All® 5 
one is apt to indulge in too many breeds at 
the outset, and to have too many of each 
breed. All this requires extensive premises 
and considerable capital, and cannot be en¬ 
tered into with reasonable expectations of 
large profits by the beginner. 
A mania for fancy fowls and for prize- 
winning seizes some; they incur large ex¬ 
penses at the beginning, expecting to more 
than meet them with prize money and pro¬ 
ceeds of sales; they must have pure bred fowls 
only, in order to compete successfully with 
their rivals, and if disease or taint disqualifies 
them, both time and money are lost. Such 
poultry keeping is not generally profitable; 
it does not pay. 
If it is not easily practicable to carry on 
this business on a large scale, it should be at¬ 
tempted only on a medium scale. If 30 hens 
are profitable, it does not necessarily follow 
that SCO are 2S times as profitable. Yet the 
prices which the farmer receives for eggs and 
poultry are, on the whole, remunerative, and 
the labor incurred is not great; on the con- 
trary, it is light and agreeable, and may be 
largely performed by the women and younger 
members of the family. 
To the novice in poultry raising I would 
make the folloiving suggestions : 
1 . Have all plans as well matured as pos¬ 
sible before commencing the business, espe¬ 
cially if it is OH a large scale. 
2 . Construct a convenient poultry-house 
that shall be warm and dry in Winter; easily 
ventilated in Summer. 
3. Select for general farm use not more 
than two or three different breeds of fowls. 
4. Feed regularly and liberally, but do not 
overfeed. Give plenty of fresh water aud 
good range in Summer. 
5. Do not overcrowd. Fowls need plenty 
of room, 
(3. Keep in separate apartments If fowls are 
very numerous. 
Concerning the above and other subjects 
more will be said, in detail, later on. 
J. w. D. 
THE LANGSHAN FOWL 
In the Rural of September 34th, 1881, 
appeared an inquiry of mine, thus; “Are the 
Langshans hardy and profitable fowls!" to 
which the following answer was given:—“The 
Langshans are ouly Black Cochins under 
another name, ami as yet have doue nothing 
to merit popularity among those who keep 
fowls for profit, excluding those, of course, 
who breed them and sell them to fanciers for 
$30. to $50. a trio." 
Having learned to look upon the Rural as 
unquestioned authority upm all subjicts per¬ 
taining to farm economy and rural topics, I 
will admit that the above answer lowered the 
estimate I had already placed upon the fowls; 
but having had a favorable opinion of the 
Black Cochin also, I concluded I could not be 
far out of the way, in any event, so i procured 
a breeding pen of the Langshans, consisting 
of five hens and pullets, and a cockerel. At 
the same time I subscribed for the most of the 
Poultry Journals, and obtained many of the 
standard works on poultry. 
Experience has taught me that the Rural 
was wrong in its opinion of the Langshan. 
There is as much difference between the two 
varieties of fowls as there is between any 
other two of the Asiatic breeds, except in 
plumage, the Black Cochin being of a rusty* 
reddish black plumage, aud the Langshan a 
brilliant, coal black, with a beautiful bottle- 
green sheen. I do not deny that they may be 
akin, but the Langsbaus are just ns distinct 
from the Black Cochin as the Brahma class is 
from the Cochin class. So far as the Langshan 
has failed to do anything to merit popularity 
I will only say, that but for the vitalizing in¬ 
fluence of the Langshan upon the Black 
Cochin, the latter would have been nearly 
extinct by this time, owing to tbe failure of 
breeders to produce specimens free from red¬ 
dish or brassy feathers, which were rapidly 
disqualifying them for the show pen. Thus 
far they have done much for the Black Cochin ( 
and for themselves have made a record second 
to none of that class in t his country, 
Experience teaches us that they are distin¬ 
guished for size and weight, egg production, 
beauty of plumage and the general formation 
of the fowl (being in that respect entirely dis¬ 
tinct from the Black Cochin), and, lastly, for 
hardiness they cannot be excelled by any 
breed or variety, as they withstand the effects 
of hot or cold, wet or dry weather, without 
any perceptible change. My heus laid all 
through the Winter aud Spring, and are now 
laying upon an average live eggs a week to 
each hen. They are not persistent sitters, but 
are easily broken up, and between the periods 
of brooding they take an unusually short 
resting spell, before they begin to lay again. 
The young grow up and mature rapidly, 
and with mo excel in that respect either the 
Cochin or Brahma breeds; my four- months- 
old chicks are as large as the mongrel hens I 
keep for hatching purposes. I regard them, 
; 
517 
in all respects, as the most desirable fowl for 
either the farmer or villager, especially when 
profit is the object sought. 
A. S. Stonebraker. M.D. 
McLennan Co., Texas. 
THE ALBION SPRING-TOOTH SULKY 
HARROW. 
One of these implements was sent to the Ru¬ 
ral Farm last Summer for trial. Wa at first 
used it in preparir g a field for wheat, and 
during the present season it was used as a corn 
cultivator. We are very much pleased with 
it in every way, and freely commend it to 
those of our readers who stand in need of im¬ 
plements of this c lass. It is said to effect as 
good work in heavy as in light soil by adjust¬ 
ing tbe frame and thus changing the pitch of 
tbe teeth. As to this we cannot speak, since 
all of our soil is light. The entire workmau- 
shipofthe implement and the material used 
are excellent, it is mounted on wheels four 
feet in diameter, with two-and-one-half inch 
tires, bringing the frame two feet from the 
ground. 
To cultivate corn it is only necessaiy to re¬ 
move two of the central teeth, As it has a 
pole, the harrow follows the line of draft, and 
it is therefore well suited to the cultivation of 
corn planted in drills, as it can be used at any 
desired depth and as soon as the plants are 
large enough to be seen. Considering the 
effectiveness of its work one is greatly pleased 
with its lightness of draft. In this respect it 
is superior to any harrow we have ever used. 
The implement is so constructed that a 
broadcast feeder may be easily attached, and 
this is offered either separate or combined. 
This, however, was not sent to us, and we 
cannot therefore speak of it. An illustrative 
descriptive circular will be sent to all appli¬ 
cants who address the Albion Manufacturing 
Co., AJbioD, Michigan. 
i-UiscflUncous. 
The Alexander and Waterloo Peaches. 
»We received, June 10, from Messrs. Ellwanger 
& Barry, Rochester, N. Y., specimens of 
the above-named peaches. They were grown 
Waterloo. LErom Life 1 Fig. 345. 
by Mr. J. H. Parnell, of West Point, Ga. 
The Waterloo, shown at Fig. 245 was fully ripe, 
juicy and sweet, while the Alexander, shown 
at Fig. 24(5 was unripe, and rather insipid. 
A good idea may be formed of the appear- 
auce of the two peaches from our illustra¬ 
tions. 
- »»♦ -- 
Not "The Truth about Milking.” 
I think “ Farmer” in his article The Truth 
about Milking, on page 4(3(3, has built up a 
man of straw [ have travelid about among 
farmers considerably; but I have never yet 
met one who milked hts cows in the pasture 
as he describes. Very rarely are cows milked 
iu yards, except possibly where a person 
keeps only one or. two. Such an article 
has a teudeney to lower farmers iu pub¬ 
lic opinion, as it. virtually ranks them as boors 
or at least as no more than half civilized be- 
iugs. For one l protest against the publica¬ 
tion of such stuff. I claim that farmers, as a 
class, manage their business as intelligently 
as do men in any other profession. That oc¬ 
casionally, such a man as “ Farmer" describes 
may be found is possible; but such meu are 
not worth the trouble of writing newspaper 
articles about -articles they will never read 
if indeed they ever read anything. 
Ouondaga Co., N. Y. Nelson Ritter. 
Experience with Lilies. 
I have a variegated Hibiscus that usu¬ 
ally becomes covered with buds but none 
have ever opened. [They never open, ac¬ 
cording to our experience, Eds ] For Cal¬ 
ifornia Lilies I have usually dug out the 
ground to the depth of three feet, filled in a 
foot of small round stones for drainage; then 
one foot of good loamy soil on which I placed 
the bulbs, and cover with one foot of earth. 
L. Humboldtii has done splendidly under this 
treatment. During the past season I planted 
a bulb of the Washington Lily in this manner. 
After waiting three months for its appear¬ 
ance, I dug down and found it had neither 
sprouted nor rooted. The base of the bulb had 
commenced to decay. I cut off the affected 
part and again planted it. Little hulblets had 
formed on some three or four leaves that had 
become detached from the old one, and which 
I had planted about three inches apart. I 
hardly expect the parent to amouut to any¬ 
thing, but am in hopes the bulblet, “ being to 
the manor born," may iu time reward my 
efforts with bloom. The Laneifolium varie¬ 
ties have done splendidly, Roseum, or Rubrum. 
and Pisecox especially. From one bulb of L. 
roseum, planted one foot deep, I gathered in 
one season fourteen nice bulbs that had 
formed from the crown of the old bulb along 
the stem quite to the surface of the ground, 
some having roots six inches long. Imported 
bulbs of the Golden-banded Lily (L. auratum) 
have not been a success with me; but home¬ 
grown bulbs have yielded fine bloom. The 
old standard, L. Candidum and L. Longifionim 
grow and blossom profusely without any 
trouble. I have failed to detect the great 
beauty ascribed to Hydrangea paniculata 
grandiflora by nursery men’s catalogues, h.c.f 
Elmira, N. Y. 
-*-M- 
The Vick Memorial. 
I was very glad to read the suggestion of 
R. W. Furnas in regard to a testimonial mon¬ 
ument to the good James Vick, whom so many 
had learned to think of as a dear personal 
friend, aud whose comparatively early taking 
off many, many, deeply regret. I was also 
pleased to read that the Rural, which we each 
year value more highly would gladly aid in 
the work. A small amount from each of his 
patrons would make a considerable sum. I 
will account it a privilege to add my testimony. 
Morristown, Ohio. d. h. b. 
In the Rural for May 27th, p. 304, I notice 
a remedy for the Cabbage-worm—the remedy 
advising the use of air slaked lime to be applied 
when the plants are wet. Now I would like 
to inquire how to remove the lime from the 
cabbage when it is being prepared for the 
table for there must be a considerable accu¬ 
mulation of it from the repeated dustings, w. 
-- 
RURAL BRIhiPLETS, 
As a rule, any f ruit or vegetable which is 
popular in England is popular here, provided 
it thrives equally well in both countries. The 
Vegetable Marrow is an exception. In Eng¬ 
land it is extensively grown aud relished by 
all classes; here we seldom hear of it. It 
needs to be treated as a melon, audits tender¬ 
ness and size depend in a great measure upon 
the rapidity of its growth. The flesh is as 
watery aud tender as a young mangel, while 
it has no decided taste of any kind. 
A raw weeks ago we spoke of the Marlboro 
Raspberry specimens of the fruit and 
branches of which were sent to us to show 
how early the fruit began to ripen. To-day, 
July 18, we have again received several boxes 
of the fruit aud many branches bearing fruit. 
The berries are as large as any we have ever 
seen, many of them measuring not only an 
inch in diameter at the base, but nearly an 
inch (seven-eighths) from the base to the tip. 
The shajie is broadly oblong-conical, the color 
a rich crimson. The drupes do not separate 
tinder ordinary handling and the berry car¬ 
ries well. In quality, it is neither juicy nor 
dry—neither sweet nor sour, it is simply a 
rich, delicious raspberry. We hope that the 
Marlboro when offered for sale will be found 
to produce just such fruit in less favored 
parts of the couutry.,.,. 
Mr. J. 8. Woodward writes us that he 
sowed a couple of acres of Champion Amber 
Wheat last Fall with good care but no better 
than that given his whole crop, and he is 
quite sure it will yield 50 bushels to the acre. 
It is not as tall as Clawson or Mediterranean, 
but the heads are very long. . . . This re¬ 
minds ns that Mr. Woodward last year re¬ 
marked that, year in and year out, he greatly 
preferred the Mediterranean. A few years 
ago, we thought there was no wheat like 
Clawson for the Rural Farm. One of the 
Rural people remarked a week or so ago that 
there was not one kind in our regular wheat 
field that he would not prefer to it. One can¬ 
not experiment carefully without having oc¬ 
casion to change his views, cherished though 
they may be. . 
We have received the following card: “Is 
there not a premium offered iu your paper 
for two stalks, one of wheat and one of chess 
both coming from the same root, and is it 
possible for such to happen ? If so I have such 
in my possession.” 
We do not remember that we have ever 
offered a premium, but we stand ready to do 
so and there are many botanists who will 
join us no doubt. The thing is utterly im¬ 
possible, and our friend will find that the two 
plants proceed from different root?. 
A friend who has just returned from New 
Mexico, after a flying visit, writes as follows: 
“ I had a very pleasant flying trip to New 
Mexico, and was greatly interested, every¬ 
thing was so different and so entirely new— 
not a bird, insect, plant or tree, and hardly 
an animal or man was like what I had been 
used to seeing. The climate was just simplv 
delightful, such magnificent nights for sleep¬ 
ing, one would get up in the morning feeling 
as if Sullivan would tie only a plaything iu 
his hands, and although the sun shines hot 
yet theair isso pure and dry that we did not 
mind the hot sunshine”.,.....,... 
Wk take the liberty, pro bono publico, to 
print the following private letter received 
from Mr J. H. Hale, of South Glastonbury 
Conn. “ 1 notice with pleasure what you have 
to report in favor of the Manchester Straw¬ 
berry. It is better than ever. Here with us 
this season, aud all through iny trip West 
wherever I found plants set last Fall, 1 found 
them loaded with fruit, Bidwell has been 
a disappointment, to me. I was at the Bos¬ 
ton show with a lot of Manchester Straw¬ 
berries, plants and fruit, at the end of 
June last to convince Mr. Hovey that he 
had made a great mistake in calling it the 
same as the Hovey Seedling. Mr. Hovey 
came late in the afternoon and at once admit¬ 
ted that he had made a mistake and that the 
two sorts were entirely distinct. Pres. Wilder 
said at once, on seeing the fruit, “ Oh, no, 
that’s not the Hovey, Mr. Hale,” and after- 
eating a few, he said. “ It is a good berry; yes, 
a very good berry."..... 
CATALOGUES. ETC., 
Ellwanger and Barrv, Rochester N Y 
Descriptive Priced Catalogue of strawberries’ 
blackberries, raspberries, gooseberries, cur¬ 
rants, etc. offered for the Summer and 
Autumn of 1882. Portraits of Fay’s Prolific 
Currant, (now offered for the first,) of the 
Gregg Raspberry, Sharpless Strawberry, etc. 
Instructions are given as to the preparation 
of the soil, directions for culture, etc. This 
Catalogue is given free to applicants. 
J. T Lovett, Little Silver, Monmouth Co. 
New Jersey. Summer and Autumn Pam¬ 
phlets of pot-gown and layer strawberry 
plants, with instructions for their cultivation. 
Also a prettv colored picture of the Man¬ 
chester. and an Announcement of the Hansell 
Raspberry. 
Pamphlet. The Holywell White Pig 8 . List 
of over 300 prizes, value $7,000, won during 
the last five years by Mr. Sanders Speucer of 
Holywell Manor, St. Ives’, Hunts., Eugland. 
Circular, H. H. Brown. Light St. Blooms- 
burgb, Columbia Cc., Pa. Italian Beer, 
Queens, Colonies, Comb Foundations, Extract¬ 
ors, etc. 
General Entomological Notes in pam¬ 
phlet foi m, first published in the American 
Naturalist, by Prof. C. V. Riley. 
Sorghum Sugar Cane. 
EXPERIMENTS ON ITS GROWTH AND SUGAR 
PRODUCT. 
We here condense the official account of the 
experiments made in sorghum sugar cane in 
1881, by Geo. H, Cook, Director of the New 
Jersey Agricultural Experiment Stution: 
“During the last session of our Legislature 
a bill was passed entitled “ An act to encour¬ 
age the manufacture of sugar iu the State of 
New Jersey. ” This act provides that a bounty 
of one dollar per ton be paid by the State to 
the farmer for each ton of material out of 
which crystallized cane sugar has actually 
