THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
tr— 
204 
MARCH 30 
TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
!•„ Vf'nrvU n F PAHTMENTS * 
fi French Intorrnitinnal Exhibition. 
Notes from ii Furra. 
Form Notes... 
r Querrles about Maple Sueur Making... 
Artichokes. Getting rl<l of. 
Dairy Products, an Exhibition of. 
Butter Color. 
Abortion in Cuttle. 
Improving Knnold Mutter. 
Brown and White Leghorns.. 
Poultry Notes. 
Small Grain Rution for Sheep.... 
Poes It Piiy to Soli Bone... 
That Model Piggery. 
Piggery Improved. 
Locked Jaw it) ItOr«es. 
Freezing of Rap in Plants . 
Wild Plants as Garden FIi wortj . 
Notes from the Rural Grounds. 
Talks uptin the Prairies . 
Influence of Air tn the Growth Plants 
Manure Experiments. 
New Plow Metal... 
Improvement on Sowing Machines_ 
Answers to Correspondents.. 
Notes from Texu*. 
Rural Special Reports. 
What They Hay of It. 
Domestic Economy. 
Piths. 
Domestic Recipes.. 
Querrles Answered... 
Typhoid pnenmontu—Clousma. 
Editorial Page: 
Figures that Preach. 
Farmers and Fruit Growing. 
Look to Y'dir Young Trees. 
Strawherrles . 
Japanese Progress. 
Seasonable Subject. 
Salsify. 
What woiildtbey have. 
Chalk.:. 
Brevities. 
Literary 
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204 
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Poetry . 
Our Cousin Charley. 
Cura. 
Washington Letter. 
Recent Literature. 
* Magazines.. 
Letters from a Country Girl.. 
Chapter on Country Visiting.. 
Bewitched Door-vards. 
Reading forihe Vnun. 
Letters from Bo * and Girls. 
Puzzler. 
Scripture Words and Phrases, 
Wit ami Humor.... 
Personals. ....... 
News. 
Markets . 
Advertisements. 
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THE 
RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
PUBLISHED EVERY SATURDAY. 
Address 
RURAL PUBLISHING CO., 
78 Duane Street, New York City. 
8ATURDAY, MARCH 30, 1878. 
The article (to be completed next week), by 
Mr. William Falconer of the Botanic Garden, 
Cambridge, Mass., is one of the series announced 
last year. It has been prepared with care aDd 
thought, and must prove instructive to those in¬ 
terested in “ Wild Plants as Garden Flowers.'’ 
FIGURES THAT PREACH. 
St. Paul tells us that he who while be- 
frieudiug others neglects those of his own 
household,is worse than a heathen, and un¬ 
til human nature has been developed to a 
degree of perfection far higher than it 
has hitherto attained, it will continue to 
be each man’s duty to look primarily af¬ 
ter his own interests and those of his kin¬ 
dred. Of the numerous responsibil¬ 
ities imposed on man by divine and hu¬ 
man ordinances, it is extremely doubtful 
whether any one is so faithfully discharg¬ 
ed in individual cases as this, but the ob¬ 
ligation, in this connection that lies on a 
man with regard to the welfare of his im¬ 
mediate family, presses with only a mod- 
dified weight upon him with regard to the 
weal of the class to which he may belong, 
with whose common fortune his own spe¬ 
cial interests are as a rule closely con¬ 
nected. Now with regard to their respon¬ 
sibility in this matter, the farmers of this 
country are marvelously remiss, espec¬ 
ially politically. Even the simplest of 
them old enough to cast a vote, ought to 
know that the welfare of his class will be 
more faithfully and earnestly promoted 
by those who belong to it than by mem¬ 
bers of other avocations whose interests 
are often opposed to those of agricul¬ 
ture. Yet, despite the self - evident 
nature of this truth, farmers, year after 
year, persist in electing as their represen¬ 
tatives to State and national legislatures, 
men belonging to other callings, notwith¬ 
standing that past neglect, broken promis¬ 
es and frequent indignities have shown the 
unfitness of such a choice. Of the 336 
members composing the two houses of 
Congress, 239 are lawyers, 20 physicians, 
19 bankers, 17 merchants, 15 editors 7 
manufacturers, 5 railroad officers, and 5 I 
school teachers, while there are only 17 
farmers and planters to represent 4,000,- 
000 agricultural voters, and the untold 
millions invested in farm pursuits in the 
greatest agricultural nation in Christen¬ 
dom. 
-»*♦ ■ ■ ■ 
FARMERS AND FRUIT GROWING. 
The lost paradise of the first man was 
in a garden, and naturally by the old rule 
we seek for happiness where it was lost. 
In the culture of fruits and flowers men 
and women come as near the original 
Eden as they well may. The subject is 
one of the greatest practical importance. 
How to be happy is the chief object of 
human endeavor. The old Roman Em¬ 
peror was not so far wrong when he offer¬ 
ed a reward to whomsoever would discover 
a new source of pleasure. Had not his 
mind and conscience been dulled by un¬ 
lawful indulgences, and had he restricted 
his reward to joys which leave no sting 
behind, his philosophy would have been 
the bight of human wisdom, instead of 
being as it was, the outgrowth of beastly 
sensualism. 
In this country pomological science 
has made such progress, and the practi¬ 
cal culture of the finer fruits has become 
so general that it would seem as if there 
need be no lack. Walking up and down 
the streets of New York city we find such 
variety of luscious fruits in their season 
that we might infer that every family 
through the length and breadth of the 
land had an abundance. How far this is 
from being the fact ! The great metropo¬ 
lis absorbs everything and has to be sup¬ 
plied though the rest of country suf¬ 
fers. It is a disgraceful fact that often 
the most lncious fruits are more easily 
obtainable in New York city than in 
the localities where they are or may 
be grown. The rural population who 
ought to have the most and the best 
of such luxuries, too often have least 
of all. Before we begin to talk of a 
glut in the fruit market let us at least 
make sure that the six millions of far¬ 
mers and their families in these United 
States have an abundance of the choicest 
varieties in their season. The field for 
missionary effort in this regard is the 
largest and most promising that the most 
enthusiastic pomologist could desire. 
Apples are the standard fruit whose 
cultivation seems to us almost univlusal. 
They can be grown everywhere but inex¬ 
orable static tics prove that through the 
whole country less than one-half, aye, 
less than one-fifth of the rural population 
are' supplied with this wholesome fruit. 
Of the most delicate fruits, pearH, peaches, 
plums, cherries, grapes, strawberries, 
raspberries and the like, not one family 
in ten thousand has an adequate supply 
during the year. Is it not time that this 
disgrace should be done away with ? 
The man who owns or tills the soil is 
entitled to the very best that it will pro¬ 
duce. If not, will some one tell us who 
is ? Times may be hard; but low pri¬ 
ces have affected trees and plants far 
more seriously than they have the products 
which the farmer sells. The unprofita¬ 
bleness of ordinary farming should be a 
hint to diversify agriculture ; t-o grow 
something else than the crops which pay 
so poorly. The farmer does his part in 
growing the food which the world re¬ 
quires ; but let him not neglect to pro¬ 
vide the best for his own household and 
self. 
Possibly the high prices of fruit which 
prevailed years ago may not return, nor 
is it desirable that they should. Fruit 
growers who understand their business 
aud practice what they know, aro making 
more money than any other class of peo- 
dnring the past few years. Fruit culture 
requires more skill and intelligence than 
native farming; but greater skill and 
more brains are what is noedod everywhere. 
Where fruit growing is combined with 
farming, the latter is greatly improved, 
as the habits care aud neatness which 
the cultivation of fruit necessitates make 
their impress on everything which the 
farmer does. 
LOOK TO YOUR YOUNG TREES. 
There are thousands of young trees, 
those planted in streets particularly, that 
are being ruined by having their stems too 
tightly bound, or by rubbing against the 
frames by which they are enclosed. The 
first stops the growth of the tree where it 
is encircled and causes an effort to grow 
over the obstruction, injures its appear¬ 
ance and strength, and jthe last damages 
it by wearing away the bark. By a few 
moments’ attention all this difficulty can 
be remedied. 
We do not approve staking or tying up 
trees when they are transplanted, except 
in cases when they are so large that the 
roots cannot be kept in proportionate 
size. When properly set there should be 
sufficient root support to hold them in po¬ 
sition, even if to secure this the roots 
require fastening in their places by wood¬ 
en hooks or otherwise. There are excep¬ 
tional positions perhaps as, for instance, 
where there iB protection from wind ex¬ 
cept in one direction, when a support 
would be beneficial. 
Trees planted in streets are liable to be 
damaged by horses, cattle, aud boys, and 
from these protection by frames is advis¬ 
able. In such cases care should be taken 
to pad or cushion the frame in such a way 
as to prevent the rubbing of the tree so as 
to injure the bark. A little attention to 
these things will often save the tree. 
-» 4 - 4 - 
NOTES. 
Strawberries.—Some of our readers 
will be asking themselves “ Shall I plant 
strawberries now or wait until summer 
or fall?" We^say, plant now. This will 
insure a full crop for next year. If it be 
deferred until late in the season, a partial 
crop only will result next year. Select 
young plants which may be known by 
their fibrous, whitish roots, while those 
of old plants are longer, darker and more 
stringy. For home use, use manure 
without stint, of almost any kind. Ashes 
—bone-dust are excellent. But barn¬ 
yard manure will suffice. Plant in rows 
two feet apart and eighteen inches apart 
in the row. Triompbe de Gaud, Jucunda, 
Boyden 30, Charles Downing are fine 
varieties. Capt. Jack with us is prefer¬ 
able to the old Wilson. Try the Gt. 
American, Beauty, Pres. Lincoln. Upon 
a number of plants we last year tried the 
effect not only of a combination of all the 
manures at hand, but we also applied 
liquid manure bountifully. The result 
was a surprising growth of leaves such as 
we have never before seen in the straw¬ 
berry and very large berries, but fewer 
than those borne by other plants not so 
treated. 
- —■ 
Salsify.—Many are very decided in 
their praise of this vegetable and we are 
among them. It is not cultivated enough, 
and generally where it iB cultivated, too 
little care is given to the manner of 
cooking it. It needs about the same 
management as parsnips or carrots. Sow 
the seed an inch deep in drills a foot 
apart and thin out the plants to six inches 
apart when two or three inches high. 
They may be eaten in the fall or left in 
the ground until spring or taken out as 
needed. Respecting cooking — scrape 
them and throw at once in water to which 
a little vinegar has been added. Then 
boil in fresh water until it has evaporated 
—add butter, pepper and salt, mash, 
form into patties and roll into cracker 
crumbs aud fry the same as an oyster. 
We think those of our readers who will 
“ try this style of cooking salsify or the 
vegetable oyster,” as it has been well 
named, will ever after find a little place 
in the garden for its cultivation. 
•---- 
Wliat Would They Have ? — 
Ever since we can remember there has 
been a class who have looked upon the 
politics of the country as all wrong and 
wish the time might come when our 
rulers might be free from the dictation 
of Party, And now when we have a 
President, who by his action in doing 
after he was elected what he said he 
would do before ; who is opposed and 
thwarted by nearly all of one party be¬ 
cause he is not of their election, aud by a 
large majority of the other, those in Con¬ 
gress at least, because he cIioosbb to act 
as he pleases, instead of as they please, 
they don’t seem to be a bit better satis¬ 
fied. It was once thought a majority of 
the people would like to be emancipated 
from party rule ; now they have a presi¬ 
dent without a party, do they rush to his 
support? Who is wise enough to say 
what the public want? Was Baknum 
right in saying they delighted to be hum¬ 
bugged ? 
- 
Japanese Progress.—On the 24th 
day of January last, the Mikado of Japan 
formally opened an Agricultural College 
at Komaba. The plan of the institution 
is largely that of our American Agricul¬ 
tural Colleges, with such amendments 
and improvements as have been suggested 
by the observations of government agents 
sent to the different European countries 
for that purpose. Probably no country 
in the world has evinced so much good 
sense, wisdom and liberality in discrimin¬ 
ating between the good and bad institu¬ 
tions of other countries as Japan, and 
certainly none has made such rapid 
strides in the last twenty years by the 
adoption of foreign ideas. This system 
rigidly adhered to, will eventually put 
our celestial friends in the first rank of 
nations, and we are glad of it. 
-*♦«- 
Clialk.—In an old agricultural paper 
of forty-seven years ago, we learn that it 
is a good plan to put a piece of chalk in 
the pen with the young calves. They 
will lick it and thus correct the acidity of 
their stomachs and assist digestion and 
prevent dyspepsia, which often leads to 
scours. There is no doubt but that this 
is a most excellent practice. Prepared 
chalk is often prescribed by doctors as a 
remedy for heart-burn which is a symptom 
of dyspepsia, and for diarrhea. The 
crude chalk (carbonate of lime) is un¬ 
questionably a good preventive and 
remedy for similar disorders in stock. 
The prepared ohalk is the crude with all 
the gritty particles worked out. 
A Seasonable Subject. —“ Better 
late than never ” is an old adage belied 
in the opinion of most farmers and 
gardeners by the tardy appearance of 
winter last night, driving the mercury 
down to 18° below freezing point to the 
sight and to 20° below zero to the other 
senses. Perhaps after all, however, if 
may only be the very leonine exit of a 
March whose entrance was truly lamb¬ 
like. 
-♦♦♦-■ 
BREVITIES. 
North of New York, do not uncover protected 
plants yet. 
It will be observed that Domestic Economy 
and the Querist have changed places. 
It is stated by a contemporary that the climate 
of Maine is better than the world affords ! ! ! 
Rural Grounds, March 25, 6 o’clock. A. M.— 
Thermometer M above zero. Green Poas up! 
The effect of soap and honey upon a bee sting 
is marvelous. It will make oue feel glad he 
was stung. 
The impression seems to be general that ex¬ 
cessive corn-feeding is the cause of what is called 
bog-cholera. 
Leghorn eggs average ten to eleven to a 
pound. Those of Light Brahmas average be¬ 
tween six and seven. 
The Mich., Pom. Society, gives two stars to 
the following apples : Baldwin, Maiden’s Blush, 
Red Astrachan, Red Canada. 
During the rains we are having now, mark 
the little spots where water remains longest. In 
plowing or working the soil these may easily be 
filled in. 
The price of milk is to be reduced in some 
counties of this State. Is this decrease in the 
price of milk or an increase in the price of 
water ? 
In purchasing plants for bedding, do not se¬ 
lect those in bloom. Wo have known persons to 
buy Hyacinths, Japan Lilies, Ten-weeks-Btock 
in full bloom to plant in the garden. 
Racine, Wis., will be well represented at the 
Paris Exhibition. Messrs. J. I. Case & Co., 
have just shipped a thresher more handsomely 
finished thau the one displayed by them at the 
Centennial. They have also sent a single- 
geared four •horse grain-heading machine. A. 
P. Dick f.y has sent over oue of his celebrated 
Fanning Mills made of California rod-wood and 
finely silver-plated. 
The Germantown Telegi’aph thinks that straw¬ 
berries aro almost poisonous to some persons. 
The editor saw a belle at a fashionable watering 
place, threo or four years ago, who was obliged, 
much to her discomfiture, to confine herself to 
her room for ten days from eating a plate of 
strawberries in the evening. But now does the 
editor know that the young lady was thus sick- 
eued in consequence of eating strawberries? 
We advise the editor rather to put bis faith iu 
strawberries than iu hellos. 
In transplanting remember; Dig wide holes— 
cut off all broken or marred roots, spread out 
the rootB in a natural position, set the tree a 
little above its previous depth, fill in with good 
soil (no manure), work it between the roots 
with the hand, do not pull the tree up and down, 
and finally press the earth (irmly dowu and if 
there is a likelihood of dry weather spread a 
mulch over the surface. Bear always in mind 
that plants are injured if their roots are exposed 
to sun or wind for even a few minutes. 
Dues. Root says: “ It is not National or State 
indebtedness, as many suppose, that necessitates 
our increased taxation, it is the robbery, the plun¬ 
dering aud extravagance in all official places, 
from the town constable to the highest places of 
trust.” Ho also says: “What then are the 
needs of our farmers of to-day? Plainly it i« 
intelligence." About forty-five per-cent of the 
adult population of the U. 8. are engaged in 
agricultural pursuits. Couldn’t Pres. Root tell 
us what are the pressing needs of the other 
fifty-five her cent? 
R 
