556 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
AUG. 34 
TABLE OT CONTENTS. 
PlVACTICA L DEPARTMENTS) 
T’rlt.i' Cuttle tit Ihv Pitr'A Fitposition I'llli titrated). 6411 
Furtn Mumpy-Dv nn Old IlMnil . 5<9 
JntiuiKK lit Kirby Hon»>*ti'M<1 —Ool. E. I>. Curtin.. 6M) 
Nolo* Irmti MciclowOocl K tiii- Hoo'or Korlnim.. 660 
Note* from iv iMokwood* Kurin—.loltn Bnitlcu*.. WO 
Novol onti Useful KtirmGuie (Illustrated)-Prof, 
WllllMin It llnoiki ... .. 650 
Dralnlm.* llio Pull Mnr«lni*.650 
Tlin TnbnrCn riimt No 1 B It. Hllllnps.. ...660 
Full Whoot Crop. The (tlluntrutcd) llv n Jurncy 
Kiinnor..,, .661 
Poultry Mrocdlnp—No. S-llllUBlrutod)-A. M. Van 
A liken , .... ...651 
Jtl|>epln»njnd Murkotlnu Pours—W. II. Wliltii.... 6M 
irnncc In t’lilifnrnta, The VV. C. L. Drew.668 
Hvornlny Nntn* P nnuH Parsons. 05? 
Not,os from i ho Kuril! Grounds.668 
IlKltTlne mid Soil Improvement— B, W. Stewart. 663 
ill yi'd Kh r iploa K. U. |).568 
What Other* say.. . ,Vi3 
C«lal"cuo*. Ao.. Received....668 
A runru*r» to Cgrrenpondenm : 
To Trim*for noos - Aiawi r by Prof. A. .T. Cook, 
of Mlohtpnn Aprlouliuntl CoIIcko. 854 
Pprii'o In iho Hume-Joint..... . i>6t 
t The C«e of Muck. ... ..654 
Fowl.Meadow.Grass... 654 
Miscellaneous. . .. 664 
CoimutinleaiKms Received.. 63i 
fm'i/iWwTr ; 
Wadsworth’s Tower—L. A. It. 661 
Nort h western Illinois—W. B. T>. 665 
Kansas t.ettnr— A Ihort Brown.666 
Wi st. Va. Nolo* 1C. H. II . . .. 6>6 
Allen Co Kansas A IV, Wlloo*. 665 
Purnln Cano. DodvP Co., Neb—3. R M......566 
lie Will, < Union CO.. Mloh-A K. 3.666 
Hnnttwri Falls, si. I.awrenro Co., N. Y-G. B. O. 666 
Osborne (1l.v. Osborne e.i., Kan I). W. C. O'N.. 665 
Burry, Plko Co,. Ill-J, F. I....666 
Cnleurovo. MclCoim Co. Pn R N. H........... 666 
Ijowell. Walker Co.. Ala - D A.....665 
Howard I.ake, Wright Co . Minn -3. A.M.666 
Watson. Allejtnn Co., .Mleli It. D. B. 656 
Elmira, Chen,nno Co.. N. V II.665 
Willold Barton Co., Mo ABM.. ,,666 
lCduurtOn, .lobneon Cfi , Kuo—A H D...,. ... 563 
Newton, Co N..I- A. V.666 
HOuvIord. Stull It Co., Kan—A. c W.656 
I chiueh Road, liuyidsoti Co., Vn t. ic. c. 566 
PoqiirAon’ Itrldite. Mi.r'frrr.1 Co., Coim-M. W. , 6-5 
O«wett0, OsweC" Co,, N. N—W. C. 656 
&&11X4HHC Hoorwmy : 
Mv Neiphiior’s I.aee Lambrequins—M. K. Stone.. 660 
Crinkled Muslin . 660 
Doincallo Recipes...64k) 
ROJTOIM At. P ah ic: 
Phases of Hired Tlelp. 6611 
Rural Notes. 656 
Tlellotroplsm. 666 
Wo Will Kxplalu..666 
Atnu*euo'ul al Fairs . 6,66 
Best Fodder Corn. The. 666 
Clean Tilhiice. 666 
Fatality from Impure Well-Water.566 
Animus, Tho. 566 
Brevities. 666 
LITEItAll V ! 
Poetry.. ,. .. .. . .567, 65H. 603 
Story of a Lei ter, The—Julia Kavanaph. .i6T 
Beware of I .Iplii nlng.. .667, 668 
Good Conversation. 668 
Recent Lit,era Mire.668 
Mnpar.1 no Notes.. 6 >H 
Brlc-u-Brac. 66'J 
Reading for the Voting : 
Dotters from a Country Girl—No. 8—Marfitiret B 
H» l vey. . &9 
Knplish Country If.ones—10. F. M.6611 
Taken Seat—.1. IS M'O..... 668 
Woman ns a Pianoforte Tuner. 651) 
Pocket-Mo noy forTouuk People-No. 14 Prac- 
Ileal. 660 
Machine f i BVedtbil Poultry .... 663 
Catletts 1‘utU Jones—Cat-'l'er-lno. 66'i 
Let tors from Uoysunil Girls..... 663 
Sat) tin Hi Reading: 
How to Observe Simony. 665 
News of tlio Wrok— Herman. 560 
Markets... 661 
Personals. .. 663 
Wit ami llumOr. 664 
Advertise to ma.661,663,604 
RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
PUUU8.H KD KVKRY SATURDAY. 
Address 
RURAL PUBLISHING CO., 
78 Duane Street, New York City. 
SATURDAY AUQ 31, 1878. 
PHASES OF HIRED HELP. 
Vice seen too oft, familiar with Its face, 
We first endure, then pity, then embrace. 
Nor is tbia true of vice alone, hut also 
of many of the petty eviltt, aunoyaucea, 
inconvenienoieH, anti misfortunes of dally 
life, and especially of incompetent, (Kb- 
tasteful, or incompatible hired help. 
As soon SB a new hand in engaged, we 
at once set about, instructing him in the 
duties he will have to perform. Sooner 
or later, the length of time depending on 
his aptitude oml industry, he becomes 
familiar with the routine of his work. Ho 
long as the newcomer contiunes a “Dew 
broom 1 ' he may impress us with the be¬ 
lief that he is just the man we wanted— 
the right man m the right place. But it 
sometimeii happens that so Boon us the 
notion enters into his mmd that his situ¬ 
ation is secure, that his services are so 
highly valued as to bo substantially in¬ 
dispensable, jiiBt so Boon docs his con¬ 
duct often change for the worse, and this 
though hiH treatment may be as consider¬ 
ate as formerly, and his remuneration 
equally good. He becomes less respect¬ 
ful, less assiduous and thoughtful; 
though no addition may bo made to his 
former duties, and though he may still 
have the same facilities for properly per¬ 
forming them, yet he first neglects one 
thing, and then another. Although ho 
may have abundance of time, yet ho 
often shirks and slights his work when¬ 
ever he can do so without the risk of im¬ 
mediate detection, and—a natural result 
of such conduot—ho becomes untrust¬ 
worthy. 
Although all this may be apparent to 
his employer, yet remembering tho valu¬ 
able services of which his help muy have 
shown himself capable, and dreading the 
tedious ordeal of breaking in another to 
supply his place, he may often feel dis¬ 
posed to permit his unsatisfactory hand 
to retain his position, in the hope that ho 
may see the evil of his ways and reform. 
Frequently, however, this hope is disap¬ 
pointed ; the man’s conduct becomes un¬ 
bearable, and lie is dually discharged, 
perhaps after years of service. 
Again, we have known instances in 
which utterly worthless men have been 
retained for years on the farm, because 
their plausible ingenuity gave a false ap¬ 
pearance of value to their services. Per¬ 
haps they were possessed of considerable 
mechauieal skill, and by deftly meuding 
broken implements or handily executing 
odd bits of carpentry or painting, cunning¬ 
ly caused these occasional trivial jobs to 
stand instead of that hard, every-day 
labor on the farm, which, however pro¬ 
fitable in itN remote results, makes but 
little immediate show. 
Then, again, in farming sometimes, but. 
still oft,eiier in mercantile life, there oc¬ 
cur striking instances where utterly nn- 
priucipled men, by studying the weak 
points in their employer’s character, and 
cunningly employing obsequiousness,sub¬ 
terfuge, misrepresentation, or sulleunoss, 
as occasion may require, have obtained ab¬ 
solute control over him aud his business, 
and sometimes indeed over the entire 
family. In this they are often aided by 
gradually Ailing all vacancies about the 
place with creatures of their mvn type, 
and their own selection ; by alternately 
treating their employer with blaml sub¬ 
mission and premeditated sulkiuess ; and 
by losing no opportunity of impressing 
upon him the vast extent of their own 
abilities and the absolute necessity of 
their aid to the success of his business. 
Although, at the outset, tho employer 
muy only temporarily "endure” these 
diplomatic tricksters, yet habit muy soon 
lead him to “pity,” aud filially to 
“ embrace” them rather than Hiiffcr them 
to quit the business which, owing to their 
arts, might then be more justly called 
theirs thuu hiH. Although few men have 
ever stepped out of tho most, exalted 
positions in this world, and still fewer out 
of merely subordinate places in it, who 
could not be replaced, yet ho has been 
educated to believe their services indis¬ 
pensable, aud though groaning under 
their whims and ediots, is forced to retain 
them. iu control of hiH business. 
We beliovo that so soon as an em¬ 
ployer is satisfied of the incompetency, 
untrustworthiness or iueompatability of 
those who work for him, the sooner a 
separation takes place the better for both 
sides, and that tho upright employer, 
who, while wishing to retain his own 
manliness aud independence, treats his 
help courteously aud fairly in every re¬ 
spect, will in all oases strictly adhero to 
such a course. 
■ ■ ♦ * » — 
RURAL NOTES. 
The nights are cool at the Rural 
Grounds, and melons ripen slowly. 
Pearl Millet, grows surprisingly, and it 
would seem that this will prove of high 
value ns a forage plant. Speaking with 
Col. Weld, who attempted its introduc¬ 
tion before the war, we nskod why its 
value did not at that time beoome known. 
He said that as it does not Heed in this 
climate, the Avar, which soon followed his 
tests, cut off communication with thoso 
sections from Avhich seed might have been 
procured. It is quite useless to plant the 
seed early. The entire failure of thoso 
sown at the farm was due, no doubt, to 
early sowing alone. As between this mil 
let aud corn leaves, both having been 
placed before them, wo do not find that 
horses and cattle display any preference. 
Tho seed wuh sent to us by Mr. Wm. H. 
Carson, of this city, to be tested. He has 
distributed it liberally about tho oouutry, 
aud to him is due whatever credit may 
accrue from its re-introduction. 
If we were to judge from the present, 
season’s tests, avc should pronouuoo the 
Acme tho best tomato in cultivation, and 
our readers are well aware thut we have 
given some attention to comparative tests 
between all of the new or well-known 
varieties. The shape is perfect, being 
nearly round, without the appearance of 
a seam or lobe. It is as lurge as it is 
desirable a tomato should grow. It ripens 
evenly and early, keeps well after it is 
ripe, and is notably firm, for which last 
reasoD, if not especially for tho others, it 
will prove a favorite sort Avith market 
gardeners. 
HELIOTROPI8M. 
As a rule the growing atoms of plants 
incline towards the sun when they depart 
at all from their naturally more or less 
upright position. This curvature is sup¬ 
posed to be owing to tho slower growth 
of the parts most exposed to tho sun. 
Whence it would follow that plants which 
are shaded on every side grow faster than 
those that, are exposed to light, and this 
is found to be a fact. We have observed, 
tliiH season, that the growing shoots of 
several of our pear trees bend away from 
the sun, or rather they bend towards tho 
north and northeast. Tho inclination 
varies with different trees and different, 
branches upon the sume tree. In tho 
case of a Winter Nelis some of the top 
shoots bond over towards tho north-east 
more than ninety degrees, forming an 
obtuse angle with a perpendicular. Tho 
lower branches growing on the south of 
this tree are twisted arouud towards the 
north as far as north-east. Tho long, 
slender branches of a Jos. de Malines 
bend over towards the north as uniform¬ 
ly as if they were receiving a strong, 
Hteady wind from the south. When tho 
stems bond toward tho sun they are 
termed positively heliotropic; when they 
bend away from it they are termed nega¬ 
tively beliotropie. Accepting the theory 
that a less growth on the sunny side 
causes the former, avo have never beard 
of any sensible explanation of the latter. 
WE WILL EXPLAIN. 
Hoveral of our friends have asked, 
“ Wherein is the Rural enlarged V” 
Considering the expense which the 
change necessitated, and tho additional 
cost which it entails, avo are a little dis¬ 
appointed that such questions should be 
asked. Borders have the effect of making 
papers seem larger. These Avere re¬ 
moved from the Rural as neither useful 
nor ornamental, and this removal has 
perhaps rendered tho enlargement less 
apparent. If thoso of our friends who 
have not perceived wherein the enlarge¬ 
ment consists, will take the pains to mea¬ 
sure tho printed matter, they will find 
that the columns of the new Rural are 
three-quarters of an inch longer than 
those of the old. There are sixteen pages 
in the paper, and four Columns to a page, 
making sixty-four columns, Avhioli, multi¬ 
plied by three-quarters, will give forty- 
eight inches of extra reading matter. As 
iu the old pages there were fifty-three 
inches, it follows that we have added, by 
leugtbouiug the columns, au eutire page, 
Jacking five inches, which are made up 
by a trifling addition in tho width of the 
pngo. This, as avo remarked at tho time, 
amounts to the same as issuing a four- 
paged supplement every four weeks. 
Whether the change is perceptible or not 
to our readers, we are confident that it is 
perceptible to those who have to fill its 
columns with reading matter, and pay for 
setting up the type. 
■ ♦ ♦ ♦ 
AMUSEMENT AT FAIRS. 
There is a little too much of the 
Gradgriud in much that is written about 
Agricultural Fairs lately. The desire is 
to have them more instructive, useful, 
practical. There is opportunity to im¬ 
prove them in this direction. We can, 
aud ought, also, to exclude all demoral¬ 
izing associations, gambling, drinking, 
and the like. But we must not exclude 
the idea of amusement, of recreation, or 
wo lose what is by no means of tho least 
consequence. Farmers have too few 
amusements. Wo believe that Fairs 
might be usefully developed in that di¬ 
rection until even the circus would bo 
rivaled iu interest to the boys and girls, 
the young men and maidens, to say 
nothing of the old men and matrons. 
Let us have plenty of fun at the Fairs. 
■ - ■ 
THE BEST FODDER CORN. 
Tins best fodder corn is that grown 
thickly in drills—so thickly that no ears 
are developed. Let the ground bo rich ; 
let the cultivation be thorough ; out up 
when the tassels are droppiug their pol¬ 
len ; let it Avilt on the ground ; tie in 
small bundles and sot up in small stooks, 
binding firmly at the top, and also half 
way down. Then lot it stand as late as 
possiblo before carrying to tho barn. If 
the crop is planted early, it may be cut 
up so early us to get perfectly dry, if it 
bus no ears. Then wo have no moldy 
fodder, and our opinion of sowed corn 
improves until at least we may say, with 
Joab Hatoood, that it is worth as much 
as tho best hay. 
-»♦ ♦- 
CLEAN TILLAGE. 
The present season yields the thirty- 
sixth Avheat crop Avliioh Mr. J. B. LaAves 
1ms raised upon the sume uumauured 
plot. He thinks it will yield ten bushels 
per acre, which is more than the average 
yield of many parts of our own oouutry. 
It would huve been considered impossi¬ 
ble that any soil could produce such au 
amount of wheat, after so many years 
without any manure whatever, and it 
seems to show >v hat clean tillage etui do. 
Fatality From Impure Well- 
water.—The evils of impure water have 
been frequently discussed, often with 
only slight benefit in a sanitary way, but 
at Little Neck, Long Island, there has 
lately been preached on the subject a pow¬ 
erful sermon, which ought, to appeal to 
the heart and the head of every house¬ 
holder. John Ryan’s house there avuh a 
handsome structure iu the midst of elab¬ 
orately ornamented grounds, yet tAvo 
years ago, despite the efforts of the best 
medical skill, ho lost, by dysentery, t,Avo 
of his children, avIiohc deaths tho physi¬ 
cians attributed to tho use of water from 
a well on the premises. The well was 
cleaned out., and the evil effects of the 
subsequent uso of its waters lay dormant 
until about a fortnight, ago, when Ryan 
himself avub attacked with the disease that 
had already robbed him of tAvo of his 
cliildrou. A. foAv days later two more of 
them wore stricken by the malady, and 
died in loss than a week. Last Wednes¬ 
day morning Ryan himself passed away, 
and was followed in the afternoon by his 
mothor-in-laAV. The wife and one child 
alone survive of the family, and probably 
their systems aro impregnated with the 
poison from that pestiferous well. 
-- 
The Animus. — Tho loafer’s com¬ 
munism is simply a manifestation cf the 
too general desiro to live idly on the 
fruits of other men’s labors. This desire 
exists as strongly in the hearts of deni¬ 
zens of Wall Street and the Fifth Avenue, 
as among the frequenters of the slums 
and saloons aud beer gardens. It tires 
the souls of politicians, speculators, and 
various other friends of the dear people. 
It is tho foundation of every aristocracy, 
mid the source of all demands for special 
legislation, and the grant of privileges 
and monopolies, whatever the speoious 
protest. It is the constant danger of re¬ 
publics, no less than of monarchies. 
BREVITIES. 
“ Rklioion uever war ilt>nlirnrd 
To niulia our plemiuren lend." 
The apple and pear crops are muok uudor an 
average in England. 
Mr. Wm. E. Dodgo believes the fountain-head 
of the bard time« iu the whii-ky bottle. 
The Horuld wants an honed editor for onr 
next mayor! There ought to bo no difficulty 
surely. 
TnE Ktatement is repeated from many differ¬ 
ent sections that the yield of wheat ie not so 
large as was anticipated from the growth of 
straw. 
Mu. Mzonx says, “In justice to my laborers 
who have served me faithfully for over thirty 
years, I may say not one is given to excess iu 
drinking.” 
Mu. Ricketts tells us that the Lady Wash¬ 
ington grapo is doing iinely this year. There 
are some very large bunches. Ho thinks they 
will ripen before Oonoord. 
In selecting Weigelas, it is well to bear in 
mind that W. rosea, W. amubilis, W. hortensis 
and W. Lavellei form a varied group though not 
all blooming at the same time. 
Tkk Pearl Millet of which we havo been giving 
reports, is, according to Willdonow. Ponioillaria 
sploata; according to Miller, it is Puniomn cob- 
ruleum : and according to Richard, it is Ponni- 
suliuxi thyphoideum. 
Wf. have received Parts VI, VII and VIII of 
Meehan’s Native Flowers and Ferns. These 
parts sustaiu in every way the general excellence 
of the others. We aro glad to hear of the suo- 
cohh of this work. It is not likely to moot with 
a success beyond its deserts. 
W E uavk visited several vineyards in this sec¬ 
tion of country and find that the grape crop 
was substantially destroyed by the late spring 
frost. Conoords have suffered as much as auy, 
AVhilo more backward varieties,like the Dolawaro, 
w ill bear an occasional bunch. 
We would remind our readers that we are 
dose upon the best time of the year for outside 
painting. The great objection to painting du¬ 
ring hot weather, seems to bo that the heated 
boards absorb the oil, leaviug tho lead in tho 
form of a dry powder, whioh rubs off as freely 
as whitewash. 
Mu. IJ bn nv Stewart tells ns that he places a 
little hill of slaked lime about his fruit trees 
ovory spring, and finds it an effective remedy 
against tho borer, Saperda bivittata. We have 
never been troubled much with this borer, aud 
havo attributed it to tho use of the wash which 
wo apply to the stems two or throe times every 
season. 
A COMPLIMENT FOR 'HIE ltUllAI. FARM.—It. H. 
Allen 8s Co., the well-known seedsmen of this 
city, have received specimens of Clawson wheat, 
from various seotious of tho country, with the 
object of determining the best from which to 
select their fall stock. A bushel was sent from 
the Rural Farm, merely for comparison. Tho 
color wbh rather darker than some of tho sam¬ 
ples, but the kernels were decided to be tho 
largest and plumpest. 
La hoick yields may bo got from hoed orops 
planted iu drills than when planted in hills. 
This is truo of corn, potatoes, beans, or any 
other crop of the kind. Rut it is not a good 
way ou weedy land, or for a Hloveuly farmer. 
Thu rows should be as straight ns a line, and at 
accurately oven distances. Cultivation must bo 
frequent and thorough. Proper implements 
should bo used by skillful bands. These tkiugs 
promised, tho drill system gives satisfaction. 
