484 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
MARCH 48 
RURAL NEW-YORKER, 
A National Joumal for Country and Suburban Himm 
Conducted by 
KLBEKT B. CAHMAI, 
Addreos 
THE BUBAL NEW-YORKER, 
No. 84 Park Row, New Yoke. 
SATURDAY MARCH 18, 1882. 
NOTICE. 
mont, adding to the original appropria¬ 
tion of $396,880, $25,000 for experiments 
in the manufacture of sugar from sorg¬ 
hum and $10,000 for experiments in the 
manufacture of sugar from beets; fourth, 
that, of Mr. M. H. Dunnell, of Minnesota, 
increasing from $5,000 to $7,000 the ap¬ 
propriation to enable the Commissioner 
of Agriculture to investigate the subject 
of forestry. The bill now goes to the 
Senate, where doubtless a few more alter¬ 
ations will be made. 
■ ■* » » 
WHEAT. 
spond generously to the demands for aid, 
and a still higher one to see to it that no 
such terrible disaster shall again occur. 
-♦ ——— ~ 
NEEDED RELIEF FOR TOBACCO 
GROWERS. 
Of all the agriculturists in the country 
growers of tobacco are the only persons 
who cannot sell their crops how and w here 
they please. Under the present law a 
farmer cannot sell bis tobacco except to 
a licensed dealer or by getting out a license 
himself. This law often forces small 
farmers to let their tobacco hang until it 
rots or to send it a long distance to 
licensed dealers. A fanner is forbidden 
to sell a few pounds of leaf tobacco to a 
neighbor for a sheep dip without paying 
a special tax, and thoughtless infrac¬ 
tions of this law have caused men to be 
dragged hundreds of miles from home to 
stand trial for the offense. Cases have 
been known in which farmers have been 
indicted for having twisted a few tobacco 
leaves together and put them on a fence 
to dry, and for similar trifling causes. 
The revenue from the tax last year was 
only $580, and it costs $10,000 to collect 
it. Last Monday, Representative G. G. 
Dibrell, of Tennessee introduced a bill in¬ 
to Congress allowing farmers to sell their 
leaf tobacco lo any person without pajing 
a special tax. He spoke foicibly of the 
grevious hardships the present law imposes 
on tobacco growers, especially on those 
who grow small patches. Mr. W. H. 
Hatch of Missouri, and Mr. Emory Speer, 
of Georgia, both ably advocated the 
measure, while Mr. G. D. Rjbinson, of 
Massachusetts, and Mr. W. D. Kelley, of 
Pennsylvania, Chairman of the Committee 
of Ways and Means and champion pro¬ 
tectionist of manufacturers, were the chief 
opponents of this measure of great agri¬ 
cultural relief. 
While conceding the burdensome 
nature of this special tax their chief 
objection against its repeal was founded 
on the supposition that its abrogation 
would open wide the door to fraud on 
the revenue and injury to manufacturers; 
for if farmers should be allowed to sell 
tobacco as they pleased, the staple would 
be manufactured in small quantities in 
many places, and the large manufacturers 
would be deprived of the “protection 
they have a right to demand.” Hitherto 
“ protection ” for home manufactures has 
been demanded “against foreign pauper 
labor;” now it seems they must be “pro¬ 
tected ” also against home producers! 
The vote on the bill showed 113 yeas 
against 91 najs; but as the yeas were less 
than two-thirds, the measure was not 
passed ; but the supporters of the bill—the 
friends of the farmer—backed up by the 
expressed wishes of the House, are still 
earnestly advocating the removal of this 
oppressive enactment from the agriculture 
of the country. We heartily commend 
their efforts and w r ish them success. 
WHEAT FIELDS OF THE NORTHWEST. 
This week we close the series of “Bo¬ 
nanza Farm ” articles, descriptive of the 
operations on the largest, of the North¬ 
western wheat-growing areas known by 
this name, that under control of Oliver 
Dalrymple, the first and most extensive 
Bonanza farmer. It will therefore be in¬ 
teresting to cast a brief but comprehen¬ 
sive glance over the vast wheat-growing 
area of the Northeast, embracing nearly 
the whole of Dakota east of the Missis¬ 
sippi River, and a large portion of the 
western part of the Territory, together 
with an extensive but uudetcrmiued area 
in the little-known Province of Manitoba. 
Throughout the settled parts of this wide 
territory, said to he large enough for ten 
States the size of Nevv York, there are 
other very large farms, inferior only in 
extent to that managed by Mr. Dalrym¬ 
ple. Yet the bulk of the wheat is pro¬ 
duced on comparatively small holdings. 
Ever since the virgin prairie was first 
broken in the Red River Valley, in 1870, 
a heavy tide of immigration has been 
steadily pouring into the country. Since 
the census of 1880, it is estimated that 
the farming population of Dakota alone 
has been increased fully 30,000, and the 
immigration of 1882 promises to be much 
heavier than that of any former year. A 
majority of the newcomers are undoubt¬ 
edly attracted by the profits of wheat¬ 
raising in this, the world’s great granary 
of the future, the ultimate wheat field of 
this continent. 
From Western New York and Eastern 
Pennsylvania the wheat-growing industry 
has been moving westward, first, to Ohio 
and Indiana; then to Illinois, Southern 
Michigan and Southern Wisconsin; then 
it crossed the Mississippi into Missouri, 
Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa and Minnesota, 
finally reaching Dakota and Manitoba, be¬ 
yond which further movement westward 
must be barred for ages by the vast grassy 
plains extending to the Rocky Mountains, 
and bn which lain enough never falls for 
successful agriculture. The fertile valley 
of the Red River of the North and the 
rolling prairies of Dakota and Manitoba 
are therefore destined to be the most wes¬ 
terly wheat-producing area on the Atlan¬ 
tic side of those mountains. In Califor¬ 
nia, with its 30,000,000 acres of first-class 
wheat lands, and in Oregon and Washing¬ 
ton Territory with their vast unsettled 
areas adapted to the production of first- 
quality grain, a rival granary may be de¬ 
veloped, but eastward of the “Backbone 
of the Continent,” the Far Northwest, with 
its fertile soil, yielding steadily a certain 
average of at least 20 bushels an acre of 
the highest-priced wheat; its freedom, so 
far as past experience goes, from drought, 
blight, mildew, rust and chinch bugs, and 
its splendid rail and water facilities for 
marketing its product, must be to the 
New World what Hungary and Southern 
Russia are to the Old. 
Our special Western correspondents 
who investigated the subject of Bonanza 
farming, have given the cost per acre of 
the various operations as follows:— 
Breaking, $2 75; backsetting, $1.50; 
seeding, $1.50; harrowing, $0.45; har¬ 
vesting, $2; thrashingand hauling, $2'.50, 
or a total outlay of $10.75 per acre for 
the first cTop, less about 25 per cent, in 
case one owns his own teams, tools and 
machines, making the outlay for the first 
crop, outside of interest on cost of land 
and cost and wear of “ outfit,” oulyabout 
$8 per acre, while the gross income, on 
the reasonable estimate of 20 bushels per 
acre and $1 per bushel, would be $20, 
making a clear profit of $12 per acre. 
This no doubt is the most correct esti¬ 
mate yet given of the cost of these opera¬ 
tions, though it varies somewhat from 
other estimates before us. These put the 
entire cost ail the way from $6 to $10, each 
differing somewhat as to the expense of the 
several operations, but according to the 
highest estimate of outlay, the profit to 
the farmer on each acre of wheat, after all 
the expenses of raising, harvesting and 
marketing Ins crop are paid, can hardly 
fall below ten dollars. 
BREVITIES. 
Very few potatoes which have been raised 
from seed in England thrive here—but many 
of our seedling potatoes thrive in England. 
The Wise* nsin Dairymen’s 1’rotective As¬ 
sociation has combined with the Northwestern 
Dairymen’s Protective Association, becoming 
entitled to three directors. The joint Associ¬ 
ation will defend suits brought agamst any of 
its member* by Huliltell & Co. or any other 
owners or alleged owners of what the Asso¬ 
ciation considers untenable patents on dairy 
implements and processes. Wo are glad to 
notice a growing tendency to protective and 
helpful associations among the many millions 
engaged in husbandry. Combined, their in¬ 
fluence for good in ail directions would be 
paramount ; it is the disunion consequent in 
a great measure on the conditions of their 
vocation, that deprives them of legitimate in¬ 
fluence and exposes them to the depredations 
of patent sharpers and others of that ilk. 
Many of the opponents of oleomargarine 
and suine have suggested, and a few of them 
have insisted, that the manufacturers should 
be comiJelled to color their products with 
some distinguishing hue different from that of 
genuine butter. Pink, violet, ecru, cerise, 
magenta, solferino, sky-blue, mooulight-on- 
the-lake and half a dozen other handsome 
colors hav; been suggested, but, alas for aes¬ 
theticism and honesty ! it seems there is no 
chance of compelling the makers of the stuff 
to adopt any special color. The other day 
the United States Supreme Court said: “Great 
stress is laid on the fact that sugars are man¬ 
ufactured in dark colors on purpose to evade 
our duties. Suppose this is true. Has not a 
manufacturer a i ight to make his goods as he 
pleases ?” The Court that decides that sugar 
may be colored an umiutund dark hue to 
swindle the governmoni, would be very likely 
to decide that oleomai ine might be colored 
an unnatural yellow hue to swindle the public. 
In accordance w ith our usual practice of 
calling the attention of public and private 
benevolence to widespread agricultural dis 
tress in any part of the country, we published 
a few weeks ago a report from Springfield, 
HI., describing the grievous famine prevalent 
in Southern Illinois, owing to tho ulmost to¬ 
tal failure of most crops last year. A trust¬ 
worthy correspondent from Metropolis, Mas¬ 
sac Co., writes us that although crops suffered 
severely from drought, yet the shortage was, 
in a great measure, counterbalanced by un¬ 
usually high prices for all farm products. 
Thei;e have been occasional cases of distress 
among the improvident, but those are easily 
relieved by the local Boards of Charity. All 
in town or country who are willing to work, 
can get it at good wages, uud he hns yet to 
hear of any one in danger of starvation. Dis¬ 
patches from Springfield, Illinois, received 
here last Tuesday, confirm this view of the 
matler. Ju answer to letters from Gov. Cul- 
lom, the County Clerks of Wayne, Wabash, 
Marion, Craw-ford, Clay, Jackson, Union, 
Jefferson and Perry Counties deny the exist¬ 
ence of any distress which the County Boards 
are unable to relieve. The only favor asked 
is a suspension of the collection of taxes on 
real estate until next September. 
All who—having applied for our pres¬ 
ent Seed Distribution inclosing two 
three-cent stamps or an equivalent—have 
not yet received it, will now kindly ad¬ 
vise us by postal card. Those who have 
subscribed for the Rural in connection 
with the Iutcr-Oceau, Detroit Free Press, 
World, or other journals which club 
with us, are not required to pay any 
postage. We stand ready to rectify any 
and all mistakes upon notification by 
postal card. 
-» ♦ ♦- 
Our next special will be devoted to 
Hops and Cranberries. 
All intending to contest for the corn 
premiums will please read the article 
“The Rural Corn Contest,” on page 180. 
If the number on your wrapper after 
the name is 1677, your subscription ex¬ 
pires with this week’s paper ; if the 
number is 1678, next week, and so on. 
Seepage 192 for full explanation. 
We call attention to the article, under 
“ Domestic Economy,” on Doura, as 
showing the value of the grain lor vari¬ 
ous kinds of bread food. This is a vari¬ 
ety of sorghum, and is known by many 
different names, as has already many times 
been explained in these columns. 
--»- 
Alfred Rose makes the statement that 
the crop from seed potatoes which are cut 
in pieces, will ripen 10 to 12 days earlier 
if the the pieces are cut five weeks before 
planting, dusted with plaster and lime 
and spread on boards in the cellar and 
frequently stirred to keep them from 
heating. See his article on page 180. 
-- 
We respectfully call the attention of 
our readers to that part of Mr. B. F. 
Johnson’s article w-hich alludes to animal 
portraiture. Were we not fearful of 
wounding the feelings of our friend the 
National Live Stock Journal, of Chicago, 
we should likewise call its attention to 
the same. 
We desire to correct an editorial state¬ 
ment made on this page, several weeks 
ago, respecting the quality of the flour 
made from Silver Chaff Wheat. We then 
stated it was of inferior quality, and we 
have now to state that it is of excellent 
quality. All of our bread lias been made 
from flour of the same grist. Why this 
difference we cannot determine. 
— ■» + + 
Day’s Early Sunrise Pea, it will be 
seen, is announced this season in the 
catalogues of our progressive seedsmen. 
It has been extensively advertised in Eng¬ 
lish papers for two years past as a grand 
strain—its earliness and productiveness 
being its chief merits. These peas were 
carefully tested last year at the Rural 
Farm on one-twentieth of an acre, and they 
were found to be an intermediate rather 
than an early variety. The pods average 
small, and the vines, though fairly produc¬ 
tive, are not remarkably so. 
Agricultural Appropriations _ 
Last Thursday the House of Representa¬ 
tives passed the Agricultural Appropria¬ 
tion Bill summarized in our issue of 
February 25. As then predicted, the al¬ 
terations made in the original draft were 
trifling. The following amendments were 
adopted: First, that of Mr. J. S. Hazel- 
tine, of Missouri, providing that the 
agricultural reports shall give a full state- 
ment showing the freight charges for the 
chief agricultuaal products on the princi¬ 
pal rail and river routes to the principal 
markets of the United States; second, 
that of Mr. W. S. Holman, of Indiana, 
providing that the quota of seeds to be 
supplied to Congressmen for distribution 
among their constituents, shall be two- 
thirds, instead of one-half, of the amount 
for which $80,000 were appropriated; 
third, that of Mr. C. A. Joyce, of Ver- 
Varioub statistics have lately appeared 
with regard to the present condition and 
acreage of the Winter wheat crop and the 
proportion of last year's crop still in the 
hands of the producers. From a careful 
comparison of several of the best of these 
with each other and with other reports 
made to the Rural from all parts of the 
country,the inference is that the condition 
of the growing wheat is, on the whole, 
remarkably good, although in places some 
damage has occurred from insects and 
frosts. A large increase of acreage over 
last year’s area is reported from Missouri, 
Kentucky and Indiana, and a consider¬ 
able one from Ohio and Kansas. In Illin¬ 
ois there is in the wheat area a decrease 
of 275,296 acres, according to the report 
of the State Board of Agriculture, but 
the outlook is promising for over an aver¬ 
age yield per acre. Of the old w-heat crop 
only a small proportion remains on hand 
in Michigan ana Wisconsin, and only a 
trifle more in Kentucky, Indiana and Min¬ 
nesota. A considerably larger percentage 
is reported to be held back in Ohio, Illi¬ 
nois, Iowa and Missouri. On the whole 
an average of 23 per cent of last year’s 
crop is < stimated to be still in the hands 
of the growers in the Western States, but 
in view of the requirements of seeding in 
many places, and of consumption for the 
next five months the stock is compara¬ 
tively light. Our past experience has 
taught us to be somewhat chary of giving 
full credit to reports of crops made thus 
early in the season; but we give this brief 
summary for what it is worth. 
-- 
THE MISSISSIPPI FLOODS. 
A terrible state of things is revealed 
by the reports of disaster, destruction and 
death caused by the overflow of the Miss¬ 
issippi. Levees which are the only barriers 
against the brimming river most of the dis¬ 
tance from Cairo to its mouth, have been 
mercilessly torn away and the desolating 
waters have submerged the country in 
wme places to a width of 80, 50 and, in 
one place, over 200 miles. Thousands of 
cattle have been drowned, or starved to 
death; houses and barns have been swept 
away and the inhabitants of the bottom 
lands have been forctA to flee for their 
lives, and many have been lost. In reply 
to a query of Secretary Lincoln, it has 
been ascertained that in Arkansas over 
20,000 persons are destitute; in Mississippi 
18,000 ; in Tennessee 10,000, and the 
numbers are continually increasing. The 
latest reports have it that fully 50,000 
people are suffeiing from the floods. 
Some deaths from starvation are already 
reported. Representative King, of Louis- 
ina, states that the 30 counties in his 
State, under water are the richest cotton 
producing districts in the world, and if 
they are not rescued the cotton crop will 
be cut short 500,000 bales this season. 
But few of the homes rendered desolate 
by the floods are at all costly in their 
appointments, but the numerous farmers 
who live along the river and who have 
lost their mules, pigs, horses and cattle 
and whose cotton lands are ten feet under 
water, have reason to be discouraged and 
their appeals for aid should be bountifully 
answered. With the basis of his credit 
swept away, and with this poor outlook 
for raising a crop this season, the poor 
farmer has no sufficient guarantee to give 
the merchant who advances his supplies, 
and he cannot pay in cash. It is doubt¬ 
ful if $40,000,000 will cover the loss in 
tfie inundated region. 
The thing to be done immediately is for 
Congress to meet the demands for'assist- 
ance by sufficient appropriations. Fully 
half a million dollars are needed for im¬ 
mediate relief, and several millions must be 
contributed from public or private sources 
before the sufferers can again get a sound 
footing, and be in the condition to care 
for themi elves. Up to the present time 
Congress has appropriated but $350,000, a 
mere drop in the bucket when we consider 
the vast area—amounting to over 6,000 
square miles—that has been overflowed. 
Inasmuch as this terrible misfortune is 
traceable to no fault of those who suffer I 
from it, it becomes a national duty to re- i 
