THE RURAL HEW-YORKER. 
eei 
Georgia, where lands are cheap and the climate 
perfectly healthy, and where they could com¬ 
bine truck or market gardening for the early 
Northern markets with the cultivation of cotton, 
rico, and tobacco, there ia no doubt but that 
they would succeed and soon grow rich. Several 
Northern men, however, camo here immediately 
after tko war and lost all they bad brought; bnt 
it was clearly their own fault. They thought 
they know all about tbo cultivation of cotton, 
and they would neither ask nor take advice with 
regard to it, from tho natives. This was a sad 
mistake, for there are many points a Northern 
man must learn before be can successfully raise 
cotton and other strictly Southern crops. Bnt 
if they come here ami start in the pine belt 
close to a railroad, planting tho crops they are 
accustomed to, such as wheat, oats, rye, Irish 
potatoes—or which they can make a spring and 
fall crop on the same land—watermelons, pears 
and peaches for market, their superior skill and 
ener gy will undoubtedly win them an ample re¬ 
ward, aud then after a while they can plant cot¬ 
ton successfully. Chas. Collins. 
both for chicks and eggs as a source of profit. 
The chief exhibitors were W. H. Hott of Willing- 
ton and Norman B. Perkins of Mansfield. 
As might have been expected, the show of 
frnit was magnificent, not only on account of 
the number of specimens, but also because of 
their size and the beauty of their coloring. In 
apples, Samuel F. West of Columbia led off, 
having fifty-one varieties. lie was followed by 
Mrs. Porter Walbridgo of Tolland with twenty- 
nine, E. II. Lathrop of Vernon with twenty-five, 
Gov. H. Goodwin of Burnside with twenty-one, 
while the exhibits of mauy others though 
smaller in number were of very tine quality. C. 
H. Owen of Manchester and II. Nash of Elling¬ 
ton each had fine collections of pears. Some of 
the most luscious peaches that I have seen for 
many a day were brought in by Judge G. W. 
West of Rockville. There was an unusually 
large display of this fruit, the largest number uf 
varieties being presented by E. 8. Ileury of 
Rockville, who also exhibited some beautiful 
specimens of the Kittatinny blackberries. The 
exhibition of vegetables was much below that of 
former years, both in the number of exhibits 
and in the size and general appearance of speci¬ 
mens. A very noticeable feature was an exhibit 
of grains of all kindB from Nebraska, wbiel* 
were very fine and served an excellent purpose 
in advertising the cereal capacity of Nebraska 
soils. The ladies were prompt in furnishing 
specimens of butter, cheese, bread honey, 
canned fruits, dried apples, etc., besides many 
specimens of useful and ornamental handiwork. 
There was a good show of horses, perhaps 
too good, as the second day w r as largely devoted 
to trotting, which does not seem particularly 
advantageous to agricultural fairs or promotive 
of the interests of the farmer. Another objec¬ 
tionable feature, common also at other farmers’ 
exhibitions, was the petty gambling allowed by 
the managers of the ground, to tempt the unwary 
and the young. If everything of this kind 
could be abolished from fair grounds, so that 
young people, (and older ones too) could come 
without the danger of being drawn into immoral 
practices, the attendance at fairs would be 
greatly increased. The receipts were unex¬ 
pectedly small, owing chiefly to unpleasant 
w r eather at the opening of the second day. 
W. H. Yeomans. 
winter wheat from 12 acres. Sly Russian Fife 
yielded 18 bushels per aore ; Scotch Fife, about 
12 bushels; oats 4.1 bushels. I Rold my wheat 
and barley for one dollar per bushel. Rye 
yielded 28 bushels per acre, and is worth 45 
cents per bushel. No. 2 wheat is now worth 82 
cents per bushel in Oconomowoc, our nearest 
market, situated 80 miles west of Milwaukee, 
on tho Chicago. St. Paul A Milwaukee R. R. 
Onr hay crop was good. We have a fine breed 
of hogs, both whi e and black, worth about *3.00 
per cwt. 
We enjoy a very healthy climato. Our soil is 
well adapted for wheat. We feel indebted to 
tho Rtjbal for its many biut3 on the best 
methods of fertilizing onr land. Our town owes 
much of its thrift to those timely hints. Our 
verdant fields — despite tho drought — speak 
volumes of thanks to tho writer on clover and 
its value as a ferilizer. Our sleek cattle aud 
sheep send a friendly greeting to their generous 
benefactor. I endorse heartily the article on 
clover; it possesses the qualities of enriching 
and loOBeuing heavy land ; it also produces an 
excellent, hay for sheep and cattle, and will keep 
green when other grasses are dried up. It 
should be sown as early in the spring as possible 
in order to enable it to root deep before fall. 
and the very large number of entries of live 
stock, agricultural machinery, and farm pro¬ 
ducts of every kind, gave promise of a fine 
6how and success in every respect. The at¬ 
tendance of visitors on Monday and Tuesday 
was not large, but, like the large drops 
that precede a heavy rainfall, Uiobo that camo 
indicated tho great outpouring of people that 
would follow during the rest of tho week if the 
weather would only please be good ’ 
Wednesday, 18tli, was the grand gala-day. 
The weather was propitious aud everybody was 
happy. From country aud city, and seemingly 
from every where the people came pouring in, 
anil Ihen distributed themselves all over the 
grounds, with eager eyes and ears open, to see 
and hoar whatever was to be seen aud heard. 
Tbo biennial election of members of the State 
Board of Agriculture was held in tho afternoon 
of the 18th. Each county is entitled to three 
delegates, and the representation was very cred¬ 
itable. As the new Board has the power of 
locating the State Fair for the next two years— 
the duration of their office—considerable in¬ 
terest was manifested. Tbo officers consist of a 
President, ex-Presidont, Secretary, Treasurer, 
and one Vice-President from each district. The 
delegates elect the President and Vice-Presi¬ 
dents. at their first meeting in January ensuing, 
choose a Secretary and Treasurer, and the re¬ 
tiring President is designated as ex-Presideut. 
The election on Wednesday resulted as follows : 
President, James It. Scott, of Champaign, vice 
D. B. Gillbam, of Upper Alton, who now becomes 
ex-President. Secretary S. D. Fisher, of Spring- 
field, and Treasurer J. W. Bunn, of Springfield, 
will continue in office until the new Board meets, 
on the first Tuesday of January next, when 
they will most likely be re-elected. 
Chicago, a somewhat noted “ Yillago by the 
Lake,” modestly asked for tho Fair for the next 
two years or longer, aud will probably get it, as 
there is no “getting around Chicago’’ in Illi¬ 
nois. That city now haB a great Exhibition in 
full blast, and from tho second to the seventh 
of next December promises one of the fattest of 
fat-stock shows that have over been attempted, 
and yet she isn’t happy unless she gets the 
State if air in the near future ! 
On Thursday, l'Jtb, immense numbers camo 
flocking in from every quarter ; bnt the weather 
was threatening, and at one o’clock. i\ m., a 
heavy rain ana wind storm set in, which lasted 
for about an hour, and did much damage. 
Tents were blown down, mauy got drenched, 
and the fan prospects of the Fair, for the rest 
of tho week, were completely spoiled. Thus, 
tho happy beginning had a sorry ending. After 
the storm the weather was tolerably good, but 
the air was so chilly and disagreeable on Friday 
that the visitors were few and the interest flag¬ 
ged. Exhibitors commenced removing their 
goods on Friday evening, and by Saturday even¬ 
ing the great Fair was closed out. It was a suc¬ 
cess in the large number and flue quality of its 
exhibits; but tho gate receipts amounted to 
only $10,QUO, which fell short of paying all ex¬ 
penses. premiums, etc. Had it not beeu for the 
storm corniug just at the high tide of success, 
and when tho people were becoming deeply in¬ 
terested, there would have been no failure in 
any particular. W. B. Derrick. 
Ogle Co., m. 
Lincoln, Logan Co., III., Sept. SO, 18TS. 
It is very dry and has been so for two months 
or more; ti ne, we get a little rain now s ad then, 
but not enough for grass or stock. Oar pastures 
are very short; but stock eat hay readily. Corn 
is a light crop about here, on aeeouut of the dry 
weather. Wheat was a good crop. Some raise 
Mediterranean, others different kinds of smooth- 
headed wheat. There has teen a large area of 
wheat sown tLis fall, the rains have helped tho 
young growth and it looks well. Some slack 
farmers have not finished sowing, and, as a mat¬ 
ter of course, such men don’t get good crops. 
Our hay crop was good. The Acme tomato 
was the best of several varieties grown on my 
grounds. 
Warren Co., N. C., Sept- 20th. 1S7S. 
With regard to Raspberries, there is not 
onough of them planted hereabouts to enable 
one to give an opinion as to the best varieties. 
I am told there are no plantations of any import¬ 
ance south of Washington. D. C. The few beds 
I have seen in bearing w'ere some variety of 
Black-cap, and gave fair crops of fruit. Rasp¬ 
berries grow wild here, to some extent, especial¬ 
ly a straw-colored variety. 1 see no reason why 
they should not be as profitably grown in Ibis 
State as any other kind of fruit. m. b. v. 
van Bcren, Crawford Co., Ark., Sept. 22. 
Our most strange and remarkable summer has 
passed and, instead of almost daily rains of from 
one to two hours’ duration, each shower followed 
by clear skies, blazing heat and steam hot 
enough to almost scald exposed animals, man 
included, we now have clear, cool and pleasant 
antumu weather. The thermometer registers 
about 50 at sunrise; maximum, 75 Y 
The frnit crop is almost a total failure. 
Peaches and apples have all. or very nearly all, 
been destroyed by either the canker-worm ortho 
cureulio. It is almost impossible to find a single 
specimen unaffected by theso depredators. 
Nothing of the kiud ever occurred in this coun¬ 
try before. In all the valley lands the fruit 
crop, except a few very early varieties of peaches, 
apples, apricots, pears, AC,, have rotted in 
mass. On the high, rolling Ozark Mountains, 
nothing of the kiud has occured and there fruit 
of all kinds has been and ia very fine. Pear 
trees have blighted badly throughout the valley 
of the Arkansas River. The disease has affected 
many varieties never before touched by it. The 
Seckel, Duchesse d Augoulerae ami others which 
up to this } ear have been supposed to be exempt 
from the disease, have, in places, blighted 
badly. r. t. 
Houston, Texas, Sept. 10. 
Cotton is fast arriving from the interior of 
the State ; there ia every where complaint about 
want of hands for picking. The weather con¬ 
tinues showery, alternating with piercing glances 
of the suu. Health in general ia excellent; no 
visits from Yeilow-Jack as yot. The State ia 
vigilantly guarded against tho introduction of 
this most unwelcome guest. o. m. 
RURAL SPECIAL REPORTS, 
WiUKBSlIA CO., Wls., Sept. 23. 
Bow to class the changes of weather between 
early spring aud the present lime would be no 
easy task. Spring opened early — we sowed 
spring wheat between tbo 18th mid tho end of 
March, aud oats and barley from the 1st to tho 
8th of April. During the whole of the sowing 
time the weather was changeable, as may be 
seen from tbe following memoranda; March 
18, 19, 20, very tine; 21, rain; 22, pleasant; 
23, warm in the morning, changing to a severe 
oold later in the day; 24, 25, 26, severe cold; 
27, rain; 28, dry and cold, but pleasant; 29, 
sharp freezing night with a pleasant day; 30, 
cloudy with occasional showers; 31, tine. 
April opened with fine dayb which lasted 
during the greater part of i he month. May was 
a favorable month for farm work—corn and po¬ 
tatoes were all planted in tine condition. June 
opened with heavy rains washing the corn 
ground badly. July entered very warm—tbe 
corn fairly jumped aud continued so to do until 
the middle of the month when the extremely 
hot weather and the drought put upon it a check 
which it never recovered from; consequently it 
did not fill out aud we have only about half a 
Southern Minnesota, Sept. 30. 
The past year has been a remarkable one in 
this country. We plowed till the first of Janu¬ 
ary. There was but very little frost in tho 
ground, and we had no snow to speak of through 
tho winter, something unprecedented since the 
first settlement of tho country. The prospect of 
the wheat crop—the great crop of this country— 
never was so flattering as in the early part of the 
season. It bade fair to far excel the great crop 
of forty million bushels iu 1877. up to within a 
Bhort time before harvest, when the weather be¬ 
came excessively hot and wet, which seemed to 
ripen the grain up suddenly and prematurely. 
A great deal was not cut at all. What was har¬ 
vested yields, when thraBhod, much better than 
was expected, of ton twenty bushels or more per 
acre, but it is light in weight. That which was 
sowed very early—and a good deal was sowed iu 
February—is much tho best. In the northern 
part of the State, wheat is very good, and, as it 
is, Minnesota has a big surplus, though most of 
it ia of poor quality. The wet weather spoiled a 
great deal of hay. Siuco then, till the past 
week or two, it has beeu dry—excellent weather 
Mis. Lovett writes us that the floral exhibit 
of tho N. J. H. Society to be held at Mt. Holly, 
promises to be not only a success but something 
grand. 
HARRIS’ FARM TRUCK 
TOLLAND CO., iCONN.) FAIR 
This is a now invention, tbe outcome of tho 
experience of Mr. Milo Harris, who, previous to 
making arrangements for its general introduc¬ 
tion, has had it thoroughly tested by his neigh¬ 
boring farmers. By the courtesy of the manu¬ 
facturers, Messrs. Saxton A Amidon, Buffalo. 
N. Y., we have had an opportunity to test the 
truck on the Rubai, Experimental Farm, aud we 
think so well of it that we take occasion, in this 
issue, to present an illustration of the 
truck to our readers, showing its method 
of working before the plow. This truck is 
Jll^ simply constructed, being nothing more 
than a polo braced to au iron upright that 
rests on nn axle of the aame material. 
; The upright is pierced with holes along 
almost its entire length, throngb which 
@ are fastened, at appro; riiite bights, what- 
ever implement it ia desired to use. 
4" We bad no idea, until using it, that so 
simple an attachment could be made such 
a valuable adjnuct on tbo farm. Its var- 
y~~ iuus uses had us to heartily recommend 
Jt 1° farmers as something that cannot 
bo dispenn.ii'with to advantage. It is 
|g|IW especially valuable before tho plow, doing 
i,i ¥ l' l i i away with the necessity for a gauge wheel, 
* lessening the labor of bolding and steady¬ 
ing the tool, which it keeps well down to 
its work, obviating berm-riding. Not only 
in plowing, but in dragging the harrow, 
cultivator, road-scraper, horse-fork aud, 
in short, in almost any operation that caffs 
for the services of Uio toam, the truck 
“works like a charm.’ - There is nodragging 
of the v.hiffletrees or entangling of tbe 
horses’ legs in the traces. Tho team pulls 
more steadily and does n. greater amount of 
work with less si rain. The horses, ore much more 
easily handled and, in short, it is the most gen¬ 
erally useful implement about the farm. Its 
low price puts it within the reach of moderate 
purses. 
The twenty-sixth auuual exhibition of the 
Tolland Co., Agricultural Society was held at 
Hyde Park, near Rockville on the 25th aud 26th 
days of September. Tho first day was devoted 
to the exhibition of cattle aud called out souro 
of tbe best animals owned iu the county. The 
principal breeds exbibittd were Devon and 
Jersey, although there was a good sprinkling of 
other breeds. Grade aua native stock of good 
appearance was present iu large numbers. The 
chief—and a very lino one t m—exhibition of 
Devon stock was by Hon. E. H. Hyde of Staf¬ 
ford, who turned out with a herd of handsome 
animals. In the line of Jerseys, N. B. and Leroy 
G. Perkins, of Mansfield, were considerable ex¬ 
hibitors, as was also Normal 7 .. Bibcock of South 
Coventry. C. II., Owen of Manchester also put 
iu a good collection of animals in tho same class. 
The Jersey breeders are not as old in the 
business as Gov. JlyJo, having ooimnouced 
recently ; hut they have been happily successful. 
In this county there are probably more milch 
cows of the Jersey blood thau of any other. 
The improvement in neat stock within a com¬ 
paratively short period of time, has been very 
marked and very much is due to the influence 
exerted by those men who havo labored for the 
production of the moat approved animals. 
The show of sheep and swine war very limited. 
That this should be so iu tho case of shecqr is 
easily accounted for by the fact that the alarm¬ 
ing increase iu the number or dogs in tho State 
and especially in this coturty, has very nearly 
exterminated the sheep; but in view of a 
marked improvement iu the breeding of hogs, 
and of the fact that Berkshires, and Poland 
Eliinas are common, it is a mystery why so few 
choice spoormeus of swino were put upon exhi¬ 
bition. There was au unusually full display of 
poultry, as many farmers are turning their at¬ 
tention to the more extensive raising of poultry 
i 
HARRIS’ FARM 
crop. Potatoes suffered badly from the same 
cause, so that our early potatoes are like mar¬ 
bles, yielding about 20 bushels to tho acre. The 
drought continued until Thursday, the 19th of 
Sept., when rain set in, continuing down to the 
present time, thoroughly saturating the ground 
and making it too wot for working on it. 
The wheat crop in this seotion w'as good. I 
thrashed 404 bushels, of the Clawson variety of 
for stacking and thrashing. Oatp, a good crop ; 
never before so cheap—18 aud 20 ceuts per 
bushel. Corn, the best ever raised here. We 
grow the Ohio Dent exclusively. d. b. e. 
Chatham Co., Ga., Sep. 2S. 
We have the best section of the United States 
for a poor man. If some of tho New Euglaud 
small farmers would settle here, in Southern 
