0 
SEPT.45 
47a 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
THE 
RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
PUBLISH KI) EVERY SATURDAY. 
RURAL PUBLISHING CO., 
178 Duane Street, New York City. 
SATURDAY, BEPTEMBEIt 15, 1877. 
A STATEMENT 
TO THE READERS AND FRIENDS OF THE RURAL 
NEW-YORKER. 
We wish to speak a few plaiu, earnest, 
honest words. 
As our present issue is oyer twenty-live 
thousand copies greater than our ordinary 
issues, we have chosen the present as an 
opportune moment. 
The lU'JiAi, New Yorker hag during 
on existence of nearly thirty years passed 
through several alternations of almost un¬ 
exampled prosperity on the one hand, and 
of adversity on the other. So threaten¬ 
ing indeed, was the gloom that enveloped 
it several years ago, that even its best 
friends were in doubt as to whether it 
would ever again reclimb the hard ascent 
to its old pinnacle of prestige and influ¬ 
ence, not to say power ;—not, it may be, 
through any fault of its own ; not neces¬ 
sarily on account of a gx-oatly lessened 
circulation — for, during its gloomiest 
period, this would, according to our beet 
knowledge and belief, have compared very 
favorably with that of many of its worthy 
and still prosperous contemporaries ; but 
beeause its benefits wore distributed 
broadcast with so improvident a liberality 
that whon the tempest finally broke, that 
through our war, had been silently gath¬ 
ering from the alluring but deceitful ap¬ 
pearance of real prosperity—the good old 
Rural found itself faint and staggering 
under the loud that, up to this time, it 
had borne bravely, joyfully — uncon¬ 
sciously. 
Dear friendB—and we speak to you who 
through that period of struggle hold out 
a helping hand, and assisted us to believe 
that we wore in the midst of our darkest 
hour—wo tell you with almost a child's 
delight which need no longer bo sup¬ 
pressed, that once again the Rural not 
only owos no man, but that its burdens 
one by ono have been so removed that 
despite the existing wide-spread and deep 
commereial depression, its circulation is 
even now steadily and rapidly increasing. 
We beg further to state, on the jjart of 
the proprietors, that money-making is not 
their highest aspiration in its successful 
management. Their first and engrossing 
aim is that the Bubal New Yorker 
should accomplish all the good possible in 
in the fields of knowledge to which it is 
devoted. And this they promise their 
friends in all sincerity shall be their first 
aim while they live and continue to be its 
proprietors. 
--- 
AN ANNOUNCEMENT. 
It is gratifying that wo are now en¬ 
abled to promise our readers a series of 
essays from the pens of many of our most 
distinguished writers among tho Profes¬ 
sors of the colleges of our country. 
Our readers owe no thanks to us—but 
to those unselfish teachers who, seeing in 
our suggestion a means of promoting the 
interests of horticulture or agriculture to 
which they are devoting their lives, have 
promptly and generously responded to 
our solicitations. 
We give bolow tho names, as near as 
may be in tho order that they have been 
received—and tho subjects, in so far as 
we have been advised, which shall consti¬ 
tute the series. 
A number of writers from the above- 
mentioned or other colleges, because of 
sickness or pressing duties, were unwil¬ 
ling to make any promises at present, but 
expressed a disposition to contribute ar¬ 
ticles in the future. 
LEVI STOURBRIDGE, 
Professor of Agriculture, Mass. Agricultural 
College. 
First. “ Farm Yard Manure as a Fertilizer.” 
Second. “Commercial Fertilizers.” 
JAMES CARDER, D.D., 
President State College, Center Co., Pa. 
“ Grape Culture at tho Penn. State College.’ 1 
S. M. TRACY, 
Professor of Agriculture, University of the Stato 
of Missouri. 
“ Tho Construction of tho Plow.” 
I. P. ROBERTS, 
Professor of Agriculture, Cornell University, 
Ithaca, N. Y. 
“ Progress and Condition of Agricultural Educa¬ 
tion in tho United StatoB.” 
WILLIAM JAMES BEAL, M. A-, M. S., 
Professor of Botany and Horticulture^ State Ag¬ 
ricultural College, Lansing, Michigan. 
“ Michigan Agricultural College -Her Profes¬ 
sors and Students in tho Class-room, Field 
and Garden.” 
ELBR1DGE GALE, 
Professor of Botany and Practical Horticulture, 
State Agricultural College, Manhattan, Kan¬ 
sas. 
“ Educating Power of Horticulture." 
JOHN HUS EY, A. M., Ph. D., 
Professor of Nature' History, Purdue Universi¬ 
ty, LaFayette, 1 liana. 
“ Tho Prolitablo Culture of Timber Trees.” 
0. S. SARGENT, A. B., 
Director of tho Arnold Arboretum and tho Bo¬ 
tanic Garden, Harvard University, Cam¬ 
bridge, Mass. 
“Forestry,” “ Arboriculture,” or some kindred 
subject. 
GEORGE E. MORROW, 
Professor of Agriculture, Illinois University, 
Urbana. 
“ The Outlook for Young Farmers.” 
JOHN M. GREGORY, 
Regent and Professor of Philosophy and History, 
Illinois Industrial University, Urbana. 
“ Capabilities of Farm Life.” 
Hon. A. B. WELCH, 
President Iowa State Agricultural College, Ames. 
“ The Effects of Propulence in the Forming of 
Races.” 
JOHN B. BOWMAN, LL.D., 
Regent of Kentucky University, Lexington. 
“ National Aid to Industrial Education.” 
THOMAS J. BUKRILL, 
Professor of Botany and Horticulture, Illinois 
Industrial University, Urbana. 
“Diseases of Apple Trees and Fruit.” 
ALBERT J. COOK, M. S., 
Professor of Zoology and Entomology, Btato Ag¬ 
ricultural Collogo, Lansing, Michigan. 
“ Some Strange Facts Connected with the Natu¬ 
ral History of Bees.” 
WILLIAM FALCONER, 
Of tho Botanic Garden, Harvard University, 
Cambridge, Mass. 
“ Wild Plants as Garden Flowers.” 
M. II. BUCK11AM, A. M., 
President University of Vermont, Burlington. 
CHARLES L. 1NGERS0LL, 
Foreman of the Farm, State Agricultural College, 
Lansing, Michigan. 
“ The Value of tho Farmer’s Errors.” 
J. D. WARFIELD, A. M., 
Professor of English Literature, Mental Science 
and History, Maryland Agricultural College. 
“ Atmospheric and Mineral Plant Food.” 
JOHN A. ANDERSON, A. M., 
President of Kansas State Agricultural Collego, 
Manhattan. 
“ A Practical Education for tho Farmer.” 
-- 
THE FARMER AT THE FAIR. 
Despite nil that has been and justly 
may be said concerning the abuses at¬ 
tached to what Josh Billings ealls 
“ Agricultural boss trots,” our fairs hold 
a large place in the affections of farmers. 
They give at least days of ranch needed 
recreation whereof most farmers liuvo far 
too few. All work and no play is as bad 
for men and women as it was for Jack in 
the old saw. When old farmers cease to 
wish social recreation and converse with 
their friends and neighbors, the fact 
proves that the habit of isolation has 
calloused or destroyed their social feelings. 
Men who cease to desire to break loose 
from the daily drudgery of their lives, 
show clearly how much this drudgery has 
injured them. They have a less perfect 
manhood than they are entitled to. 
They are not so good fathers, husbands 
and citizens, as they could and should be. 
So, when the fanner tells his boys and 
girls that he doesn’t want to go to the fair 
it does not settle the question for himself 
even—much less for his wife aud family. 
If he doesn't want to go, ho should want 
to. It is a solemn duty for him to get 
out of the old ruts aud stay out until ho 
revives the freshness and enthusiasm of 
his youth. Wo all often see old people 
who li J< ( l as young as they ever did.” 
The keeping alive of this youthfulncss of 
feeling may lie t he privilege of all. It is 
a duty which every man and woman 
owes to all with whom they are associated 
to preserve the freshness and enthusiasm 
of youth ns long as possible. 
Most really good farmers need no in¬ 
centive to attend tho fairH. Thoy find 
that it pays—pays iu dollars and cents ns 
well, or better, than nuy thing else they 
may do. It is impossible for two good 
farmers to talk half an hour about farm 
management without receiving mutual 
benefit. Each toadies, aud each learns. 
A g<x»d farmer will thus often learn much 
of importance from those not so success¬ 
ful as himself. It is a safe rule that 
every man excels in something. At ag¬ 
ricultural fairs are congregated thousands 
of tho best farmers, and the improved 
stock, implements, grains and fruits on 
exhibition, suggest, innumerable topics for 
discussion. Woe to the niauufaettirer 
whose implements arc inferior. Their 
defects are soon exposed before this 
ordeal. What iB really excellent is com¬ 
mended by the crowd of spectators as 
warmly :ta the imperfections arc con¬ 
demned. Dealers in implements under¬ 
stand well the value of this cheap adver¬ 
tising. It reaches directly thousands of 
tho enterprising and wide-awake of tho 
country. More sales are made in this 
way than iu any other. 
Farmers should keep a sharp lookout 
for whatever is novel and good. New 
varieties of grains and fruits thus pro¬ 
cured may prove of lasting benefit. (Jet 
the address of the premium-taliors of 
wheat, corn, oats and barley, and order 
i seed of them or if possible buy the 
article which lias itself taken tho pre¬ 
mium. The farmer may thus ho ready 
to compete another year, or at least the 
ohauge of seed will almost surely bo 
worth far more titan the cost. 
Finally, iu going to tho fail - take the 
entire family, wife, children, aud hired 
help as well. The little ones sco aud 
remember more of tho novelties at an ex¬ 
hibition than we are apt to think. They 
will often learn more iu one such holiday 
than in twice tho time spent iu the dull 
routine of school. As for tho hired help, 
everybody kuows how slowly work pro¬ 
gresses while the master is away on a 
pleasure holiday. The men will probably 
do little if denied the day. Make the 
day tlieir’s, to do as they choose, aud if 
the act is done generously instead of 
grudgingly, the farmer will bo surprised 
at the zeal his men will show in forward¬ 
ing his interests. 
•-» » ♦ ■ 
ADORNMENT. 
“It was one of those pretty houses, 
surrounded by shrubbery and ilowers, 
about which almost every passer remark¬ 
ed, ‘ Oh ! bow I should like to live iu that 
pretty house !’ ” Such is the description 
of a house wo have in our mind's eye, and 
it could bo true of almost every farm¬ 
house in the laud, did the occupants only 
will it so. A few Ilowers, a little grass 
aud a few shrubs, all well cared for at a 
trilling expense of money or labor, aud 
the thing is done. A little care each day 
would keep everything neat and in order 
and u little thought each week would reg¬ 
ulate that care to the best advantage. We 
do not live iu this world for ourselves 
alone ; but for the whole world. Upon 
this principle, we know a woman who al¬ 
ways keeps a light iu the front rooms of 
her house every winter night because, as 
she says, “ we not only have the warm 
glow of it ourselves ; but to every passei- 
by it gives out a cheerful message which 
produces iu his imagination a picture 
of comfort and happiness within. So it 
is with tho adornments around the house. 
They not only give enjoyment to their 
possessors, but to everyone who passes 
they send a message of thrift, refinement, 
and happiness, which should alone be suf¬ 
ficient compensation fur the little labor 
and expense they may cost. 
We remember once passing through a 
little village in which almost every house 
was surrounded with Ilowers, shrubs and 
vines, and which left upon our mind an 
ineffaceable impression. Though nearly 
twenty years have passed since then, we 
still think of it frequently with pleasure. 
Could the occupants of those pretty vil¬ 
lage places only know of this, they would 
doubtless feel amply repaid fur all their 
trouble. In all your calculations on the 
profits of your crops, by all means fail 
not to include your crop of household 
adornments. The profits on your grain 
may bo lasting, probably will not; but 
the profits on your puro, god-given pleas¬ 
ures, though not counted in dollars and 
cents, can never vanish. 
-- 
NOTES. 
Just a Few Word8 to Our News¬ 
paper Friends.—lu copying from the 
Rural articles containing figures, it is 
always well to check them in the “ proof ” 
by a comparison with the “ copy.” De¬ 
cently several egregious mistakes iu this 
respect have come to our notice. For 
example, last Saturday one of the best 
papers in the country, in an extract from 
the Rural, made us say that milk shoidd 
be sot for raising cream at a tempei- 
aturo of 2G W , instead of 50°. Such er¬ 
rors, our friends know, rue very pro¬ 
voking, and easily committed, unless the 
proof-reader is acquainted with the sub¬ 
ject or adopts the precaution above sug¬ 
gested. 
■ ■ - •♦♦♦ 
BREVITIES. 
Ouu portrait of Thiers is timely. 
Thkuk is to bo a Bankers’ convention. Make a 
National Note of it. 
Why is au uneasy devil like a reformer? Be¬ 
cause bo is an improver. 
Do not try to lind an Index of Contents. The 
Contents must speak for themselves. 
The Russian soldiers are being poisoned in 
great numbers. I'eabody-Martmis’ Sugar of 
Load is the popular drug. 
The Milburn Wagon Company, Toledo, Ohio, 
have had au unnsn&Ily good season, because 
they make an uncommonly good wagon. Their 
announcement will bo found iu this issue. 
A French agricultural journal says that tho 
damage done to potted plants and llowern by 
worms getting into the mold, can bo avoided l>y 
using for irrigating the plants, water to which 
one-tenth part of grated horse-chestnut haB boon 
added. Under this treatment, tho worms must 
either lly or die. 
Tub Secretary of The National Live-Stock 
Journal, (Chicago, III.,) sends us a captivating 
clirouio of “ Gov. Sprague” who, as is well 
known, made a mile in 2.20}-£ minutes when five 
years old—the fastest time on record at that 
age. This ehrouio is sold by the above journal 
at one dollar, aud it is offered as a premium to 
those who got up clubs. 
In looking over our Australian exchanges just 
received, it causes a momentary surprise to lind 
them dwelling, a mouth ago, on the timeliness 
of preparing for early spring work on the farm ; 
hut the fooling is dissipated on remombering 
that the winter with them was nearly over, as 
the sun haH boon traveling southward towards 
them since nearly the middle of J uno. 
" Success to thee." too, brother Germantown 
Telegraph ! We thunk you for your hearty ex¬ 
pression of good will. For downright honest 
teachings, we believe that tho agricultural de¬ 
partment of tho Germantown Telegraph is tho 
pee*, at least, of any agr cultural journal in tlis 
country. We have long thought so -aud that it 
volunteers to speak a whole-souled word of 
praise of a brother co-laborer iu the same field, 
is no moan evidence (as things go) of tho sound¬ 
ness of our views. 
Ali, tho remarkable trotters arc not confined 
to this'country. Recently a Wallacliian maro 
named “ Scaudiuave," belonging to a lieutenant 
in the Prussian guards, trotted from Nauen to 
Potsdam, a distance of nearly JSd miles, hi 1 hour 
aud 20 minutes, carrying a weight of 20'J, 1 £ lbs. 
She had never been accustomed to a trotting 
pace until trained to it for tins special occasion 
during the fortnight immediately preceding the 
event, yet neither after the race nor on tho foi- 
lowing day did she show any sign of fatigue. 
The National Surgical Institute, whose adver¬ 
tisement appears on page 171, has long been 
well and favorably known throughout the United 
States. Last year they opened their Eastern 
Division at Philadelphia, so that now they have 
altogether lour distinct Institutes, viz.: at In¬ 
dianapolis, Ind., Philadelphia, Pa., .San Fran¬ 
cisco and Atlanta, Ga. They devote their special 
attention to lie scientific treatment of deformi¬ 
ties aud surgical diseases. Our readers may 
remember their flue display last year at tho Cen¬ 
tennial, when they were awarded tho grand 
medal and diploma on their surgical apparatus, 
Ac. Each division is complete within itself and 
is supplied with au able corps of Burgeons and 
assislautB. 
BUSINESS NOTICES. 
The Rest Oil lor Harness is tho celebrated 
Vacuum Oil, nm<le at Rochester, N. Y., awl sold by 
harness makers everywhere. 
