284 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
MAY 4 
TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
UR ACTICAL departments : 
Bower. 
What, shall I plant. 
Japan Persimmon. 
Culture of Broom-Corn . 
Uses of Millet. 
Van’* Views . 
Cun we have hotter Fruit.. .. 
Apples.... 
Pr.ffltable pear*. 
Western Karin Topics. 
8lrk|e Grimier..... 
Bulky Plow .. 
Calf Feeding... . . 
April Wild Flowers.. .. 
Taking Notes end Making Plans for the Garden.. 
A Kitchen Carden. 
Answers to Correspondents. 
Emigration to North Carolina. 
Fruit, and Agricultural Notes from California.... 
What they Say of It. 
Editorial Page; 
Improvement of Varieties.. 
Ti e European Kmbrogllo..... 
Who Is lu Fault... .. 
Stock Raising. 
Brevities... 
Notes. 
LITERARY. 
Poetry.......285, 287, 
Cora.... 
May-day Scene..... 
Chinese Maxims... 
Recent Llter.ilure. 
Magaxlno Notes... 
Brlc-«-Britc... . 
Tobacco. 
Auntfausun's Experience... 
Plow fur me Minister’s Wife. 
Cheap Pretty Ornament. 
Domestic Ecomomy..... 
Household Hints. 
Leanuuj’s Dye*.. 
Domestic Recipes.. 
Queries Answered.......... 
Newsiif the Week..... 
Markets.-. 
Readmg Tor the Young. 
Deed* of Kindness... 
Oor Industry Club. 
Grandmother Speaks. 
SaPhatb Heading. . . 
a Typographical Crime. 
Value of Beauty... 
Personals ..... ..... 
Ad vqrtlseajents...283, 289, 291, 
Wit and Humor. 
277 
277 
277 
278 
278 
278 
278 
278 
278 
280 
280 
280 
280 
281 
281 
281 
282 
282 
282 
288 
284 
284 
284 
281 
2S4 
284 
290 
286 
236 
286 
286 
286 
287 
187 
287 
287 
287 
288 
288 
288 
288 
2*8 
288 
289 
290 
290 
290 
290 
290 
290 
290 
290 
292 
292 
THE 
RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
PUBLISHED EVERY SATURDAY. 
Address 
RURAL PUBLISHING CO., 
78 Duane Street, New York City. 
SATURDAY, MAY 4, 1878. 
Unless something, which we cannot now fore¬ 
see, happen to prevent, we shall present the 
new Rural to our readers next week. 
IMPROVEMENT OF VARIETIES. 
The ancients had very mixed ideas 
respecting the functions of the stamens 
and pistils in plant economy. Many 
vague notions were entertained and 
Tournefort, late in the seventeenth 
century, rejecting the idea of fertilization, 
considered the Btamens merely as excre¬ 
tory organs. We believe that Sebastian 
Yalliant, who was a disciple of Tourne- 
fobt, was the first to point out the 
phenomena of fertilization, explain the 
office of the stamens, and thus to open up 
a field for future investigations of which 
the present age is making a practical use 
the value of which we ourselves hut im¬ 
perfectly estimate. France may there¬ 
fore claim a discovery which, if not among 
the most important discoveries of man, is 
at least the most important that has ever 
been made in the science of botany. A 
few years later, Linn.eus by writings dis¬ 
tinguished for accuracy and patient re¬ 
rearch, popularized the facts of Valliant. 
That we can improve the quality of 
our crops by selecting the best seeds, is 
well known. Being well known, it is a 
wonder that farmers and indeed horticul¬ 
turists as a rule, avail themselves of the 
benefits of careful selection to such a 
limited extent. But they can do more 
than this. The same as the best traits of 
different breeds of animals may be com¬ 
bined in their offspring, so desirable 
characteristics which reside in difierent 
varieties of plants, may be combined so as 
to produce in new varieties an improve¬ 
ment upon either parent or, it may be, a 
combination of their best qualities. 
The word hybrid has been abused by 
horticulturists all over the world of late 
years. Hundreds of plants of no especial 
merits over others of the same species, 
have been lauded as “hybrids" of sur¬ 
passing excellence. But among the mass 
of rubbish a considerable number which 
are improvements upon any of their kind 
hitherto known, have been introduced 
and to these we point as evidences of 
what may be accomplished by patient 
and persevering efforts in the way of dis¬ 
criminating crossing. 
Many plants possess sexual organs 
which do not mature at the same time. 
Hence each pistil is therefore dependent 
upon the pollen from Borne other individ¬ 
ual for an effectual pollenation. But here 
there is no selection, since it is as likely 
to come from an inferior as from a supe¬ 
rior plant. It is the same with diclinous 
plants or those which have the sexes in 
different flowers, whether upon the same 
individual or not. 
Many plants are self-fertile from the 
seeds of which through successive gener¬ 
ations no improvement, from seminal 
oauses at least, need be anticipated. 
But he who is interested in producing 
new and superior varieties of plants, 
whether of grain, potatoes, fruits or what 
are generally known as ornamental plants, 
may select his own parents and bring 
about a union of blood which he believes 
may eventuate in combining those quali¬ 
ties which in the highest degree may be 
rendered subservient to his needs. 
“ if at nrst you don’t succeed 
Try, try again.” 
The farmer, we fear, will not feel that 
he is interested in the above remarks, and 
yet it is he whom we would specially 
interest. Let him not east it aside as the 
vagaries of science, but begin the present 
season a series of experiments to test its 
value in practice. If, for instance, he 
would add to the sweetness and richness 
of the Black Sweet Corn, to which we re¬ 
ferred last week, the size of the Ever¬ 
green, let him select a few kernels of each 
from the best ears and plant them, side 
by side, away from any other variety. 
As soon as the tassels (whioh are panioles 
of male flowers) develop or, at any rate, 
before the pollen ripens, cut all of them 
off from either the one or the other 
variety. The silk, which is the thread¬ 
like pistil^ or females of the pli v,\te whioh 
have had the tassels removed, will then 
receive pollen only from the other variety 
and a cross between the two must result. 
This is as simple a method of crossing 
as we can think of. In crossing other 
plants, such as potatoes, beans, grapes 
or currants—each flower of which has 
both pistils and stamens—the principle is 
the same. In order to prevent self-fer¬ 
tilization, the stamens must be removed 
before the pollen is shed, and then pollen 
must be applied by the aid of a brush or 
point of a knife, to the pistils. If fruit 
and seeds form, we know a union of the 
two has been effected. It is true insects 
—perhaps wind—may interfere. A gauze 
covering will insure against this. 
--- 
THE EUROPEAN EMBROGLIO. 
Each day’s telegrams from the other 
side of the Atlantic, although usually 
contradictory in matters of detail, are 
constantly becoming more bellicose in 
their general indications. Sinoe the close 
of the late war, early in March, diplomacy 
has had ample time to effect some arrange¬ 
ment which w’otild at least hold out a 
promise of a peaceable solution to the 
present complications. But despite the 
high character of the diplomatic chiefs 
who now direct European politics, despite 
the abundant facilities for rapid inter¬ 
change of views afforded by the ubiquit¬ 
ous telegraph, despite the reiterated anx¬ 
iety of all parties for a pacific issue to 
the existing entanglement, diplomacy has 
hitherto signally failed, not only to bring 
about an adjustment of discordant inter¬ 
ests, but even to check the accelerating 
drift of the antagonistic elements towards 
a belligerent settlement of the questions 
in dispute. The meeting of the Congress 
from whioh so much has been hoped, 
which has so often been regarded as 
almost a certainty, is now more improbable 
than in the week in which the signatures 
of Russia and Turkey were put to the 
treaty of San Stefano, Even in the im¬ 
probable event that Bismarck’s influence 
should bring the assemblage together, 
the chances are even that its deliberations 
would merely defer not prevent hostilities. 
Neither Russia nor England makes any 
secret of its determination that in case of 
an adverse decision on certain points 
which each considers essential to its pres¬ 
ent interests and future prosperity, it 
would refuse to be bound by the action of 
the body, and seek a more favorable ver¬ 
dict by i'oree of arms. That some of these 
hitherto undivulged points on which each 
is resolute to assert its own views, should 
not be identical in both cases, is hardly 
possible, and in the probable event of 
both Powers insisting on an auspicious 
decision on the same condition, it would 
be impossible to satisfy both, and the 
disappointed malcontent would be very 
likely to nullify all the labors of the assem¬ 
blage. 
From present indications the preserva¬ 
tion of peace depends: first,on the meeting 
of the Congress, whioh is unlikely to take 
place; secondly, on its accomplishing a 
well-nigh impossible task—to reconcile 
irreconcilable differences, or, at least, to 
compromise the resolute claims of two 
powers, both haughty, arrogant, and jeal¬ 
ous, and each confident in the justice of 
its pretensions, and its'ability to vindicate 
them by war. Viewing the European 
predicament from all sides, the conclusion 
is, therefore, inevitable that while peace 
is still possible, war is far more probable. 
-SM- 
WHO IS IN FAULT 1 
The editor of the Germantown Tele¬ 
graph notices that a certain nurseryman 
on the Hudson (shall we put it nursery- 
man-on-the-Hudson ?) has gained access 
to the columns of a large number of 
newspapers, agricultural and religious 
periodicals, to proclaim the superiority of 
certain raspberries. His name and resi¬ 
dence are given in full so that those 
tempted to purchase may know whom to 
address. By suoh means “this enterprising 
man must have obtained a thousand dol¬ 
lars worth of advertising.” “We are 
amazed” says the Germantown Telegraph 
“that our contemporaries should be so 
easily hoodwinked by a sharper.” We 
are glad that attention is thus called to 
this method of advertising, whioh is now- 
a-days far from uncommon. The objec¬ 
tion seems to ua to be that the reader be¬ 
comes interested in special articles not 
knowing that the writer is advertising his 
own goods, for which reason he naturally 
places mqre trust m the writer’s statements 
than he otherwise vtou&cH * For several 
seasons past we have re^Kvjjd “timely” 
artioles from a nurseryman-on-the-Had- 
son, which last fall and this spring we de¬ 
clined to publish. The same articles ap¬ 
peared shortly afterwards in quite a large 
number of other papers, thd editors of 
whioh we have little doubt knew full well 
the writer’s motive. It is our impression 
that this person and he to whom the edi¬ 
tor of the Germantown Telegraph refers 
are the same. He may be a “sharper.” 
We do not know. The articles in ques¬ 
tion were written well enough and, so far 
as we know, were trustworthy. Bat we do 
not believe the editors who published 
these articles were hoodwinked in the least. 
-♦ ♦ ♦- 
NOTES. 
Stock Raisin \—Experienced farm¬ 
ers agree that stock-raising, in its various 
departments, ought to be made a leading 
and in faat the most prominent feature of 
farm operations in Kansas. Corn is en¬ 
titled to be crowned king of farm pro¬ 
ducts. Its valuatiou for 1876 is estimated 
at $19,217,332.24, according to the Fifth 
Agricultural report of that State, or 42 
per cent, of the aggregate valuation of all 
crops. Add to this the enhancement in 
value of that portion of the crop which is 
consumed by $32,489,293.00 worth of live 
stock, together with the invaluable factor 
this great staple is in maintaining the 
fertility of the soil by virtue of its flesh- 
producing qualities, thereby being fed to 
stock more than all the other cereals com¬ 
bined, and its claims to supremacy cannot 
be controverted. 
-*♦«- 
Food For Canary Birds. —People 
who keep canary birds may grow neurly 
all the seed the birds require by sowing a 
small patch of Millet. The birds will do 
well on this with a little hemp and poppy 
seed for a change. The latter with tue 
Millet are imported and are expensive, 
costing from ten to fifteen cents a pound 
retail. The aggregate consumption in 
this country amounts to many tons in a 
year. 
BREVITIES. 
This is a grand season for Tulips. 
A cube for sleepiness: Caress Laporlea Can¬ 
adensis. 
If a horticulturist is not zealous, he is not 
worth a cent. 
“ Not only choose a proper mate, but proper 
time to marry.” 
It is always wise to relinquish outposts that 
have become untenable. 
“ Haro crabs from Norfolk are packed in grass 
without ice.” Crab grass ? 
Wiran you begin to suspect you are getting 
the worst of it, use oracular and grandiloquent 
phrases. 
There are now 85.880 office holders. How can 
it be expected that such a gripe as this should 
ever let go. 
Tins is about the season to advertise plans 
and specifications for chicken coops. The edible 
spring chicken will soon be around in paying 
numbers. 
A weed is a plant the supply of which is greater 
than the demaud, that, while its merits are not 
appreciated, knows how to take care of itself in 
the struggle for existence. 
Camden Co., 8 . C., has produced 8200,000 
worth of turpentine this year. S-tar-tliug intel¬ 
ligence. We can now comprehend the rosin of 
the State’s new prosperity. 
In the Rural of April 20. an article upon the 
Apple-Tree Borer appeared in its appropriate 
place wilhout signature. It was from the pen 
of Wm. H. Oun. 
Mr. J. J. Thomas says: And what more en¬ 
during memorial of valuable service to posterity 
can we render than to trasmit a fine fruit whioh 
shall survive when we have passed from our 
labors on earth ? 
Speaking of the retirement of Mr. J. B. 
Lawes from participation in the Woburn exper¬ 
iments, the London Farmer Bays : 11 No person 
in the world is more competent to conduct prac¬ 
tical experiments in scientific agriculture than 
the savant of Rothamsted. 
Mr. Hemhley mentions in his interesting and 
instructive series of botanical articles published 
in the London Garden, that he once traced the 
roots of Sanfoin to a depth of seven or eight feet 
and that their average depth in the field tvas 
fivo feet. Ho has also traced the roots of wheat 
to a depth of seven feet. There are reoords of 
it reaching a mnch greater depth. 
Our contributor. Mr. B. Fireman Mann writes 
us :** I doubt, the efficacy of washes for fruit trees 
unless the substance applied is of such a disa¬ 
greeable nature as to repel the parent beetles and 
is kept on the tree. Rubbing with a bar of 
hard soap so as to fill crevices and leave a -olid 
basis for new solutions whenever the rain falls, 
is better than any application of solutions ready 
made." 
A little learning is a dangerous thing. There 
are other dangers of this sort that Lord Bacon 
might have added. For instance, a little or truth 
and a good deal of deceit—an ingen ions mixture 
which in these funny days la infused rather free¬ 
ly into the veins of the great mercantile animal. 
The secret lies in telling frankly a homely truth 
or so which does not cost too much and then, 
while the breath of candor iB still upon the lips, 
uttering the falsehoods from which the gain is 
to be derived. 
M. Revel, the author of a prize essay on the 
milking of cows, states that owing to an unfortu¬ 
nate spirit of rivalry common among youug milk¬ 
ers, they often make it a point of honor to try 
and got their pails filled in the quickest time 
possible ; consequently they only draw from 
each cow as much of her milk as "is given down 
rapidly and readily, and leave a considerable 
quantity behind; or, again, in the case of an 
easy-milking cow, they will drain her to the last 
drop, and leave nothing for the oalf. lu this 
way they may fill their pails rapidly, but the in¬ 
terests of the owner suffer for it ultimately; 
and he will do well to assure himself from time 
to time by personal trial that one cow is not left 
for another till she is fairly milked out. 
Anthrax in cattle, according to the _ Report 
juat published by the Royal Prussian Committee 
on Veterinary Affairs, lias greatly diminished in 
that country in districts where drainage has 
been introduced. It also states that the disease 
is often caused by a contagium of very persis¬ 
tent vitality present in the soil, and that the 
existence of this coutagioni is to bo ascribed to 
the insufficient burial of animals that have 
fallen victims to the disease. It is much 
to bo wished that we had in this country, at 
least, if not in each State, a society whose duty 
it should bo to oolleot and periodically publish 
for the benefit of the community at large, facts 
gathered from experience in every branch of 
knowledge of use to the agricultural and all 
other interests. 
The paBt week, ending Monday April 80th, 
has been oue of clouds and rain though uot too 
much of the latter. As we look over notes of 
past 3 ears and look upon vegetation, it is not 
easy to realize the eariiness of the season. 
The air and the ground are warm, and grass, 
leaves and dowers are growing and developing 
so fast that the chauge is perceptible from 
morning to night. April 18, 1875, we had 
snow all day. On the 14 the trees were 
heavily laden with snow. Protection was not 
removed from beds or trees. On the 25th , we 
had an inch fall of snow. On the 5 ib of May 
we had a sharp frost, ice forming in places. 
Grape vines were not quite so far advanced iu 
leaf on May the 15 of 1S75, as they arc now. 
May 15 of that year was the first bloom of cherry 
trees. This year cherry trees bloomed the lllth 
(April.) From other comparisons, we think 
the present spring is nearly three weeks earlier 
than the average spring of this section of the 
country. 
