THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
OCT.43 
TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
Practical Departments: 
I’nanut.#.,....,.. 
Th.nil'll!* from ii Karra. 
I'lowinjf mill Other Topic!*, Full. 
Corn In Ui<> Hill, jMimuriiiK. 
Jolting* ui KirPv Hotnestetid. 
Huli-enrtli VioiM Ini.iiin............... 
Pets of our Veuetuble Garden. 
Krliinthll# Kaverina?. . 
Ferns...... ... ... 
CIichLiiiiI. The Writer.. 
Dlinnrpbmin In Kucii|rptiis Globulus.. 
Catulogiiii*, \c.. Kvoriviol . 
Tree I’lniiling Around School-Houses, About.. 
Poiii'-Illlgtit mill it* i* 1111 * 1 * 1 *. 
How Kiiglinli Cuttle Kaiser# liuprovo Their 
Stock. . .. 
Pencil Stock, Qrufling on... 
Tim Tmnip........ 
Hrlollcti*... . 
UuisfliK Poultry. Tbo ProlUs mid Losses of. 
Barb Wire I-mice... , 
Husking Glover. Ilall's. 
OdW Fetter, A Prncttcal..... 
Horses, Walking. 
Piths. 
Keel pcs... 
Knriil Special deports.. 
Answers to Correspondents. . 
Medical Schools, Keform In. 
Privy, Cure of the. . 
KUITOUIAL FACE: 
Rotllii lusted. 24(| 
Tl ree Indie# or Ton?. 210 
Adulteration#. V40 
Notes— Brevities.24U 
Litkhaut : 
Poetry. 241, 243, 241 
Btorv. 241 
My Version,. 242 
Brle-n-Kr.io , 242 
Servian B illad Singers. 213 
l.’idles’ Portfolio. 243 
Tim Old. Old Story'. 243 
Miscellaneous... .. 213 
Sending lor Ihe Young. 244 
A Mountain Legend. 244 
A Trip from My Home to the Sea. 214 
The 'P 111 K • mm Turkey..241 
Letters from Hoys and Girls.. . 211 
Pu/./.lor.. 244 
Sabbat It Heading. 244 
Markets. 245 
Publisher's Not! 00 s... 24 ti 
News or tho Week. 2 P; 
Personals... 217 
Humorous........ ..... 243 
Advertisements. 239 , 245, 247 , 248 
233 
233 
234 
234 
234 
235 
*35 
235 
235 
2 
2,35 
235 
235 
230 
230 
230 
230 
230 
237 
237 
287 
237 
237 
238 
238 
238 
238 
?3!l 
239 
THE 
RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
PUBLISHED EVKltY SATURDAY. 
Address 
RURAL PUBLISHING CO., 
78 Duane Street, New York City. 
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1877. 
We call attention to tlie excellent article 
about “ Tree planting around school-houses,” 
by Mih. Story, hoping its suggestions will be 
bcodod by inlluential country people. 
R0THAMSTED. 
The Gardeners’ Chronicle of Sept. 22 
gives an interesting account of the now 
world-renowned JtothaniHted Agricultural 
Experimental Station, founded by Mr. 
Lawks, who commenced experiments with 
different manuring substances, first, with 
plants in pots and afterwards in the field, 
soon after entering into possession of his 
hereditary property at ltothamsted in 
1834. 
Mr. Lawics has set apart a sum of $500,- 
000.00 besides land for the continuance 
of tlie investigations after bis death. Dr. 
Gilhekt, whose name lias become so as¬ 
sociated with that, of Mr. Lames that 
the one is seldom mentioned without the 
other, has had the direction of the labor¬ 
atory since 1843. 
The general plan of tho field experi¬ 
ments has been “ to grow some of the 
most important crops of rotation, each 
separately, year after year, for many 
years in succession on tho same land, 
without manure, with farmyard manure, 
and with a great variety of chemical 
manures ; the same description of ma¬ 
nure being, as a rule, applied year after 
year on the same plot. Experiments on 
an actual course of rotation with differ¬ 
ent manures have also been made.” 
Prom most of the experimental plots 
samples of the soil from various depths 
all the way to four feet, amounting to 
nearly 600 samples, have been taken and 
analyzed. Nearly from tho beginning 
tlie rainfall has been measured and oc¬ 
casionally the nitrogen, as ammonia and 
as nitric acid, has been determined in 
the rain-water. 
Experiments wore inudo for several 
years to determine whether plants assimi¬ 
late free or uncombined nitrogen, for 
which purpose plants of the gramineous, 
leguminous and of other families were 
operated upon. 
Wo have not space even to indicate the 
immense number of experiments that 
have been carried on in the carefullest, 
most skillful manner. But their object, 
viz., to ascertain those methods of feed¬ 
ing plants and animals by which the 
wants of man shall in the fullest measure 
be subserved, and the results already ob¬ 
tained are such us to merit the admira¬ 
tion and gratitude of all intelligent 
people. 
Not the least important results of these 
experiments are the invalidation of Lie¬ 
big's mineral theory and the proving 
that leguminous plants which uro highly 
nitrogenous are not especially benefited 
by nitrogenous manures; while those 
yielding the most, starch and sugar are 
the very ones most, benefited by them. 
The liothamsted experiments offer, in¬ 
deed, “ another proof that in the promo¬ 
tion and advance of pure science as the 
primary consideration, lies the surest and 
most certain road to practical utility.” 
THREE INCHES OR TEN ? 
IThke is another irrepressible quest,ioD. 
Intelligent and practical men who agree 
on most other subjects, still differ widely 
on the never-ending question, How deep 
to plow ? Tho great mistake lies in at¬ 
tempting to lay down a general rule, 
where no such rule is possible; or, if 
possible, is subject to ho many excep¬ 
tions, that it, becomes worthless. Tho 
late Horace Gkkei.ky was understood to 
be an advocate of deep plowing, and in 
the abstract, he was probably right. But 
unfortunately, his rural disciples were 
not sufficiently guarded against the ex¬ 
ceptions, and often made mistakes. Out 
of every hundred farmers who adopt a 
general rule on this subject, possibly one- 
half may fairly rtutp the benefit of the 
rule, while the others, or most of them, 
are tripped up by the exceptions. This 
is unfortunate, for it lias a tendency to 
bring discredit on enlightened husbandry 
by increasing the prejudice against what 
is termed “book farming.” Nothingeuu 
be more damaging to agriculture than'to 
weaken the faith of farmers in the jour¬ 
nals and books devoted to their interest. 
We refer to this subject, not as parti¬ 
sans on either side, nor yet because there 
is auy doubt of the value of sound argu¬ 
ment on great questions ; but simply be¬ 
cause the argument on this question is 
too often unsound. The debate thus far, 
lias clearly developed more antagonism 
than truth, more partisanship than wis¬ 
dom. We believe in free and full discus¬ 
sion on all topics ; but when this antagon¬ 
ism, losing sight of the great end in view, 
degenerates into party spirit, the damage 
resulting to husbandry is deplorable. It 
seems indeed, incredible that,rational meu 
should suppose it possible to clear up the 
doubts nml difficulties of farming by falling 
into party lines, audrallying under distinct¬ 
ive banners, as if these problems were to 
be solved by a majority of numbers, or 
the popularity oi party leaders. In any 
sensible view of the matter, how is it pos¬ 
sible nut to perceive that the question of 
plowing deep or shallow, is always and 
only to be determined by the facts be¬ 
longing to each ease; that tho conditions 
in each are both numerous and variable, 
and that probably no two cases in five 
hundred are ever* precisely alike ? Yet, 
strange as it seems, we find practical meu 
continually marshaled in hostile array 
on thiH question, and even prominent 
writers proclaiming their adhesion to one 
or the other faction. 
One thing is certain, obstinate contro¬ 
versy is seldom productive of large yields. 
Fifty bushels of wheat per acre, or a hun¬ 
dred bushels of eorn, though possible 
under right conditions, never result from 
clinging to a prejudice or a delusion. One 
man may astonish us with the yield he 
gets by plowing three inches deep, while 
another gets a result, equally magnificent 
with ten inches, l'et, if the two cases 
were reversed, both crops would bo fail¬ 
ures. Each of these meu is right for liis 
own locality ami conditions, but not nec¬ 
essarily right for another man, or another 
farm. This has been so from the begin¬ 
ning, and will be so till the ond of time. 
The advocate of ten inches proclaims his 
enormous crop, and expects all the farm¬ 
ers to adopt Iub theory. On the other 
hand, the man of three inches is equally 
dogmatic, and denounces all who hesitate 
to rally under his banner. Now is this 
reason and common sense, or is it mere 
antagonism, tending to create parties, and 
aiming at victory rather than truth ? 
Whatever it may be called, it is simply 
an absurdity that, tends to perpetuate a 
controversy that patient inquiry and com¬ 
mon sense are alone sufficient to settle. 
However long this discussion may contin¬ 
ue, there is but, one final result. Every 
farmer will find it necessary, and not only 
necessary but entirely possible, to decide 
this question for himself. He bus only 
to interrogate the soil ho cultivates in a 
simple experiment, and the needed infor¬ 
mation will bo rovealed. 
ADULTERATIONS. 
The increase of this evil is becoming 
very serious, and we are glad to find that, 
it is lately attracting deserved attention. 
The systematic deterioration and corrup¬ 
tion of food by tho cupidity of dishonest 
dealers, is reduced to au art so perfect,, 
and practiced on a scale so formidable, 
that it threatens to become an intolerable 
soonrge. Though the subject is one that 
deeply concerns farmers, it is by no means 
limited to them in its consequences. As 
a public evil, it penetrates every circle of 
society ami every section of the country ; 
as a crime against civilization, it, reaches 
every elasH and sect and family in the 
community, sparing neither infancy nor 
age. 
In many of tho commodities that we 
purchase, whether of luxury, convenience 
or necessity, and in nearly all that we eat 
or drink, 'whether as food, medicine, or 
beverage, we are continually, though 
often unconsciously, the victims of imposi¬ 
tion and fraud. 
It, is true, this deception is not always 
with the knowledge of the party from 
whom we purchase. He may be, and 
often is hiiuself deceived in the quality 
of what he sells. Yet tho fraud and the 
injury are none the less real on that 
account. Somewhere between the pro¬ 
ducer and consumer tho article in ques¬ 
tion has been doctored and damaged 
with a view to increase the profit, and the 
innocence of tho last vendor does not, 
help the case. 
If a farmer who lias suddenly lost, a 
valuable cow discovers that ho has been 
feeding his cattle with sulphate of lime 
instead of the bone meal that he paid for, 
it matters little to him which of the par¬ 
ties who made a profit on tlie article may 
be the most guilty. It is enough to 
know that he 1ms been doubly robbed to 
satiate the greed of some undetected 
rascal who is still at large to practice the 
Butue fraud on others. This is but a 
single type of many Bimilur oases that 
continually occur, while in some instances 
the results are even still more serious. 
Wheu we find that this atrocious cupidity, 
apparently not satisfied with the destruc¬ 
tion of animal life, carries its outrages 
still further, invading tho health of our 
families, and threatening the lives of our 
citizens, it may well startle the most in¬ 
different, and should lead to stringent, 
measures of reform that would at least 
mitigate if not extinguish a curse so 
intolerable. It has been shown by ex¬ 
perts that many of the adulterations of 
food, and still moro of liquors aud patent 
medicines are nothing less than slow 
poisons. 
If it were possible to trace all the con¬ 
sequences of this llagraut iniquity, to 
measure iu money value tho sum total of 
dishonesty thus perpetrated, and tho 
amount of suffering inllict,ed on the com¬ 
munity, the result would be simply 
appalling, and incredible. It is doubt¬ 
less true, as we have seen it suggested, 
that one of the most effectual means for 
suppressing this evil is the inlluenco of 
the press. In proportion as facts are 
brought to fight, public indignation is 
kindled, and when thoroughly aroused it 
will deal promptly with the miscreants 
who are everywhere secretly and silently 
at work tampering with the health and 
endangering the fives of tlie people. 
-»»♦ - 
NOTES. 
Cuttings.— Spring and Fall are, in 
our climate the best seasons for striking 
cuttings. Tho summer months are too 
hot—the air too dry. Evaporation is so 
rapid that the feeble powers of the cutting 
arc booh exhausted aud decay ensues. 
Many eutl,tings may now be rooted even 
if exposed all the while to the sun and 
inserted in ordinary garden soil. Others 
require a little shade—others still form 
roots with more certainty if placed in 
pure sand. Any box or flower-pot will 
suffice if only a quick drainage be insured 
and the cuttings be protected from the 
cold night air. Tho proneuess of young 
florists to make long cuttings is a mis¬ 
take. Short ones, two or throe inches 
long, require less time aud are more to 
be depended upon. A long cutting is 
weakened by a greater exposure of surface 
to the air, light and warmth. Cuttings 
should be taken beneath or through a 
joint, in that part there is more firm¬ 
ness and an accumulation of nutriment 
that promote the formation of a “callus” 
the first step in tho formation of roots. 
The fact that if most stems are severed 
between the nodes or joints, tho severed 
internode will perish, is evidence of tbits 
If the cuttings are from succulent plants, 
it is w'ell to let them fie for some hours 
until tho wounded ends become dry 
enough to prevent bleeding before insert¬ 
ing them iu either sand or earth. The 
cut should be clean and smooth both be¬ 
cause a lasoerated part is prone to decay 
and the surface exposed by a clean cut is 
lesB. It is important to make tho hole in 
the sand, earth or whatever substance is 
used with a round stick or dibble for the 
reception of the cutting and nover to 
force the cutting itself therein. As a 
rule, beginners plaeo tlieir cuttings too 
deep. Nothing is more conducive to de¬ 
cay. It should be borne in mind that 
firmness is all that is needed—since auy 
movement after insertion would displace 
aud perhaps destroy the forming roots. 
For tho rest give, uh far as may be, an 
even warmth and provido against too 
much dryness ou the one hand, and too 
much moisture on the other. 
■ # 4 + ■ ■— 
Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker, Pres¬ 
ident of tho ltoyal Society of England aud 
Director of tho ltoyal Botanic Gardens, 
lvew, London, left the United States for 
England last Saturday, Oct, 6, after a so¬ 
journ in our country since the Sltfi of last 
July. Sir Joskpu spent nearly all of 
these three mouths iu a botanical tour 
through Utah, Colorado, aud the far West, 
aud is perfectly delighted with the coun¬ 
try. He only regrets that at present ho 
cannot afford the time for a botanical tour 
through the Eastern States. In his jour¬ 
ney he was accompanied by Dr. Asa Gray 
of Harvard University. 
-- 
We find the Statement again 
going the rounds that Pelargoniums, if 
carefully taken up, the roots washed and 
the whole plant hung up in the cellar, 
will pass through tlie winter in safety. 
Wo have tried the experiment aud know 
of others who have tried it, with the un¬ 
exceptional result of failure. 
• ■ 
BREVITIES. 
Lawson’s Cypress was printed by oversight 
Lawson’s Cyress, in our last issue. 
The Pike Co. Hort. Boo. of Missouri, moro 
than indorses what we have said of the Thwack 
Raspberry. It was preferred to the Turner. Our 
bUHhes continued to hear for ten days alter our 
last report of them. 
“ Coffin Fiunob," is one of the familiar 
names of Hpanish or Black Moss—Tillaudnia 
usueoides. How this, that suggest# such a name, 
can lie deemed an agreeable parlor companion 
is a mystery! 
England imported last year $18,000,000 worth 
of eggs, ohielly from the Continent. Canada 
also, is beginning to send across the water a 
considerable number, one steamer alone haviug 
lately carried from tlie Dominion to Liverpool 
280 barrels of eggs. Here’s a hint to our farm¬ 
ers aud conutry-produoo dealers. 
From the beat descriptions, or even from plain 
engravings of fowls, it is diflieult to gain a cor¬ 
rect idea of their general appearance. Correct 
colored plates, however, give almost as accurate 
an idea of them as looking at tho fowls them¬ 
selves. The Poultry Wend has Introduced the 
now feature of issuing a ebromo-lithographic 
plate of a choice breed with each month’s paper. 
There iB no better time than the present for 
sowing grass seeds to form now lawns. Level 
the surface precisely us desired. A sloping lawn 
if practicable, is desirable whatover tho size of 
the lawn ; hut hillocks, mounds, or a rolling sur¬ 
face are in good taste only where the lawn is of 
considerable extent. Diversity is not attractive 
unloBB there is s^aco enough to impart a distinc¬ 
tive character to Individual parts. 
Sentiments with which we may all agree : 
“ My friends, my confedoratoB, do you intend to 
obey the whole Constitution and amendments ? 
I thought yon would, I believe you will, and that 
removes tho last cause of dissension between us. 
I look forward happily to the realization of tho 
bright vision of a popular English author, when 
he said, * I see a vast confederacy stretching 
from the frozen North to tho glowing South, 
from tho white billows of the Atlantic to the 
calm waters of tho Pacific main, that would con¬ 
tain one people, one language, and one f to. t— 
everywhere a home for freemen aud a refuge of 
every race and of every clime to come together.’ ” 
— Tlie President's Louisville Speech. 
