FES. 7 
SO 
THE BUBAL NIW-YORKER. 
NOTES FROM FLORIDA. 
St. Augustine, St. John’s Co.—My land 
is mostly devoted to the Orange, Lemon, Lime 
Fig, Shaddock, Citron and Banana. I have 
the Magnolia grandiflora 40 feet In hight. the 
Eucalyptus, Date Palm. Sago Palm. Royal 
Palm and Cabbage Palmetto; also the -Japan 
Pltitn, Pomegrauate, five variefces of Honey¬ 
suckle, three Passion Flowers, two Wistarias, 
four Bignonia radicans, the Yellow and White 
Jessamine, English Ivy, five varieties of Lantana 
five varieties of Camellia Japonlea, Aristolo- 
ehia Sipho—this latter is a native here also— 
the White and Rod Honeysuckle, aud the Coral 
Plant. We have the Akehla quinata the great 
variegated Pittosporum, White and Red 
Oleander, ibe Yucca gloriosa, and Yucca fila 
meutosa. Besides these we have about 100 
varieties of the ever-blooming Roses. We 
have about 40 varieties in fuJl bloom at 
this time. Of orange trees we have 75, but 
only eight are beariug now. The best products 
here are cotton, sugar cane, tobacco, sweet 
potatoes, peas—the cow pea flourishes here— 
beets, turnips, cabbage. Much is done in 
orange culture uDd that Is rapidly increas¬ 
ing. Early vegetables are grown here for 
the New York market; Strawberries do well; 
so do tomatoes, squashes and melons. Corn, 
oat£, rye, wheal and barley do not pay for 
cultivation here to any great extent. Many 
other semi tropical plants could be profitably 
cultivated, such as the Tea Plant, Almonds, 
the Olive, Grapes, Peaches, Pecan Nuts, etc. 
But to be successful requires Northern indus¬ 
try aud Northern intelligence. This warm 
climate leads the native to be indolent-and 
thriftless. The climate, however, is delightful. 
We have not yet had a frost this season, the 
mercury to-day is at Sa 13 —the lowest this season 
was 42^. I came here for my bronchial trouble, 
and began coming south in 1834, and feel my¬ 
self quite well informed of this climate. This 
Is no doubt as healthful a climate as the 
world possesses. We have the advantage of a 
bright sun and the delight of a sea breeze. 
H. A. 
-♦♦♦ 
RURAL SPECIAL REPORTS. 
California, El Dorado. Jan., 19th.—We 
have hud the coldest winter ever known here; 
ice about 1J inch thick something unknown 
to our oldest inhabitants. For the first time 
there are no flowers in bloom in my gardeu. 
The ground is scaked completely with the 
heavy rains But we do not grumble. On the 
contrary, every one looks forward to the 
best summer for gardening and agriculture 
ever known in our State- A few good late 
rains will, with what we have already had. 
make millions for the farmers, w. c. l. d. 
Conn., Columbia, Tolland Co., Jan. 19.—We 
are having a very open winter. The prices 
paid for farmers' produce hardly keep up 
with the advance on necessary family stores, 
and some are still looking for the “ better 
times." w. h. t. 
Illinois, Baileyville, Ogle Co., Jan. 24.— 
The weather has been very mild here this 
month, with considerable rain and but little 
snow. There was enough snow on New Year's 
and the day following to make tolerably good 
sleighing; but heavy rains set in on the 3rd. 
inst. aud the 6now soon disappeared, the 
frost came out of the ground, and there was 
mud everywhere almost, but especially on low 
nndrained ground. On Monday night, 19th. 
inet, following a rain, some three cr four 
inches of snow fell, but It did not last long; 
then on Thursday morning, 22nd, we had 
some two or three inches more of snow, but it 
Is thawing quite fa6t. Winter wheat has not 
suffered much, we think, while bare, as there 
have been no sudden and severe alternate freez¬ 
ing and thawing; but it is not yet out of 
danger. Business has not improved any since 
the beginning of the new year, but seems to 
be getting worse for the farmers. The strike 
of the laborers at the stock-yards in Chicago, 
which lasted a month, had a damaging effect 
upon the producers, as well as upon the pack¬ 
ers, and it fell with crushing force at last upon 
the “ strikers ” themselves, so no one was 
benefited, while all suffered more or less. 
The late break in the price of wheat is very 
discouraging to the farmers who have any to 
sell. It Beems to be caused by speculators 
who have accumulated large quantities and 
refuse to ship it abroad where it would “do 
the mo6t good;’.’ and the present high rates 
of freight on grain by rail from Chicago to 
New York aud other points—40 cents per 
cental, equal to24 cents per bushel—are another 
cause of the grain blockade and the bursting 
elevators in Chicago. What the outcome of 
this will be uo one can tel); but we hope for 
another “boom" in business, when Lake nav¬ 
igation opens. Wheat is now about 15 cents 
per bushel lower than it was a month ago. 
Other kinds of grain are somewhat depressed, 
but have not fallen so much as wheat. Our 
country markets, which are governed princi¬ 
pal^ h y Chieago. are in an unsteady condi¬ 
tion, and dealers are at a loss to know what to 
do. As the roads are bad and the prices of 
produce weak and unsettled, tuere is very little 
doing. w. b. u. 
Kansas, Morris Co., Jan., 20.—It is quite 
warm and wet here, now, but a cold wave 
struck here about Christmas time, the mer¬ 
cury falling to 10 degrees below zero. A 
large amount of winter wheat was sown here 
last fall, which is looking splendid. Much of 
it was pastured last fall to avoid too large 
a growth. A very fair crop of all kinds of farm 
products was grown here the past Season. 
This county is receiving a very large immi¬ 
gration, although not so large as counties 
t hrough which pass one of the great thorough¬ 
fares of the State, but yet there is room 
for many more good farmers and mechanics 
aud for all kinds of reputable business. 
Fruitgrowing here is as yet in its infancy, 
although a few farmer? have apple and peach 
trees in bearing. Nursery stock is quite rea¬ 
sonable in price, good two or three-year- 
old apple trees (home-grown) can he bought 
from $8 to @12 per hundred. ,r. e. r. 
Kansas, Coffeyville, Montgomery Co., Jan. 
23 —We have lived here six years. It is a 
beautiful country, especially lu spring and 
summer, when the whole prairie Is carpeted 
with green, and dotted ail over with brigbt- 
hucil flowers. Many of them are advertised in 
the catalogues, such as Digitulis, Verbenas, 
Catehfly, Dutchman’s Pipe, Virginia Creeper, 
Sensitive Brier and many others I know not 
the names of. There is one objection, how¬ 
ever, to Kansas—the wind blows so hard here 
that, as an old lady once remarked, “It seems 
like it'll blow all the sile off of Kansas;’’ but 
we have got used to it and do not mind it 
much, and two-thirds of the time it is very 
calm. People are flocking here “like flies 
around a drop of honey.' They seem to think 
Kansas is “a slice from the juciest side of 
the earth," and I guess it is. 
Mass., Raynham, Bristol Co.—Perhaps by 
this the Rural readers have heard ail they 
wish in regard to Pearl Millet; but I have 
just arrived at what I judge to be a fair 
conclusion as to its meritB and it may be 
interesting to the host of new readers at least 
to leam the results. The seed you sent me 
was sown about the last of May, at the same 
time, in like 60 il aud under the same conditious 
as Western corn lor feeding milch cows. The 
Millet was sowu in rows about four feet apart, 
and one plant allowed to grow every two feet. 
The corn was planted in rows 3J feet apart,, 
and at the rate of three bushels of seed to the 
acre. As the Millet, grew much more slowly 
the first of the season, it was more labor to 
keep it free of weeds, but after settled warm 
weather, it gained upon the corn until at har¬ 
vesting, there was not much difference in the 
amount of forage; but while the violent winds 
prostrated and ruined a large part of the corn, 
the Millet was entirely uninjured. When about 
half grown, and again at harvesting, I fed a 
portion of it, which was as good as the corn. 
But the Millet,at whatever time it might be cut, 
would not start to grow again any more readily 
than corn cut at the same stage. So far it 
must be a success in that its perfect resistance 
to our heavy winds must bo an advantage quite 
commensurate with the labor of the extra cul¬ 
tivation during the early part of the Beason. 
But as a wiuter feed it is not equal to corn. 
Although, owing to its standing erect, it was 
cured much better, yet my cows refused to eat 
it if other good food was offered. c. d. l. 
Minn., Winnebago City Township, Faribault 
Co., Jan. 22.—This county is one of the south¬ 
ern tier, about 160 miles west of the Mississippi. 
It can with truth be classed as the garden 
county of the State. Farmers are j ubilant over 
the prices they are getting for produce and 
stock. Wheat sells for $1.10 per bushel; tim¬ 
othy seed—of which there was a large acreage 
raised here—brings $2.25 per bushel; live hogs 
4@$4.50 per 100 pounds. Splendid improved 
farms with a soil unprecedented lor richness, 
produciug wheat, corn, oale, flax, aud sor¬ 
ghum ol the richest flavor, can be bought for 
from @2,000 to $3,000, containing 160 acres. 
Unimproved faiuiB are selling for about $10 
per acre. Our market facilities can’t be sur¬ 
passed ; the So. Minnesota li. R. Co. running 
two roads East and West? through the center 
of the county, and the Sioux City and Blue 
Earth Branch running north and south from 
Mankato, and terminating at Fort Dodge, in 
Iowa, supplying the inhabitants with coal. So 
with the timber belts on the Blue Earth and 
Maple rivers, both running through the county 
and supplying all the wood needed for fuel 
besides water power for a number of grist mills. 
The climate is unsurpassed for its healthful- 
ness. The 25th of December was the coldest 
day this winter, the thermometer marking 33 © 
below zero. It has been very mild all this 
month thus far. h. p. s. 
Michigan, Laingsburg, Shiawassee Co., 
Jan. 20.—We have had a pleasant open win¬ 
ter. About ten days' Bleighing in December, 
but there has been no snow visible lor weeks. 
Grass has grown; sheep have picked their 
living, and wheat is as green as in May, prom¬ 
ising finely. Fodder was rather scant, on 
account of the severe drought, but the mild 
weather has helped, and most farmers in this 
vicinity will get through very well. Much 
more than the usual quantity of rain has 
fallen. To-day we are having quite a snow¬ 
fall. G. M. K. 
Michigan, L'tica, Macomb Co., Jan. 26.—We 
are now having very fine weather for winter. 
It Is almost like summer. We have had but 
very little cold so far. Wheat Is looking fine. 
The prospect looks very favorable for a large 
crop the coming season. Onr crops for the 
past season were very good, with the exception 
of corn, which was generally rather light, as 
it was very dry at the time it was setting. This 
is one of the best grain counties in the State. 
Utica is in one of the finest-located places in 
the State. It is on what is called the Shelby 
Plains, about six miles from Detroit. 
J. P. p. 
Mo., Kingston Furnace, Washington Co., 
Jan. 23.—The winter is the mildest I have 
known for years, and very cloudy and wet. 
The area sown in winter wheat is very large, 
and the crop looks well. Those who sowed 
early were troubled by the fly, aud in some 
cases had to resow The wet and warm 
weather is unfavorable to lead mining which 
is the principal industry here daring the win¬ 
ter. The business “ boom" has kept the 
Western cities and railroads exceedingly busy. 
The feeling in favor of securing a portion of 
the immense immigration, which all feel sure 
is to take place from England during the com¬ 
ing year, is very strong. It exhibits itself In 
the formation of Immigration Societies and 
in advertising farms and lands at low prices. 
This is a number-one region for stock grow¬ 
ing, well shaded, well watered and with good 
farming lands in the valleys and lu many 
parts of the uplaude. It still has a stock 
range along the pine-clad spurs of the Ozarks, 
reachiug from less than 50 miles of St. Louis 
to the cane brakes of Arkansas. Herders 
could drive south as winter approaches; 
speed that season in the cane brakes, and 
return on the spring grass with their cattle 
ready to drive them from the range directly 
to market at St. Louis In two days’ time. 
Herders here would prove welcome to buyers 
of stock and feed. 8ettlerB could purchase 
lumber for shelter cheap aud hire stock fields 
for part of winter feeding, and would hare no 
quarrels on the plaiDs with either sheep 
men or settlers. It is not a large field ior 
the business and that perhaps is the reason 
why it is not occupied at all, or even known, 
but Sts nearness to market and base of sup¬ 
plies, its good range and freedom from 
storms, aud the fact, that it. is opeD to the 
first comer without let or hindrance and with 
uo necessity to invest a dollar in land for 
years, so that all the herder’s capital can bo 
put lu stock—all this, I think, puts this 
range in the front rank for advantages for a 
moderate amount of either sheep or cattle or 
both. N. w. B. 
N. Y., Elmiiia, Chemung Co., Jan. 24.— 
There is a marked contrast between the 
present prices of farm products and those 
of a year ago. The prices of the princi¬ 
pal products are as follows :—Wheat, $1.40@ 
$1.45 per bush.; corn, 63@65e. for 60 pounds; 
oats, 38@42c.; potatoes, 35@40c. per bush¬ 
el. Good hay sells for $14 and loose oat 
straw at $8.00 per ton. Tobacco farmers 
are busily engaged assorting their crops. 
Thera iB little activity in the tobacco mar¬ 
ket here at present. Probably one-half of 
ihe tobacco in this country has been bought up 
at prices ranging from 11c. to 15c. per pouud. 
So far, our winter has been warm and open. 
The prospects for the coining winter wheat 
crop are not encouraging. Owing to the pro¬ 
tracted dry weather last fall, it made but fee¬ 
ble growth and the open weather with no 
snow to protect the ground from alternate 
freezing and thawing, Is unfavorable for it. 
G. A. G. 
Ohio, Shelby, Athens Co., Jan. 24.—The 
weather is very mild. Grass and wheat look 
as green as in spring. Roads—well, I guess 
there iB a bottom, but it is a good ways down. 
Wheat sells for $1.35 per bushel; oats, 33 ct6.; 
corn, 45cts. ; potatoes, oOcts.; apples, 50cts.; 
butter, 18 cte. per pound ; eggs, 20 cts. adoz. 
A. K. s. 
Virginia, Lexington, Rockbridge Co., Jan. 
24.—It looks as if we could not get any ice 
here this winter. The weather now is as mild 
as it usually is id March or April. We have 
had but one slight snow-fall—hardly enough 
to cover the ground. Wheat looks fine. Flour 
sells for $0 per barrel; corn, 45@50c.; pota¬ 
toes, .50c.; pork, $4.50; butter, 15@16c ; eggs, 
10c. j. v, s. 
Wtoming Territory, JaD. 11.— The great 
snow wave of ‘80 is here. We have 3J feet of 
snow on alevcl—the heaviest fall we white men 
have ever had on Puget Sound. Business of all 
kinds is blocked, aud many buildings ha«e 
fallen from the pressure of snow. Wheat is 
the only farm product that commands a good 
price. Potatoes, 20 cts. per bushel; eggs, 25 
cts. per doz.; hay $8 per ton. baled and de>- 
livered. The Skaget gold mines are the present 
great cause of excitement all through this 
region. A warm rain on this accumulation 
of snow would cause frightful floods and loss 
of property. c. H. r. 
Wis.. Lavalle, Sauk Co., Jan. 4.—Wheat 
sells for $1.15(®$1.20; potatoes, 20c.(7?30c ; butr 
ter, 14(n'17c ; hay, $5(5>$6; beef, live, $2<®$3 : 
hogs, dressed, $4 80(§>$5. I have just returned 
from Central Ohio; crops were good, except 
corn, which was mostly a poor crop. From 
my own observation I judge but little will he 
fit for market. w. s. h. 
®l)f ($artist, 
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
Beet* e*. Turnip* for Sheep. 
./. F. A., Washington Co,, Mich., asks the 
relative value of beets and turnips for feeding 
sheep at this time of the year 
Ans.— According to analyses of Drs. Voelcker 
and Langster, the notritive elements of the 
roots usually fed to sheep are as follows : 
Sugnr Beets. 
Mangels. 
Kutfl-bagns. . 
Yellow Aberdeen Turnips 
White Globe Turnips.. 
81.6 1.00 
8T.78il.64 
89.10 1.44 
90.57 1.80 
90.43 1.14 
16.40 1.3 .80 
8.00 1.12 .90 
6.93 2.64! .63 
4.64 2.34 .65 
3.96 2.00 1.03 
Of all the roots usually grown, the sugar- 
beet is the best for sheep, being the most 
palatable, and containing the greatest propor¬ 
tion of solid nutritious matter Considering 
the large quantity of water contained in them, 
roots may be considered as highly nutritious 
food, and when fed in conjuntion with dry 
fodder, and in proper proportions, are greatly 
conducive to the health aud growth of the 
sheep. Their effect upon the quality of the 
wool, especially the lustrous wool of some of 
the long-wooied is very favorable. The proper 
quantity of roots to be given depends upon the 
kind of sheep. As a safe guide, it may be esti¬ 
mated that one bushel of roots will be a suffi¬ 
cient daily allowance for 10 sheep weighing 
150 pounds eaoh, live weight, if ulong with the 
roots, 1 i pound of hay and \ pound of meal or 
bran per head be given. But the daily ration 
of roots must be apportioned with care and 
judgment. For lambs live to six pounds daily 
will be sufficient; for two-year-olds and ma¬ 
ture sheep, 10 to 15 pounds will be ample 
allowance ; the smaller quantity being enough 
for a South Down, and the larger for a full 
grown Cot6wold, Leicester, or Lincoln For a 
Merino a much less quantity should be appor 
tioned, as this breed cannot produce a fleece 
of good quality, or great weight, without being 
supplied with enough oily malter to secrete 
the large amount of yolk which their fleece 
contains. 
Laying out a Lawn. 
G. E. 8,, ML Pleasant, Ohio , asks advice* 
about grading around a house just built. 
There’s plenty of cellar dirt to grade with, and 
ample opportunity to make a beautiful lawn, 
sloping just enough to carry off the water. 
The house is about 75 feet from the road. 
How should a terrace be made, and when 
sodded ? What is the best method of planting 
some thrifty Maples, with trunks five or six 
inches through ? How and when should they 
be moved ? What other forest trees would be 
best for lawn shading ? 
ANSWERED BY S. l’AR60NS. 
If the cellar dirt is already disposed about 
in heaps, it should be manured heavily after 
grading, withammoniated manures, stable ma¬ 
nure, etc. Such 60 il is usually very poor, and 
a good lawn needs to be of rich soil. If you 
must make terraces, which are not as desirable 
in many ways as a regular slope, construct 
them low and sod early in the spring. Sod¬ 
ding, however, may be successfully done dur¬ 
ing more months in the year than most other 
lawn-planting operations. If you wish to 
succeed in moving large forest trees—a diffi¬ 
cult operation at best—you must cut back the 
branches well, trim all roots broken in digging, 
and move and dig so as to retain as much of 
the small fibers as possible. Let such trees be 
planted four or five inehes deeper thau the 
crown of the roots, and even in some cases, 
where the soil is naturally dry, eight or ten 
inches. Pound the earth firmly about the 
roots, plaelug the best soil nearest the fine 
fibers. The Elm transplants, perhaps, most 
easily of all forest trees Birches and Poplars 
also may be moved with fair success from the 
woods. Beware, however, of Hickories, Pep- 
peridges, Oaks, etc. Ordinarily it is not profit¬ 
able to transplant shade trees from the woods. 
A thrifty tree, one and a half to two inches in 
diameter, grown in the nursery, will become, 
in five or teu years, far more attractive aud 
shapely than any forest tree, not to speak of 
the smaller risk of death incurred. To make 
