they enable us to practice in the use of fuel, 
by means of the shelter they furnish to our 
dwellings against the rude blasts of Winter, as 
well as for the eventual result in the fuel itself , 
which they are destined to furnish us. 
We should plant these shelters along the 
highways for their agreeable shade, and they 
should also be planted in all windy countries 
as snow-breaks beside the railways. There 
they should be set in single, double and triple 
rows, to check and retain the drifts that so 
often seriously impede locomotion. These 
belts of living trees, planted parallel to the 
rails, and on the windward side, have been 
found to arrest the drifting snow, which is 
banked up to the leeward of the trees, instead 
of lodging i a the roadway, especially where 
this is lower than the general surface of the 
ground. In badly exposed places and deep 
cuts it will bo well to have a second belt, some 
30 or more feet farther off, the more effectu¬ 
ally to arrest the drifting snow. These snow- 
shelters are being extensively planted along 
the line of the Northern Pacific Railway by 
the indefatigable L. B. Hodges, Esq., Super¬ 
intendent of Tree-planting. 
Lastly, we should plant trees for their aes¬ 
thetic effect in so greatly adding to the beauty 
of the landscape. Farmers! you need not 
smile at this suggestion, nor quote the homely 
adage that “ beauty is what beauty does;” for 
deny it as you may, there is. not one of you 
who can honestly aver that he does not admire 
the beautiful; and certainly this kind of 
beautifying of your homes, which largely en¬ 
hances their cash value, cannot fail to be ap¬ 
preciated by the most obdurate old fogies 
among you. Your wives and your daughters 
will most heartily sympathize with you in this 
kind of adornment of the farm-steadings; yes, 
and your sons, too, especially if they have 
helped you plant and tend the trees, will be 
loath to leave them, or, If they should go away 
from the paternal roof-tree, will ever dream 
with delight of the dear old home with its 
loved surroundings, and will long for the day 
of their return to the try sting-trees of their 
youth. 
But to proceed, let us consider some of the 
various details involved in the practical ques¬ 
tions that may already be struggling for ut¬ 
terance from some of you who would ask:— 
Where to plant ? What to plant ? How to 
plant ? When to plant ? 
Shelter-belts for the fields should be planted 
on their margins, and especially on the sides 
whence come the most violent <• nd most fre¬ 
quent w inds. A single row of trees set pretty 
closely at first, and thinned eventually to from 
10 to 20 or 30 feet apart, will soon produce a 
good effect, but in a very open country a more 
effectual barrier against the wind will be 
needed, and must be produced by planting 
several row’s, so as to occupy some rods in 
width, as is practiced in the prairie States with 
the most happy results. 
Trees ^iould also be planted about the house 
and the farm-steadings, for shelters to the 
owners and to the stock. As to their position, 
you should avoid a too common mistake, that 
of placing them very near the buildings; they 
are so small when planted that it is difficult to 
realize the space they are destined to occupy. 
Again, let them be placed in masses behind 
and beside the dwelling, rather than in the 
front, which is the position too often assigned 
to them; this should be kept open to the air 
and sunlight, that you may' receive their 
health-giving influence. So also those which 
are designed to shelter the out-buildings and 
the cattle-yards should be put where they will 
do the most good —that is, on the colder and 
windward sides, rather than to the south¬ 
ward. 
A few umbrageous trees may be very well 
placed on the sunny side of the building, where 
there is sufficient room; but you should be¬ 
ware of their overshadowing effects when 
planted too near. 
While considering this first query, as to 
where to plant for farm protection, we must 
not overlook the smaller class of plants, which 
are to contribute so greatly to the comfort 
and happiness of all. but especially to that 
of our wives and daughter*, when applied to 
the construction of shelter hedges and screen- 
hedges. These should, indeed, occupy the first 
rank in our consideration; Rnd if wo never 
planted a shelter-belt on the farm or near the 
barn, or even a single ornamental shade tree 
near our homes, we should not neglect to pro¬ 
vide our families with these shelter-hedges 
about the buildings and around the gardens. 
All about the back portions of the house and 
grounds are appropriate places for shelter- 
hedges, which should lend their fostering aid 
to the housewife beside every path that she 
may be called upon to use in pursuing her 
busy avocations. Here they will be most 
highly valued as real comforts, sheltering her 
from the rude winds and from the ruder gaze 
of every idle and inquisitive passer. 
On the back lawns these screens may be 
placed around the drying grounds and the 
bleaching plats, and beyond these they will 
admirably shelter and protect the garden, and 
hasten the production of early vegetables, or 
conceal the unsightly debris after vegetation 
has been killed by Autumnal frosts; for even 
the best-managed garden, like the most tidy 
hous* keepers,must have tbeir periodsof desha¬ 
bille. They cannot always be on dress pa¬ 
rade. 
If the garden be large, as the farmer’s gar¬ 
den should be, to provide an abundant supply 
of healthful food for his family, it will be 
be found a great advantage to have it divided, 
but always lengthwise, by one or more rows 
of low-growing evergreens, or others kept low 
by trimming. These evergreen shelters exert 
a wonderful influence iu advancing vegeta¬ 
tion. The}' act in a two-fold manner. They 
check evaporation by interrupting the free 
course of the winds, thus retaining heat as 
well as moistur", and they retain the solar 
heat received during the day to give it off by 
radiation at night to the plants near them. 
The chicken-yard should be well sheltered 
by trees and by evergreen hedges, and this, in 
conjunction with the other appliances for 
their comfort and welfare, will greatly aid in 
diminishing the scarcity of Winter eggs, that 
has been so universally complained of by 
housekeepers. 
Before passing from the consideration of 
this branch of the subject, we must remember 
the flocks and herds that are dependent upon 
us for their food and shelter. The barns and 
sheds we provide for them may be supple¬ 
mented, with great advantage, by judicious 
planting of shelter-belts and groves set near 
them; and the observing farmer will not be 
slow in discovering the benefits that will ac¬ 
crue to him in the diminished consumption of 
food, with an increased improvement in the 
cattle thus protected from the cutting blasts 
of Winter. 
To be Continued. 
fklij CtTrpS. 
A TEST TRIAL WITH POTATOES. 
Having been requested by many growers 
of potatoes from different parts of the country 
to make a test trial of^everal new varieties of 
potatoes, etc., I promised to do so; and here 
send you my report of the same. In order that 
all the varieties that entered the race should 
have a fair and equal chance, I cut from each 
variety of potatoes 200 single eyes and cut them 
from potatoes weighing five to six ounces 
each. They were all plauted May 2, in a rich, 
sandy loam soil, on which I used at the rate 
of 10 loads of barn-yard manure to the acre; 
no other mauure whatever was used. The 
potatoes were planted in rows 100 feet long, 
side by side, three feet by one foot apart in the 
row, two eyes to each hill. The rows were 
marked seven inches deep with a plow, and 
the seed dropped seven inches below the sur 
face* level, and covered about three inches 
deep. The different varieties are now all ready 
and even-handed in the race, and all must 
share alike in the weather that follows. 
A few days’ difference in planting sometimes 
makes a difference of many bushels in the 
crop. Nearly every hill showed sprouts 10 
days from planting. The “seed” were all 
cut five weeks before planted, dusted with 
plaster and lime and spread on boards in the 
cellar and stirred frequently to keep them 
from heating, especially when in large piles. 
By this method with me potatoes ripen 10 to 
14 days earlier than if cut and planted green. 
They were cultivated twice and hoed twice, 
and dusted with plaster and Paris-green twice. 
T his was all. For each variety 4>£ pounds were 
weighed out for the 100 hills, and all over 200 
eyes from each kind were discarded. Here 
are the winners in the order in which they 
came out in the race: 
No. of hills. 
Whole number of 
pounds. 
Average per hill, 
pouuds. 
Rate per acre, 
bushels. 
1. Rose’s New.Seedllug. 
too 
375 
m 
907 
2. Maguum Bonum. 
100 
826 
3h 
7$6 
3. Mammoth Pearl. 
100 
268 
696 
4. Gipsy. 
100 
2X7 
695 
5. Dunmore. 
100 
2)5 
601 
6. White Rose. 
100 
226 
545 
7. Prldn of America. 
10,1 
225 
2q 
541 
8, White Elephant. 
10. 
186 
17* 
453 
9. Grange. . 
100 
185 
452 
10. Extra Karlv Vt. 
100 
175 
lfc 
423 
11 . Beauty of Hebron. 
hk) 
173 
ib 
422 
12. Snowflake. 
100 
152 
367 
18. Early Rose .. 
100 
150 
1% 
863 
14. Karlv Ohio... 
100 
101 
1 
212 
2 Champlain Potatoes made... 
28 
56 
2 
484 
2 White Star Potatoes made... 
20 
35 
1-M 
422 
1 Watson Seedling made. 
12 
18 
lW 
362 
4 Rocky Mountain Rose made. 
40 
165 
4H 
998 
Most of the varieties here named ripened 
nearly with the Early Rose: all within three 
months from planting, except the White 
Elephant, Gipsy, Duwnore, Mammoth Pearl 
and Grange, all of which ripened nearly 4X 
months from planting. The heaviest single 
potato was a Magnum Bonum, weighing 3}* 
pounds. The next was a Rocky Mountain 
Rose—3 1-16 pounds. Mammoth Pearl 
Rose’s Seedling, Gipsy; White Rose and 
White Elephant were all nearly alike, weigh¬ 
ing two pounds each. 
The largest tubers of the other sorts in the 
race weighed 1 % to 1% pounds each, except 
Early Ohio, w’hich weighed % of a pound. I 
will say that I consider the White Rose and 
Pride of America, as to yield and for the 
table, both alike, and there was no difference 
in maturing; both are good keepers and free 
from rot, and both are super-excellent for^tlie 
table. Rose’s Seedlings are very even in size j 
smooth and as handsome as a peach; they are 
extra good for the table boiled or baked— 
none better. Their yield is wonderful: from 
bushels planted May 2, by dividing some 
of the eyes, the yield when dug on July 18th, 
was 136 bushels, and they all clustered com¬ 
pactly in center of the hills. They are the 
best of keepers and free from rot. Rt cky 
Mountain Rose is fully equal in all respects: 
and in this test it proved a better yielder* 
averaging over four pounds to the bill. Mam¬ 
moth Pearl and Gipsy' are both extra good for 
the table and immense yielders, great keepers 
and free from rot. White Elephant, Dun- 
more, Grange, Champlain, Extra Early Ver¬ 
mont and Beauty of Hebron are all good 
yielders, all superfine, and are good for the 
table. The Magnum Bonum on my soil 
ripens ahead of the Early Rose. For early or 
late planting, for withstanding drought, for 
close planting and for yield and evenness in 
size, as well as for keeping qualities and for 
the table, especially when baked, also for use 
when two-tbirds grown, when it w ill boil and 
bake mealy—for all these qualities combined, 
the Magnum Bonum has no equal. 
Yates Co., N. Y. Alfred Rose. 
--- 
THE RURAL CORN CONTEST. 
I intend to make a strong pull for one of 
the prizes offered for “Rural Dent” Corn, so 
please state, 1, if the prizes will be awarded 
for the largest amount of corn that can be 
raised on one-fortieth of an acre (33x33 feet); 
2, for the largest amount that can be grown 
from one grain in a hill planted two feet apart 
in rows four feet apart, as you recommend; 3, 
or from the largest amount thatcau be grown, 
according to the number of grains planted. 
As there are only 119 grains in the package 
received by me it will be useless for me to 
attempt to compete for a prize unles> the latter 
method be adopted, because if I plant as you 
recommend, I w ill not have enough corn by' 
34 grains; and I would not like to say that 
more than 100 of thoserecei ved will germinate. 
If I were going to compete for a premium for 
the largest yield on u given quantity of 
ground, I would wish to plant at least twice 
as thick as you recommend in order to insure 
a good stand, and then thin out if I found the 
plants to be too thick; a hundred and filty 
bushels of shelled coni have been grown to the 
acre in this State, but it was plauted much 
thicker than you recommend, but I have only 
this suggestion to offer;—That you distinctly 
specify the uumber and distance apart to plant 
the grains; and that each be required to plant 
the same number of hills, ihe same distance 
apart and the same number of grains iu a hill, 
or else fui nish enough corn to each conte-tart 
to plant according to his own ideas about the 
matter, so that some competitors may not 
have the advantage of others. Each should 
be allowed to plant at such time and to pre¬ 
pare and cultivate the ground in such manner 
as he thinks will insure the largest yield, a 
full account of which is to be forwirded to 
you after tbe crop is gathered together with a 
sworn statement of the yield. R, S. Cross. 
Baltimore, Co., Md, 
Anr —In answer to the above letter, we 
have to say as follows: All who contest for 
the corn premiums will be required to stu to, 
1, the kiud of soil selected—whether sandy or 
clayey; 2, the manure or fertilizer used; 3, 
how aud when prepared and cultivated; 4, the 
number of grains planted and the number 
which sprouted; 5, the w'eight of yield of ears, 
of shelled corn,and the average bight of stalks. 
It w ill in due time appear that our system of 
doing justice to all will prove simple an t 
satisfactory. No sworn statements will be 
required—a plain statement as above will suf¬ 
fice. We shall merely reserve the right of 
sending an agent to inspect the plot and the 
yield. 
-» - 
Brubank Seedling Potatoes- 
In a trip through Washington Co., N, Y., 
and to Vermont recently I saw a number of 
farmers unloading potatoes, at the railroad 
stations, which attracted my attention on 
account of their extra size aud smoothness. 
Upon inquiry I learned that they were the 
Burbank Seedling and that they were exten¬ 
sively grown in that section and that they 
were considered one of the best varieties. 
They yield largely and were selling at $1.10 
per bushel. The only objection to them was 
their large size, as a great many of them w ere 
much larger than one person could eat at a 
meal. They are emphatically a family 
potato. F. D. Curtis. 
Com pleteM anures. 
For EACH CROP, containing: just the neccs- 
snry PI.ANT FOOO it requires. 
‘"AA” Ammoniated Super Phosphate. 
“ Pelican " Bone Fertilizer. 
We make the above from bone. 
Agricultural Chemicals of all Descriptions. 
Cround Bone. 
STRICT PURITY GUARANTEED 
Our circular, containing facts interesting to farmers 
furnished on application. 
H. J. BAKER & BRO., 
215 Pearl Street, New York. 
,!>.i 
MANURES 
SEND FOR PAMPHLET. 
These manures are the richest fertilizers 
now manufactured, and the best substitute 
for, and costing murk lets than guano, 
which is now practically out of the market. 
Unlike guatio, they arc net stimulants and 
exhaustive, but fermatunt and lasting, 
being composed of bone, potash, etc. You 
can draw at one load enough. far 3 to 5 
acres, or as much plant-fond as is contained 
in 20 loads of ordinary straw manure. 
Com, potatoes, hay, etc., are bringing such 
f ood prices that it will pay to use the Stock- 
ridge extensively. If there is no local 
agent near you, send to us. 
0WKER FERTILIZER C 
l§ BOSTON & NEW YORK 
KEMP'S MANURE SPREADER 
PUL.VEIUZ1U AND CART COMBINED. 
The greatest agricultural Invention of the ago: saves 
80 per cent, of the labor doubles the value of the ma¬ 
nure. One load spread In one-tenth of the time, giv¬ 
ing as much benefit to the crop ns two pitched out 
by hand as ordinarily done. Indispensable as the 
Slower and Reaper. QUARANTKED TO FILL THE 
BILL. A thousand testimonials offered. Send for 
Illustrated catalogue “A " and rull particulars to 
KEMP & BURPEE MFU. CO., Syracuse, N.Y. 
MEADOW KING 
Mowing Machine. 
kjln all that goes to make up a Mowing Machine the 
MEADOW KING has no equal, fhe simplest, strong¬ 
est and most durable Mower In the world. No Side- 
Draft, no weight on the horse’s neck. 
THE NEW GREGG REAPER. 
Embodies all the essential meehniitenl principles of 
the Meadow King Mower. It Is a single-wheel, light, 
standard Reaper. Send for Illustrated Circulars. 
Address 
GREGG & CO., Sole Manufacturers, 
TrnmBn«bors, N. Y. 
Also Manufacturers of Luwu Mowers, Plows, &e. 
IJiilV 
L 
Simple, durable, of the best work¬ 
manship and material. Solid Wrought 
Iron Boilers. Engine complete on 
board cars at Spriuglield, 0., at fol¬ 
lowing prices: a horse power, $275 ; 6- 
horse power,$300; 7-horse power,$376; 
lil-horse power, $300. These engines 
fully guarranteed in every respect. 
Address Common bon so Engine do. 
Ht.rlngtleld Ohio 
THE VICTORY 
CORN MILL. 
The only mill that la a 
complete success In grind¬ 
ing com and cob together. 
We defy compel Itlon on this 
kind of grinding. It also 
grinds shelled corn and nfl 
other kinds of grain, coarse 
or fine, as desired. Capac¬ 
ity ten to tiveut 1 / bushels 
j/er hour. Self sharpening 
plates, and warranted In 
every respect. Address 
THOMAS ROBERTS, 
_ Spriu glield. Ohio. 
FARM CRIST MILLS 
Am>J?OBN shelters. 
Over Jio.OOO Now 111 CJse. 
Every Machine- jsF ully W 
ranted. Price of mi its 
Shaffers, 
Don't buy 
$:f. to 
a MILL 
IK 
or 
.» _ .1 
Surm.ot until you ha* e seen our terms 
and Illustrated circular. Address with 
stamp, LIVINGSTON & CO-, 
Iron Founders, Fittsbur g, Pa 
