4 
SEPT. 21 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
soil haa been cultivated. So rapid has been the 
change, that men who. twenty years ago, settled 
in the valley of the “Big Muddy,” (Missouri) 
believe theirs the only tillable portion of the 
State. 
A PROBLEM FOR WISEACRES. 
Whence this wonderful change is a problem 
for our wiseacres to solve. I am iuclined to the 
opinion that. it. is a grand illustration of the 
power of mind over matter. 1 have conferred 
with pioneers from Chicago westward, and learn 
that these climatic changes have ever occurred 
siroultnnoouBly with the wave of immigration. 
Each successive settlement has secured the par¬ 
tial conditions of the success for a settlement 
Sbeyond, and eventually made its own condi¬ 
tions of success permanent. Persistent cultiva¬ 
tion insures successful cultivation. 
Harlem Co., Neb. 
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WHAT OTHERS SAY. 
Depth to Sow Wheat. —Mr. Peffer says in 
the Trans. Wis. S. A. S .: “The sooner the 
kernel sprouts and gets above the ground the 
better and stronger the plant and the thicker it 
will stand. To illustrate: in my younger days, I 
made experiments with the depths of planting 
wheat; I planted the kernels of a whole head in 
this manner: in oue of our garden beds (ground 
spaded twelve inches deep) 1st, kernel on the 
surface; 21, oue-fourtb inch deep; 3d, one-half 
inch deep, and bo on (a quarter of an iuch deeper 
•each time) until the kernels were planted. The 
'results—tbe one on the surface lay nearly two 
weeks before it sprouted and made roots; the 
2d, one-fourth inch deep, and up to three- 
fourths came up the 4th and 5th days, while the 
next were later; the last one up, was fourteen 
days in reaching the snrfaoe, aud was three and 
«one-half inches deep ; none came up after that 
ttirue; on examining, I found that the three next 
kernels were sprouted, but rotted before they 
got the sprout to the surraoe; the kernels 
planted from five to seven inohes deep rotted 
without a sign of sprouting. We had the ker¬ 
nels planted six inches apart in two rows. At 
the end of six weeks, the plants stood thus: the 
first had three straws quite strong; the one- 
fourth, 21 straws; the half-inch, 17 straws, and 
so on; three and one-half inch, a very weak 
single straw; it never got strong, although it 
igrew a small or short head, the few kernels it 
•contained were plump and good; the oue inch 
had eleven straws at six weeks, but oniy perfected 
seven good heads, while the one-fourth inch 
perfected tweuty-one good heads. Tne oue on 
the surface made three good beads, the same as 
the onu planted two inchc.. deep’.” 
“Slates," says the Boston Journal of Chem¬ 
istry, “are extensively used on roofs, and some¬ 
times on walls. Unless of the very best quality 
aud put on with extremo care they suffer much 
from breakage and leakage. Welsh slates used 
>to be the best, but of late year- they are out so 
’thin, when intended for the American market, 
as to be very weak. Good slates are quarried in 
this country, the strongest coming from Maine. 
In order to be sure that a given kind are all 
that is required for strength and durability and 
unchanging color, the best way is to buy of a 
well-known and reliable dealer ; and as dealers, 
even, may be deceived, it is best to examine the 
lot thoroughly for one's-self, aud apply all the 
well-knowu tests. Slates that are found near 
the surface are likely to be iuferior to those ob¬ 
tained deep down in a quarry that has been 
some time worked. A clear metallic ring is 
evidence of bard, close grain. But perhaps the 
■best test of all is immersion in water; the slate 
which absorbs the most water in a given time 
•being the most porous, and consequently the 
worst. Porous slates, iu addition to their ten¬ 
dency to s.jflen aud decay, retain moisture 
which rusts the nails and rots the roof boards. 
They are also, when wet, iiatle to be cracked by 
frost. Slating nails should have large heads. 
“Composition" nails are, of course, the best, 
but expensive j weil-tinued iron ones are good 
enough ; those of common iron are too liable to 
rust." 
The American Dominique, says the Poultry 
Bulletin, is a valuable breed of Puritanic extrac¬ 
tion, aud wherever bred in purity, is acknowl¬ 
edged to be one combining as many desirable 
qualities as can well be found in one variety. 
Its hardiness, symmetry uud general utility 
are uuly the more appreciated by the addition 
of harmony Of colors, being so blended as to be 
always pleasing to tbe eye. Like memories of 
bygone days, always growing in remembrance, 
the American Dominique, so justly entitled to 
the appellation, comes to the front, amidst the 
furore for something new, claiming our atten¬ 
tion for loug-established virtues, and for its 
present improved appearance. 
The Dominique is an excellent layer of me- 
jdium-sizod eggs, supplying them with remark¬ 
able persistency the year through. Though not 
ja rauk sitter, it practices the truth or the adage 
“ what is worth doing is worth doiug well." 
The yonng develop rapidly, aud at maturity 
are second to uoue for the table. Oue very 
commendable qunlity is the ease und rapidity 
with which they molt, the new feathers follow¬ 
ing quickly the loss of the old ones, and they 
frequently continue their laying during this try¬ 
ing ordeal. 
Sheep for Kansas. —In the Weekly Tribune, 
Dr. Challis asks the question, What sheep •« 
best adapted to the wants aud ability of tbe 
masses? aud answers it thus; It is the oornm n 
coarse or medtum-wooled sheep—the " M stouri 
sheep." Cross these for two generations with 
the thoroughbred Merino, then throw in a cross 
of Cotswold, and you have a sheep producing a 
large clip of desirable quality, and a carcass big 
and w 11 rounded for mutton. 8ueh sheep can 
be fouud for from ?1 50 to $3 per head, and 
an acre of ground—well stocked—will supDort 
eight or ten of them. For medium unwashed 
wool, for three years past, we have received at 
our door, respectively, 25 oeuts, 24 cents, and 28 
cents per pound. This makes about $1 per 
head, or sufficient to pay tbe running expenses 
of the flock, leaving the increase and growth to 
the side of profit. 
Machinery on the farm means a good deal, 
remarks the Scientific Farmer. It means that 
the farmer haa invested much capital in a way 
that is saving him much hard work. It means 
short days for you aud the hired man. It means 
going to bed later and getting up later. It 
meanB less weariness and more opportunity for 
mind-culture. Thus progress in agriculture not 
only means more and cheaper food and clothing, 
hut it means greater opportunity for develop¬ 
ment of manhood. Let us welcome it, then, for 
the stomach’s sake, the body’s sake, and the 
mind’s. 
Manure A Specifio fob all Wheat Ills.— 
Manure, “ Waldo " of the Ohio Practical Farmer 
says, seems to be a specifio, a sovereign remedy 
for most if not all the ills that wheat is heir to 
His early sown wheat, last fall, was as badly in¬ 
fested with the fly as he ever saw, but where it 
was miuured a heavy crop grew iu spite of it, 
A few years ago theebinoh bug made its appear¬ 
ance, and much of the wheat was badly damaged, 
but where it was mauured it escaped. Iu the 
years when whe >t has rusted badly it has always 
been the weak, late wheat, on poor land, that 
has suffered most. 
To keep Lice at bay, Mr. G. P. Burnham 
says, the fowls aud their nests should be thor¬ 
oughly clean, constantly. By using a little pow¬ 
dered sulphur on their bodies, and carbolic pow¬ 
der, also, rubbed into their feathers aud through 
the hay of their neats, vermin will disappear. 
In warm weather, wash the roosts all over (and 
underneath) with kerosene, to destroy tueso 
parasites. Thus they may always be kept clean¬ 
ly s,nd comfortable, with but little labor, i<i his 
be regularly attended to. 
W. J. F. tells the Country Gentleman that 
some of our best farmers in end to sow only 
four or five pecks of wheat per acre. Their idea 
is to grade the vs heat, selecting all the large 
grains. This, they think, will give as good a 
seodiog as two Lushels sown iu the usual way. 
UaiDg Borne concentrated manure wheru the 
young plants can get it, will cause them to 
" stool" and cover the whole ground. 
Ventilation of the Hen-Houses is an im¬ 
portant thing to be observed by fowl growers, 
at all seasons of the year and especially iu the 
months when the birds are limited to indoor 
confinement. Foul air in the houses will gen¬ 
erate disease, rapidly. Jioup is thus caused, 
and sickness will surely crop out among the 
flock, if thoy do not get fresh air, and plenty of 
it, at any time of the year. 
Horse Shoes. —The London Farmers’ Chron¬ 
icle thinks that we require to protect the feet of 
our horses something after the manner we pro¬ 
tect our own, and oue would suppose that the 
matter of fitting a boot to the foot and leg of 
the cart horse ought not to be attended with any 
insuperable difficulty. 
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CATALOGUES, &c , RECEIVED. 
The Grasses of Tennessee, including Cereals 
and Forage Plants, by J. B. Kidebrew, A. M , 
R. D., Commissioner of Agriculture, Statistics 
aud Mines. Published by the American Co.: 
Nashville, Tenn. On the first appearance of 
this work, a few weeks ago, we mentioned in the 
Rural the favorable impression made on our 
mind by a cursory inspection of its 500 pages. 
Since then we have had leisure to examine it 
more critically, to check its teachings by the 
lessons of our own experience and that of others, 
to test the accuracy ot its statements and infor¬ 
mation on a multitude of points, and as a result, 
our original impression of its merits has been 
strongly confirmed. Its title, The Grasses of 
Tennessee, may possibly mislead some into the 
notion that Us contents have reference only, or 
iu a great measure, to that State, whereas its 
teachings are applicable wherever grasses, cere¬ 
als aud forage plants are cultivated. The it. for¬ 
mat ion here laboriously condensed, has been 
culled from the best works on the subjects 
treated of, published not on tins side of the At¬ 
lantic ouly, but also, to a cansklei ablo extent, on 
the o'her, and the utility of its lessons is as 
broad as the field from which they were gather¬ 
ed. Iu view of the vast aud steadily inoreaBing 
importance of the hay and fodder cops, as well 
as of the pastures of this country, it behooves 
every farmer to "post" himself thoroughly on 
the sorts best suited to his climate, soil and con¬ 
dition, as well as on their most profitable culture 
and management, and to this end we know of no 
work which we would more strongly recommend 
than the handsome volume before ns. 
Premium List and Rules for the 38th Annual 
Exhibition Orange County Agr’l Society, to be 
held at WaahingtonviUe, Sept. 25, 26 D. A. 
Morrison, Montgomery, Secretary. 
Regulations and Premiums for tbe Eight¬ 
eenth Annual Exposition of the North Carolina 
Agricultural Society at Raleigh, Oct. 14, 19. 
Cap. C. B. Denson, Secretary. 
Catalogue of the Seventh Annual Fair of the 
Piedmont Agr’l Society, to be held on the Fair 
Grounds at Cu'pepper, Va., on Oct. 15, 18. A. R. 
Alcocke, Secretary. 
Monthly Crop Report of the North Carolina 
Department of Agriculture for August. L. L. 
Polk, Commissioner at Raleigh, N. C, 
Gould Brothers, Wholesale Catalogue or 
Trade List of fruits and ornamental trees of all 
kinds. Rochester, N. Y. 
Cuba, (N. Y.) Fair and Races Circular and 
Programme. Sept. 24, 27. Frank B. Sibley. 
Secretary. 
Wholesale Trade List of fruit and orna¬ 
mental trees. E Moody & Sons, Lookport, N. Y. 
Wji. S. Little. Circular of Whosale Prices of 
Fruit and Ornamental Trees. Rochester, N. Y. 
Young & Elliot, Autumn Bulb Catalogue, 
12 Courtland Street, N. Y. Illustrated, free. 
<£ntomolo(unil, 
WHAT BECOMES OF THE INSECTS 1 
Of the seventeen-year locusts we have a bio¬ 
graphical sketch. They make their appearance 
at regular times, and their hegiracanbe foretold 
like the eclipses ; but of the many other noxious 
rnsects that coine and go, without any regu'arily 
or any apparent cause, we—the laity—are left 
entirely to conjaclure an explanation of the 
causes which move them. 
This city—Muskegon, Mich.—has been called 
“ The City of Sawdust," but a due regard to its 
merits wuuld have giveu it the more historic and 
euphonious name of “ The City of a Thousand 
Oaks." Some sixteen years ago, the White Oaks, 
the pr 1 dominant variety, were infested hv a 
measuring worm which entirely dennd^i every 
tree of that variety. I have never seen one of 
these worms sinoe. 
Some twenty years ago, when living in On¬ 
tario Co., N. Y., my own grape vines and those 
of my neighbors for miles around, failed to put 
forth leaves From their normal buds, and, when 
they should have dressed in a full suit of green, 
they showed scarcely a sign of life. This we 
found tv. be caused by a little steel-blue beetle 
that we had never before heard of. I have seen 
but a single specimen of the “ varmint" since. 
Well, good-bye to them. For the present wo 
are more interested in the inevitable cut-worm 
that, for the past twenty years, has cut down 
our young garden aud field pUnts, climbed our 
young trees aud grape-vines aud destroyed their 
first buds by eating out their tips, and which 
now threatens to desert us, there not being one 
tbis year where thousands were expected. 
The disgusting larva? of the codling-moth, too, 
is threatening to leave us. and we are once more 
blest with fair, sound apples in our market. Of 
both of the last-named pests there are some 
lingerers, eud we are now rehearsing a requiem, 
to be performed when the rest pass away. 
The industrious potato beetle has evidently 
come to stay, bringing his baggage and all his 
worldly goods with him, Ha even exceeds the 
old fabulous hydra that, where one of itB many 
heads was oat off, produced uiue others; for 
the destruction of one is followed by thousands. 
But, though we lose some of onr entomological 
specimens, we need not slack up in our study of 
the science; for we have lice—I beg pardon, aph¬ 
ides— iu the greatest profusion. They swarm 
on onr fruit trees of every variety ; they cover 
whole acres of cabbages and rutubagas, and sings 
riddle tbe leaves of the Pear, Cherry, Quince and 
Mountain Ash. The liee are too many for us ; 
but the slugs, if they are uoticed in season, we 
can conquer by dusting them with lime, ashes, 
plaster, ot even dry sand. Just now our atten¬ 
tion is specially called to the little vine-hopper, 
or thrips, which swarms on our grape-vines, 
making them look as though scorched by fire. 
For their destruction or expulsion I have tried 
every remedy that I could hear or read of, and 
some more, with little success, though I think 
that sprinkling the vines with sulphur and lime 
has disgusted th m somewhat, for they are 
not as plentiful as last year. Did we know posi¬ 
tively how* aud where aud iu what condition they 
pass the winter, we should know better how to 
head them off. If anyone can give auy infor¬ 
mation on this sul'ject, or give auy reliable 
remedy, I will be thankful in proportion to the 
benefit I may receive. , 8. B. Peck. 
CAUSES WHY HORSES BECOME BLIND. 
A great many have noticed that among all 
domestic animals the horse is the one which 
suffers the most from ailments of tbe eye. and 
the one th't gets blind most frequently. There 
are especially five causes of disease In the eyes 
of horses. 
HIGH FODDER-RACKS. 
Tbe first lies in the high fodder-racks. These 
are in all ordinary stalls so fastened above the 
cribs, that the animal must pull the hay from 
the raok in a position which requires its neck to 
be stretched out, aud with its head and eyes 
turned upwards. Thus it often happens that a 
beard of grain—which, as every one knows, is 
armed with little hooks—drops into the eye of 
the animal and fastens itself in such a secure 
way, that all the water flowing from the lach¬ 
rymal duct is not able to remove it. An inflam¬ 
mation of the eye sets in, often causing the loss 
of that organ in consequence of the false or even 
cruel treatment to which it is often subjected. 
AMMONIA IN STALLS. 
A Becond cause is the sharp and biting vapor 
in the Btable, The sharp ammoniaeal gas 
produced in the stable, which even brings the 
tears from hnman eyes, must also do harm to 
those of horses. It is commonly believed that 
the latter are used to it, but that idea is totally 
wrong. 
The biting vapor from the stalls, which Borne 
think impossible to remove, can very easily be 
destroyed by cleanliness and carefut manage¬ 
ment. Fortunately there are numerous horse- 
stables in which there iB not the least feeling of 
it. It is not necessary to use means of disin¬ 
fection, such as gypsum, vitro], etc.; cleanli¬ 
ness is a thorough remedy. The floor of the 
stalls, however, muBt not be so arranged that it 
absorbs the urine, etc., and bo prepares a sub¬ 
stratum of foul smells. 
BADLY LIGHTED STABLES. 
The horse, although it looks straight forward 
much more than most animals, yet does not do 
so nearly as much as man, and therefore re¬ 
quires in its habitation an arrangement of light 
quite different from that in its owner's dwelling. 
Give the horse the light from only one side, and 
it will direct only one of its eyes towards it, but 
the other eye wifi be in the shade; this inequal¬ 
ity weakens both eyes. Put it. iu such a position 
that it lookB into the dark, which is certainly un¬ 
natural, and when taken out of the stable the 
abrupt change from darkness to light will harm 
it. To place it straight against ‘.he light., gives the 
latter a blinding *■: ct which 1- also injurious to 
the eyes. The horso-eUble eXould then We al¬ 
ways receive its light fiom above, either through 
skylights or throngh windows placed near the 
ceiling in the wall to which the animal’s head is 
turned as he stands in the stall. M ceover, the 
stable should be always bright, as bright indeed 
as day-light; for the horse is not a night or 
twilight animal, and is iu no need of an artificial 
darkness, like fattening stock. 
THE USE OF BUNKERS. 
The fourth and principal cause of the evil is 
to be found in the use of the blinkers. The 
eyes of the horses, as it is well known, lie at an 
acute angle with the nose-bone. They look, 
therefore, straight out sideways, but command 
& far larger view than those of men. To pre¬ 
vent the animals from being startled by objects 
suddenly seen, blinkers are used, square shades 
which compel the eye to look ouly straight 
ahead. But the horse's eye is not constructed 
for this purpose anl is therefore perpetually 
strained. The inventor of blinkers had certainly 
the human eye in mind when he hit upon his 
device. A shade always attached to the human 
eyes, would be almost harmless, and well fitted 
to put all obects on the sides of the road quickly 
out of sight- It is quite d fferent. however, 
with the eye of a horse. let the blinkers for¬ 
cibly compel him to direct his eye-balls towards 
the front, thus straining the superior oblique 
muscle and contracting the inferior musole. 
Moreover, imagine the torture aud the irrita¬ 
tion of having a board, day after day, close 
before your eyes! Is it astouishiug, then, that 
the horse gets dim-sighted, sick or completely 
blind? And all this evil is brought about by a 
device of no earthly use! For the blinkers 
actually tend to frighten a horse and thus in¬ 
crease the evil of timidity they were designed 
to diminish or prevent. 
THE WHIP. 
The fifth and last cause of the blindness of 
horses is the whip. How often does the fine 
end of the whip, even iu playful whirls, strike 
the horse’s eye and buist therein a blood-vissel 
or produce an inflammation, and consequently 
the loss of sight. Even drivers who treat their 
horses well often do this unwillingly, while 
ouly wishing to keep their animals lively and 
to cheer them up with an occasional touch. 
But far oftener does the evil occur at the 
bauds of rough brutes who substitute lashes 
for oats, and, iu doing so, are not content to 
confine their blows to the back and sides, but 
designedly lash the neck aud head, so as to 
hurt the poor beast as much as possible. 
