MAY 26 
THE RURAL NEW-YOBMER 
the wheels, pick up the grass lying in and outside 
of their track after they have passed over. 
The machine is nicely balanced, which is a good 
thing from the horses' point of view ; it has a 
comparatively small number of parts subject to 
wear; is made of the best material throughout, 
and consults the comfort of the operator by sup¬ 
plying a good spring seat. 
The Centennial Award, which is the highest 
and only one given to any Hay Spreader at the 
Centennial Exhibition was awarded to this ma¬ 
chine. This speaks with greater force even for 
the merits of this Tedder, considering the fact 
that this Award was in no way partial. John 
Coleman, foreman of the Jury who made this 
Award, is the largest Hay Tedder manufacturer 
in England. 
It would be of little moment to enter into a 
discussion of the comparative merits of the ro¬ 
tary and reciprocating motions in this connec¬ 
tion, but we will say that Perry's implement is 
a great and lasting favorite wherever introduced. 
As a hay tedder is as indispensable as a mow¬ 
ing machine, and if a man intends to farm his land 
as he should, we cannot do better tliau to recom¬ 
mend those interested to the manufacturer, 0. 
E. C. Guelich, Utica, N. Y., for details. 
-- 
THE WILLIAMS THRESHER. 
Messes. Williams 4 Co., 8t. Johnsville, New 
York, have been making some important, im¬ 
provements in their well-known thresher, which 
greatly modify the wear and tear anS the labor 
of working the implement. The new undershot 
thresher and cleaner dispenses with beaters, and 
all, excepting the cylinder and fan shafts. The 
“ end shake” is now worked by two counter-bal¬ 
anced cranks on the main shaft, which simplifies 
the motion very materially. The bar and closed 
cylinder is in one, and by passing through an 
additional sieve, wheat may be screened up to a 
mill or seed standard without extra machinery. 
I ho thresher, as perfected, is a sterling imple¬ 
ment, and should meet with very general ap¬ 
proval. The firm propose to pash its sale vigor¬ 
ously this season. As an inducement to those who 
desire to establish it in new territory, arrange¬ 
ments Lave been made by which cash buyers 
may avail themselves of a handsome discount 
from list price. 
These threshers, it may be as well to add. are 
sold under a guarantee. Our experience of the 
kind of work done in the Williams’ shops, makes 
such a document a superfluity. The threshers 
are mechanically perfect. Circulars and other 
information may be obtained as above. 
A NEW PRINTING PRESS. 
Meriden, Conn., is celebrated for its manufac¬ 
tures, but uono of the many Arms produce as 
interesting a product as the Kelsey Press, made 
by W. A. Kelsey A Co. Wo naturally take a 
lively interest in all that relates to the printer's 
art, and have made a minute examination of this 
press. We do not know a more convenient press 
for the uses for which it is designed—via., light 
printing, I ho amateur will And it a pleasure 
and profit, while business men—especially that 
large class, the nurserymen, seedsmen, club 
agents, and those who have a large amount of 
ciicular printing to do—will find the Kelsey press 
a lasting benefit, onoe its capabilities are tested. 
Ihe workmanship is as painstaking as that put 
on the largest presses, and the parts are fitted 
accurately, so that the working of the press is 
smooth and easy. 
Wherever tried, the "Kelsey” has been in¬ 
dorsed, and to those wanting a press, we cannot 
do better than suggest this one. Circulars, Ac., 
will be furnished on application to the manufac¬ 
turers. 
BEET-ROOT SUGAR. 
Recent statistics go to prove that the manu¬ 
facture of beetroot sugar has already attained 
such vast proportions in Europo that the supply 
of the article from this source, all the world over, 
is fully equal to that from cane. As long ago as 
1747. Makoraef, a chemist of Berlin, discovered 
that the wliite beet yielded 6.2, and the red beet 
4.6 per cent, of sugar, and his fellow citizen 
Achakd was the first to suggest the cultivation 
of beet-root as a crop from which sugar might 
be economically prepared for the same purposes 
for which cane-sugar was used. The manufac¬ 
ture, however, was not developed until the close 
of the year 1800. 
At that date Napoleon issued a decree pro¬ 
hibiting the importation of cane-sugar into 
Fiance and the other continental countries uinter 
his sway or inlluenoe. His design was by this 
means to cripple English commerce, as most of 
the excluded article was then a product of the 
British West Indian possessions. The prohibi¬ 
tion gave a strong impetus to the manufacture 
of beet-root sugar, which has ever since been 
fostered by heavy duties on its imported rival 
and frequent bounties for home production. 
The example set by France in this direction 
was soon followed by her continental neighbors, 
and to-day in Belgium, Holland, Germany, Aus¬ 
tria and Russia, vast tracts of country arc under 
beet cultivation to supply materials for this in¬ 
dustry, while factories, often of enormons ex¬ 
tent, are scattered throughout those districts for 
the purpose of making the article. So much at¬ 
tention, thought aud ingenuity have been be¬ 
stowed upon this art, that not only are the chem¬ 
ical and mechanical moans of extracting sugar 
from the boot, now more elaborate and perfect 
than those employed in the manufacture of ,'ano 
sugar, but the preparation, also, of the article is 
carried on in stricter accordance with scientific 
principles than that of the competing product. 
Owing to the greater rawness of the materials 
tor the former, indeed, and their smaller relative 
proportion of sugar, much more nicety and skill 
are required to render the juice crystalizable. 
Care has also been bestowed on the production 
of a variety of beets containing tho largost 
amount of saccharine ingredients. Tho beets 
preferred for this purpose are varieties of tho 
White Silesian, which aro loss affected by frosts 
and wet and yield a juice richer in sugar than 
any other. Tho weight of these averages about 
five pounds each, and in France and Belgium, 
where most attention has boon paid to this kind 
of industry, the crop Is reported to average about 
14 or 15 tons to the acre. The proportion of 
sugar in the small roots is found to bo greator 
than in tho largo ones, aud this varies also ac¬ 
cording to tho time tho beets aro kept. Thus it 
has been found that, if the fresh root yielded in 
October 7 per cent, of sugar, it would only givo 
5 per cent, in January, and probably not more 
than 4 per cent. In February. At the prosout 
day, from 7 to 8 per cent, of sugar is considered 
an excellent yield, though occasionally, under 
very favorablo circumstances, a larger percent¬ 
age is obtained. 
In the manufacture of boot-root BUgar, two 
rofuso substances are obtained—oilcake and mo¬ 
lasses. The first forms hard, solid cakes, pos¬ 
sessing considerable nutritive properties. Oon- 
sequeutly, it is used very advantageously, along 
with other food, in fooding cattle. If exposed 
to air and moisture, however, it soon outers into 
fermentation and beeoinos unfit for food. But, 
if buried in pits dug in tho soil and covered ovor 
with a thick layer of earth, rammed down oloso- 
ly, it may oe preserved for six or eight, months 
without being spoilt. The molassos is generally 
used for the distillation of alcohol. 
This manufacture lias been attempted in many 
parts of the United States, but everywhere, as 
yet, with little success except, in California, 
where, tho Ban Francisco Journal of Commerce 
insists, that it will prove a pre-eminont branch 
of industry. 
Tho lands of that .State suited to the produc¬ 
tion of beet, are given at 2,000,000 acres, and 
thore aro at loast half as many acreR in the l’a- 
ciflo Coast States eminently suited to the pro¬ 
duction of the same kind of crop. Taking the 
yield at half a ton, or 1,000 pounds per acre, 
these would be able to produoe one million and 
a-half tons of sugar; about double the quantity 
now used in the United States, aud worth, re¬ 
fined, about $300,000,000 annually. On the Pa¬ 
cific Slope an opportunity is offered to those who, 
in the East or Europe, understand this most im¬ 
portant industry, of supplying the whole or tho 
greater part of the sugars consumed in tho Unit¬ 
ed States. 
There have been three companies which have 
worked for a while successfully iu California— 
The Alvarado Beet Sugar Company, which pro¬ 
duced 1,000,000 pounds in 1871, and the Sacra¬ 
mento and Sequel Companies. All but the latter 
are now, however, defunct. Tho failure of such 
institutions as the Sacramento Beet Sugarie, is 
no argument against the successful production 
of be6t sugar on the Coast, that institution hav¬ 
ing come to grief, as we are credibly informed, 
through inefficient management alone. 
The first experiment made in sugar-beet cult¬ 
ure iu the United States, was made by David L. 
Child of Northampton, Mass., iu 1838, who pro¬ 
duced 1,300 pounds of sugar. In 1863 the Genat 
Brothers, in Illinois, entered on a series of ex¬ 
periments, which, after several years’ trial, failed 
to yield favorably, and they removed to Freeport, 
in tho same State, where they have produced an 
average of 200,000 pounds a year. In 1867 a 
company was organized at Fond du Lac, Wis., 
but it failed of success, and the members re¬ 
moved to California, where tfiey joined tho Alva¬ 
rado Company. A co-operative company of Ger¬ 
man farmers started in Wisconsin in 1870, aud 
have had more success. As a general thing, 
however, the best sugar interest in tho Eastern 
States has failed of success, aud California must 
be looked to for tho successful prosecution ot 
this interest in the United States for the future. 
WELLS AND DRINKING WATER. 
One of the most indispensible requisites on 
every farm is a well capable of affording at all 
times au abundant supply of good water. In 
the absence of this the stock suffer injuriously 
not only during tho heats of summer, but per¬ 
haps even worse amid tho storms and snows of 
winter. But while every intelligent farmer is 
fully acquainted with the evil results of a scarcity 
of water in this connection, there aro huudreds, 
nay thousands, who do not realize that many of 
the diseasos which afflict their families aro due 
in a great measure, if not entirely, to the im¬ 
purities of the water they thoughtlessly drink. 
Yet the experience of the best physicians has 
amply shown that these are the most prolific 
causes of tho typhoid and typhoid-malarial 
fevers as well as of many other diseases of a low 
type to which those living in tho country seem 
specially subject. 
As water is the most universal and one of the 
most powerful solvents, not only dooB it neces¬ 
sarily become impregnated with somo of the 
materials of tho strata through which it flows, 
but it is also liable to be contaminated, oven in 
deep wells, by tho putrifying organic substances 
on the surfaco of the ground in the neighbor¬ 
hood. Tho rains that fall on tho rofnse matters 
iu farm-yards, wash out a great deal of the tilth 
and noxious impurities that, there accumulate, 
and thus charged with germs of disease, sink 
into tho soil and gradually find their way into 
tho wells in the vicinity. If these aro shallow, 
badly walled iu, or clink in a porouB, gravelly 
soil, this poisonous percolation takes place all 
tho inoro readily. As the impurities aro borne 
along in a state of solution, tho slight filtration 
tho wator undergoes iu its passage has no appre¬ 
ciable effect |n lessening their baneful influence. 
A yet moro fruitful source of adulteration, how¬ 
ever, flows from the privies and tho droppings 
and urine of animals iu tho Btables and about 
the farm-yard. Neither the taste, smell, nor 
appearance of the water affords any certain 
proof of its freedom from unwholesome contami¬ 
nation from these causes, for it has frequently 
happened that odorless water with a pleasant 
taste and a clear, sparkling look, has still boon 
dangerously impregnated with organic impuri¬ 
ties. 
I 1 " avoid those evils, care and judgment should 
l»e used in selecting tho site of wells. The na¬ 
ture of the soil should be taken into considera¬ 
tion as tho most important factor in determining 
the question. If this bo sandy or gravelly, it 
will be specially favorable to the percolation of 
surface-water with its attendant pollutions, and 
the well should, iu all such oases, bo at a consid¬ 
erable distance from the privy, farmyard, and 
all spots whore organic refuse matters aro al¬ 
lowed to accumulate, Tho dip of the ground is 
another important consideration in this connec¬ 
tion. It is always desirable that this should trend 
downwards from the well to the sources of defile¬ 
ment just mentioned. The same remark applies 
oven more forcibly to the geological formation of 
the strata through which the well penetrates, 
The curb of the well should ho water-proof, so 
as to prevent the lateral infiltration of surface- 
water. On this account, and also on several 
others, tubu wells are generally considered pref¬ 
erable to dug wells, wherever they can be con¬ 
veniently driven. 
The employment of lead pipes for conducting 
water long distances should, if possible, be avoid¬ 
ed, and wherever these are used in wells, the 
water that has rested in them for any length of 
time, should always be removed, and that only 
which has just been drawn should be used for 
drinking or culinary purposes. Nearly all natu¬ 
ral waters, in course of time, corrode the lead 
and become impregnated with injurious metal. 
Ibis action is often hastened by mineral sub¬ 
stances held in solution in the water, and minute 
traces of lead may he frequently detected in 
waters which have conue in contact, even for a 
short time, with pipes of that metal. 
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
[Wanted. -Oue hundred good question-askers. 
who shall be answered in this column, provided 
the information sought, is of general interest. 
Correspondents desiring replies to questions of 
interest only to themselves, must inclose a 
stamped envelope bearing their address.] 
-V.—Christmas Greens are extensively used 
in this city, but there are so many dealers in the 
article that we fear to name any one who would 
be more likely to purchase than hundreds of 
others. The best way for you to dispose of a 
stock would be to visit this city at the proper 
season and make your own bargains. There are 
comparatively few greenhouses, or florists in 
this city, but there are dozens of very extensive ! 
establishments in Astoria, Brooklyn and Jersey 
City, all of which can be reached in a few 
minutes ride from the city. If you are in waul 
of greenhouse plants, write to any of the florists 
who advertise in the Rural, New-Yorker as we 
think they aro all trustworthy. 
II. O. S .—We were well aware of the fact that 
the Tulip tree was called Poplar in the Southern 
States, and said so in the article published iu the 
Rural, a few weeks sinco. But there is generally 
no accounting for the vulgar or common names 
of things, and there is really no sense or reason 
for calling tho Tulip tree a Poplar, for it is in no 
way related to the genus Populut —Poplars—a 
name derived from tho Lombardy Poplar which, 
centuries ago, was so common in tho streets of 
Romo and other cities of Italy that it came to be 
called tho People's tree, hence Poplar, and the 
Latiu classical name of Populus. Now, the Tulip 
tree, Liriodendran tuliptfern, belongs to the 
Magnolia family of trees, with large, showy flow¬ 
ers, while the poplarB aro olosely allied to the 
willows, with minute inconspicuous flowers, 
home in catkins. But some persons and com¬ 
munities will have their own way in such mat ters, 
no matter if it is contrary to science and common 
sense. 
(I. I. n .—Tho disease which yon havo so ac¬ 
curately described is known under the name of 
"Twig Blight," as it appears to affect the young 
twigs of apple-trees more than the large branches. 
It is quite common in other Western States be¬ 
sides Iowa, and although much has been said 
and written on the cause of this disease, wo 
doubt if it is really known. Tho best practical 
treatment is to cut off the affooted twigs so soon 
as discovered, and continue the same treatment 
from year to year. 
George Scott.- Wo would not advise mixing 
ashes, plaster, and hen-manure together as a 
top-dressing for corn, for it would be almost as 
absurd as mixing sugar and vinegar tngctlu'r for 
tho purpose of sweetening your coffee. It is 
true that plaster might be mixed with lien-ma¬ 
nure without any considerable injury to tho fer¬ 
tilizing properties of either, but the ashes would 
set free tho ammonia of the hen-manure, and 
Its escape into the atmosphere would follow, un¬ 
less it were covered with an absorbent like muck, 
or a very targe quantity of plaster. Now, the 
best way to utilize tho hon-mammi is to mix it 
with some good, rich soil or muck, and apply 
the ashes and plaster, each separately, upon tho 
hills of corn. 
Peter J. R ,—The largost yield of potatoos on 
record was produced by planting singlo eyes; but 
for ordinary crops, wo think, a little moro seed 
is bettor say three or four oyos iu a lull; but if 
planted in drills, drop pieces containing two or 
throo eyes every twelve inches in tho row. and 
the rows 3J£ or four foot apart. Of course, farm¬ 
ers have different ideas in regard to the best 
method of planting potatoos; some believe in 
and practice tho planting in hills, others in 
drills, and as good orops aro raised under both 
systems, tho choice of either doos not. make much 
difference. 
Much light Wanted by J. W. S., Owensboro, 
Ky .—Since you have so kindly offered your col¬ 
umns to your patrons for querries, I will send a 
few. 1. Which is tho most profitable bean for 
general cultivation. I’leasc givo some hints on 
time of planting, kind of soil, Ac. 2. Will salt 
and lime bo a valuable addition to a compost 
heap for tobacco in tho hill, if so what quantity 
should bo used to tho ton ? 3. la tho uiolo a 
friend of tho fanner and is it carnivorous ? A 
writer from a college iu Ky, in writing to tho 
Courrier-Journal says it is. If it is not of ben¬ 
efit to the farmer, please tell me how to destroy 
it. 4. Give a list of tho best Irish potatoes, five 
or six varieties. 
Ans.— 1. That depends upon tho demand as 
well as on the market. Limas aro considered 
tho most profitable near large cities, where they 
can be sold in a green state, but the small white 
beans are usually cultivated most extensively as a 
farm crop, as they are in greater demand for 
shipping. The Refugee and large White Marrow 
are both popular sorts for use in a dry state. 
2. Yes, salt and lime are both excellent to add 
to your tobacco compost. A bushel of salt and 
two of lime will lie iu about the right proportion. 
3. Wo do not consider the mole a friend of tlio 
farmer and gardener, as they live principally 
upon earth-worms which do no harm.. In fact 
we would about as soon lot loose a litter of pigs 
in our garden or meadows as to have either in¬ 
fested with ground moles. Our experience and 
observation, which have been quite extensive in 
this direction, lead us to believe that tho ground 
mole is one of the greatest pests that ever in¬ 
fested a light, easily-worked soil Wo trap tho 
moles and watch for them while they aro at 
work, then dig out and kill every one tiiat can 
possibly be found, besides offering a bounty of 
twenty-five cents a head for every one caught by 
our workmen and by the boys about the place, 
and still the moles are not annihilated, although 
dozens are destroyed every year in our garden. 
The teeth aud digestive organs of tho mole indi¬ 
cate that it is an insectivorous animal, aud in¬ 
sects of various kinds are its natural food, but 
when confined it will eat meat either raw or 
cooked, 
4. Alpha and Early Rose for very early varie¬ 
ties, and then follow with Snow-flake, Brownell’s 
Beauty and I,ate Rose. 
