606 
they can take, it will fill them up to their 
usual size and tighten the tire. After the oil 
a coat of paint is a good thing to help keep 
them from shrinking, and also to help keep 
out the water If you do not wish to go to 
the trouMe of mixing paint, you can heat the 
oil and tie a rag to a stick and swab them 
over as long as they will take oil. A brush is 
more convenient to use, but a swab will 
answer if j'ou do not wish to buy a brush. It 
is quite a saving of time and money to look 
after the woodwork of farm machinery. Al¬ 
ternate wettingaud drying injuresand causes 
the best of wood soon to decay and lose its 
strength uuless kept well painted. It pays to 
keep a little oil on hand, to oil fork-handles, 
rakes, neck y kes, whiflletrees and any of 
the small tools on the farm that are more or 
less exposed. 
PITHS AND REMINDERS. 
The London Garden says, speaking of po¬ 
tatoes, that the more abundant producers 
of to-day, the new kinds, although fine in 
form, are deficient in flavor, and it is a fact 
that some of the old fashioned, ugly tubers, 
with deep eyes, stand far higher in flavor 
than many of the much vaunted exhibition 
sorts... 
It is believed that the killing of fish imme¬ 
diately after taking them from the water 
makes them superior in taste to those that 
50 to 80 bushels per acre. Corn is very prom¬ 
ising, the early corn being already made; 
with another good rain the corn crop will be 
from 50 to 60 bushels per acre. The crop of 
fruit in the county was never better. Apples 
the lighest of all, but plenty and very fine. 
Peaches and pears very plentiful. Lands are 
still cheap here; climate good and healthv 
and we have still room for frien Is and neigh¬ 
bors. N. F. G. 
Newton Falls, Trumbull Co., Aug. 15.— 
Harvesting is about done hereabouts. We 
have harvested one of the largest yields of 
grain ever cut in this part of the State. Wheat 
was put up in prime order. Haying was de¬ 
layed by a week of excessive rains; a large 
amount of it being secured. Oats is very 
heavy; down badly but well filled. Corn is 
coming on nobly; the prospect now is for 
about a two thirds crop. As to potatoes, 
there is a prospect now of an immense yield; 
they are now only worth 40 cents; wheat, $1; 
corn, 85 cents: oats, 65 cents. As to stock, 
the majority of farmers are holding for bet¬ 
ter prices ; good grade yearlings are worth 
from $25 to $40 per head; good prime beef is 
high—4 to 4% cents on foot. The prospect for 
sheep is not flattering. Wool is slow sale at 
28 to 85 cents. Fruit, especially apples, will 
bescarce: they have dropped off badly. There 
will not be a quarter crop of bu ided peaches, 
but on seedling trees there will be a good 
are left to die, says the Coast Pilot. . crop—but few on budded. Pears a fair crop. 
The Cambridge Tribune says that ihe aver¬ 
age age of every fish, fowl and animal is 
known to naturalists, with one exception. 
That exception is the age of a Spring 
chicken....... 
The Editor of the Rural Home while paying 
one of his agreeably described visits to farmers 
about the country,w greatly interested in two 
young girls—we mean in the novel work of 
two young girls (one not yet in her teens), who 
drove the horses and rode the sulky rakes 
that gleaned the hay-fields. Their large sun 
bonnets with spacious collars he say's effectu¬ 
ally excluded both sun and wind from the 
face and neck. It is certainly evidence of 
great progress, that the once arduous labor 
of raking hay has become pastime for wealthy 
farmers’ daughters...... 
He presents a very interesting sketch of Mr. 
Daniel E. Roger’s life who began with $500 over 
50 years ago. This he invested in land and bor¬ 
rowed to buy more. His farm now consists 
of over 300 acres all his own with a hand¬ 
some competence besides. Such farmers 
should tell us “ How to work up a Poor Farm’’ 
for the benefit of those who are now engaged 
in the trying ordeal.... 
A miser is a man who lives and dies like a 
beggar in order that he may never be poor. 
—Herald...... . 
Puck says that the song of the tramp is 
The prospects for the coming fairs are good. 
A lively competition is already opened, and 
we look forward for a good show. There is a 
good outlook that a large acreage of wheat 
will be sowu this Fall. Democrat aud Fultz 
are mostly sown in this section. e. w. t. 
Vermillion, Marshall Co., Aug, 11.—By 
the by we are afraid Horticola was James 
Vick himself, and we should miss his pleasant 
notes for aye. [No.—Eds ] No, don’t slight 
the farmers’ wives in the seed department. 
Why some of us take charge of all the seeds 
you send, and I know of one woman's interest 
in them which will result in one new subscri¬ 
ber at least. So you see, Mr. Editor, you 
can’t afford to be partial, and, mind, we like 
the flowers the best. Men are always willing 
to buy seeds which result iu something edible 
for “their god iB”—no, I won’t say it. Our 
gardens are splendid, sweet corn is larger than 
I over saw it. But oh 1 that Rural Flint! Why r , 
it has 10 to 15 suckers and I’m afraid of them, 
for I do want that organ so badly. If the 
field corn follows suit of the sweet there will 
be a splendid crop. Much of the small grain 
was badly wetted and sprouted before stack¬ 
ing here. M. b. n. 
Iowa. 
Melrose, Grundy Co., August 3,—Yester¬ 
day I took a ride of about 20 miles through 
“Gobble, gobble, gobble!”. our COUQ ty and found wheat harvest just 
Hon. R. S. Quick (England) says that there 
is no other breed that has the same rich blend¬ 
ing of color as is seen in the well-bred Short¬ 
horn ; nowhere else is seen the same rich and 
brilliant blending of color as in the long and 
fine hair of the mellow mossy coats of well- 
commenced with the wheat rather too green 
to cut. To every man I met I called out, 
“How is your wheat?” The answer was 
always “Good, well filled, and plump.” Oats 
heavy but badly down from a heavy rain a 
week ago. We had two weeks of splendid hay- 
bred Short horns. “8 weather from July 14th to 28tb, and most 
The Elmira Club suggests that kerosene 
oil may be an effective agent in killing such 
weeds as Burdock and Canada Thistle. It is 
certainly cheap and destructive to plant life 
of the hay was pot up in good order aud it was 
the heavest crop I ever saw in Iowa. I put in 
my barn 18 large loads of clover and timothy 
from six acres, and there was about as heavy 
general a cro P P u ^ U P ^y my tenant from 50 acres 
1 have lived to thank God that all my 
prayers have not been answered.—Jean Inge- 
low...... 
more. Rye is a good crop boih in quantity and 
quality, all now in stack. Barley but little 
sown this season. Corn a large crop on the 
Sow lettuce and radish seeds. K round and ] ooka S well = , lf xt . were ovl y two 
The Vermont Watchman parts with Fro- 0r three weeks earlier j lbera 18 uot mutdl 5n 
lessor Sanborn with deep regret. ^ ^’ ct > and unless frost holds off until the 
r . w tv.,, , v D middle of October, all the north half of Iowa 
James H Kelly built a very substantial 
fence around his barn-yard which he painted 
on both sides, says the Rural Home. Some 
valuable cattle were yarded in the barn-yard 
nights, and they found something in the 
paint that induced them to lick it. The re¬ 
sult was that some of them died from the ef¬ 
fects of the poison contained in the paint. 
Cmvfjw IjffC. 
RURAL SPECIAL RPORTS. 
Connecticut. 
Uncasville, New London Co., August 9.— 
We have bad no rain since July 5, except that 
on July LSth aud 29th. On my way from 
Norwich the29th I passed through arery heavy 
shower over Mohegan (three miles north of 
us) and was rejoicing over the blessing, but 
was disappointed to find here only the top of 
the ground moistened. Part of the pastures 
are as dry and as brown as in Winter. Grass 
on my new seeded lands is entirely dead. 
Turnips sowed July 8 h and since not up. 
Kansas. 
Junction City, Davis Co. Aug. 8.— The crops 
are simply immense. Thrashing of our small 
grain is progressing as fast as the machines 
can turn it out, the wheat yielding 25 to 40 
bushels per acre; berry large and heavy; oats j 
will have very little sound corn this Fall. 
Until our corn raisers learn better than to 
plow their corn as deep as they can put the 
corn plow down, and keep plowing until the 
10th of July, we may expect frost bitten corn 
in every backward season. I have no doubt 
but millions of bushels of corn will be lost this 
year by such plowing. I never have allowed 
my corn plows in the corn after the fourth of 
July since 1857. Iu that year I spoiled a crop 
on75acres by plowing until nearly the first of 
August. That was the third crop I had ever 
tried to raise, I had got through about two 
thirds of my field when an old farmer came 
along and said, “You are spoiling your corn,” 
and I stopped plowing and on that part of the 
crop not plowed the last time was all the 
sound corn I had that year. This season that 
same old farmer’s ton 1 saw plowing corn on 
22d of July, as deep as be could put the plow 
in. I don’t pretend to know all about corn 
raising, but I do know most farmers in a 
backward season do injure their crops by too 
deep and too late plowing. Now comes some 
Southern crank and says that to get the best 
results you must plant your corn 12 feet wide 
in the rows, and 10 or 13 inches in the row, 
but I shall adhere to the four feet rows. Many 
farmers hereabouts have adopted the drilling 
plan; they say with good results, but I see 
they get it too thick in the rows and raise too 
many nubbins. e. m, . 
Osage, Mitchell Co., August 6. —Here in 
Northern Iowa the crops are better than an 
average, save corn w hich, with frequent 
showers and warm sun, is coming forward 
rapidly Some fields on low, wet land will 
fail to mature should the usual killing frosts 
occur in early September. i>. s. e. 
Kent uckv. 
W ilsonville, Spencer Co , Aug. 6. — We 
have the best wheat crop, I expect, that was 
ever raised in Kent ucky; but owing to the con- 
i tinual wet weather I am fearful a great deal 
’ will be injured. It is the best I have ever 
raised, and I have been raising wheat for 25 
years. There would have been a larger yield 
i if there had not been so much blown down 
while in bloom. More oats tban I have ever 
known. Rye an average crop. If the weather 
continues seasonable two or three weeks longer 
our corn will also be an average crop. OwiDg 
to too much rain a great many did not culti¬ 
vate their corn crop as they should. Most of 
the hay crop is injured by weeds, aud owing 
to the rainy weather it is almost impossible to 
save what hay there is. More sorghum 
planted than ever before. j. p. p. 
Michigan. 
Athens, Calhoun Co., Aug. 8.—Wheat 
looked to be over an average crop before har¬ 
vest, but when we got to harvest we found it 
was not well filled; harvest commenced about 
July 13th, about eight days later than usuaL 
We had fair weather up to July 27th, and 
about two-thirds of the crop was secured in 
fine condition, without a drop of rain on it; 
the balance is out yet, for it has rained every 
day since July 30, and when secured it will 
only be fit for feed. It was thought before 
harvest that wheat would average about 20 
bushels per acre; but it will not go more than 
16, and what is damaged by rain will make 
the crop fit for bread fall 20 per cent, below 
this. Early cut hay badly damaged; Tim. 
othy hay, cut iu harvest, got in good condi¬ 
tion. Hay over an average crop. Apples 
light crop. Cherries scarce. Potatoes good. 
Oats good. We have just commenced cutting 
them. Corn late but a good stand, and if 
frost h ;lds off until September 20 there will 
be a good crop. Season wet until July 10, and 
corn planted on low ground a failure. 
This will not exceed eight per cent. Har¬ 
vest wages $2 to $2 50 per day. Fifty per 
cent, of the wheat was cut with binders. 
Dealers in twine binders have made a good 
thing here this season, and as far as I can 
hear the machines have given good satisfac¬ 
tion. One machine, I was told by the agent, 
cut 35 acres without missing a bundle. M'L. 
Oshtemo, Kalamazoo Co., Aug. 8. —The 
season has been a varied one of extreme low 
temperature up to the commencement of this 
month, since which we have constant rain, a 
deluge, with extremely close a nd warm weather 
the kind that gives the corn a boom, and where 
corn has been kept clean and well tended it is 
now doing finely and promises a good crop, 
but uot over half of the corn I have seen has 
been tended as it ought to have been aud the 
result is that poorly cared for fields will pro¬ 
duce but little. The two weeks of harvest 
were all that could be desired—fine, cool and 
dry; then cauie a seven days’ deluge with ex¬ 
treme heat—aud as is always the case many 
have their wheat out in shocks—perhaps a six¬ 
teenth of the crop of this county is iu this 
condition, and all such is wholly ruined for 
all purposes save feeding. One half of the 
crop is in stacks and much of that is damaged 
badly, aud as one goes north this state of 
things is still worse, as people there are 1 ter 
in their harvest than we are. We bad the 
finest quality of wheat berry ever raised, and 
to have it thus ruined is a great calamity 
which must shrink the crop in money value 
for this State many millions of dollars, yet 
the corn will reap much benefit from this 
weather, as the ears are pushing prodigiously- 
Potatoes, if this weather doesn’t rot them, 
will be fine and plentiful. Apples will uot be 
over one-quarter of crop. Peaches about the 
same. Grapes, where not injured by the Rose- 
bug, will be flue. Taking the season all in 
all, we have reason to feel where we have 
done our share towards making a crop it 
will pay us for onr labor. t. p. d. 
Watson, Allegan Co., August 7 —We 
have had a cool season up to this date—no hot 
weather, consequently vegetation is behind 
time in growth. Haying and wheat harvest 
did not commence till about two weeks later 
than usual, and at this present writing there 
is considerable wheat in shock, and also some 
haying on lowland not done. Up to July 28 
we had splendid weather for haying aud har¬ 
vesting, but at that date a slight shower pre¬ 
vailed, and almost every day since it has 
rained more or less. We cut some grass on 
the 25th, and have not been able to stir it yet, 
on account of rain and cloudy weather, and 
now, while I write, the thunder is mutter¬ 
ing, betokening more of the same aqueous 
element. Wheat standing in the shock is 
sprouting, aud if wet weather continues for 1 
another week much damage will result from 
it. Probably more than half of the wheat 
has been secured, and most of the haying done 
all of which before the rain came was put up 
in good order. Oats are good, and some 
pieces are ready to cut, and if the weather 
permits the crop will all be harvested within 
the next two weeks. Potatoes will yield well; 
this rain, which was much needed, will give 
them the finishing touches, and, by the way, 
the earlier we plant them here the hetter, 
because, 1st, they get so rank before the Col¬ 
orado beetle begius to hatch that these pests 
do not relish theca, and 2d, the drought is not 
so liable to affect them. I have made early 
planting a practice for some yearsand always 
have had good potatoes. There is not an 
abundant supply of fruit, but there will be 
some, more than enough for home use. So 
far it has been a poor corn season—too cool; 
but the past week has been warm and wet 
enough to make a rapid growth. The times 
are good—more farm laborers are ueeded at 
high wages. Macbiuery of all sorts is brought 
into requisition, and still such is the demand 
that there is a scarcity of help, both male and 
female. The injunction “whatsoever thy 
hands find to do, do it with thy might,” can 
have full play here if the hands are willing. 
No one need complain of a lack of any of the 
comforts of life, who has health and a wil¬ 
lingness to act his part in the great battle of 
existence. Wheat (new) starts out at 90 cents 
per bushel; old corn, 88 to 90 cents; new po¬ 
tatoes, 50 cents; cheese, 10 cents; butter 18 to 
20 cents. We feel that we have every reason 
to be thankful to the Giver of all Good for 
his watchful care and bountiful Provi¬ 
dence. H. D. E. 
New York. 
Andes, Delaware Go., Aug. 10.—Our hay 
crop is pretty much harvested and was 
an abundant crop and of better quality 
than usual. The oat crop is progressing fine¬ 
ly, though inclined to rust. I think potatoes 
are of a splendid quality. Our fruit crop is 
not as full as expected; apples have dropped 
off very badly. Corn, a good average crop— 
not large. The weather is very warm and 
dry at present. G. P. c. 
North Carolina. 
Henderson, Vance Co., Aug. 11.— Our 
wheat was probably as good as was ever 
grown iu the State aud it is a great blessing 
that it is so, as the drought of last year left us 
but scanty rations of com. There will be but 
little wheat left at Christmas, providing the 
people can get hold of it; it is now cheaper 
than corn and many are feeding it to their 
horses and mules. Abundance of rain has in¬ 
sured us an excellent crop of corn, while the 
late rains and warm weather have caused 
great improvement in the growth of cotton. 
Cultivation has been prevented by rains and 
many fields are “laid by” in a strong growth 
of Crab Grass. The peach crop was immense 
and has brought fair prices. Grapes about a 
balfcrop; vines made but little growth last 
year, consequently there is but little bearing 
wood. M. B. p. 
Circlkville, Pickaway Co., Aug. 5.— 
The largest acreage of wheat, and probably 
the largpt yield per acre, ever raised in the 
Scioto Valley is now mainly secured. Fully 
one-third of the crop is now’ thrashed and gone 
to market at prices ranging from $1,12% to 
95 cents, according to time of delivery—very 
little at the latter figure, and farmers who 
have not contracted at something better are 
inclined to hold until the first great rush is 
over. Thrashers are overtaxed by the im¬ 
mense crop of straw aud cannot meet the de. 
rnands, but most of that unthrashed is now in 
the rick and farmers are likely to rest until 
things grow easier. The yield of that 
thrashed is from 15 to 25 bushels, some excep¬ 
tional pieces averaging 35 and even 40 bushels, 
but they are comparatively few; yet I should 
not be surprised if the final returns would 
show the average for the eouuty to be some¬ 
where near 20 bushels per acre. Corn is very 
poor and backward. Our county, although 
generally blessed with plenty and much to 
spare, cannot give a half crop this season; the 
continued floods put a dead-lock on all progress 
in its proper cultivation. Much ground was 
plowed that was uot seeded; much more was 
planted that was never plowed, and still more 
was cultivated after a fashion that will never 
repay the expense. Iu many localities feed 
will be scarce and high, although there is an 
abundant hay crop, which, with another week 
of flue weather such as we are having now, 
will be cured and saved in a much better man¬ 
ner than is usual. Oats aud rye are raised 
here only in isolated places, and cannot be 
considered leading crops. Few potatoes are 
grown, but there w ill probably be enough to 
supply the local demand; they are not above 
the average. Butchers’ stuff has been picked 
up so close that there is very little stock on 
hand at present fit for the shambles, j, h, w. 
