DEC 8 
834 
THE RURAL HEW-YORKElfc 
HEAVY DRAFT OF SULKY PLOWS. 
I have read with interest the articles on 
sulky plows in the Rural, and will give my 
experience. When I bought mine the agents 
told me I could use it with two horses, so I 
bought a colt and put him in the team, but 
found I had too much of a load, and I had to 
get another horse. Then the plow did excel¬ 
lent work. I rented, and the farm I was on 
had been under wheat the year previous, and 
.the weeds and trash were enormous. Sun¬ 
flowers were eight to ton feet high; but I 
plowed them under and planted corn, and was 
never bothered with the trash. It is not pos¬ 
sible for a walking plow to do as good work 
as a sulky plow under such conditions. I used 
it the second year on corn stubble where it did 
good work, but ran heavy; but I plowed 60 
acres with three good horses. The third year 
I rented a larger farm and had to have five 
horses, so I bought a 14-inch iron-beam plow 
and put my lightest horses on that walking 
plow and one of my sons plowed with that 
team, while I took the sulky and the three 
heaviest horses,the combined weight being 3,- 
500 lbs. The small team, with the walking plow, 
did more work than I could do with the sulky 
plow and three horses; and the sweat was 
running off of my team while my son’s was 
dry. I laid the sulky on one side, went to 
town, bought another walking plow and did 
my plowing with that. The sulky, with 
breaking attachment, cost 865 on time; but I 
traded it off for $10 and another 14-inch iron- 
beam walking plow. There are here in Ne¬ 
braska many sulky plows that have been laid 
aside on account of their heavy draft. The 
farmers call them “ horse-killers.” Various 
makes are thus condemned. If I could get 
one of light draft for plowing corn-stubble, I 
would prefer it to any other on aceouat of the 
snperior work it would do. I suppose snlkys 
run easier on wheat stubble than on corn land. 
My sulky was a 16-inch plow. D. B M. 
Sulky Flows. 
A great many sulky plows are used in this 
section, and a great many kinds. I farm 130 
acres, and have used a 16-inch sulky plow 
four years; I have also used a walking plow. 
In hard or soddy, unsubdued grouud, or to 
cover a heavy growth of vegetation, a sulky 
is much batter tliau a walking plow, but 
sulky plows all draw heavier than walking 
plows to tum the same dirt. Some claim the 
sulky carries the plow, making it much easier; 
others that the plow carries the sulky, there¬ 
by making it much easier. Be net deceived; 
the whole weight has to be drawn. A sulky 
plow can do good work in good ground; sO 
can a walkiug plow. It takes as much skill 
to ran a sulky as a walking plow. I would 
not recommend a sulky plow for very stony 
or stumpy ground. If a man chooses to ride 
while plowing, there is no reason why he 
should not, just the same as if he was going to 
the post-office for the Rural. 
Humboldt Co., Iowa. O. E. French. 
THE MALAY FOWL. 
The Malay fowl, of which an illustration is 
given at Fig. 455 is not mentioned in the Amer¬ 
ican Standard of Excellence, and is quite 
a rare bird in this country. It is a variety of 
game fowl native to Malacca, an island in the 
East India archipelago. The inhabitants of 
this island, who are known as Malays, are 
truculent, savage and pugnacious, and, as be¬ 
comes such a people, one of their most en¬ 
gaging andfavorite sports is cock fighting. 
For the enjoyment of this propensity they 
have bred this bird, which is large, muscular 
and of very savage disposition. The full- 
grown male weighs nine pounds and stands 80 
inches in bight. It is not without a sort of 
rugged muscular beauty in its peaceful mo¬ 
ments, for its plumage isclose-fltting, bard and 
of a brilliant luster, the feathers beiug nar¬ 
row and ribbon like, especially in the tail. It 
varies in color, although the white is the most 
popular. The comb is a flat, broad, irregular 
excrescence, and the wattles merely appar¬ 
ent aud no more; the beak is curved, strong 
and very sharp; the legs are long and stout, 
the thighs being extremely muscular. The 
shoulders and back are broad, indicating 
great strength. The whole make-up of the 
Malay is an instance of the adaptation of nat¬ 
ural characteristics to surrounding circum¬ 
stances or environments. When bred as a fight¬ 
ing bird in its native country it possesses all 
the points of an athlete, as hardness of mus¬ 
cles, a thin, lithe, sinuous form, hard, close, 
compact feathers, the sharpest weapons of of¬ 
fence, and great muscular strength and dis¬ 
position of temper to use it. But when bred 
by fanciers as a show bird, and for its more 
peaceful points, it rapidly loses it former 
characteristics aud becomes very much 
changed. No doubt continued breeding would 
in time make of this bird an excellent and 
useful member of society, and turn its best 
points, as large weight and good muscular 
development, to a better use than to minister 
to the cruel and barbarous propensities of a 
certain class of persons who find pleasure in 
inflicting pain upon animals not much lower 
or more brutal in character than themselves. 
Bnml (Topics. 
NOTES ON BACK NUMBERS. 
T. H. HOSKINS, M. D. 
Rural, Nov. 4—The instructions given for 
raising seedling potatoes by the Rural edi¬ 
tor will unquestionably set hundreds to ex¬ 
perimenting in this direction, and can hardly 
fail to result in the production of some 
valuable seedlings. Potato seed i3 a scarce 
article to what it used to be 40 years ago. 
Then nearly every sort fruited heavily; but 
for the last 15 years, though growing a large 
number of varieties in that , time, I have seen 
but one that was like the earlier sorts (before 
the advent of the potato rot) in this respect. 
This is the Excelsior, a New Hampshire 
potato of very superior quality, but not pro¬ 
ductive of tubers, which the seed-balls upon 
the vines will fully equal in weight. I think 
the Excelsior would be an excellent sort to 
grow seed from, or to cross upon. Mr. 
Pringle, I believe, used it freely for that 
purpose. Was it not one of the parents of 
the Snowflake ? 
How full of instruction, of solid informa¬ 
tion, is everything that flows from the pen 
of Sir John Bennet Lawesl There is that in 
his writing which the plain farmer, however 
prejudiced against “science,” Instinctively 
puts faith in. It has the flavor of the sod in 
it, and the peculiar raciness of practicality. 
“ It looks reasonable,” is a frequent comment 
upon Sir John’s statements among Vermont 
farmers whom I meet. A man so full of 
knowledge does not And it neecssary to b9 
paradoxical in order to attract attention. 
Isn’t Clem Auldon rather too sarcastic for 
such an old man as he claims to be ? Old age 
should soften our asperities; but I confess to 
a wicked enjoyment of his sharpnesses. They 
ought to do more than cut; they should be 
taken to heart, and “do good like a medicine.” 
Mr. Stewart’s article on Marketing Butter 
is full of instruction to young dairymen upon 
a point of the first importance. Every word 
of it is true, unless we except the very lost 
sentence. Are honest commission agents “ as 
scarce as hens’ teeth f" 
I am glad your “ well known horticul¬ 
turist ’’ (Rural Brieflets) commends the Alpha 
potato. I had it from the originator (Mr. 
Pringle) before it was introduced to the pub¬ 
lic some ten years ago, and have grown it 
ever since, finding no equal to it in earliness, 
and no superior in quality. It has the merit 
(unique, I think) of being mealy as soon as it 
is big enough to cook. 
Mr. Purdy's suggestion (p. 750) to plant 
the blackberry along the stone-wails is good, 
but I would add, on the lee Bide. The snow¬ 
drift is a cheap and effective protector to the 
lackberry oanes, which are tender almost 
everywhere north of New York city in New 
England. Pinch them back to make them 
branch low. 
I have never been any more “ out of my 
head ” than you, Mr. Editor, on the ensilage 
question; but I must bear testimony that not 
a dairyman in Vermont who has tried it is 
otherwise than pleased with ttse result of his 
experiment. There are some 80 of them, at 
least, some of three seasons’ experience, and 
all say it is good and pays well. Their num¬ 
ber is rapidly increasing, and plank rather 
than stone silos are the rale. Very little 
trouble from frost. 
Rural, Nov. 11.—I think Mr. Brown (p. 764) 
will call in vain for anybody who has found 
cooking feed for stock profitable. Neither 
will he find souring it of any advantage. I 
like the candor of his article. The sort that 
confesses failure is as valuable as it is rare. 
Glad to And some report of Poughkeepsie 
Red Grape in Mr. Williams’s article (p. 764). 
It pleased many wonderfully at Montreal, and 
Canadians and North Vermonters are eager 
to try it. If a little earlier than Delaware, it 
will be just the thing for us. 
Col. Curtis i3 about right on the pig ques¬ 
tion every time, and never more so than in 
commending sweet corn for young pigs. It Is 
just the thing, and they like it. I grow sweet 
corn between my rows of newly-planted 
strawberries, and the ear3 go to the pigs and 
the stalks to the cows. The satisfaction en¬ 
suing is unanimous all around. 
Concentrated skim-miik and whey! That 
is a good idea of the saving Germans. What 
worlds of waste there are upon the farms of 
bounteous America! When these articles 
can be used directly for human food it does 
seem a waste to work them into pork. But 
most of them must go that way under our 
present methods of farming. If fed to pigs 
perhaps the waste may not be so great as it 
appears. Tbe pig may be as good a condenser 
aud as cheap as the vacuum-pan. 
J. T. A. (p. 765) quotes Cole’s Quince first in 
bis list of profitable early apples for Nebras¬ 
ka. This illustrates the wide adaptability of 
some varieties. The Red Astrachan succeeds 
from Montreal to New Orleans. I do not 
know how far south Cole’s Quince is found 
profitable, but it originated in Maine, and is 
reported favorably on all the way across to 
the plains. It seems quite hardy here in North¬ 
ern Vermont, a good grower and bearer, with 
large and marketable fruit when on a strong 
soil, which it requires. It is one of the finest 
cooking apples, and when very mellow is ten¬ 
der in flesh, mild and rich, with a distinct 
quince flavor and aroma. 
Village improvement.as discussed (p. 767) 
by Mr. Parsons, is well worthy of more space 
than has been given to it by the agricultural 
press. One thing only do I waut to dissent 
from in Mr. Parsons’s article: it is his com¬ 
mendation of ** agreeably-designed fences.” I 
live near one of the neatest villages in New 
England, with plenty of nice fences—stone, 
iron and wood. But by far the most tasteful 
streets are those where fences have been en¬ 
tirely discarded. The change is so great an 
improvement that it spreads rapidly and yard 
fences “ must go.” 
Malay Cock.—Fig. 455. 
Dry sand is just as good for packing other 
fruit as for oranges (p. 767). Our farmers 
who have yet only Fall fruit keep Duchess of 
Oldenburgh aud other September apples well 
into the Winter packed in sand, or only half 
buried in the sandy cellar bottom. The sand 
need not be perfectly dry for apples. So 
packed, the Wealthy keeps perfectly until 
June. But it must he sound fruit, and free 
from worms and bruises. 
Rural, Nov. 18. —The very able and can¬ 
did reports upon grapes by Messrs. Will¬ 
iams, Campbell aud Cay wood in this issue of 
the Rural are of the highest interest and 
value. We are too far north to do much with 
standard sorts, and yet we have a first-rate 
gTape soil and climate if we can only have 
kinds early enough. A sort one week earlier 
than Salem or Delaware, sure , is all we ask 
for. Except that we must go to the cost of 
covering, it is only lack of earliness that 
keeps us out of the grape business. As it is, a 
good many acres are grown near Montreal. 
Give us a good grape as early, hardy and pro¬ 
ductive as Talrnan and we are all right. But 
give us a bunch of potato balls In preference 
to tbe Talrnan. 
Mr. Stewart (p. 781) rather goes for Dr. 
Brush, doesn’t he? And I think the Doctor de¬ 
serves it. It is a.pity that men cannot often 
sufficiently combine practical with scientific 
knowledge to go safely in treating of ques¬ 
tions where both sorts of information are es¬ 
sential. Mr. Stewart tells “the truth about it.” 
Thanks to Mr. Bensel. Can he throw any 
light upon tbe vexed question of our Dutch 
Mignonne alias Blenheim Pippin i 
What a glorious thing to the public who 
are interested in domestic sugar production is 
the success this season, East and West, in the 
manufacture of sorghum sugar as noted on p. 
783. And how equally glorious to my valued 
friend Professor Collier is the vindication he 
has received by thi3 success. Was not the 
Iribune right when it said that Commissioner 
Loring missed tbe chance of his life in not 
connecting his name with this success, instead 
of trying to become an obstructionist ? [Dr. 
Loring has personally assured us that he is 
not an obstructionist , but desires to arrive at 
the truth in the matter.—E ds.] 
I hardly like to close these notes with a 
criticism of so zealous and useful a man as 
Dr. Sturtevant, but is he not too hasty in 
generalizing (p. 783) from his single year’s 
trial of seed corn from different parts of the 
ear? That experiment, I think, ought to have 
been tried over again a number of times be¬ 
fore publishiug the results. I fear the future 
will no more bear out his conclusions here 
than in the matter of the root-pruning of corn. 
The farmers are not so much in a 
hurry to get “ bulletins ” from our experi¬ 
ment stations as they are anxious to have the 
bottom facts reached before a report is made. 
Upon this one year’s trial how many farmer 
will be willing to change their custom in the 
matter of seed corn, and plant the seed they 
have hitherto rejected ? It would be very 
injudicious for them to do so. 
Orleans Co., Vt. 
-♦-*--*-- 
FARMERS’ CLUBS. 
WALDO S. BROWN. 
Having had an opportunity for several 
years to note the effects of the discussions and 
other proceedings of several farmers’ clubs, 
upon the members, I feel that I shall he ren¬ 
dering good seiviee to the readers of the Ru¬ 
ral by giving some facts and suggestions 
concerning them. I have visited several coun¬ 
ty clubs which were attended by a hundred 
or more members, as well as township clubs 
where from a score to firty constituted the 
membership, and neighborhood clubs where 
the membership was confined to twelve or 
thirteen families, so as to meet once a month 
or every four weeks and get round to the 
house of each member once a y ear. I believe 
these small organizations to be the best 
for the members. In the large organiza¬ 
tions it is impossible for every member to 
take a part, and it soon comes to pass that a 
few “ windy’’ members do all the talking. No 
farmer can stable so many horses, and so 
many persons cannot be entertained by one 
family, aud so the ladies of the club must all 
of them oook aud prepare a meal each month, 
which is a heavy tax on them. The advan¬ 
tages of a club limited to twelve families—as 
is the Practical Farmers’ Club of Oxford of 
which I am a member—are. that they will all 
attend regularly; they can all be enter¬ 
tained by one member without its being a bur¬ 
den and this number of farmers can usually 
be induced to join a club without their being 
too much scattered; besides, in case of so few 
they all become thoroughly acquainted with 
