 
mention In this connection tho lit, liev. Bishop 
Gllmour, Cleveland, Ohio: Excellent for rheuma¬ 
tism and klodred diseases. It has benefited mo 
greatly- Mme, Marie Salvottl, Prlma Donna Wll- 
helmj Concert Troupe: “Nothing can compare 
with it os a prompt, reliable cure tor the ailments 
named."—Wm. H. Warning. Esq., Asst, General 
Superintendent, New York Post Office: Proved all 
that Is claimed for tho Oil and round efficacious. 
Heady relief for rheumatic complaints.”—Hon. 
Thoa. L. James, Postmaster, New York: Referring 
to Superintendent Warelng’s report concerning 
St. Jacob's Oil; “I concur. ’—Prof. C. O. Duples- 
bIh, Manager Chicago Gymnasium, Cbloago, I1L: 
“Our professionals and amateurs use it in prefer¬ 
ence to everything they have ever tried.”—Major 
T. A. miller, No, 2235 Master street. Philadelphia, 
suffered bo with rheumatism that he was confined 
to his bed for weeks at a time, absolutely help¬ 
less , happened 10 hear or St. Jacob’s Oil, tried it 
and was cured,- Geo. W. Walling. Esq , Supt Po¬ 
lice, New York City: “Member of this Depart¬ 
ment relieved of rheumatism by its use,”—Stacey 
Hill, Esq., Mt. Auburn Inclined Plane Railroad, 
Cincinnati, Ohio: Undoubtedly It Is a remarkable 
medicine.”—D B. Cooke, Esq., American Express 
Co.. Chicago, III: “Gladly bear testimony to Its 
efficacy.”—Capt. Henry M. llolzworth, Chief De¬ 
tective Force, Cleveland, Ohio : “Surprising re¬ 
lief. A world of good ”—Prof. Edward Iiolst, 
Pianist and composer, Chicago, 111.: " its effects 
are In harmony with Its claims.’ 1 .. In conclusion 
we would say, that It la tho Imperative duty of 
every family to have a bottle of St. Jacob's Oll on 
hand for all emergencies; for the remedy is a true 
friend In need, and the occasion for Its Immediate 
use may come when It Is least expected. Follow 
this advice, and It will not be long before you will 
join us in oalllng St. Jacobs Oll a National Blessing 
