852 
DEC 4s 
T H IG 
RURAL NEW-YORKER, 
,v National Journal for Country and Suburban Homes. 
, Conducted by 
KLBKRTB CARMAN. 
Address 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER, 
No. 34 I\ bk Row. New York. 
dATURriVY, DEC. 16, 1882. 
One thousand dollars' worth of presents 
to those who have raised the largest yields 
from the Rural Heavy Dent Corn or the 
Rural Thoroughbred, Flint Corn. The 
premiums will he announced early in the 
new ye xr. The methods of cultivation will 
also he placed, before the reader in full. 
-» ♦ ♦- 
To our list of special articles for the 
Rural series we have now to add the 
following: 
BY PROF. W. O. ATWATER. 
Subject: Agricultural Scienc'- in Europe. 
Prof. Atwater is now in Munich, 
Bavaria. 
BY PROF. G. C. CALDWELL, 
CORNELL UNIVERSITY. 
Subject: Manilf ict/urers' Residues, such 
as Malt Sprouts, Oil Cakes , Distillery Res¬ 
idues, etc ., as Fodder for Milch Cows. 
The other writeis and topics of this 
series are repeated on page 818. 
The Rural Army of Seedling Grape 
Growers ! Join it, readers ! Let us see 
what the readers of the Rural New- 
Yorker may do during the next three or 
four years to perfect the native American 
grape. The possibilities have never been 
dreamt d of. The grape industry of 
America is but in its infancy. The best 
of the seedlings produced from the seven 
hundred thousand seeds we shall send out 
will be vorth thousands upon thousands 
of dollars to those who raise them and 
millions to the nation. 
-- 
Among the many enterprises of the 
Rural New-Yorker, probably not one 
other promises to offer so much of real 
instruction to those who fire striving to 
make the j cor farm pay, as the series of 
premium essays which will be begun 
early in January to continue through the 
year 1883. They are written by those 
who have passed thiough the depriva¬ 
tions and tribulations of an impoverished 
beginning to real success. Read them. 
They may prove of more value to you, 
readei, than the cost of 20 years’ subscrip¬ 
tion to the Rural New-Yorker. 
Dr. John A. Warder’s Forestry 
articles will be continued next week. 
Latest. We have received fram Mrs* 
C. Y. Firman, of Walniouth, Wis., a por¬ 
trait of an ear of the Rural Thorough¬ 
bred Flint Corn measuring 164 inches. 
-- 
Mr. Stewart’s farm story will end 
early in the new year. Another from the 
pen of a gifted young farmerine will be 
commenced immediately after. It will 
be a true, conservative, exact chronicle 
of the trials, disapp< intments and suc¬ 
cesses of earnest but inexperienced young 
people in farm and garden life. All 
should read it. 
Seven Hundred and Twenty-six bush¬ 
els of the Blush Potato to the acre! Such 
was the yield of this new drought-re¬ 
sisting variety at the Rural Experiment 
Grounds during the past season under 
flat cultivation. One of these potatoes 
will be sent to all applicants in the 
Ri ral’s Free Seed Distribution of 1883. 
The quulity of this potato is unsurpassed. 
We don’t much like to see monthly 
farm journals advertising themselves as 
the cheapest papers published, while they 
charge $1.50 or even $1.00 for 12 copies, 
because it is not true. At this rate the 
Rural should charge $5.00 per year for 
52 issues. Is it not so? The fact is evi¬ 
dent that either the monthlies charge en¬ 
tirely too much or the Rural charges too 
little by half. 
--- 
We have made the claim that the Rural 
Thoroughbred Flint bears the longest ears 
of any variety known. We are now 
drawing an ear which when received was 
17 inches in length. Does anyone know 
of a longer ear? We have received three 
16 inches long and four over 15 inches 
long. A portrait of the longest ear will 
be presented in the i^sue of the Rural 
which awards the thousand dollars’ worth 
of prizes for th i beet yields raised from 
the little packages sent to our subscribers 
in the Rural’s last Free Seed Distribution. 
THE RURAL’S CORN EXPERIMENTS 
FOR 1882. 
The fields which gave the gieat yields 
of Indian corn at the Rural Farm three 
years ago (the greatest yields on record 
produced under like conditions) received 
a dressing of but fiom three to five hun¬ 
dred pounds of concentrated fertilizers. 
The land was in sod and had not been 
manured for from five to ten ye-irs—the 
soil a light sandy loam. The season was 
highly favorable throughout. We then 
asked the questions to what extent the 
yh-ld was attributable to the fervlizer; 
to what extent it was attributable to the 
method of cultivation; to what extent to 
the favorable season ? The last, question 
was me isurably answered by comparing 
our own crops with those of our neigh¬ 
bors which, though heavy, were yet very 
much less. 
Our test the past season was made upon 
much the same kiDd of land except that 
it had received no manure in over 15 
years and the fitting, seeding and culti¬ 
vation were the same, except that the 
chemical fertilizers were applied in much 
larger quantity up< n two of the plots. 
The stand was perfect, but the season 
highly unfavorable thioughout and the 
yield, as will be seen by Ihe account on 
another page, light. .The experiment is 
valuable as showing that neither prepara¬ 
tion, cultivation nor manure esn secure 
large yields during a bad season, but 
that, nevertheless, manure has its effects 
and that different manures have very 
different effects. 
A GREAT and rapid growth of a 
YOUNG TROTTING COLT. 
A yearling colt in Mr. Robert Bon¬ 
ner’s celebrated hreeding stud, in West¬ 
chester County, New York, weighs 1,062 
pounds; and yet is fine m 811 his points, 
and promises to turn out a fast trotter, 
Mr. Bonner thinks he gets this early ex¬ 
ceptional size from on experiment he tried 
with his dam. Before the colt was 
weaned, he says he had the mother 
brought up from pasture every night, and 
fed six quarts of oats, and since the colt 
has learned to eat he also has been fed 
abundantly with oats, in addition to 
good pasture in the Summer and bay in 
Winter. Following up this system, North¬ 
ern horse breeders may get the same size 
at as early an age as is now obtained in 
our Southern States and the milder 
Winters of C Jifornia. In the latter 
country tht re is good pasture all Winter, 
and the colts receive no check in their 
growth, as is common with all kinds cf 
stock unless they receive extra care dur¬ 
ing the rigorous Wiuters of the Northern 
States. Mr. Banter's treatment of fhis colt 
is the same as that pursued by English 
breeders of race-horses. The dam is not 
only fed an abundance of oats, but the 
colt is also taught to eat them just as 
soon as possible, which he learns to do at 
an early age from the same trough as his 
mother. At six mouths old—the general 
age for weaniog the colt—be has learned 
to sustain himself well on grain, grass 
and hay, so that when weaned there is no 
check in his growth, but he keeps steadily 
along the same as when sui king his dam. 
-♦-*-♦- 
THE TARIFF AND WAGES. 
A great deal has been said ab >ut the 
benefit of lurpiesent tariff in the way 
of keeping up the wages of A rencan 
operatives in competition with the “pau¬ 
per labor’’ of Europe. Census Bulletin 
No. 302, just published, shows that this 
benefit is not so great thet American 
operatives should be overwhelmed with 
gratitude at its extent. This bulletin 
gives statistics of “the number of hands 
employed, the amount of wages paid, the 
value of materials used and the value of 
the products for all the establishments of 
manufacturing industry in each of the 
States and Territories; as returned at the 
census of 1880.” The average number of 
hands employed was 2.738,050 in 253.- 
840 establishments, and the aggregate 
wages paid.was $047,019,674 or an annual 
average wages of $346.08, for each Amer¬ 
ican manufacturing operative—less than 
one dollar a day. This sho ving, of 
course, includes the pay of skilled opera¬ 
tives who get high wages, so that the 
“rank and file” must supply house rent, 
fuel, clothing, light and food for con¬ 
siderably less than one dollar a day the 
year round for themselves and families. 
In calculating the average, however, some 
allowance should be made for the low 
wages paid to w men and children ; but 
of these there were only 26 per cent, of 
the whole number of hands, the figures 
being 2,025,270 males above sixteen years; 
531,753 females above fifteen years, and 
181.918 children and youths. T le census 
of 1870 showed that the total number of 
operatives employed in manufactures, was 
2,053,000. drawing aggregate wages of 
$775.584.343—an annual average wage of 
$377.64 per hand, or $31.56—about twelve 
percent—more per annum than was paid 
10 years later. 
-- 
CORNERS IN PRODUCE. 
A special committee of the New York 
Legislature has during the past fortnight 
been investigating the subject of “cor¬ 
ners ” in produce, and the same import¬ 
ant topic has engaged the attention of 
Legislatures in other States also. In all 
cases the monstrous evils of such trans¬ 
actions have been clearly demonstrated. 
Every witness examined has acknowledged 
their magnitude. Even the tnanipulal ors 
of frequent “corners” have confessed 
that the public must be the losers by such 
dealings. By them the price of the neces¬ 
saries of life are unduly raised, entailing 
stint and privations on multitudes of 
the poor for the benefit of a handful of 
the rich. When railroad stocks and 
other financial securities are “ cornered,” 
the people at large do not suffer; the 
lossesand winnings are confined to a few; 
whether “bull” or “bear” is trium¬ 
phant, the price of the poor man’s loaf is 
the same. When the food of the world 
is “cornered,” however, the people suffer 
whether “bull” or “bear” is victori¬ 
ous. From the meagre loaf of the multi¬ 
tudinous poor man a slice is taken to add 
to the superfluous stores of the rich man. 
h rom such transactions the consumers 
alwayB lose, but the producers seldom 
gain; for what one of them gains to-day 
he or another will lose to-morrow. By 
a fair amount of study and observation 
any intelligent farmer can obtain such a 
knowledge of the relation of demand and 
supply in any product as to be able to 
decide, with a fair chance of being right, 
whether to sell it at current prices or 
hold it for better. “Corners,” h iwever, 
raise or depress prices irrespective of the 
relation of demand and Bupply, and con- 
8 quently often render the Btudy and ob¬ 
servation of intelligent farmers useless or 
worse in marketing their products. 
In all such transactions trade and traf¬ 
fic are impeded and demoralized by a few 
unscrupulous capitalists in order that 
they may add unj ist. gains to their super- 
ibundant wealth. Scandalous as are the 
icknowledged evils of “corneis” in pro¬ 
duce, however, no legal remedy has vet 
been hit upon. The. “srnctity of con¬ 
tracts ” is the great bugbear to legislation 
repressive of this mode of gambling by 
million tire-; but the “ sanctity of con¬ 
tracts ” off-rs no impediment to legisla¬ 
tion hostile to ordinary ’orms of gambling 
by “sports,” though the latter is ten 
times less hurtful to the public than the 
former. It was thought that the Boards 
of Trade of the great produce mrrketB 
might be able to suppress or check the 
evil, but little is now to be hoped lor 
from this igency. Some time ago the 
Chicago Board of Trade estab isl ed a rule 
by which, in case of settlement!, where i 
corner was alleged to have existed, the 
losers might demand the appointment of 
an arbitration committee to fix the teriUB 
for settlement. A week ago, howevei, 
this rule was repeal d by a la'ge majority 
of the Board on the ground that the 
abuses to which it gave rise were as scanda¬ 
lous as those it was intended to restrain. 
For every evil there must be a remedy, and 
it is the imperative duty of our legislators 
to discover one for corners in produce. 
--- 
CHEAP “WHI8 K*Y” FOR EVER!!! 
Secretary Folger in his report to 
Congress puts the total net revenue during 
the last fiscal year at $408,525,250 and the 
net expenditures at $257,981,440, leaving 
a surplus revenue of $145,543,810, a large 
proportion of which was applied to the 
payment ol the public debt. Every dol¬ 
lar of the money applied to this purpose 
came out of the pockets of the people, 
and the people have to pay ar average of 
about seven tier cent, interest for money, 
-virile the Government Can obtain all it 
may want for three to three-and-a-half 
per cent. Tbi9 mode of redeeming the 
public debt is equivalent, ther -fore, to 
taking money from a man to whom it is 
worth seven per cent, to pay off a debt on 
which there is only three to three-and-a- 
half per cent. interest; and as the Gov¬ 
ernment is merely the people, this 
is simply borrowing at seven per 
cent, to lend at three per cent. In 
view of the fact that previously the 
American people wer.* entirely unaccus¬ 
tomed to heavy taxation, they have during 
the last 20 years, borne a grievous burthen 
with marvelous fortitude end patience; 
but there are amide indications at present 
that, while willing to endure all taxation 
necessary to meet every public obligation, 
they do not intend to tolerate any un¬ 
necessary load. The present Congresp has 
just been sharply reminded of this among 
other facts, and accordingly several meas¬ 
ures have already been introduced lower¬ 
ing or entirely removing taxation on 
several commodities. 
Probably the most powerful influence 
brought to bear uuon Congress for the 
reduction or removal of taxation on any 
product of domestic manufacturers thatin 
favor of “free” or nearly free “whiskey,” 
including all spirituous liquor under this 
term. With the numerous wealthy man¬ 
ufacturers of these intoxicants money is 
“no object” when by putting*ifc “where 
it will do the most good,” taxes on their 
wares can be reduced or removed i lto¬ 
gether. The lovers of cheap “drunks” 
all over the country support them, and 
some, like Secretary Folger, to whom the 
price of a “smile” is a matter of indiffer¬ 
ence. d mong the latter, after some hesi¬ 
tation, the Rural boldly takes its stand. 
We are always in favor of any industry 
which gives profitable employment to a 
large proportion of our population. Does 
not the manufacture and sale of “whis¬ 
key” do this? Will not the reduction 
or removal of taxation on it extend its 
use a d its effects ? Consider for a mo¬ 
ment the labor employed in raising the 
costly structures necessitated by the use 
of “ whiskey ”—the distilleries, rectify¬ 
ing establishments, liquor stores and 
palaces, poor-houses, court-houses, pris¬ 
ons, hospilals, mad-houses, etc, etc. 
What a mighty ai my of honest workmen 
earn their bread in erectii g all these 
buildings ! Then think of the vast array 
of those employed in them—the burly 
workmen, draymen, barkeepers, polic 3 - 
men, warders, overpeers, orderlies and 
keepers, to say nothing of the hangmen. 
Again, see what a highly respectable 
class is supported mainly on account of 
the sale of “whiskey”—learned judges, 
physician? and surgeons who would lose 
half their practice. w j re it not for the sale 
of “whiskey”; scientific chemists skill¬ 
ful in preparing adulterants; gorgeous 
liquor dealers the sj lendor of whose dia¬ 
monds ai d apparel is well set off by the 
ragged ness and squalor of their best 
customers. 
Moreover, the. advance of medical skill 
and sanitary science has given so many 
new chances for long life to the physical 
weaklings of society that the country 
would be soon over-populated were it not 
for the beneficent aid of “whiskey” in 
killing off the moral weaklings of the 
Dation. All these and a hundred more 
blessings aie now enjoyed by us from 
the sale of heavdy taxed “whiskey,” how 
much grea'er cause for thankfulness shall 
we not have when the taxes are lessened 
or removed so that for a couple of cents 
every sot can make a scoundrel, a suicide, 
a murderer or a hog of himself!! 
•-- 
BREVITIES. 
Read Col; F. D Curtis’s article on “Reno¬ 
vating a Pv,or Farm ” He ought to have con¬ 
tested for the Rural premiums. 
Mr. Charles Annin, of Ocean Co., New 
Jersey, sends us a sample of sorghum siiup of 
a clear amber color and of excellent quality. 
One thousand dollars’ worth of premiums 
are offered for the best yields of the new 
wheats sent to subscribers in our Free Seed 
Distribution of 1882. The reports will be ren¬ 
dered in September next and the premiums 
awarded in October. 
A Western stock paper says that one of 
the great disadvantages which the railroad, 
would labor under if the live-stock trade 
should be largely superseded by that in dress¬ 
ed beef, would be the difficulty of securing 
return fieight. Was “return freight” plen¬ 
tifully secured for the Western trip of stock 
cars! We have seen miles of them going 
westward empty. Coal, iron and other heavy 
freight formed their ordinary load when 
bound westward; but although refrigerator 
cars cannot be used for the trnnsp wtation of 
these, they would be well adapted for the 
hipraent of cauued goods—oysters, fruits, 
etc., as well of other varieties of fine freight. 
