TABLE OF OO NTENTS, 
HR AOTlOAl. DEPARTMENTS: 
Eulalia JnpODica vnr. Zebrina. 181 
Shall Flower. 181 
Asparagus Beils. I s ' 
Asparagus Roots arid Seeds... 181 
Cherries—Malmleb Stocks lor. IF. 
Extra i*t» from Correspottpenta’ Letters.IF. 
Senil Kjcehuuge. 18* 
Cauooiroes. Ac., Received... }8 
Lyre Bird, the. . IF- 
Jotting* at Kirby lloinestend.Jo' 
Fertlllior*. un Experiment with. J83 
Worth Knowing. J83 
Cost of Barn-yard Manure. IF} 
Manure. 183 
Manures... I8i 
Gate L i tell. 181 
Farm Help.. 184 
Hired Help. 184 
Fence for Overflowed Lund. 181 
Shelter Belts. ....— . 184 
Converting Maple Sirup into Sugar. 184 
Kell igg's Sslu of Trotting Stock. 184 
To Kill the l.arvic of the Apple Tree Borer. 186 
Steam 1'uwr.r tor Farmers... 185 
The Syracuse Plow. 185 
The Blanchard Churn. 185 
Cheese Vats. CJias, Miller .It Sima. 186 
Syracuse Engine Trial....,. 185 
tCniTouiAi. PaOki 
Oleoiuargerlne...m. 188 
Private Experiments with Manures. 188 
Breeding stock on the Farm. 188 
Parlor. 188 
A CJilnrtstono Homily...... 188 
Who Shall Decide, &o. 185 
Too Liberal. 188 
Brevities...... .. 188 
. t .189.101.1I15 
Literary Miscellany. 189 
Cora. 189 
AuutCaHata'8 Hair. 190 
Kew Gardens . J90 
Broncho Ponies. 191 
For Women. 191 
Topics . 191 
Work-Basket,Wateb-stnml, Wnll-pocket. 191 
Answers to Correspondents. . 191 
New* of the W iK. 192 
Markets. 198 
Beading for the Voung. 184 
Mrs Skeriuerliorii.*194 
Puwcler. ..-.194 
Sabbath Reading. 194 
PrectouB Stones in the Breast Plate.194 
Personals. .. 195 
Wit and Hutuvr. 178 
Advertisements.185,193, 194,195.19tJ 
THE 
RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
PUBLISHED EVERY SATURDAY. 
Address 
RURAL PUBLISHING CO., 
78 Duane Street, New York City. 
SATURDAY, MARCH 23. 1878. 
We take great pleasure iu announcing to our 
readers that we shall shortly publish a valuable 
contribution from Mr. J. B. Lawes, the world-re¬ 
nowned experimental agriculturist of Rotham- 
sted, England. 
OLEOMARGARINE. 
Owing to tlie watchfulness of some of 
our best dealers in Dairy Products, a 
conviction has already taken place under 
the new statute forbidding the manufac¬ 
ture or sale of fat-butter without its 
being branded. The defence was utter 
ignorance of the fact that the article sold 
was not good cream butter. Of course 
such a defense could not avail the accused 
and he was fined fifty dollars and ordered 
to be imprisoned till the fine was paid. 
The intention of the law is not to pro¬ 
hibit the sale of this article ; but to pre¬ 
vent the public from being deceived by 
purchasing it for the genuine article. 
The statute is a good one, and should be 
enforced throughout the State. And so 
far as our observation goes, the honorable 
portion of the manufacturers of, and 
dealers in, the article, claiming for it no 
virtue -which it does not possess, have no 
desire to impede the full enforcement of 
the law ; but rather favor it. We think 
it would be not only policy but wisdom 
for our manufacturers in the rural dis¬ 
tricts to take the matter in hand them¬ 
selves. 
-»■»■» 
PRIVATE EXPERIMENTS WITH MANURES. 
Professor Johnson states that a mul¬ 
titude of observations has demonstrated 
that from ninety-five to ninety-nine per 
cent, of the entire mass of agricultural 
plants is derived either directly or in¬ 
directly from the atmosphere; and the 
object of applying fertilizers of all kinds 
is to supply whatever the soil lacks in an 
assimilable form of the remaining con¬ 
stituents of various crops. Put although 
the amount of food drawn by plants 
from the soil is trifling in comparison 
with that furnished by the air, still au 
ample sufficiency of it is essential to pro¬ 
fitable farming, and its available presence 
in varying proportions makes all the 
difference between land entirely barren, 
through all degrees of productiveness, up 
to that which yields the most generous 
THE RURAL 
harvests. The more readily assimilable 
the plant-food in all fertilizers, the more 
economical is their application and the 
more immediate their results. The 
bulk of manures, although often, when 
large, beneficial on account of its mechan¬ 
ical effects, haB nothing to do with their 
value as fertilizers, for this depends en¬ 
tirely on the quantity of chemical salts 
they contain. According to Air. Lawes 
of Botliamsied, England, whose life-long 
study of experimental agriculture has 
deservedly won him a world-wide reputa¬ 
tion, the manurial properties of a ton of 
barnyard manure are confined to its in¬ 
organic matter, amounting only to 02 
pounds, and even in this pittanoe there 
is a considerable amount of substance of 
such comparatively little value as a fer¬ 
tilizer that he excludes it from liis manure 
ingredients. Moreover, a great deal of 
the manurial constituents of dung are in 
an inactive form and are either slow in 
their effects or wholly lost. Mr, Laaves’ 
experiments with farm-yard and chemical 
manures on two plots, proved that 3,800 
pouuds of nitrogen applied in the former, 
during 10 yearB, produced precisely the 
same total yield as 779 pounds applied in 
the latter during the same period. In 
other wordB, 41 pounds of nitrogen in 
ammoniacal salts produced as great effect 
as 200 pounds iu barnyard manure. 
Nevertheless barnyard manure, being 
a necessary product of nearly every form 
of farming, must continue to be the agri¬ 
culturist’s chief means of restoring or 
preserving the fertility of his land. But 
after every scrap of dung as well as of all 
kinds of refuse, has been carefully hus¬ 
banded and utilized, there will still be a 
large field for the profitable employment 
of chemical manures; for it would be the 
hight of thriftlessness to keep stock solely 
or mainly for the purpose of manufactur¬ 
ing barnyard manure where its equiva¬ 
lent can be otherwise obtained at a rea¬ 
sonable figure. 
While judicious economy is very impor¬ 
tant in the use of all manures, it is of 
special importance in the employment of 
commercial fertilizers on account of their 
high price and the numerous chances of 
their being unwittingly misapplied. This 
eoonomy can be insured only by the per¬ 
son who uses them knowing what kinds of 
food whioh the various plants reed, are 
deficient in the soil, and abundantly sup¬ 
plying what is lacking. Science has pret¬ 
ty accurately determined and widely pub¬ 
lished the nature of the elements Avliich 
each class of plants absorbs from the 
soil, bur experiment is the only reliable 
means of ascertaining the quantity of 
these the land contains. Nitrogen, phos¬ 
phoric acid, and potash are the most im¬ 
portant ingredients in commercial fertiliz¬ 
ers, both on account of their cost and 
scarcity in the soil. Other things being 
equal, each of these should predominate 
for certain kinds of crops—nitrogen for 
wheat, rye, barley, oats, meadow and tim¬ 
othy hay, onions, sugar-beets and carrots; 
phosphoric acid for corn, turnips and 
rutabagas ; potash for potatoes, cabbages, 
peas, beans, buckwheat and fodder-corn 
and rye. Ab the fertility of the soil va¬ 
ries not only in every neighborhood, but 
often on every farm in accordance with 
its natural formation and the treatment it 
has received, it would be well for every 
intelligent farmer to do at once what every 
intelligent farmer is certain to do five 
years hence—establish on his own farm a 
private experimental station. In reality, 
it would be a very simple undertaking 
and the fund of practical information de¬ 
rived therefrom would, ere long, richly re¬ 
ward the necessary trouble and amply re¬ 
pay the trifling outlay. Set apart a piece 
of groundjof average condition,divide it in¬ 
to a number of plots sufficient to allow 
one to each fertilizer to be tested, and 
Avhen the same fertilizer is tested on more 
than one kind of plant, allow a plot to 
each. Set out specimens of each land of 
plant on an unmannred plot, so as to be 
able to judge correctly, by comparison, 
of the effects of the various fertilizers. 
Each plot need not be larger than 1-40 of 
an acre, or 33 feet square. By this means 
every farmer could demand of his land 
what is needed to produce the very best 
yield of every kind of crop, and always re¬ 
receive a truthful answer. It Avould be 
by no means neeeBsary to limit experi¬ 
ments exclusively to chemical fertilizers, 
for the lack of nitrogen might be iudicat- 
ed by the effects of such manure as blood 
and flesh; of phosphoric acid, by those 
of home-prepared crushed bone ; and of 
potash, by those of Avood ashes. Care 
should be taken to sow precisely the same 
number of each kind of seed when exper¬ 
imenting on it with different fertilizers, 
0RSCER. 
MARCH 23 
and to apply the same quantity of ma¬ 
nure to different seeds. By adopting such 
a practice, at the close of each season the 
mind will inevitably be enlarged, a valu¬ 
able fund of practical knowledge vrill be 
yearly accumulated, and the way at once 
throAvn broadly open to a system of econ¬ 
omical manuring. 
---- 
BREEDING STOCK ON THE FARM. 
In viow of the market for choice stock 
lately thrown open to our farmers by the 
exportation of cattle and meat to Europe, 
it behooves them to pay increased atten¬ 
tion to the raising of superior animals on 
the farm. A late report on the American 
meat trade, by Professor Sheldon of the 
Ciriucester Agricultural College,England, 
after furnishing a mass of information on 
the subject, comes to the conclusion that, 
despite some fluctuations, the dead meat 
trade will rapidly increase, and that 
appliances for itB successful manage¬ 
ment will be multiplied here and in Eu¬ 
rope. The profits of the traffic Avill be in 
a great measure, proportionate to the 
excellence of the product, and the limit 
to the quantity shipped will be the 
stowage capacity of vessels crossing the 
Atlantic; for, owing to the falling off in 
our imports, the number of ships engaged 
in the transatlantic trade will be too 
small to afford room for a large export of 
meat together Aritli other merchandise 
without advancing the freight to a figure 
that will prohibit further exportation. 
The experience of many thriving farm¬ 
ers all over the country, proves that a 
better run of animals is obtained by 
breeding them on the farm than by 
purchasing them. More care is bestowed 
in selecting the likely offsprings of tried 
animals, they Anil go on fattening more 
rapidly and uniformly than strangers 
picked up here and there, for it takes 
some time before these get acquainted 
and become content enough to lay on 
flesh kindly in their new home; and 
moreover, the tendency of prices for 
young stock is upwards, and the proba¬ 
bility is very strong that ere long it will 
not pay farmers to go into the market 
for young animals. In any case, it is, as 
a rule, more jirofitable to breed the stock 
one handles than to purchase it. 
, ■ -»•»» ■ - -- 
PARLOR. 
What horrible associations crowd into 
our mind when the Avord “ Parlor” is men¬ 
tioned. W© immediately picture in our 
imagination the terrible oppressiveness 
of that best room, where the sun is never 
allowed to shine for fear of fading carpet 
and furniture, where the chairs have all a 
stately, polished and stiff’ look about them, 
where the children are never allowed to 
enter, where what little air there is may 
never be allowed to change, and where 
the smell is something akin to that of a 
family tomb. This is the best room and 
is too sacred for the use of the family and 
is only kept for purposes of ceremony and 
for the convenience of those people for 
whom we do not care a rush. People 
whom we like and Avitli whom we are on 
familiar terms, come right into the liviug 
room and have a good chat in a pleasant 
way ; but the ceremonious visitor, whose 
departure gives us relief, is ushered into 
the ‘ 1 Parlor. ” 
The principle upon which this room is 
founded is all Avrong. Let us have no 
such room in our house. Open the shut¬ 
ters and windows. Admit the sunlight 
and air. If the carpets and furniture fade, 
let us enjoy their use in that condition. 
Let us not have any tomb in our home 
where all should be cheerfulness and 
brightness. Abolish the “ Parlor” and 
enjoy the home. 
*»♦♦ ... — 
NOTES. 
A Grindstone Homily.—If ever 
there was anything that made us wish 
our boyhood days were over it was 
turning a grindstone on Avhich a dull 
scythe was being sharpened. That was 
before the days of friction rollers and 
treadleB—and now our arms and back 
did ache ! We would wonder if the thing 
ever would get sharpened and if we began 
in the morning it seemed as if we had 
worked long enough to have it be near 
dinner-time. Then we would try to dis¬ 
tract attention from the ache, and think 
perhaps a hundred times more would be 
enough—and count one—tAvo—three, and 
Avhen the hundred Avere counted, feel dis¬ 
appointed because another one had to be 
commenced. There were moments of 
relief, when the scythe had to be ex¬ 
amined and its edge felt from point to 
heel. These moments were precious to us, 
for they gave an opportunity to straighten 
up and take the kinks out of our back 
and armB—but they were soon put iu 
again by the turning of the crank. But 
there is* an end to all things, and finally 
the scythe was sharp. Did the owner 
ever look at us and notice how we 
sweated and looked all over ? Not a bit 
of it. Don’t believe he ever thought 
such a thing possible. But the first thing 
would be—“Now Johnnie run in the 
field and get those hay oocks shaken out 
as soon as possible !” We made a vow 
then that if ever we had a farm we would 
try to invent some machine to turn the 
grindstone or, at any rate, to lessen the 
labor, and further that we would try to 
remember how we felt then, and have 
pity on the boys. 
- 
Too Liberal.—From letters received 
we find that many of our readers, owing 
to the liberality of the offer, apparently, 
do not understand it. One writer says: 
“ If the Crickst clock as you represent, 
is worth at least .$2,50, how can you give 
it and the Rural New-Yorker together 
for $3.50 Avhich makes the clock but 
$1.00?” The Avriter sends us $3.50 and 
a subscription for one year, adding, “D‘ 
I am wrong please advise me.” Another 
writes : “ I Bend you $5.00 and two names 
for one year. JVow am 1 entitled to tho 
Cricket?” We give the above as exam¬ 
ples of many, Our answer is, yes, to all. 
Still, without a single exception, all have 
expressed themselves as much pleased 
with the clock, and many have returned 
us their cordial thanks. We would say 
to the latter that our cordial thanks are 
also due to them. 
■ ■ «♦» 
Who Shall Decide etc. — Tho 
Homeopathtic Medicial Society of tho 
county of New York at a meeting, last 
week, decided that its members might 
depart from the rigid rules of Hahne¬ 
mann whenever they thought scientific 
investigations and research since his time 
had shoAvn a better way. On the other 
hand, one of the Professors of a leading 
Medical College of the Allopathic, or 
“ Regular" school, in a lecture this 
Avinter, told his students that many of the 
medical preparations of the Homeopaths 
were more reliable than those to be had 
from general druggists. It is a happy 
thought that all medical men may some 
time be Arilling to “ Prove all things, and 
hold fast that which is good” without 
being bound by the rules of this or that 
society. 
BREVITIES. 
Frosty nights—warm days. 
“ Everywhere ’’ has a benefit this Aveek. 
Similia SIMILIB08 cdkantuk is in despair ! 
Do not forgot to set out a few rhubarb plants. 
Wz commend the frank advice of “ Frontier ” 
to intending emigrants. 
The house with modem improvements, in last 
issue, would coHt $35.00. 
In the Asparagus editorial brevity of last week, 
fifth lino, read apwt for deep. 
This uovel sort of a Bpring is respectfully 
solicited not to fool with tho fruit buds. 
On Hit, to kiBs and tell is had enough, but uot 
to luss and yet to tell, is still worse. Truth. 
It is recommended that the pig be elevated 
from a neglected scavenger to a *' recognized 
stock.” 
We call attention to the article “Kew Cardens” 
on page 100. When may we hope to have a 
garden like it in this county ? Borne day ? 
Do not plant trees deeper than is necessary to 
cover the roots well or than they were planted in 
the nursery rows. Never place the roots in con¬ 
tact with manure. 
We wish to impress upon our friends tho im¬ 
portance to them of experimenting Avith com¬ 
mercial manures during the present season. 
What fertilizing principle does your laud stand 
moBt in nood of ? Yon can solve this question 
for yourselves at a very small exj>eu8u. 
Plant Teas. Philadelphia for earliest. Early 
Dan O’Rourke is better, but a day or so later. 
Laxton's Alpha is early aud good. McLeans 
Little Gem though not so early is the best oi 
early peas. Eugenio is a good intermediate 
variety. British Queen is one of the best late 
varieties. For succession it is woll to plant an 
of the above varieties at once. 
We presume—wo Hope, at least—that the time 
is past for a little season, for telling farmers to 
stop up tho crack* in their barns. Let s rave 
about Gentle Spriug for a week or BO—then tne 
boat of summer may bo alluded to thou tne 
“ cracks ” may be resumed- A little rest is goou. 
We do not suggest au abolition of the topic, no 
until not only every crack in every bam is 
stopped up, but not until every orach i« aullu 
patod and stopped up before it develops into 
crack. “ A stitch in time baves muo. If oveiy 
farmer would “ go over ” his barn several tunes 
every season ana nip every crack ul tuo . > 
blooming cracks would be unknown. Ibis is tn 
viow we propose to take of it another y 6 * 1 *"’. 
lias never been touched upon in that wa> 11 
