©EC. 44 
the sweet com and early potatoes may be planted 
with all sorts of vegetables, in rows, and be cul¬ 
tivated with a horse, rednolng the labor of rais¬ 
ing at least three-fourths. Compared with 
most gardens, vegetables In the field will be 
earlier, as here they will get the full benefit of 
sunshine and moisture, of which the trees about 
and in a garden rob the orop. Renewal crops 
may be pnt iu readily, as a few minutes’ work 
with a horse and cultivator will prepare the 
ground. Plenty of vegetables is a decided ac¬ 
quisition for a farmer’s tablo, and helps the good 
housowife wonderfully to prepare the meals, 
when fresh moats are not attainable, and good 
health demands that food should be plentiful 
and in accordance with the season. A greater 
variety of wholesome food is one of the lacks to 
many homes, and helps to make discontented 
those who gather around such an uninviting 
table, besides discouraging housekeepers who 
might be made happy where plenty abounded. 
Let the old garden be given up to more delicate 
plants and to flowers. 
- - -- 
U8E OF FERTILIZERS IN OHIO, 
M. B. UATEHAIH. 
BENEFITS TO CROPS OF THE GROWING USE OF FERTILISERS. 
Thanks to the agricultural press, there has 
been a very rapid increase in the number of 
farmers disposed to make umo of commercial fer¬ 
tilizers in the north-eastern half of this State, 
embracing most of the old wheat districts. On 
the clayey soils of this region, which have 
become a good deal Worn by hard cropping, ap¬ 
plications of moderate dressings of bone dust or 
a good superphosphate were found goneraiiy 
benefioial, and, in many cases, the increased 
yields of wheat and the succeeding crop of grass, 
were so noticeable that old-style farmers wore 
compelled to lay aside their prejudice and to 
admit that there was, in these now-tangled no¬ 
tions, something which they might as well look 
into. 
Hence they began to experiment, and the 
demand for the fertilizers increased, so that the 
manufacturers were induced to appoint local 
agents in almost every county, to distribute 
printed circulars and encourage sales. In this 
way the amounts sold have, iu most districts, 
doubled each year for two or three years past, in 
some cases several car-loads at a time going to one 
neighborhood -, and it Is estimated that not less 
than ten thousand tons were sold during the past 
year. The proprietor of a bone mill informed 
mo recently, that his sales the past season were 
more than double those of any previous year, 
and some of the time the demand exceeded the 
capacity of bis machinery, though grinding at 
tho rate of live tons per day. Borne credit is 
due to this movement for the excellence of tho 
wheat crop on thousands of old farms during 
the past two years, in this portion of Ohio. 
BENEFICIAL EFFECTS ON THE MINDS OF FARMERS. 
But it is of the moral influence on the minds 
of tho farmers that I wish especially to speak, 
as I have not seen this distinctly alluded to in 
any of our agricultural journals. 
In the first place, the farmers in these old 
wheat districts, where the fertilizers are used, are 
more hopeful and cheerful than before, aB they 
now feel that the means are within their 
reach for restoring fertility to their worn fields. 
It is quite possible that some are over-sanguine, 
and will plaoe their main reliance on fertilizers 
instead of regarding them only as helps along 
with manuring, the use of clover <kc.; hut these 
mistakes will soon correct themselves. 
Another grand result is the prompting of 
farmers and their sons to read agricultural pap¬ 
ers more generally than over before. They see 
and feel that the use of fertilizers, or the effect 
produced on tho crops, is a matter of science 
applied to farrninq r and it is a necessity that 
they should road and learn something about it. 
So, too, they are more ready to talk on these 
subjects, and to listen to discussions or lectures 
at the Farmers’ Clubs or Granges. 
We have in Ohio about a thousand Grange 
organizations, one in almost every township in 
all this half of tho State. Each of these serves 
the purpose of a farmers' club, and, holding 
meetings every fortnight, discussions are held 
on all matters deemed of interest to the farmers. 
Each Grange has itslecturer ” whose special 
duty it is to see that suitable topics for discus- 
sicn are introduced at eaob meeting, and for a 
year or two past no subject has h flooded so much 
interest as that of fertilizers and their use. 
Another good result is the effect on farmers’ 
sons in convincing them that agriculture is really 
an intellectual pursuit, affording scope for 
scientific knowledge as well as strength of mus¬ 
cle, and that the old farms can be made to pro- 
duce more bountifully than they have supposed. 
Hence, more of them aro disposed to stay on 
the farm instead of going west, or risking the 
chances of finding success in tho city or town. 
Ab a result of this mental awakening among the 
farmers, we find a large number desirous of at¬ 
tending the course of lectures to bo delivered by 
the professors at the State University at Colum¬ 
bus, (Agricultural; College), which arc to com¬ 
mence the 9th of January and contmne four 
weeks, four lectures each day, on the various 
branches of science relating to agriculture. There 
13 a prospect that the number in attendance at 
THE RURAL. NEW-YORKER. 
these lectures will be quite large ; but there are 
hundreds of young farmers who would gladly 
attend them if the low price of farm products 
did not prevent their finding the means for do- 
fraying the expenses of travel and board. 
Our farmers fool severely the effects Of such j 
low prices; but, with the exception of those who 
ore pressed with debt, they know that they are 
more comfortably off than aro the great majority 
of the residents of the towns and cities; and so 
they are content to wait till the better times 
come, and until the lessons of adversity shall 
have their due effect on the people at large. 
Lake County, Ohio. 
■---4 4 4-- 
MOISTURE-RETAINING POWER OF 
THE SOIL. 
EXPERIENCE VERSUS THEORY. 
After reading “ Notes from the Rural 
Grounds” in the issue of October 19, three 
times, I am still at a loss to understand whether 
ttie writer wishes tho reader to believe that soils 
will resist the ' ffeots of drought more effectu¬ 
ally without pulverization in ordinary field cul¬ 
tivation, or whether he applies his reasoning 
only to pots. In the case of two adjoining plots 
of land alike iu every reBpect, exoopt that one 
h*B received no more cultivation than has been 
necessary to destroy the weeds, while the other 
has been thoroughly Btirred to the depth of sev¬ 
eral inches at least once a week, in such & ease 
every observant tiller of the soil knows that the 
plants growing thereon plainly show, by the 
greater thrift of those growing on the well tilled 
ground, which plot has received most cultivation 
daring a protracted drought- Moreover on ex¬ 
amining the soil, it will bo found that tho neg¬ 
lected plot, is dry to a considerable depth, while 
that which has been cared for, is moist nearly 
to the surface. 
Now, whether this moisture comes from the 
sub-soil or from tho atmosphere, it is undoubt¬ 
edly the result of thorough cultivation. In a 
measure, the conclusions arrived at in the ex¬ 
periments, are applicable to such soils as are 
thoroughly undordraiuod; for there the perco¬ 
lation of the water through the Boil, produces a 
partial loosening of the particleB of clay or 
loam : but since only a small proportion of our 
cultivated lauds are so drained, I fear snnh 
reasoning may lead many unthinking people 
astray, unless the subject is amply discussed. 
If, however, it can be proved that this new de¬ 
parture is correct, it will certainly be a boon t) 
the lame and the lazy. If the writer of “Notes ” 
only expects to show that the moisture iu the 
loose soil is not due to capillary attraction, then 
he may he right; but even in that case, he 
does not show that stirring, working, and break¬ 
ing up tho surface soil are unnecessary. 
THEORY VERSUS EXPERIENCE. 
One more point deserves consideration. I 
suppose the soil in the potB continued moist 
as long as there was any water in the buckets ; 
when the supply was exhausted, then the dry¬ 
ing oommeuced. Of course, the Boil could not 
draw, by uapillary or any other attraction, 
moisture that was beyond its reach. Now, it is 
supposed ihat Bomewhere down in the earth 
there is always a Btratum of water, and if the 
Eoil he iu a proper condition, may not the water 
be raised a long way ? M. B. Prince. 
[Rarely, if ever, more than a few f6et—five 
or six.—E ds.] 
A SINGLE EXPERIMENT VERSUS A LIFETIME’S EXPERIENCE. 
The conclusion drawn, in Rural for October 
19, from experiments with pots and buckets 
upon the utility of cultivating the soil, go to 
quite ups6t the results of my life’s experience 
in doing that very thing. Would not the test 
be more satisfactory, if equal plots of ground, 
side by side, were experimented upon ? At 
wheat-sowing time I have often seen the ground 
so dry that the only soil that would sprout the 
seed, was fallow land which had been plowed 
early and often until seoding time, and ground 
so troated I have never known to fail to do so. 
This was my experience in Western New York 
where all farmers adopt the practice as an es¬ 
sential requisite of good farming ; here, how¬ 
ever, the theory of the inutility of cultivation is 
likely to be popular—until bankruptcy at any 
rate—for few either use, or believe in the utility 
of using, a turning-plow. When I began to plow 
here one foot deep, the natives said it was a 
great mistake, as the Almighty had put the 
right side of the land on top, and gave vent to 
not a littl» more iguoraut wisdom, to the Bame 
effect. Yet, despite their prophecies, the beBt 
results followed my work, and they begin to see 
the advantage of the practice now—and to do 
likewise s - *• c - 
Fulton Co., Ga. 
-—• ♦♦- 
FARM NOTES PROM ILLINOIS 
Corn hero is a large crop and well matured. 
Husking has commenced, and if the weather 
continues favorable, the crop will all bo cribbed 
in good condition by the first of December. 
Very little corn la cut off in the West and the 
fodder saved as in the East; but here it is 
husked from the stalk, thrown into wagons and 
hauled direct to tho cribs, a method which econ¬ 
omizes tho labor. Then the cattle and other 
stock are turned into the fields to glean what 
may have been missed and devour the stalks, 
which afford them good feed during most of the 
winter, i am not sure this is the best way, as 
the animals are often exposed to tbeiuolemency 
of the weather, but it is the practice here, and 
tho stock seem to stand it well. This State is 
celebrated for its fine horsos, cattle and swine. 
Sheep, however, aro uot so plentiful as they 
might or should be. 
Potatoes are about all dag. The crop, iu 
general, is a light one, though some yielded 
well. Those that were planted very early iu 
suitable, well-drained soil, and properly tended, 
did well. Early Rose, planted late, turned out 
pcorly. Borne of the late potatoes (Roachblows) 
aro good, and others “Bmall and few in a hill,” 
which shows tho importance of good cultivation. 
The Colorado beotles did not prove so trouble¬ 
some this year as formerly, though thoy did 
some barm and iu Bomo fields bad to bo picked 
off or “ Paris-greened,” in order to save the 
crop. Owiug to the general scarcity of potatoes 
throughout the country, the price has advanced 
hero from *25 cents to 35tfe40 cents per bushel, 
aud it is thought they will be still higher before 
spring. 
Afpi.es aro also rather scarce and of poor 
quality, but they are more plentiful than they 
were last season. A considerable amount of 
cider and upplo-bntter has been made this fall, 
and those who are so fortunate as to have 
orchards, have their cellars pretty well supplied 
with apples for winter use. Tho price of apples 
this fall ranges from 30 to 60 cents per bushel. 
Good-keeping apples aro worth more. 
Turnips, beets, cabbages, etc., are varia¬ 
ble—some good ; others failed to do well- The 
tin-nip crop is generally a “ hit aud miss. if 
the seed id soun at the right time, just before 
rain the latter part of lFuIv or first of August, 
in good clean soil, tho orop seldom fails, but if 
the land is foul wilh woods, and tba seeding is 
done in a caroleBa, “ slip-shod” manner—which 
is too often the case hero— tho crop fails, Under 
such conditions this is a thing it has a perfect 
right to do, but “ ye farmer" will say, “ turnip- 
raising don’t pay anyhow.” Root crops are uot 
in much favor “out West,” as tho farmers 
don't like to “stoop to such work.” If they 
could perform all ihe labor by automatic ma¬ 
chinery, this nocoe&ury adjunct to good farming 
would be In better repute. The time will come 
when more attention will be paid to the culture 
of vegetable crops than at present, for the sci! 
is well adapted to them. 
Buckwheat is another crop that is grown 
here only to a very limited extent. It some¬ 
times does well, but more often fails, und our 
prairie farmers don’t like to be called ‘ ‘ Buck¬ 
wheat Farmers.” They may fail in raiding 
wheat, und will thereon sympathize with each 
other ; but any one who is foolish (! !) enough 
to attempt raising buckwheat and fails, getB no 
more sympathy from his fellows than does a 
whimpering boy with the tooth-ache. Iu a 
drive over the piairiea this fall, through qnite a 
long distance, I saw but one held of buckwheat. 
It looked well. 
Clover Seed had the appearance of a good 
crop this season, but the weather has been so 
stormy every little while, that it has been a uilfi- 
cult task to save it, and as it is not hulled yet, 
we cannot tell how it may yield. 
Hay was a heavy orop aud most of it was 
saved in good condition ; hut still a large amount 
got spoiled and wasted for want of suitable 
shelter in which to store it. It pays to have 
good horns and “ hay-barracks,” and, no doubt, 
tho animals would express their grateful thanks 
for Buoh kind consideration—if they could only 
tn.Hr And they do spook by their looks and 
actions—a kind of language more exprt ss'.ve 
and far more truthful than words. 
Thhabhinu is mostly finished now, and the 
crops—with the exception of Bpring wheat, 
which was injured by sun, blight, rust, etc.— 
have yielded woll. Winter wheat and rye were 
unusually good, aud a larger acreage of these 
cereals has been sown this fall than heretofore. 
The Fall Grain and Pasturage are very 
promising, as there has been no severe “killing” 
frosts yet. The weather has been generally 
favorable to the autumn crops and for work. 
Ogle Co., Ill., Oct. 23. W. B. Derrick. 
.-*-4-4- 
NOTES FROM CENTRAL ILLINOIS. 
The great bulk of the corn orop ts in the crib 
here. The yield, as usual, is very unsatisfac¬ 
tory, and will bo till we learn to put in Iobs and 
cultivate more. Ilow much better would it bo to 
have fifteen acroB yielding 76 bn. per acre—11*25 
bu.—than 45 acres yielding 25 bu. per acre— 
1125 bu.—to say nothing at all about the grass, 
wheat, oats, pasture, potatoes turnips and gar¬ 
den truck the 30 acres botched in the latter case 
would afford. 
Fultz wheat seems to bo stooling better this 
fall with us, than any other sort I have no¬ 
ticed, and I have seen six or eight varieties. 
The Butman was tho finest squash I raised 
this year; its color, too, was not as objeotionable 
I as that of most varieties. 
Of 27 varieties, tho Monaoh of the West straw¬ 
berry, looks the thriftiest after several hard 
frosts. 
Now is a good time to brandish a sharp knife 
aud make a brisk attack on those old brush 
heaps many a farmer has been in the habit, of 
calling grape-vines. Those having auoh piles of 
brash, often waste enough time to prune them 
in spinning out some loDg “yarn,” or talking 
politics. 
Tho rabbits already are gnawing some of the 
young trocs belonging to those who think that to 
set out trees is all that is needed to insure fruit. 
When a young orchard iH a wilderness of grass 
and weeds, rabbits find good quarters therein, 
and the treos will very likely bo injured. If 
young orchards are olean through tho winter, 
and an ear of corn is placed near each tree, 
rabbits will not stop to bark tho treos; but a bet¬ 
ter plan is to wrap all rapidly growing trees, 
young and old. An Old Subscriber. 
gjboriniltural. 
EVERY-DAY NOTES. 
SAMUEL PARSONS, 
AMPELOPSIS JAPONICA. <■?) 
Japosica is a broad term, and I fancy that in 
this case it has been given for want of another 
and more correct name. The plant is certainly 
rare, and yet most readily grown und worthy of 
employment. Many good qualities oommend it 
and it should only be known to gain apprecia¬ 
tion. It is exceedingly vigorous and very dif¬ 
ferent in everyway from tbe Japan Creeper, 
Ampelopsis Veitchii. [A triouspidata.—E ds.J 
The green foliago, is less deeply cut than 
that of other varieties, and bright blue and 
red berries tolievo and increase the beauty 
of the rich ooloring of the leaves in fall. 
As a member of its genus, and a climber 
generally, it is very distinct iu form and appear¬ 
ance, possessing at the same time all the good 
qualities of the genus Ampelopsis. 
A HEW WESPIXO JAPAN CHEnRY. 
We have long had Weeping Cherries which are 
pretty and graceful, but this introduction from 
Japan ia of another make. Its growth is as 
strong and vigorous as that of any variety of tho 
ordinary fruit-bearing Cherry, and as eccentric 
and grotetque, if less beautiful, than that of the 
Weeping Bocob. Throning up great far-reaobing 
shoots of young growth, the branebos curve finely 
aud sweep down to the very surface of the 
ground. Tho leaves are largo and healthy, aud 
the general appearance is that of a common 
cherry tree. It remains as yot extremely rare, 
but would soon ne common, if people only knew 
its vaiue and demanded its culture, which is 
not diftionlt. 
THE JAPAN AlUEK 
is another tree bearing the broad designation 
of Japonica. It is, however, a noble tree, vigor¬ 
ous and rapid in growth aud attaiuiug large 
size. The loaves are of a bright shining green, 
and of a long oval shape, forming a compact, 
erect head, strikingly elegant. Wore not com¬ 
parisons odious, and had uot nearly every tree 
its own special claim and suitable place, I should 
bo tempted to torn this the finest Alder I ever 
saw. One of the marked peculiarities it possesses 
in a higher degree than other Aldors, consists in 
large, curious, roundish seed-vessels, green late 
in tho fall, aud strangely marked, like an undo 
veloped cone. Those soed-vessels hang in clust¬ 
ers of four or five, and impart a peculiar appear¬ 
ance to the tree at this season of the year. The 
Cut-leaved Alder (Aluus imperials laoiniata) 
has been heretofore considered tho most orna¬ 
mental of Alders; but this Japan species is 
quite as ornamental in itB way, aud of hardier 
aud more vigorous habit. [Not hardier it 
seems to us.— Eds.] It deserves general re¬ 
cognition. 
THE JUJUBE TREE. 
The remarks concerning the Jujube made 
by Mr. Wm. R- Smith, Chief of the Botanic 
Gardens, Washington, in the Star of that city, 
aud quoted In a lato number of the Rural New- 
Yorker, interested mo much. I have soon the 
tree several times in Washington, and have been 
much impressed with its valuable qualities. It 
is well known how greatly wo need a good hedge 
plant, one that is at onoe cheap, rapid-growing 
aud hardy, and at tho same time satisfactory 
as a barrier, ornament or screen. Tho Jojubo, 
as I have soon it growing, has apparently all 
these qualities. It comes surely and rapidly from 
seed, and can therefore be grown cheaply. Evi¬ 
dently, also, it is a natural hedge plant, from the 
fact that it remains aftor many years’ growth, a 
tree of moderate size, although in five years or 
bo wo have soon that it will develop into as many 
foetiu liight. This is an important quality, as 
indicating tho aptitude of tho shrub for hedging 
purposes. Unlike the Osage Orange, there are 
no snckorB about it, and as fur as tested, it has 
proved hardy. As a barrior, its value can be 
easily proved by the size and sharpness of its 
thorns. Good ornamental qualities are evident 
in its thrifty, shining acacia-hke leaves, aud 
richly colored bark and fruit, the latter of which 
