THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
SEC. 
28 
- - - - - - M ~ '' .... . .. — 
THE 
RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
PUBLISHED EVERY SATURDAY. 
Address 
RURAL PUBLISHING CO., 
78 Duane Street, New York City. 
SATURDAY DEC. 28, 1878. 
We will be pleased, to send one or more copies 
of Ike Rural New Yorker free to any of cur 
subscribers sufficiently interested in its welfare 
to be willing to hand them to their neighbors for 
inspection. An intimation by postal card will 
suffice. 
PARTICULAR NOTICE. 
Applicants for seeds will please observe that 
the postage on any possible selection of ten 
sorts of seeds. is neves more than five cads. 
A une-gent stamp suffices for any selection of 
ten varieties exclusive of (he Beauty of Hebron 
potato, Pearl Millet and Defiance wheat. If the 
first of these, three is included in the list, then a 
two cent extra stamp is needed, and if the sec¬ 
ond and third are included, an extra two cent 
stamp is also required. 
Oue readers who apply will Lave the Beauty 
of Hebrou potato seDt to them separately, be¬ 
cause to send thid with seeds makes an awkward 
package, and also, because the seeds may bo 
forwarded at anytime regardless of the weather, 
while the potatoes may bo injured by frost. We 
mention this for the reason that our friends 
receiving the potato only, may think the rest of 
their selection has been overlooked. 
We earnestly request that all tellers containing 
money, or any communication intended for the 
Business Department of the paper, be addressed 
to the Editor, the Publisher, or The Rukal New- 
Yorker, and not to any individual. He cannot 
otherwise guarantee the prompt entry of names 
upon our looks, or the acknowledgment of money. 
Oua readers are particularly requested to read 
the particulars of our free seed distribution on 
p 829, under publisher’s notices, before ordering 
St (Hi 6. 
We offered, some time ago, to sell the on’s 
ustd in this Journal for ten oente the square 
inch. Many have requested us to send proofs 
of our cuts. As we have upwards of ten thou¬ 
sand. we could not undertake to do bo. Persons 
wiehing to purchase, must select from files of 
he Ruhab New-Yorker. 
THE NEW YEAR. 
When the buh appeared to Have reached 
the southern limit of his journey, and 
gave promise of retracing his course, the 
ancients held high festival, and said a 
New Year was born. Among the old 
li 'mans, the day on which ho apparently 
began his return northward, was consid¬ 
ered the commencement of a Now Year 
and const crated to the god Janus, who, 
having a double face, xt was supposed 
could look back at the old as well as for- 
w. id to the Now Year. 
Bebide the fact that the division of tima 
iu.o months and years, gives a basis for 
curonoiogicai calculations, it is useful for 
purposes of retlectiou and consideration. 
The careful navigator never fails to make, 
when possible, daily observations where¬ 
by to ascertain his true position, and is in 
c '^sequence often enabled to avoid rocks 
ami shoals that are dangers in his way. 
So, we should, in life’s journey, have set 
tunes on which to look about us and 
see our position, and what time more fit¬ 
ting than the beginning of a new year ! 
Let ns, then, for a few moments, take a 
retrospective view, and see what has been 
done during the year that is just closing. 
As it has been every year, there have 
been wars and rumors of wars, useless 
and expensive. They have cuff many 
lives and muoh money, and what has been 
gained? Has a new truth been estab¬ 
lished, or an old oue set firmer on its 
fuumlution ? Has a sound principle been 
sustained, or has the whole expense been 
incurred merely to gratify national pride 
or personal ambit.on? Would that we 
could look forward and see the time when 
nations shou.d make war no more ! 
In our own country the year has been 
oue of national prosperity. True, the cry 
of hard tun s has come to ub from many 
quarters, but the “ harduess” has, iu 
uost instances, been more imaginary than 
real. Many individuals have suffered 
j ecuuianly ; many m ils and manufac¬ 
tures have been lule to the luss of the 
owners, but the people at large have not 
suftbied tbereirom. The earth has pro¬ 
duced bountifully; economyhaBprevailed 
and our country io richer than a year a go. 
Brices for land anu some commodities 
may be less ; but of real intrinsic value, 
when measured by life-sustaining capa¬ 
city, there is more. 
Politicians bare quarreled, but more 
for control of office than over any particu¬ 
lar difference in political principles. The 
credit of the Government is steadily gain¬ 
ing, and its promise to pay is now as good 
as, or better than, the pay itself, Gold 
is at par, as it has not been before within 
the memory of many who will read this. 
There have been difficulties with the In¬ 
dians in the West, aB there always will 
be until there is more honesty among the 
traders and Government agents. There 
have been difficulties with the Chinese in 
California, and with the colored popula¬ 
tion of the Southern States, and there 
always will be uutil the problem is solved 
how two races differing iu mental caliber, 
can live together harmoniously in a con¬ 
dition of equality—a problem that has 
defied all uations in all times—or until 
some plan can be devised by which the 
one shall be master and the other servant, 
ihat shall work no injustice to either, and 
be u benefit to all 1 
Iu discoveries in the arts and sciences, 
tLe past year has been fertile. Not to 
speak of minor improvements, witness 
the telephone, by use of which those 
miles apart can converse as readily as if 
iu the same room ; the phonograph that 
records and stores away conversations, 
speeches or songs, to be reproduced years 
afterward in the same tone and manner 
iu which they were originally delivered ; 
the electric light which bids fair to dis¬ 
place gas for lighting streets and publio 
buildings, to be, perhaps, displaced in its 
turn by gas made from water at still less 
expense, and many others which have 
been from time to time noticed in the 
columns of the Bubal. 
But, passing from the public to the 
individual, will it not be well for each 
one of us, on this day, to calmly and 
seriously turn over the pages of our lives, 
that during the past year have been 
printed in the book of memory, and, read¬ 
ing there where we have been astray, 
determine that the next year shall be one 
iu which wo will do better and be better 
for ourselves and for those about us. Is 
there oue of us who would not, if possi¬ 
ble, change many things we have done in 
the past year? We cannot live perfect 
lives if we would, but there is none of us 
who does as well as he knows how ; who 
fives up to bis own standard of excellence; 
who does not allow bis appetites and his 
passions to exert more influence over his 
actions than his reason commends. With 
these facts patent bt fore us, how can we 
excuse ourselves if we commence another 
year without a determination to do better. 
Such a determination, once made, can be 
kept, if we will. If it is not, the blame as 
well as the penalty will fall on our owu 
heads. 
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
When we take into consideration that 
Agriculture furnishes more than three- 
fourths of our exports, and that those ex¬ 
ports have turatd the balance of trade 
$200,000,000 in our favor, it might be 
thought strauge that this greatest iuterest 
should have no direct voice in the Gov¬ 
ernment ; that its chief Commissioner 
should be accorded a mere clerk’s salary; 
that in the appointment of Commissioner, 
heretofore, no discriminating attention 
has been given to the real wants of Agri¬ 
culture, and that his capacity for the du¬ 
ties of the important trust has often been 
scaicely that ol a first-class clerk, yet we 
suppose, that the capacity even of such 
a Commissioner might correspond with 
his salary. In iaot, so far as a clear un¬ 
derstanding of Agriculture and the proper 
duties of the office, the Statistician has 
been, under most administrations, supe¬ 
rior to his chief. But this want of proper 
consideration on the part of the Govern¬ 
ment is perhaps excusable on the ground 
that the great mass of farmers are quite 
indifferent to any organization of their 
interest. 
TIiib Department ought to be the in¬ 
spiring head of all the State Agricultural 
Colleges, organized under the Act of 1862 
—j udieious and wise in recommending a 
a proper course of experiments to be car¬ 
ried uut on the experimental farms at¬ 
tached to these Colleges. Its head should 
be thoroughly acquainted with the agri¬ 
cultural needs of ail the States, so that 
he may assist in devising methods of im¬ 
proving and increasing their productions. 
He should be a man of sufficient oapacity 
to take in the whole field—to make a care¬ 
ful study of the agricultural situation in 
all parts of the couutry, assist in turning 
attention to the production of crops 
needed for local consumption, where the 
soil is propitious—teaching the great les¬ 
son of self-support by diversity of crops, 
and of independence through home pro¬ 
duction. And as the relation of demand 
and supply is the key to all commerce, 
the statistics of production and consump¬ 
tion should be so accurate that any intel¬ 
ligent farmer or trader may be able to 
come to a safe conclusion as^tfie basis of 
market values. He should be able to 
command our agents abroad, and gain ac¬ 
curate information as to imports and con¬ 
sumption in the respective countries, of 
those articles produced here iu excess of 
home demand. 
If this Department were thoroughly 
equipped by Congress for oarrying out 
this programme, it would swell our exports 
to the utmost limit of our surplus produc¬ 
tion. The best interests of the whole 
country require that it should be treated 
with a wise liberality and furnished with 
a defined policy. If it has not been all 
we might wish in the past, let us hope for 
great future improvement under the fos¬ 
tering care of a Congress that appreciates 
the reasons for its establishment. France, 
Germany and Austria have Ministers of 
Agriculture, and yet agriculture in none 
of these countries reaches such colossal 
proportions as in oi. rj. 
We believe this Department, properly 
conducted, would promote the welfare of 
the whole people in an eminent degree. 
And entertaining these views we were a 
little surprised that one of our cotempo- 
rariee, lately, in reviewing the Beport of 
the Department, should argue that an 
appropriation to agriculture was an 
anomoly under our system, saying : “ If 
we mistake not, agriculture is the only 
business that receives a special appropri¬ 
ation.” What, then, is an appropriation 
for a break-water, for dredging a river— 
the large gift to the Pacific Bailroad 
Company, etc.? Is not navigation a busi¬ 
ness ? and the carrying trade of a rail¬ 
road a business ? “ But these benefit the 
public, ” our cotemporary may say. 
“ Certainly ; but do not the objects pro¬ 
moted by a well conducted Agricultural 
Department benefit a still wider public ? 
Our cotemporary admits that, “ If the 
influence and labors of the Department 
tend to improve the agriculture of the 
country at large, all are benefited, both 
consumers and producers.” Well, if it 
doeB not “ tend to benefit the agriculture 
of the country at large,” then it is the 
fault of the conduct of the Department. 
Had we not better strive to reform and 
enlarge the conduct of the Department 
rather than pour cold water on it, and 
discourage efforts to build it up? 
-♦ —■ ♦- 
INDEX TO THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
FOR 1878. 
The most valuable and highly appreci¬ 
ated improvement in scientific and prac¬ 
tical workB published of late, is acknowl¬ 
edged on all hands to be the excellent, in¬ 
dexes that nocompauy the best of them. 
The systematic compilation of these, so 
as to enable the inquirer t.o refer readily 
to any desired subject treated of in the 
volume, requires a clear, methodical, 
analytic mind and no small amount of 
pains-taking labor. The succoessfiil re¬ 
sult, however, amply repays the skill and 
toil expended on its achievement. With¬ 
out it, auy particular item of information 
contained in the work, can be referred to 
only after a search so lengthy and vexa¬ 
tious that few have the time or patience 
to go through with it, and if the same 
subject is treated of in various aspects in 
different parts of the volume, the chances 
are multiplied that some of its bearings 
will be overlooked or slighted, and it may 
well happen that these may be precisely the 
points that demand careful attention. By 
meanB of a good iudex, on the other hand, 
every topic discussed in the work is placed 
before the inquirer’s eyes so plainly and 
systematically that he can promptly turn 
to every page of the volume, on which the 
matter is handled in any of its bearings. 
It is with j ustice, therefore, tiiat a good 
index, especially to works of a practical 
nature, is considered by all a highly im¬ 
portant addition to the value of the text, 
and the worth of it is vastly enhanced in 
connection with periodicals devoted to 
practical subjects ; for in these the same 
questions are repeatedly discussed from 
different points of view at long intervals 
apart, while the aggregate bulk of the va¬ 
rious numbers would generally render 
unaided search for all that may have been 
here and there said on auy particular 
topic, a tedious, if not a hopeless, task. 
These considerations have led us to 
bestow special attention this year upon 
the arrangement of the index to the 
volume of the Buhal for the wholo of the 
year 1878. The improvement upon former 
years iu tins respect certainly keeps 
pace with the advance xmuleiu other par la 
of the paper. Practical topics alone find 
place in the new index; for however 
interesting or instructive the contents of 
the literary departments, they cannot, of 
course, have for the farmer the permanent 
value possessed by the teachings of agri¬ 
cultural science and experience recorded 
every week in the practical departments. 
The subject discussed in each article, and 
not its title in the paper, has been our 
guide in classifying it in the index, and 
whenever ease of reference is thereby 
promoted or ambiguity avoided, the same 
topic lias been indexed under more than 
one heading. 
Within tiio compass of the fifty-two 
numbers of the Bubal issued every year, 
there will be few questions relating to 
any branch of agricultural economy, on 
which valuable information cannot be 
found, while all important topics iu that 
connection will during each year be fully 
discussed. In whatever part of the accu¬ 
mulated yearly volume any item of prac¬ 
tical information may occur, the present 
and future arrangement of the index will 
enable the reader to refer to it even more 
accurately than the short index on the 
editorial page of each issue now guides 
him to the contents of a single number ; 
for, in the latter case, merely the title of 
the article is given; whereat, in the for¬ 
mer, each artiole will be analyzed and its 
subject-matter reoorded. In view of the 
valuable fund of useful information in 
this way placed at all times within easy 
reach of our readers, would it not be well 
for many more of them than now do so, 
to save the weekly Burals, bind them 
into yearly volumes, and thus in course 
of time accumulate a handsome library 
rich in information on the pursuit the 
best instruction on which is essential to 
their own prosperity and that of many of 
their children ? 
-- 
BREVITIES. 
Upon our first page next week, we shall pre¬ 
sent an original engraving which we think will 
provoke study and merit commendation. 
Rev. E. P. Roe brings several apples of his 
Seedling Highland lioauty. Further than to 
say that they are of excellent flavor and possess 
fine keeping qualities we will not at prtsent 
t-prak, since we shall give an engraving of a spec¬ 
imen later with all that can bo said of this apple. 
Pearl Millet has boon raised this year by a 
correspondent of ours living in Orleans Co., 
Nebraska ; and he says that, for cattle it is the 
best forage plant be ever saw. His horses, 
however, did not seem to like it. Is matures 
seed* weil in that section, and stands droughts 
excellently. 
We are glad to receive new subscriptions and 
renewals as fast as possible—but our friends 
need not hurry on aoc jiint of our seed distribu¬ 
tion. Duo uotico will be giveu of any additions, 
subtractions or obanges. The Beauty of Hebron 
potato is sent whenever tho weather warrants. 
The 6eed distribution will not be begun in Jess 
than a month. O.’ its commencement notice 
will be given aHo. 
In conversation with tho proprietor c f one of 
our largest agricultural newspaper ageneit'P, 
we learn that two train captions mo being re¬ 
ceived this season wboro one was received last 
year. This is highly encouraging and wo trust 
a* a straw will show which way the wind blows. 
We say Happy New Year to the Agricultural and 
Horticultural Press May it have great success 
for 1879, and may it well deserve it. 
This number ends a veiy prosperous year 
with the Rural New- Yorker. We feel’ltke 
thanking every oue of onr friends for thtir sup¬ 
port and appreciative words. The Rural has 
never been more praised and. we would fain 
hope, bus never been more worthy of pnn*e 
than during the year about to oloso. Wo wish 
our readers know how Stirling is our determina¬ 
tion to imdse benevolence the one ever aottvo 
sentiment in onr labors for the future. Let us 
see how weli our acts and our professions may 
be found to harmonize. 
Thebe is a tierce agitation against Green’s 
D.iveu-well Exactions out in Minnesota and 
Wisconsin. On the 29th tilt., a large meeting 
of harrassed well owners took place at St. I*aul, 
Minn., and a State urganiz.ii ion was formed to 
resist Green's exorbitant claims and test the 
validity of the patent. Numerous affidavits 
ha/e been secured going to prove the antiquity 
or the device. In the issue of the Bubal for 
Nov. 80, 1876, the oompletest history that has 
yet appeared was giveu of this invention and 
of the litigation to that date concerning it. 
So win o Grass in the Fall— A correspond¬ 
ent from Itowan counly, N. U., who, last year, 
gave our readers his experience on this subject, 
writes ua again this year, still more Btrongly 
favoring the tall sowing of grass for meadow or 
permanent pasture. He sowed a mixture of two 
buohelsof Orchard-grass, one quait of Timothy, 
two quarts of Red Clover, one pound of Herd’s- 
grass and two pounds of IIIue-grass to the acre 
for the purpose of making a permanent pasture, 
and where it was sown in the fall, the stand is 
splendid, while the ltsd Glover alune is good, 
where it was sown in spring. 
The insertion iu this iasuo of our Complete 
Iudex for the yearly volume of the Rural neces¬ 
sitates a curtailment of (liu space usually given 
to practical aud literary subjects. Even a brief 
examination of the index will show the vast num¬ 
ber ol topics interesting to farmers which have 
been discussed la our columns during the past 
year, aud it should b > remembered that the list 
refers exclusively to Lhe practical departments, 
omitting altogether tho various branches of tho 
literary departun nte, as weil as news, market 
reports, etc., eto. We would urge upon our 
readers to retain this index, and still rnoro 
atrongly press upon them tho desirability of 
saving all tho numbers of the Rural for the 
year 1879, which wo intend to be even more in¬ 
structive and interesting than its predecessor. 
