m 
THE RORAL WEW-YORKER. 
if 
AU8. 25 
TABLE or CONTENTS. 
f’KACTlCAI, DEPARTMENTS: 
Physiognomy. Eijulno.... 117 
Wheat Crop. The. UK 
Wheat Field, More Notes fmin the. I 1 H 
Turnip, The Cultivation of thi!. 1IH 
Plowing, Kail . 11^ 
TraiiApiaotios;.. . .i *k 
Cup red pond it hi.'*’ Letters, Extract* from. Illl 
Gurdcnlnjr Pon-'J'ttlk" .II'* 
Hardy llorbiieeuus Plants for Fall Flowering.. I in 
Star-Thistle, Tint Tuxiih. 1111 
Notea from the Iturnl Grounds... ll'.i 
(Irupn, Now Secdlltnr. ITU 
CntaloguiM, Ai- , Received. 121) 
Pronina. Curvilinear. 1211 
nutter KuitCeftHona for Packing. 1211 
Milk, lift pro veil Process lor Setting. 120 
Cows, Pi o|H from... 120 
Hlieon, OiMuisod . 121) 
Poultry for Market. Packing. 121 
Age of Fowls. To'I'ell the. 121 
Pigs. Treatment of. 121 
lirlefltilt. .. 121 
Voutiglove & Co. 121 
lnsect,-de*lroving Maelilne. 121 
Supplemental Fair List. !'2l 
Recipes. 122 
The Cold Waved the Winter of 1ST 4 5 and Its 
Lessons . 122 
Seeing a mi Hearing.. 123 
Revaccinittlnn... 12.'i 
Rheumatism among Farmers. 122 
Answers to Correspondents. 120 
Season Notes.... 123 
Editorial Parr: 
Is There a Descending Sap? 
Places for Tramps.. 
Note*--Brevities.. 
Literary: 
Poetry... 
Htorv. 
Literary World, The . 
Ladles' Portfolio... 
Reading for tins Young.... .. 
Puzzler. 
Habhath Heading. 
Markets..... 
Publisher's Notices... 
News of the Week.. 
Personals. 
Humorous. 
Advertisements. 
12t 
174 
124 
.125. 127, 128 
. 125 
. ... 12(1 
. 127 
. 12m 
. 128 
. 12H 
.1211 
. 1W 
... 131 
. 132 
123, 129. 131,132 
THE 
RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
I’UULISJIEI) EVERY SATURDAY. 
Address 
RURAL PUBLISHING CO., 
78 Duane Street, New York City. 
SATURDAY, AUGUST 25, 1877. 
IS THERE A DESCENDING SAP ? 
Mr. Andrew Murray of London, from 
personal observations anti experiments, 
lias come to the conclusion that there is 
no descending flow of sail whatever. The 
leaf, ho thinks, elaborates the materials 
necessary l’or its own structure and to en¬ 
able it to fulfil the special functions with 
which it is charged, which are mainly 
those of a very powerful pumping appara¬ 
tus. When there is more material pro¬ 
duced than is required for the leaf, instead 
of beiug distributed and sent back to the 
rest of the plant, it is, according to his 
view, “carried past the petiole and em¬ 
ployed in making more leaves. 
Whereas, therefore, it is generally held 
that the manufactured products of the 
leaf are drafted upwards, downwards, side¬ 
ways, according as circumstances necessi¬ 
tate or requirements dictate, he believes 
that wherever they are once elaborated, 
there they remain ; that each structure 
and each element, when once dealt with 
(elaborated), has a particular function for 
which it is fitted, and a particular post 
which it does not quit, and that it cannot 
be sent, like a “ handy man,” to do odd 
jobs in different parts of the plant, or to 
give additional force where more strength 
is needed. 
According to the theory which is at the 
present time accepted by vegetable phys¬ 
iologists, the action of the sun-light upon 
the leaves decomposes the carbonic acid 
which the leaves absorb from the atmos¬ 
phere, releasing the oxygon and retaining 
the carbon. In tins way, the plant puri¬ 
fies the atmosphere which is vitiated by 
animal exhalations and combustion, while 
at the same tirno it supplies itself with a 
vital constituent of its growth. 
Now, Mr. Murray admits that carbonic 
acid may be “ broken up” by the leaves, 
though he disputes the power of light to 
effect the chemical changes. But he be¬ 
lieves the carbon so treated is received 
from the rooLs and not from the atmos¬ 
phere and that, therefore, the idea of its 
descending from the leaves and supplying 
the plant with carbon, is an absolute im¬ 
possibility. 
We cannot, here describe the principal 
experiment which Mr. Murray details as 
proof of the validity of liis theory. Bn* 
ho mentions a familiar illustration which 
he deems better proof than any evolved 
from his labored experiments. Ho says : 
“ We know that the stock has certain 
properties differing from those of the 
cion. We all know that the properties of 
the stock affect the cion. They are car¬ 
ried iij) into its system, but those of the 
cion are not carried down into the stock. 
If the theory of descent and wandering 
and mixing of the sap were true, the qual¬ 
ities of the cion ought to descend just as 
much as those of the stock ascend, but 
they do not.” 
The Gardeners’ Chronicle, after giving 
six columns of its space to the address of 
Mr. Murray (delivered before a scientific 
committee) remarks in oue pari of a 
lengthy editorial thereon, first, that any¬ 
thing that comes from his pen is worthy 
of respect- and, again, that if his views 
were accepted, they would negative all 
that has been laboriously acquired by 
chemists and vegetable physiologists from 
Priestly downwards. 
That the present, theory of vegetable 
physiologists upon this subject is not en¬ 
tirely satisfactory, will not, we think, be 
disputed. There is many an effect for 
which it cannot assign a manifest cause— 
there are many doubts to bo cleared up 
and minor errors to be swept away. Per¬ 
haps, while searching for these defective 
members, we shall discover that the body 
itself is defective and that it needs to be 
born again. The advent of any theory, 
however well supported by facts or cir¬ 
cumstantial testimony, that upsets one 
that has been long cherished, even though 
it sprung from chimeras—is generally the 
butt of all the scientific guns of the sci¬ 
entific world. But as “ all the doctor^ in 
the laud, couldn’t make humpty-dumpty 
stand,” so, where there is a spark of truth, 
the whole magazine of scientific powder 
is ineffectual to put it out. And, some¬ 
how, though we scarcely presume to en¬ 
tertain any opinion upon so abstruse a 
question, we yet believe—all to ourselves 
—that there is a spurk of truth iu Mr. 
Murray’s new doctrine. 
-♦ * -- 
PLAGES FOR TRAMPS. 
An accurate record of the life and 
doings of a modern tramp, including his 
infancy, youth, early manhood and middle 
and old uge, would be a record worthy of 
the study of humanitarians. Nurtured 
perhaps m luxury, educated to idle ele¬ 
gance and thus borne upon the bier of 
moral death to that goal of destruction to 
which so many of our American youth 
go, sooner or later, be is seen by the 
frightened public only from the oue stand¬ 
point. {Shall ho alone be blamed for his 
present position V Or, again, born iu the 
haunts of intemperance mid vice, educated 
to crime and thus following out the 
natural sequence of his birthright, lie has 
nothing to learn iu his late life which 
shall more perfectly tit him for the 
wretched one he leads. In such case, 
shall he bo blamed for what he could not 
help ? 
Bight here is disclosed the problem yet 
to be solved. What are we to do with 
the tramp ? In saying there is but one 
remedy, we wish to be understood as 
speaking from our own stand-point alone. 
Were we to morrow to be overrun with 
the savage tribes of Africa, the question 
would never be asked nor any problem 
proposed iu relation to the subject.. The 
firearms would be examined, the fighting 
weu enlisted and an immediate war of ex¬ 
termination would be inaugurated by un¬ 
animous consent. Aud why ? Because 
our lives, our hearthstones and all that 
W4i hold dear would bo endangered. But 
it might be urged that the unfortunate 
savages were not blameable—they knew 
no better—they were born to and taught 
such invasions and never learned a better- 
life—wore doing that which, ncoording to 
tboir light, was perfectly proper and right. 
All this would be Christiau-liko aud 
charitable, lint all such arguments would 
be as maudlin, when applied to our savage 
would-be-exterminators, as when applied 
to an equally dangerous class of our own 
community, lias tire fellow who burns 
your bulldiugs in revenge for your refusal 
to give him the bread of idleness a better 
heart or a less dangerous temper than the 
miserable savage who attacks you with 
arrow and firebrand? Is he not entitled 
to even A hk consideration because he was 
born and bred by Christian parents in 
a Christian land ? One of the cheapest 
commodities of which we have auy 
knowledge is the modern pulpit charity 
such as can bo heard, more or less, iu 
nearly every village aud town in this 
country. We quote from a sermon lately 
delivered by a most, estimable clergyman 
and one who has done much good in his 
life aud whose sincerity is evidenced by 
the exceeding beauty of his sentiment.: 
“ This world Is full of sorrow. As wo walk 
through any or our city parks—and I see Uni t the 
papers jiii' dally lulling nUentlon to flits fact—we 
cannot rail to notice the seats occupied by men 
who have the taint of sin about them, the stamp 
or crime upon tneir foreheads. 1’oor outcast 
tramps and vagabonds £ But look upon them 
tenderly. There was a Mwe When the kiss of a 
pure mother was upon their lips. As hoys some 
of them bad delightful homes and were reared In 
an atmosphere or reiinomont find culture, some 
of them began life with high hopes and noble as¬ 
piration:-., for some of them pcrclmm e moihers 
and slaters yet pray. When the sun lights up 
their eouiitenanees they are like living corpses, 
and wo think that corruption Is stalking broad¬ 
cast among ns. Bui think of them kindly. 
Drunkards me they 7 Let us thank God tin re is 
a time corning when there will lie no more drunk¬ 
ards. They bear heavy burdens. They loathe 
themselves, they hate the world and are ready at 
l imes to curse God and die. They know i hell- 
condition, and In their desperation and misery 
they drink, drink, drink themselves down to the 
grave. Bless God the time Is corning when Mils 
shall all pass away. The time Is coming when 
there shall bo no more light ending In darkness— 
no more mirth whose end Is madness. 
‘ ‘ There was a time when the kiss of a 
pure mother was pressed upon tlieir lips ” 
—True ! But that, time is not now and 
shall we be shot down like dogs just now 
because of that time? “Some of them 
had delightful homed.” Not at all im¬ 
probable ! But shall we now allow our 
homes to be despoiled because of that 
time? High hopes and aspirations they 
may have had, but nonesuch inspires their 
acts to-day. “ Drunkards are they ? 
Let ns thank God there is a time coming 
when there will be no more drnnkardH.” 
Again true ! But it is junt /tow that we 
have the 7 ramp in our midst in all his 
beastial glory. What can be more beau¬ 
tiful as the sequence to the picture of the 
tramp’s wretchedness than our worthy 
pastor’s finality. “ Bless God the time 
is coming when this shall ail pass away— 
when there shall be no more light ending 
iu darkness no more mirth whose end is 
madness.” 
With the highest resjaiet for the worthy 
mau who utters this beautiful sentence, 
with the most profound sense of the 
Christian's true charity, we say this is false 
teaching. Here is a monstrous wrong, 
threatening no end of ills to good, deserv¬ 
ing people, and demanding a vigorous 
remedy. Let us bo charitable where 
charity availeth, but let us not mistake 
sentiment for charity, even though we 
are, for a time, entranced by its beauty. 
It is not only fair but absolutely cor¬ 
rect, to assume that the /sober, industrious 
aud intelligent part of the community 
support this idle element aud earn for 
them every particle of food eaten aud 
every thread of clothing by them worn, 
besides the greater quantity wasted by 
them. If they must bo supported, let the 
authorities arrest, every one of them found 
without visible means of support and place 
them uuder such supervision that they 
will not keep citizens in constant, terror. 
ISven if they did no work and were simply 
supported iu idleness, it would be a meas¬ 
ure of eoouomy which would save at least 
fifty per cent, of their present cost. But 
they need not be supported in idleness. 
Employment can be found for them by 
the State. The employment part would 
be the sine cure for the tramp disease, as 
almost every farmer iu the laud csau testify 
who bun offered them work. Call upon 
your legislatures to pass an appropriate 
law, and insist upon its enforcement by 
your local authorities. The recent atroc¬ 
ities committed by the idle and vicious 
tramps iu the name of the aggrieved strik¬ 
ers, who were themselves, iu some in¬ 
stances, foremost in resisting the lawless¬ 
ness, have taught us that we have a smol¬ 
dering tire in our midst which may, by an 
untoward breath, be funned into a flame 
of anarchy, bloodshed, slaughter audruin. 
It. will be no pleasure, then, for us to re¬ 
pent, the hackneyed saying, “ we told you 
so,” Now, when this hydra-headed mon¬ 
ster has shown his powers of combination 
for evil, is the time to apply the ounce of 
prevention, worth many pounds of cure 
at a future day. It will be time enough 
to “look tenderly” upon the tramp when 
he is deprived of the power to burn our 
buildings aud murder our citizens. We 
may have a few words more to say on this 
subject in future. 
NOTES. 
Seedling Gladioli.-—Mr. G. L. Al¬ 
len lias been exhibiting, iu the salesroom 
of Mr. Peter Henderson several hundred 
flower spikes of Seedling Gladioli. All 
of them are beautiful (we have never seen 
a Gladiolus flower that was not) ; some 
are strikingly so. But the difference in 
shades and markings between them and 
named varieties is no slight as to defy the 
power of wurds to describe it. About, 
thirteen years ago, we purchased (of the 
finer sorts) our first Gladiolus norm of 
Mr. Allen. It, was Mary .Stewart, still 
one of the best, for which we paid four 
dollars. The price of this variety is now 
about two dollars. It. is a matter of sur¬ 
prise tlint the Gladiolus is still sold as 
high as five dollars per eorm, when it is 
considered how rapidly it may be increased 
ami that many of the cheap varieties— 
twenty-five cents each, perhaps—are not 
distinguishable from them—at. least by 
those not “educated up to it.” About 
ten years ago, Mr. Allen began liis 
seedling cultivation and he has not yet,, 
we believe, accumulated a sufficient stock 
to offer any for sale. It, is a long time to 
work anti wait. We hope for the en¬ 
couragement of seedling propagators 
generally that Mr. Allen’s varieties may 
be deemed of the choicest and that lie 
may be well repaid for bin labors. 
■»«♦ 
BREVITIES. 
The Gorman Government Honda out modols of 
the potato beetle iu all it« nix stages of growth, 
that it may be at onco recognized by the people. 
The German and American Governments do 
things differently. 
The Germantown Telograph tolls of a man 
struck by lightning and apparently dead, being 
reanacit&tod bv having fourteen pailn of water 
thrown over him, Maybe the man thought that, 
having been struck by lightning, it was too bad 
to bo drowned besides. 
lSVKRV dog lias its day. In those timeH of de¬ 
preciated real estate, of mercantile depression 
and railroad wars, the fanner who owes no man, 
anil looks upon his fields of corn that never 
waved with a higher head, may reckon that 
those are happy days for him. 
Filest the general results of an extended in¬ 
quiry made by the Gardeners’ Chronicle through¬ 
out England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, it ap¬ 
pears that the potato crop will prove an average 
one although the potatoes are small, and from 
teu days to u fortnight later than usual. 
Feelingly dedicated to Dorypbora 10-liuoata 
iu consideration of the parasites which are prey¬ 
ing upon her: 
" Little fleas have smaller fleas 
To worry uml to Pile 'em ; 
A tel these avion have lesser fleas — 
An,I so iid injlnitvin." 
“ Do not count your ehiekoiiB before they are 
hatched.” “ Do not count your chickens after 
they arc hatched.' says a cautions weekly paper, 
“ until there Is no longer a chance for the pips, or 
for hawks carrying them off ” Now, why not 
wait until they are grown up to the estate of 
hens -or roosters, as the case may be '< Then 
they might bo counted with far less trouble. 
Veiiy soon our readers will have the oppor¬ 
tunity of comparing pears aud apples while visit¬ 
ing fairs; of ascertaining where they were raised 
and gathering trustworthy information as to 
their general merits. Garry uoto-book and pen¬ 
cil always, aud write down every item of valua¬ 
ble information, so that when the season for 
settiug fruit trees arrives— only three mouths 
distant—you may know just what varieties to 
select. 
Some sharper has been canvassing the north 
part of this town for Moore's Rural New- 
Yorker, Frank Leslie's Popular Monthly, (Jhirn- 
uoy Corner and the Saturday Night, agreeing to 
send a complete year of back numbers of each 
for one dollar. Wo learn that he procured a 
largo number of names and their mouey and 
now the xubxrribrrx are anxiously looking for 
their papers.— Wooer/// Free 1‘rexn. Our fnetuls 
will take notice and be on their guard. 
It has been said that “it i« comparatively easy 
to know something about everything, hut very 
difficult to learn everything about anything.’' 
The question arises: Is it better to learn some¬ 
thing about everything, or to attempt to learn 
everything about anything ? If it were settled 
that it is belter to learn something about every¬ 
thing, aud the best medium of accomplishing 
this were asked for, we should blushingly but 
confidently answer: Subscribe for the Rural 
New-Yorker. 
The following note explains itself : 
CUMBERLAND, Md., August 3. 
Dear Siu :— I find in your number of July 28 
that in speaking of the great railroad strike, 
your Nows editor says the greatest trouble ou 
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad has been at 
* * * Cumberland and Baltimore, (uaming 
five other placoB.) 'l’he fuel is, that with the ex¬ 
ception of u slight disturbance in which “ nobody 
was hurt," Cumberland has been quiet. The 
whole blame belongs 10 two Baltimore papers, 
whoso correspondents aie of the sensational sort, 
and manufactured lies about this city to the in¬ 
jury of its business iutorosts. Yours truly, 
J. W. Howe. 
BUSINESS NOTICES. 
The Best Oil for Harness Is the celebrated 
Vacuum oil, made at Rochester, N. Y., and sold by 
harness makers everywhere. 
