TABLE OP CONTENTS. 
THE RiJRAL NEW-YORKER. 
u 
Practical Departments: 
Pigeon*...309 
Skylark. The.310 
Hawks Born Blind.310 
Chicks, Good for Young.310 
Poultry Karin, An Extensive. 310 
Sheep, The Best Breed of. 310 
Sheep of the l/fllted States, The Coming.310 
Cows. The Price of . .. .'ill 
Milk, Dilfei cnee in Morning und Kvcnlng. 311 
Hairy Furnii jn lleiklmer Co., N.Y., Renting. , 311 
Butter Worker. A now. 3'2 
Jtefrlgerntlng Rooms. 312 
Bake, Tho Archer . 312 
Calves, Cob Bedding For. 312 
Mrs, Colton's SUitotuent. .. Ml 2 
Jloney Bees, The Profits of.,,... 312 
Seed Planter, An Improved, .. 31.3 
A Woman’s Aero— No.ll. 313 
J.tly Blight. , . 313 
Potato Beetles Out West, Fighting the. 313 
Wheat. lllll-Culitiro or. 313 
Pear, Boyentie H'Aleneon. 3lt 
Pears for Home Use and Market. . 314 
I/onglcosns, The. 314 
Fancy Meadows. Term. 314 
Household Hints, A Few. 315 
Recipes.. 315 
Health and Strength In the Pulpit. 316 
Editorial Page: 
Great Expectations. SIR 
I Forgot. SIC, 
Host Yearn . 316 
Serves Him Bight. 318 
Motes—Brevities. Sit; 
Bit kraut : 
Poetry... 
Btorv.... 
Sabbath Beading. 
Miscellaneous. 
Ladies' Portfolio . 
Beading for the Young..... 
Publisher's Notices... . 
News ot tho Week. 
Markets. 
Personals. 
Answers to Correspondents 
Humorous....... 
Advertisements. 
«- -— 
317. 318, 319 
........ 317 
. 318 
.318 
.319 
....810. 320 
.330 
.320 
.321 
. 322 
.323 
.321 
. 321. 322, 323, 324 
RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
PUBLISHED EVERY SATURDAY. 
ANDREW S. FULLER, Editor. 
X. A. WILLARD, A. M., Little Falls, N. Y., 
Editob ot th* DirAKTM«NT OT DilRv Husbandry. 
G. A. C. HARNETT, Publisher. 
Address 
RURAL PUBLISHING CO., 
78 Duane Street, New York City. 
SATURDAY, MAY 19, 1877. 
GREAT EXPECTATIONS, 
The proverbial air-castle seems to Lave 
been, iu too many instances, the favorite 
style of architecture with American farm¬ 
ers, Upon the hope find expectation of 
good crops and large prices, purchases 
have been made by them which frequent¬ 
ly have to bo paid for by the results of 
endless toil and sleepless nights. Many 
an extra piece of land, addition to the 
dwelling, extension to the bam, increase 
to the stock, and little household luxury 
which was pleasant, but not absolutely 
necessary, has been purchased upon the 
expectation of unusual success, and paid 
for out of the savings and scrapings of 
several successive bad seasons. For 
farmers must and will pay their debts. 
The late little “ onpleasantautuess ” 
has had much to do with this method of 
miscalculation. During tlie War of the 
Rebellion, while money was plentiful and 
all industries were active, one could fre¬ 
quently count the chickens before they 
were hatched, for Latching was the order 
of the day. At such a time our people 
acquired habits of extravagance and care¬ 
lessness, for which we began the payment 
at the outset of the great panic of* 1873, 
and upon the mortgage to secure which 
they are now, each year, paying an instal¬ 
ment, with some yet to come. If anyone 
catches us in a difficult position once, that 
is his fault, perhaps ; but if lie catches 
us there again, it is certainly our fault. 
On© war set us all to counting our 
chickens before they were hatched, and 
with good success, until it became such a 
habit that we continued to do the 6ame 
after hatching went out of fashion. Now 
we have another war, not quite so near 
home, to be sure, but one which develops 
a strong probability of making an excel¬ 
lent and profitable market for our already 
promising crops. 
Every reasonable, thinking farmer is 
entitled, upon these facts, to build as 
much hope of profit and affluence as they 
will warrant; but let us caution every¬ 
body against counting the chickens too 
soon. Do not build your extra barn, nor 
buy your new piano till your crop is 
harvested, sold and the money safely in 
your pocket. Some little thing may hap¬ 
pen, should this caution go unheeded, 
which might render it impossible to real¬ 
ize the expected profit and then-well, 
then you would be in the same position that 
many have been struggling out of for the 
few past years, and in which some, to-day, 
are obliged to rely upon these very 
Great Expectations for relief. 
No worse spectacle can be presented 
than the struggles of the mortgaged far¬ 
mer groping his way out of the dark 
slough of debt into the light of independ¬ 
ence. And just such times as the present 
are prolific iu excuses and expedients for 
contracting debts and building castles for 
their payment. With high prices, good 
crops and greater activity in business, 
come desires for conveniences and luxuries 
which are not in themselves wrong, but 
tho gratification of which can produces 
much harm unless paid for out of surplus 
earnings. Again let us repeat the caution 
against building too much upon that, 
which is mcrcl}’ hope of profit. Great 
Expectations and lively hope are the pro¬ 
moters of progress but are the means and 
not the end. First get your money, then 
buy your goods. 
. ,, — - 
I FORGOT. 
There is no excuse for neglect of duty 
more common, or more unsatisfactory to 
those hearing it., than “I forgot.” Wheth¬ 
er the forgetfulness comes from careless¬ 
ness, inattention, or weakness of the pow¬ 
er of memory, the result is the same, and 
the loss or damage therefrom is no less 
than it would be if tho neglect was pre¬ 
meditated and intentional. 11‘ a boy for¬ 
gets to shut a gate, stray cattle can come 
through and destroy crons to the same 
extent as if the mode of ingress was in¬ 
tentionally provided for them by some 
tramp, whose latent “cussednetss” had 
been made active by the refusal of a 
square meal or a night’s lodging. x 
The switchman at a railroad station 
who forgets to fix his lever properly and 
allows the incoming train to rush ou to 
destruction, has not the guilt of intention¬ 
al murder on his soul, but the inevitable 
law of force works no less destruction to 
life und property than if he bad done it 
with malice prepense. 
To overcome the habit of forgetfulness, 
for it is to a great extent a habit, is to a 
degree, at least., iu the power of every 
one, lie who is not an idiot has a faculty 
of memory, and the strength of any fac¬ 
ulty can, by exercise and cultivation, be 
increased. Those who do not endeavor to 
cultivate it are guilty of culpable neglect, 
and should not tie allowed to plead for¬ 
getfulness in palliation of any omission 
or neglect. 
We know a clergyman whose power of 
memory is so great as to seem really won¬ 
derful, the result, almost entirely of culti¬ 
vation. In fact we have heard him say 
that when he was young he was so forget¬ 
ful as to be constantly under a cloud in 
consequence. One day, when something 
more serious than usual had resulted 
from this failing, he determined to over¬ 
come it., and from that moment resolved 
that his memory should do for him its 
appointed work, and forced it into action. 
He allowed himself to make no more mem¬ 
orandums or aids to memory, but de¬ 
manded that, the faculty should work for 
his assistance. The result is lie has but 
few equals in the country in this respect, 
Different from this is a gentleman who 
lives on ono of the up-town avenues in 
New York, and who for the last ten years 
has, immediately after breakfast, made a 
list iu his note-book of “Things to be 
done,” always heading the list with “Buy 
a Tribune.’" 
No one knows the strength of any of 
his powers, physical or mental, until it is 
tested. Winship, known the world over 
as the strong man, came to be so only by 
daily exercise iu lifting weights, gradually 
increasing them as his muscular power 
developed; and other examples of in¬ 
crease in physical strength, not so strik¬ 
ing perhaps, but sufficiently so to attract 
notice, are common all about us. 
The mental powers are subject to the 
same laws regulating growth as are the 
physical, and are as easily cultivated. 
Whose then the fault if he is forgetful ? ' 
or with what reason can he urge as an 
excuse for neglect that phrase of self-con¬ 
demnation, “ I forgot ? ” 
-- 
LOST YEARS. 
Regrets over lost opportunities are 
common grievances with the greater por¬ 
tion of the human race, and still they 
seem to learn very slowly even from bitter 
experience. “HI had done this or that 
last year how much better it would have 
beeti for me this ” is a very common remark 
among nil of our friends and acquaint¬ 
ances, but how few attempt, to rectify 
their mistakes by not delaying until to¬ 
morrow, next week, or next year, what 
might just as well be done to-day as at 
any other time. These delays and pro¬ 
crastinations are common hi no one class 
of persons more than another, but there 
are certain fields in which their effects 
are more noticeable than in others. For 
instance, if a man needs trees, for fruit or 
ornament, time alone will aid his labors in 
producing them. For although attention 
and labor will do much towards hastening 
their growth, still a certain number of 
years are required to bring them to ma¬ 
turity. Every year of delay in making a 
beginning is certain to cut short our en¬ 
joyment later on, just by the extent of 
our delay. 
We are not desirous of encouraging 
such haste as will bring repentance iu 
these matters, but we urge that nothing 
should be deferred that can lie done to¬ 
day and is likely to bring pleasure and 
profit in the future, for wasted hours will 
never return, however bitterly we may re¬ 
pent our carelessness in letting them 
glide by unimproved. Let those who 
are regretting barren fields, poor stock, 
unsheltered homesteads and the like, 
think of this before the planting season is 
over, for next year they will inevitably 
be just so mueli older, whether anything 
has been done or not in this direction, 
and lost years cannot be regained. 
From the pulpit the preacher, year 
after year, and often month after mouth, 
reiterates the same lessons of piety and 
morality, in the hope that, the repetition 
will impress, more forcibly, his teachings 
on his audience. More than once already 
have we, impelled by the same motives, 
urged upon unr much larger audience, 
tlie advantage, nay the absolute necessity, 
of promptness in discharging every duty 
as occasion for it arises. The hope that 
our words may encourage tlie energetic, 
and stimulate the slothful, makes us care¬ 
less of the fact that repetition may some¬ 
times be wearisome. 
— 
SERVES THEM RIGHT. 
In 1808, the Legislature of Missouri 
made au appropriation, to the State Board 
of Agriculture, to pay the salary of a 
State Entomologist. Mr. C. V. Ribey 
was appointed, and has done more and 
better work than any other man ever did 
iu a similar position. But tho profes¬ 
sional politicians are too much for the 
farmers, and now, both the State Board 
anti the office of entomologist have been 
discontinued, no doubt under the pre¬ 
tense of economy ; but it is only a pre¬ 
tense to hoodwink the constituencies of the 
political demagogues. 
Now, if the farmers of Missouri are so 
blind and stupid as to be led away from 
their own interests in this matter, all we 
have to say is that it serves them right. 
And should the grasshopper, chinch-bug, 
and a thousand other noxious insects de¬ 
vastate their crops, and swindlers in seeds, 
plants, and worthless fertilizers take the 
last spear of wheat from their fields, the 
last cent from their pockets, even then, we 
should still reiterate that it serves them 
right, for they have the power to be men 
among men, but are too ignorant or list¬ 
less to know how to go to work about it. 
-♦-*->- 
RURAL NOTES. 
A Doggerel. — Our transatlantic 
cousins have been considerably agitated 
of late over what may be termed the 
“dog question,” that is, what shall be 
the status of dogs in au enlightened com¬ 
munity. One correspondent of an Rgri- 
cultural paper declares that dogs or doggy 
folk have the inside track in the race for 
popularity, and that the London Field 
gives greater space to this brute than it 
assigns to all agricultural topics, wliile 
the Times reports winter dog-shows at 
greater length than it does the summer 
meetings of the Royal Agricultural So¬ 
ciety. The question is Who is responsible 
for the extraordinary perversion of public 
taste in this matter of dogs ? Of course 
we cannot tell on this side of the big 
pond, but suggest that it comes from 
Johnny Bulb's great liking for the canine 
race in ancient times which is still kept 
up through the patronage of the Govern¬ 
ment that makes the keeping of dogs so 
reputable that special licenses are granted 
to maintain this respectability. We have 
bad a big dog-Bhow iu this city, and now 
those who reside in Gotham are compelled 
to take out special permits to keep any 
sort of a canine, paying two dollars there¬ 
for, hence every cur becomes respectable 
to that extent, for money-value always 
seems to confer respectability, even among 
dogs of “ high or low degree.” 
- 44 *- 
More Candidates.—It is wonderful 
how many worthy, and we may add needy, 
candidates there aro for the office of Com¬ 
missioner of Agriculture. We could never 
have imagined that there were, out of em¬ 
ployment in Ibis country, such a number 
of deserving, practical, scientific and hon¬ 
orable agriculturists with talents growing 
rusty for want of use, as has been brought 
forward since there became a likelihood 
that there would be a change of incum¬ 
bents in the office referred to, and that 
somebody would get the mighty sum of 
three thousand dollars a year for filling 
the place. Old, broken-down scrubs, by 
the dozen, have been trotted out and be- 
praised by tho very men who know their 
failings best. Now, if a man is not capa¬ 
ble of earniug his living elsewhere, or of 
taking care of his own business, he is cer¬ 
tainly not fit to take care of that of others, 
not even of tho little chores of our Uncle 
Samceb. To make the Department a suc¬ 
cess, we want a successful officer. 
Eastern War.—The latest news from 
England would seem to indicate a possi¬ 
bility, amounting almost to a probability, 
that Great Britain will become involved 
in the Turko-Russiau Imbroglio. With 
France watching Prussia and Austria 
keeping both. eycB askance, the participa¬ 
tion of England in the war might produce 
results which would embroil all of Europe. 
The war party in Parliament seems to 
have no fear of results and very little con¬ 
servatism, Well, it is nicer to look on, 
after all! 
RURAL BREVITIES. 
Thebe have been 8,000 patents issued for dif¬ 
ferent churns, and still the old dash-churn holds 
its sway in many a household. 
The champion fat tnan of Ohio is dead. He 
weighed 505 pounds, and his wife 90 pounds— 
another proof of how unevenly things are dis¬ 
tributed in this world. 
Charles F. Hoffman, the author of the once- 
iimiate of a lunatic asylum. 
While they aro having too much rain in Illi¬ 
nois, it is very dry in tho Eastern States, as it 
has been fur the past four years at this season. 
A change of weather would be acceptable in both 
localities. 
The Western New York Farmers' Club con¬ 
demn tlie lloucy Locust as a hedge plant. There 
must be something crooked here, as we believe 
it is the best hedge plant yet discovered for 
Northern climates. 
The Russians appear to have a unique method 
of cheating in linseed-oil cake having sold large 
quantities to the Germans which, upon analysis, 
proved to be about one-unarter hog-earth well 
broken up, and intermixed with genuine cake. 
Tue reports from Nebraska seem to indicate 
that all the early-hatched grasshoppers have 
been lulled by a late heavy brow and rain-storm. 
This is encouraging, and would be more, so if 
there wero no mountain broods to come down 
later iu the suason. 
Is addition to the importation of “ gods ” of 
various kinds, noticed in tlie Rcbab a few weeks 
since, we now loam that there is getting to be 
quite a heavy trade in the bones of defunct 
saints, which are paraded in churches, doubt¬ 
less for the purpose of drawing a ‘‘paying” 
crowd of the faithful. 
The warm weather is said to have the effect of 
making the army of trampB which have infested 
California the past winter move Eastward, where 
the climate is uot quite so enervating upon this 
class of men who tnink the world owes them a 
living, an error which many persons besides 
tramps have committed. 
The loss in wheat alone from the late drought 
in California, is reported to he not less than ten 
millions of dollars, and still those having laud 
to sell in the very region where the losses are 
greatest, will swear by all that is great and good 
that the country is a very Paradise, and that you 
have only to tickle the soil to make it laugh 
with a bountiful harvest. 
BUSINESS NOTICES. 
The Rest Oil for Hurness is the celebrated 
Vacuum Oil, made at Rochester, N. Y., and Bold by 
harness makers everywhere. 
