434 
FEB. 23 
husbandman, make his own farming look 
small and hard. He can raise as many bushels 
per acre, perhaps, but he can hardly till a 
tenth part as many acres. He produces good 
crops, but at immensely greater cost, and only 
by the most scrupulous saving of fertilizers 
and the most thorough tillage. But he at 
heart dimly feels that this necessity for dili¬ 
gence and care has made him stronger in 
body, mind and heart, and that, on the other 
hand, the very profuseuess of Nature at the 
West tends to lassitude and negligence, phy¬ 
sically, mentally and moi ally. And he returns 
home determined to profit by his enlargement 
of views, iudeed, but to make the most of 
those social and moral influences that sur¬ 
round and beautify the rugged life of the New 
England farmer. 
It is carious how the farming of auy given 
region seems to fall into some mold or rut. 
The shrewder farmers find what kinds of farm¬ 
ing on the whole pay best in their locality, 
with their soil, climaLe and markets, and all 
the rest follow suit. Everything, too, is done 
in a certain way. I remember noticing this 
particularly one of the first times I visited the 
Eastern States. It was in August, and in the 
fine region between Harrisburg and Philadel¬ 
phia for miles it seemed as if all the farmers, 
by common impulse, or by special telegraphic 
dispatch from some “team dispatcher,” had 
that Tuesday morning begun to plow for wheat- 
They were all striking out lands, and they all 
did it in exactly the same way. In each field 
three tall " sighting stakes ” were set in exact 
line where the first furrow was to be struck. 
Each stake had a small white rag tied near its 
top and fluttering in the wind to catch the eye. 
Each plow was drawn by three horses, two 
abreast and a “leader.” On each leader sat a 
small boy, aud woe to him if he didn’t ride his 
leader in a “bee line” for those distant Mutter¬ 
ing rags. Each team plowed forth and back, 
and then 6et its stakes for a new land and 
turned the “back-furrow” in the same way, 
and so on till the whole field was “ struck out.” 
As the day advanced some had finished strik¬ 
ing out, and dismissed the leader and the small 
ooy, to the intense relief of the latter, and began 
to plow on the lands. But they were all at it, 
and at about the same 6tage of tbe operation; 
and as the train sped on one could almost im¬ 
agine he was in fairy land, and that man, plow, 
team, leader, small boy, stakes and fluttering 
rags of white, were all borne on and on with 
the rushing train. 
Nearer Philadelphia the farming gradually 
changed more to “butter farming” or “milk 
► farming” or “truck farming ” and gardening; 
and so on past Philadelphia and through New 
Jersey. For a while all tbe men would seem 
to be setting strawberry plants, then all were 
digging sweet potatoes or picking peaches or 
melons or gathering cabbages, and so on. 
Here, too, the farm buildings, stock and im¬ 
plements were all different. There were no 
more of the fine bank barns, large fields of 
grain and clover and timothy and flue herds of 
cows and steers. Everything had put on a 
smaller, more minute aspeet. Instead of barns 
for hay-storage were found ricks consisting of 
four tall, slender post6 supporting a simple 
movable roof and filled with a solid square of 
hay. Instead of three horses to the plow, roll¬ 
ing under a heavy bed of clover or a stiff, 
well-pastured turf, a single horse with a small 
plow turned the light, reddish, sandy soil from 
which some crop of “truck” had just been 
taken. 
North of New York a broad belt of fertile 
land along the river is devoted to mixed farm¬ 
ing. but for any fifty miles there is a Btrange 
similarity in style and processes. Above 
Po’keepsie, for example, the main crop is hay 
for the New York markot. The hay-barns are 
much alike, and contain room for storage, 
and almwst always a horse-power, hay-press 
and baling apparatus, all under cover, so that 
the farmer and his sons or men, cau bale hay 
in rainy weather, “while they are resting.” 
The hay wagons are alike, too, having long, 
narrow platforms for the bales to rest on cross¬ 
wise, and a windlass, or roller and ropes to 
bind them tightly down. And in late summer 
and autumn you will see dozens of these wag¬ 
ons, all alike, on their way down to the nearest 
barge-landing on the river. Though hay and 
rye straw are tbe main sources of income on 
very many farmB in this section, yet the farm¬ 
ing is quite diversified aud “ mixed” in char¬ 
acter, and everything seems to turn to gold as 
if by magic under the touch of some of those 
shrewd old Dutch farmers. It does you good 
to visit one of them, aud see all over his farm 
evidences of agricultural sagacity. Cr ps and 
fruit, and truck, all seem just ready to be 
turned into money. 
My last visit to that region was iu October, 
and I wished I had along with me some of 
those men who lugubriously ask, “ Does farm¬ 
ing pay?” Apples, potatoes, milk, honey, 
butter, veal calves, pork, peaches, grapes, 
plums, buckwheat, rye, etc,, each bringing in 
considerable sums, and timothy hay and rye 
straw bringing up the rear with a cool thou¬ 
sand or fifteen hundred dollars to the single 
farm. On many farms apples are a considera 
THE BUBAL NEW-YORKEB. 
ble source of income. This belt along the 
Hudson seems the home of tbe Newtown Pip¬ 
pin. No where else does it grow so large and 
fair. One farmer I visited did not make ap¬ 
ples a leadiug speciality at all; but he had just 
sold his Newtown Pippins alone on the trees, 
for $800, to a shipper to send to England. 
Another had sold his Newtowns alone for $500, 
and so on. 
But I must not dwell, for I mention these 
things as mere illustrations. Different locali¬ 
ties all through New England, the MiddleStates 
and the West—indeed, wherever I have had 
the good fortune to travel and observe the 
agriculture, seem to have their different modes 
of farming and their specialties more or less 
clearly defined. Usually, both the specialties 
aud the modes are, on (lie whole, wisely adapted 
to soil, climate, markets aud surroundings; 
but sometimes uot. Often the farmers of one 
region may learn much to their advantage 
from those in distant localities. It will be the 
object of tbe articles that succeed the present 
one, to show what we farmers of one region 
may wisely learn and imitate, as shown iu the 
farming of other localities. And I shall be 
glad of any suggestions that may help me in 
this important and somewhat difficult under¬ 
taking. 
NOTES FROM THE RURAL’S EXPERIMENT 
GROUNDS. 
The Rural New-Yorker’s Free Seed and Plant 
Distribution.—Instructions. 
Upon the whole, we have been fortunate in 
securing our seeds and plants as originally 
announced in tbe Seed Supplement to the Ru¬ 
ral New-Yorker published in September last. 
Of all the kinds offered the Magnolia and 
Abies Sibiriea seeds alone are likely to disap¬ 
point the average cultivator. From the time 
that magnolia seeds are gathered until planted, 
they should be preserved in moist sand. Other¬ 
wise they will require months to germinate, 
while it may be feared many will entirely fail. 
Our magnolia seeds were kept in sand up to 
the time that they were sent to the Rural of¬ 
fice. It was then, however, necessary to place 
them in seed envelopes where they must, of 
course, remain uutll received by those for 
whom they are intended, a period, from first 
to last, of not less than six weeks. As regards 
the seeds of the Siberian Spruce, we may say 
that not until it was too late to change our 
original announcement did we learn.from our 
respected friend Robert Douglas, the liberal- 
hearted nurseryman of Waukegan, Ills., that 
the tree docs not thrive well much totJm«OTUh 
of this latitude. In its place, bowe\^ we 
have supplied another kind of seed, not less 
valuable, the name of which we forbear to 
mention lest it should induce hundreds of ad¬ 
ditional orders which we could not fill. 
As the pea crop in England was well-nigh an 
entire failure, it was impossible for us to im¬ 
port a large enough quantity of the Telephone 
to supply our applicants. We ordered 30 
bushels which we calculated with our own 
supply would enable us to send a trial quantity 
to every applicant, From the replies received, 
we were led to suppose that there were not 
thirty bushels of the genuine Telephone pea in 
all England. We also applied to several of 
onr 6eedsmeu who advertise this pea. but 
found that they have it only in small quanti¬ 
ties and were therefore unwilling to sell it to 
us at any price. While in this dilemma, the 
Southern Cow-pea was thought of. This we 
shall send to all Northern subscribers iu place 
of tbe Telephone, while from onr own stock of 
Telephone (badly weevil-eaten we are sorry to 
say) we shall be able to send our Southern 
subscribers (or those who have applied for the 
seed distribution) a few. seeds of tbe Tele¬ 
phone. On the other hand, we are much 
pleased in beiag able to send the new Golden 
Mangel (see editorial page of last issue) which 
was not promised or announced in the origiual 
seed and plant selection at all, and we enter¬ 
tain high hopes that it will prove of greater 
value to our farmers in general than the Tele¬ 
phone Pea could have done. 
Sowing the Seeds, etc , etc. 
A few orders for the Cuthbcrt Raspberry 
were mailed last fall. The rest will be sent 
off as soon as the ground opens in the spring. 
Mr. J. T. Lovett, of Little Silver, New Jersey, 
has grown these plants for us and they will be 
sent directly from his nursery to our subscrib¬ 
ers. The reputation of this grand Raspberry 
has spread like wild-fire siuce the Rural has 
placed it in its “ Distribution,” and the genu¬ 
ine stock is extremely limited. We request onr 
readers to give it needful care, hoping in due 
time that tbeir reports will corroborate our 
own testimony that, taken all in all, it is the 
best Red Raspberry known. Of course we do 
not expect it to succeed everywhere—there is 
no fruit known of which that can be said;— 
but we do expect that, like the Concord Grape, 
it will be found well adapted to an unusually 
wide range of territory. When received, 
spread out the roots carefully and cover them 
firmly with mellow earth and then cover the 
ground with a thin mulch of hay or straw. As 
regards the Telephone Pea and the Ennobled 
Oats, no instructions need he given. The 
seeds of 
Abies Sibiriea 
germinate as well as those of any Silver Fir, 
only it is, as we have said, of very slow 
growth. Sow the seeds during April iu a four- 
inch pot in saudy loam. Let the pot be well- 
drained by means of crocks placed over the 
bole at tbe bottom, and an inch ’or so of 
coarse sand above. Cover tbe seed with half* 
an-inch of soil. Then water and plunge it iu a 
protected spot in the gaidcn and cover with a 
pane of glass as a protection against mice or 
other vermin as well as to preserve the moist¬ 
ure. Germination of the seeds may be lookpd 
for tbe latter part of May. When germination 
is evident, remove tbe glass and shade a little 
from the hot sun. 
Onr New Golden Mangel. 
As has already been stated, our stock of 
seeds of this Mangel was imported direct from 
Vilmorin & Co., of France, ordered just so 
soon as a doubt arose as to our being able to 
secure a sufficient, quantity of the Telephone 
Pea. As the quantity which we send to each 
applicant 5s necessarily small, it is advisable 
that the seeds should be soaked so as the better 
to insure tbe growth of all. Superior keeping 
qualities, solidity, sweetness and productive¬ 
ness are claimed beyond all others, for this 
variety. We shall offer a premium for the 
largest and smoothest Mangel produced from 
this seed, aud in order to avoid unnecessary 
trouble or confusion,it will ouly be necessary for 
each competitor to send us by postal card tbe 
weight of his largest, specimen. In our award¬ 
ing the premium, it will then only be neces¬ 
sary that we request the raiser to send us such 
specimen by ex press at our expense, that we 
may verify bis report. It will be well, also, to 
soak tbe magnolia seeds until the outside is 
softened. Then treat the same as seeds of 
Abies Sibiriea, though planting rather deeper. 
Should they not germinate during the first sea- 
Bon, cover the pots (plunged in the ground to 
a level with its surface) with evergreen boughs 
for a winter protection, hoping that they may 
germinate the following spring. Of all the 
Hardy Flower Heeds 
we have ever sent out, we consider none more 
choice or beautiful than the Hybrid Pentstem- 
ons and Iris Laevigata. We are confident that 
the. first will surprise aud please those who 
raise them, while the second seem to us as en¬ 
titled to divide the admiration that is every¬ 
where bestowed upon the best kinds of the 
improved Gladiolus. The seeds may be sown 
in the greenhouse or wiudow and will soon 
germinate. Boxes three inches (Veep or flower¬ 
pots well-drained may be used, Fill to within 
half an inch of the top with light, rich earth, 
either leaf-mold from the woods, or garden 
soil mixed with very old manure and sand. The 
soil must be light, otherwise it soon becomes 
so compact as to smother the tender germin¬ 
ating seeds- Sift the soil either through an 
ordiuary coal sieve or one with finer meshes. 
Spat it down—sow the seeds evenly—cover ac¬ 
cording to their size, and again spatdown until 
the soil is smooth and firm without being hard. 
The pots or boxes may then be immersed in 
water uut.il the surface soil becomes moistened 
or else showered from a very fine rose upon 
the surface. The Bebb’s Aguilegia seeds, be¬ 
ing small, will need to he merely covered by 
sifting soil over them and pressing it down by 
a smooth block of wood or other substance of 
suitable size. Our readers should bear in mind 
that this seed is mixed with common sorts of 
no particular value (this was stated in onr 
original announcement), but the major¬ 
ity of them will prove to be Behb's Hybrids 
which, so far as we have seen, bear the largest 
flowers of any of the Aquilegias and are well 
worthy of general cultivation. 
THE ELMIRA FARMERS’ CLUB. 
Sugar from Sorghum. 
The Elmira Farmers’ Club holds its meetings 
every Saturday evening except one week in 
each month, when a day meeting is held to ac¬ 
commodate people living at a distance who de¬ 
sire to visit the club. The subject appointed 
for tbe last meeting, held Saturday, Feb. 7th, 
was “The relation of agriculture to govern¬ 
ment,” though the principal topic of conversa¬ 
tion was “the manufacture of sugar from 
maize and sorghum," 
Besides the members of the club aud those 
who usually attend the club meetings, there 
were present many other farmers and promi¬ 
nent men from this and adjoining counties. 
Remarks were made by the Commissioner of 
Agriculture, Hon. Win. G. Le Due, Col. Pio- 
lette, W. A. Armstong and others. Several 
samples of sorghum sugar were exhibited, the. 
results of experiments made with imperfect 
machinery and apparatus. Some of the farm¬ 
ers had experimented with sorghum, aud had 
succeeded iu making from it sirup aud sugar 
of very good quality and at very little cost. 
Many others expressed a desire to make ex¬ 
periments in this direction, and raauy questions 
were asked as to the best mode of culture of 
the sorghum and the working of it up, etc. 
In reply to these questions, the Commissioner 
said that the best variety of sorghum to grow 
in this lattitude was the Minnesota Early Am¬ 
ber. He would plant in a rather poor soil, 
which should ba well prepared, as the plant is 
exceedingly small and tender in the first stages 
of its growth, in hills 3J feet apart each way. 
The seed should be covered lightly but well 
“ firmed” down with tbe foot to prevent dry¬ 
ing out while it was starting. About eight 
stalks should remain in a hill. Cultivate the 
same as for corn. As soon as the seed has ma¬ 
tured the sorghum should be cut, first stripping 
off the leaves, which may be doDC convenient¬ 
ly by passing between the rows and striking 
them down with a lath or a four-tiued fork, 
thus breaking them off. When cut, tbe seed 
ends of the stalks are removed when they are 
ready for the mill. The juice should not be 
allowed to stand long after being expressed, 
but should be removed to the evaporating pans 
and brought to a temperature of 180 degrees F., 
when it is treated with cream of lime at tbe 
rate of three pints to 100 gallous of juice. It 
should then be heated to tbe boiling point and 
the evaporation continued, skimming it occa¬ 
sionally until it is brought to a density of about 
12 pounds to the gallon, when it may be drawn 
off into barrels where it willgranulateof itself. 
He said the machinery and apparatus ;to ac¬ 
commodate eight or ten farmers need not cost 
more than $250. 
The Commissioner further stated that from 
experiments made on the grounds attached to 
the Agricultural Department, Washington, good 
sugar in paying quantities had been made from 
corn-stalks after harvesting at the rate of 60 
bUBhels of good shelled corn to the acre. Sev¬ 
eral farmers present had used the seed of the 
Early Amber Cane for feeding stock and had 
found it of much value. 
Commissioner Le Due is certainly deserving 
of much praise for tbe interest ho is takiug in 
the manufacture of sugar from sorghum aud 
maize aud for his endeavors to make it a suc¬ 
cessful and profitable industry. His earnest¬ 
ness in the matter has awakened interest in 
many of onr farmers, and many experiments 
in this line will be made the coming summer. 
G. A. G. 
fumolojxrai. 
KEROSENE. 
GEN. WM. H. NOBLE, BRIDGEPOKT, CONN. 
No one should state a remedy which he does* 
not know to be worthy of Jaith and test. We 
every little while come upon an old use of a 
new or some new use of an old thiug, set down 
as sure to cure the aches and ills of man or 
beast, and to rout the insect pests. Just one 
of these is kerosene. 
Though of an old family, it claims to have 
uses new aud of wide range. It’s a child from 
the fruitful stock of the coal fields and petro¬ 
leum. Its tribe is full of all sorts of talent, 
real and possible. Whether you study it in 
gas tar or at the coal oil wells, you find it 
stored with no end of elements, useful and or¬ 
namental. It cau turn you out a gentle per¬ 
fume, a flavoring extract, or vials full of wrath 
and fire. It paints our homes, dyes our cloth¬ 
ing, lights our houses, softens the whirr of the 
work-shop wheels aud the mash of its iron 
jaws. It garnerB “ the wealth of Ormua or of 
Ind,” and about all their odors. It pens up 
fragrance as sweet as the the “ spicy breezes 
that blow soft o’er Ceylon's Isle,” aud rejoices 
in stenches as foul us swarm in those smother¬ 
ing “stiuk pots” in which the “heathen Chinee 
is peculiar.” From this pungent aud mani¬ 
fold tribe comes kerosene. 
About its talents in the orchard and garden 
a recent writer in the “Rural” puts forward 
some facts, hints and queries. Of such a thing 
you may say right off, that it can either kill or 
cure. Pretty much all that kills can cure. It’B 
easy enough to kill; but the cure calls for 
measures and method. The more murderous 
the nature, the surer the cure when dealt out 
gently, well mixed with brains. 
Such is kerosene. Like wind and fire and 
water, it is a very good servant but a very 
bad master. Its use has been urged for all 
sorts of ails aud aches. For wounds and 
scalds, burns and frost bites, for rheumatism, 
neuralgia aud cramps. Soon after tbe late 
war, some horticultural journal, flushed by a 
small trial, said it would kill every lichen and 
louse, and hurt neither bark nor leaf. Its ad¬ 
vice to-day would not be quite as loud or loose, 
Butlamavery Banguiue man, of that breed 
Col. Ingersoll defines when he says, “Show 
them an egg, and directly they see the air full 
of feathers.” I tried it on some young pear 
trees one spring; the leaves gave up their dead 
and so they did their lives. The bark stood 
it better, only one tree was scalded aud that 
got well. 
Since then I have only tried kerosene raw, 
twice. Each time to kill the woolly aphis or 
American blight. The first trial was on a 
large Early Harvest. Many of its j oints and 
