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MEW-VORKER. 
MAY 7 
Ripening of Wheat; Professor A. J. Cook ; J. 
J. Thomas; L. B. Arnold ; E. Lewis Sturte- 
vant, M. D. The members are earnestly re¬ 
quested to forward to the Secretary the titles 
of essays they are preparing to present, in or¬ 
der that such may be incorporate d in a circular 
to follow this. The meetings for reading pa¬ 
pers and discussing the 6ftine will be open to 
the public, and all persons interested in the 
promotion of scientific agriculture are earnest¬ 
ly invited to be present. 
W. J. Beal, Lansing, Mich., President. 
E. Lewis Stuktevant, 
So. Framingham, Ma66.. Secretary. 
Ocr titanK9 are due H. D. Woodford, of 
Auburn, N. Y., for a copy of the Premium List 
of tfce Central New York Fair, to be held at 
Auburn June 7, 8, 9 and 10, 1881. 
-- 
RURAL BRIEFLET8. 
Professor Blount would oblige us by stat¬ 
ing whether the corn named after him was 
originally the Peabody Branching Corn. Mr. 
Waldo F. Brown, an excellent farmer, as we 
should judge from his writings, claims that 
they are the same. 
Tor question is whether glucose made from 
corn is as legitimate an article for sale and 
consumption as whisky, both being manufac¬ 
tured from corn. Two wrongs don't make one 
right. ButaB between the mountain aud the 
inolc-hlll of evil, it is better to direct our ener¬ 
gies towards whipping the giant and to deal 
with the comparatively innocent little fellow 
afterwards..... 
Wk huve raised several varieties of the Italian 
Kocca Onions. They are of unsurpassed flavor 
(aroma—or would bouquet be better?); the 
bulbs grow to a large size and are of the hand¬ 
somest appearance. But these flue onions do 
not keep well.... 
Of lettuce we may now sow in the open 
ground Golden Stonehead, Tenuis Ball, Early 
Curled Simpson. For succession, American 
(lathering und Sbotwdl’s Brown Head are be6t. 
We cannot understand why the Cos Lettuce is 
not more generally planted. We have raised 
R for several years in the open ground, aud 
without tying the heads to blanch them as 
many do; the leaves are tender and crisp.... 
Of cabbages we may commeDd the Early 
Wakefield, Early York for earliest, Early Win- 
uingstadt and Fotler’6 Brunswick for second, 
Silver Leaf Drumhead, Large Late Drumhead 
and Large Flat Dutch for the main crop. Prob¬ 
ably for family use the Drumhead Savoy is 
best. A few heads of red cabbage should not 
be forgotten. It Is excellent for pickling, and 
its bright color makes it preferred to the white 
kinds.-.*. 
The Early BassanoBeet is as good as any for 
early Bummer, and the Early Blood Turnip 
Beet for the main crop. We have never raised 
a beet that for Its tenderness aud sweetness we 
prized more highly than Vilmorlt’s White 
Sugar. It is, however, of small size, and not 
well suited to cultivation for market. 
There are no better greens than half-grown 
beet leaves. For this purpose it is well to sow 
a few rows thickly and to thin them out for 
greenB as needed.^.... 
We nrge our friends of the West to plant 
Catalpa bignonioide6 speciosa for it 6 quick 
growth, the durability of its wood, and its fine 
appearance as a shade or ornamental tree. It 
will endure 1C deg. below zero at least. 
Wb are very sorry to see that, through errors 
which have arisen from a confusion of nameB, 
Durra, Doura, Egyptian Corn, Rice Corn, etc., 
are advertised by some seedsmen as throwing 
up several stalks from one seed, which 
may be cut several times during the 
season. We have tried the different kinds 
named above and found that, as a rnle, 
but one stalk grows from a seed, and 
that, like Indian Corn, when it is cut that is 
the end of its growth. Besides, the stalk is 
heavy and woody, and the leaves present, com¬ 
paratively, a smaller extent of surface than 
those of Indian Corn........ 
We learn from certain retailers that they are 
selling ten tubs of oleomargarine to one of 
dairy-made butter.. 
--♦ » ♦ - - 
Tnn Unwisdom of the Cotton Planters, 
—If the determination of the size of the cotton 
crop were left with one financial interest not 
more than four million bales would be raised 
next year, says the Macon Telegraph and Mes¬ 
senger. When the Dutch East India Company 
find they are raising too ranch Java coffee to 
command a good price, they have two ways of 
disposing of it. One is to lock up the excess 
and hold it for a short crop, and the other is to 
burn it in furna«ea made for that purpose. 
They have no idea of raising coffee to lose 
money on it. But we people of the South have 
little practical idea of doing anything else. 
Cotton lint, is [many times more Indispensable 
and valuable than coffee. It is far more ex¬ 
clusively a product of one country. The 
Southern people could just as easily get 20 
cents a pound as 10 cents, and it would make 
us all happy and comfortable. We could live 
liberally and pay our debts. But simply be¬ 
cause all of us are struggling to swell tbe crop 
to the largest possible dimensions, under the 
silly idea that we can make more money out of 
it, we ruin ourselves and toil from year’s end 
to year’s end without accumulating a cent of 
profit. 
Another Wonderful Butter Cow. —An 
unpretentious looking little cow was led 
through this city yesterday, en route to the farm 
of Mr. Eraetus Corning, says the Albany 
N. Y. Argo6. The animal was purchased by 
Mr. Corning, of Mr. Burns, at MiddletowD, 
Herkimer County, whence she came to this 
cily by express. She is of the Jersey breed, is 
five years old, and bears the handsome name 
of “ Gold Thread.” It is claimed that 28 per 
cent, of her milk is cream, and that she can 
produce 18 pounds of butter per week. It is 
understood that Bhe was purchased for Mr. 
CorniDg’s private use, and that the sum paid 
for her was $1,500. 
In systematic breeding we seek to have con¬ 
trol of the two parents, savsE- L. Sturtevant in 
the N. Y. Tribune. In the ox tribe, we seek to 
exerciee selection upon the cow and the bull, 
by seeking those auimals which come nearest 
to the ideal that we have in onr mind, and also 
animals which we know are descended from 
parents possessing the qualities that we are 
after. Let this same idea be exercised upon 
plants, and we may have seed breeding. 
Tub N. Y. Sun Bays, speaking of trichira? 
and trichinosis, that cleanliness in the hog pen 
and yard is the first step, and the second is to 
avoid allowing hogs and pigs to catch or eat 
rats or mice, which arc really the most prolific 
disseminators of these dangerous parasites. It 
is a very common practice writh many farmers 
to throw all sort6 of offal and filth into their 
hogpens, and if their boys happen to kill or 
wound a rat, he goes in among the rest, there¬ 
by endangenng the life of every person who 
may eat pork raised on that farm. [We won¬ 
der if the Chinese suffer from trichinosis more 
than other people?— Eds ] 
German country roads are to a great extent 
kept in repair, according to Dr. Englehardt, by 
sale of the product of fruit trees and grass 
grown at the roadside. Sections are kept in 
repair by officials who accept the proceeds of 
the fruits and hay for a large proportion of 
their services. 
Mr. Stewart 6ays in the N. Y. Times that 
the potato contains 75 per cent, of water, two 
percent, of nitrogenous matters or llesh-form- 
Ing enbstances, 21 per cent, of carbohydrates, 
chiefly starch and digestible cellulose; 0 8 per 
cent, of fat, and the ash is rich in potash, of 
which it contains 59 per cent, with 19 percent, 
of phosphoric acid. ...... This shows Cor¬ 
el usively that the potato is a food that should 
be productive of a strong, sound, animal exis¬ 
tence. The large proportion of carbohydrates 
is peculiarly adapted for the support of a 
laboring man whose exertions stimulate the 
functions of tbe lungs excessively, and require 
a corresponding supply of carbonaeeons matter 
to support the quickened respiration and the 
increased animal heat.It requires a 
deeply plowed, mellow soil, in which the roots 
may spread and feed plentifully, for this crop 
is a hearty feeder. Well-rotted manure, a 
well-turned sod, wood-ashes, superphosphate 
of lime, with a light mixture of guano or 
poultry manure and compost of swamp muck, 
lime, salt, and well-decomposed hog or cow 
manure, are always beneficial. 
In the putting np and shipment of goods the 
Grocer gives these, general directions:—Send 
only good articles. The freight and other ex¬ 
penses eat up poor goodB. Put up everything 
in good order. An attractive look eecures ex¬ 
amination, and often makes a sale where a 
dirty package or a slovenly appearance fails. 
Pack securely, so that the motion will not al 
low the contents to change about. Use plenty 
of clean, dry, fine-cut straw with eggs. Mark 
plainly with paint—a stencil plate is be6t—and 
note contents on tbe box or barrel, stating the 
am unt also. Secure for yourself a reputation 
for fine goods, put up in the best shape, 60 that 
your mark is iu demand. 
We find the following in the London Agricul¬ 
tural Gazette:—“ The Americans have gained 
a mat bet for meat on this side of the Atlantic, 
and they will no doubt keep it; they expect to 
be able to supply ‘a hundred millions' worth’ 
of meat for exportation, and in time they may 
do it.The Americans themselves an¬ 
ticipate an enlarged continental trade in meat, 
and the ablest European statisticians have ex¬ 
pressed the opinion that if all goes well they 
will not be disappointed.There are 
thousands of herds which only require the in¬ 
troduction of * pure-bred ’ and ‘ first-class’ bulls 
of the respective breeds which may suit the 
different neighborhoods, to.increase their value 
most materially.An eminent Short¬ 
horn auctioneer has declared that a bull is half 
a herd.” __ 
And agaiD, referring lo the sale in England 
of oleomargarine.it says:—"The substances 
thus sold under a misleading designation are 
not in themselves unwholesome, and Govern¬ 
ment will do nothing to check their importa¬ 
tion. The eseential difference between butter- 
ine and good butter lies in the difference of 
flavor. Let only good butter be made, and 
butterinc will never injuriously affect the price 
of English dairy produce.” 
The Agricultural Gazette says that editors 
in search of copy are apt to be indiscreet. . . . 
. . . Lord Brougham said—when he heard that 
Lord Campbell, a rival Lord Chancellor, was 
writing his life—such publications add “ a new 
sting to death.”.Mr. Crawford, of 
Ohio, says that it Is easier to plant a new bed 
of strawberries than to clean out an old one. 
...... The people who never furnish any 
chips to help keep it warm are the most vo¬ 
ciferous in calling this a cold world. 
RURAL SPECIAL REPORTS. 
Fla., Starke, Bradford Co., April 14.—I sup¬ 
pose our Winter has been like Summer com¬ 
pared with yours, yet we have had the coldest 
Winter and Spring known here for many 
years. All through March we had very cold 
winds with occasional frosts, and on April 2 
we had ice as thick as window glass, doing a 
good deal of damage as far south as Enter¬ 
prise. It continued very cool nntil the sixth 
when it became bo very warm we thought 
Summer had nearly come, but find we were 
mistaken for it is now cool enough to make 
a good warm fire comfortable to sit by. Not¬ 
withstanding the cold weather our yard is full 
of flowers—roses, honeysuckles, verbenas, 
pansies, wistarias, jessamiuos, phloxes. Tbe 
last has been in bloom all Winter, is self-Bowu 
in endless variety and so thick all over the 
yard, In the patha and everywhere, one can't 
help walking on it. It is like a weed but so 
beautiful we just let it grow. In a few weeks 
the hot sun will bum it up and the most of it 
will disappear until next Fall. We do not 
think the December freeze hurt our orange 
trees at all, but the cold winds and frost this 
SpriDg have injured the fruit to a groat extent. 
Our guavas, lemons, limes and citrons of com¬ 
merce were killed to the ground. Eucalyptus 
trees were entirely killed. Tea plants and 
olives were not hurt. Our raisin grapes came 
through tbe Winter in good condition. They 
are two years old from cuttings, and some of 
them are fruiting. The La Conte Pear trees 
are doing finely here. Peaches, plums and 
quinces are well loaded with fruit. Every¬ 
body has had to plant cotton the second time 
on account of frost. Early vegetable raisers 
will make no fortunes this year : everything 
grows so slow; the nights are too cold. We 
have fodder corn that has been growing two 
months and it is only six inches high now ; last 
year it was fit to eat at this time. r. s. 
Iowa., Emerson, Mills Co., April 18.—Our 
Spring is backward, but we have had a few 
days of fine weather. The frost is nearly out 
of the ground, and if fine weather continues we 
shall seed some this week. Planting will be 
late for thiB section, but I think the land will 
be in fine condition, R. r. 
N. C., Henderson, Granville Co., April 16.— 
Now that the Spring (although a cold one) is 
opened, I find that about 1,000 out of the 7,000 
of my budded peach trees are as full as possi¬ 
ble of healthy blossoms—all were in a corner 
slightly protected from the west by woods. All 
about this region, wherever peaches were pro¬ 
tected by pine groves at tbe west, they are en- 
entlrely uninjured; where no such protection 
existed all i6 a perfect blank as to blossom, but 
the wood of tbe trees is not hurt. One large 
orchard about 80 miles from here, occupying 
abcut’400 acres, is entirely sound and a mass 
of blossom, as I heard this morning; so, after 
all, North Caroliua may furnish peihaps at 
least half a crop for the market. A week or 
ten days ago, for several days, such severe 
cold westerly winds, with thick ice at night, 
visited us, that, but for the excessive dryness 
then prevailing, there would have been a total 
destruction of the peach crop, ut least, and 
probably also of pears, cherries, plums, etc., 
which, like apples and grapes, promised the 
most abundant crop ever known about hero. 
Our season, however, will be all of four 
weeks later than last year. Strawberries 
and FaU wheat are ranch hurt in places, being 
so exposed to tbe unprecedented cold at times 
without any covering of snow, of which dur¬ 
ing the whole Winter we have bad none, worth 
speaking about. Only once for a short time 
have we had ice of sufficient thickness for slid¬ 
ing or skating, and only at short intervals was 
plowing suspended, and rarely, if ever, has this 
been the case after mid-day. So we feel that 
we are not located in the worst place in the 
United States, especially when reading the 
heart-rending news from the West, etc. Still 
no person living ever saw such a Winter hero 
before. H. s. 
N. C., Brookston, Warren Co., April 12.— 
We have had some pretty severe weather for 
April—temperature at sun-rise on the 5tb, 27 
deg. The peaches that escaped death in Win¬ 
ter are “done for" now. m. b. p. 
N. Y., Sharon Center. Schoharie Co., April 
23—After five monthB of severe Winter weath¬ 
er Spring is here at last. We had freezing 
nights nntil the 20th inst. No farm work of 
any moment has been done as yet. Grass and 
grain are looking fine. We need a good rain 
to clean the snow off. We have hitherto had 
no rain or southerly winds as usual to liquify 
it. aud we still have a good supply of it. 
Wages for farm hands are from $12rt|>18 per 
momh and board. Hay is worth $13@15 It 
has been $20. Cows are selling for if!80@35 ; 
oxen are iu demand at $125@150; butter 20@ 
24 cents; eggs, 15 cents ; potatoes, 50 cents and 
scarce; apples $1 a batrel. Incos. 
Ohio, Napoleon, Henry Co., April 20.—The 
season is at least three weeks later than usual. 
Leaves have not" yet been put forth by any tree 
or shrub; even the catkins have not yet ap¬ 
peared on the willows. No one has started the 
plow, and few have even begun gardening op¬ 
erations. Last year at this time oats were sown 
and all were busy plowing for corn. This is 
one of the most futile parts of the State. 
There is Btill plenty of room for settlers. Po¬ 
tatoes are worth 80c.; appleB, 40c.; butter, 18c.; 
egge, 10c ; fat hogs, 5c. per lb., live; horses of 
all descriptions are high. v. j. e. 
Onio, Camden, Preble Co., April 22nd.—We 
have had a very late Spring and but little 
plowing has been done here yet. This week 
has been line and there has been a considerable 
area of oats sown since it turned warm and 
dry. Grass and wheat are starting nicely. 
Wheat in this locality looks quite well. A 
friend of mine has just returned from Foun¬ 
tain Couuty, Ind., about 150 miles west ot this, 
and he tells me the prospect for wheat is veiy 
poor. He passed through Richmond. Indiau- 
apolis, and Crawfordville. wsi. m. 
Ohio, Aurora Sta., Portage Co., April 19.— 
We feel good in Ohio. The last of the snow 
went tc-day, and the sun came out warm and 
Spring-like and the ground begins lo take a 
greenish hue. Farmers have just commenced 
plowing for the Spring crops. In addition to 
this, I carried my milk for the first time this 
season to the creamery, and for it received 10 
cents per 10 pounds. j. o. 
Pa., Light Street, Columbia Co., April 18. 
The wheat looks as if it would make about 75 
per cent, of a full crop. The Winter has been 
the coldest known here for many years. On 
the 2d of February the mercury wa9 20 deg. 
below zero. But little plowing has been done 
yet for oats. Bees have wintered badly ; two- 
thirds of those in this county are dead. I lost 
about half of my colonies. h. n. b. 
Pa., Wiuterburn, Clearfield Co., April 18.— 
Spring is opening slowly, there being plenty of 
snow to be seen yet. The Winter here was the 
severest ever known. We had good sleighiDg 
during four months. The dry Winter has 
made fodder scarce. Hay is worth $20, and 
scarce at these figures. Where wheat has 
emerged from the snow it looks well. h. f. s. 
Texas, Waco, McLennan Co., April 14th.— 
I am more than thankful for the "Free Seeds” 
the Rural sent us this Spring. I have planted 
them, and they have all germinated well. I 
was surprised to see the asparagus seeds com¬ 
ing up so soon, as I wae under the impression 
it took a long time for them lo germinate. I 
have not a good stand of the Branching Sor¬ 
ghum, but this may be all the better, aB it will 
have more room to branch. A "norther” 
came down upon us on the 12lh and closed 
up last night with a severe frost, that has 
played sad havoc with ourfiuitand vegetables. 
Ice was foimed on still water, and all the fruit 
and garden vegetables are destroyed. Corn 
and potatoes are badly damaged; the new 
growth of grapes killed; peaches and plums 
as large as acorns are black and wilted. This 
is a severe blow to us, as we had hoped lo 
have a crop of fruit—the first in three years. 
Last year our destructive freeze occurred on 
March 13. just one month earlier. Our sea¬ 
son is later than usual, but vegetables, etc., 
seem to be ahead of the season. Very little, if 
any, cotton is up yet, which is fortunate for 
the planter, as it is a very tender plant. The 
ground is dry on top, or the corn and potatoes 
would have been entirely destroyed ; as it is, 
they are only partially so. Some of the seeds 
of the " Iris Lncivigata,” received from the 
Rural, and planted on March 31, last year, are 
just coming up. I left the boxes undisturbed 
sunk in the ground, and 1 hope yet to be re¬ 
warded for my patience, by having some of the 
magnolias to come up. I am sorry to see so 
much opposition expressed against our worthy 
Commissioner of Agriculture, Gen. Le. Due. 
