DEC. 41 
l■wJjrf I’ilii pWpUi!:lb‘V* j J 
'iSiiS 
the soli at several places, he would flud every¬ 
where the same depth of the same soft, mellow 
soli. But let a man or hoy haudle the plow with¬ 
out care; let him permit it to sway to this side or 
the other; to run out of the ground In places; and 
to make the furrows crooked; the effect would 
he Just, like that shown at figure Ml, in which the 
{light), soft, upper soil rests upon a very uneven, 
(dark) sub-soil, and if one tries to push a stick into 
engraving shows the parts of the knife, except the 
very effective screw-driver hidden by the opened 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
At this season of the year wc are receiving 
many calls for specimen copies, For the Informa¬ 
tion or the new readers into whose hands the 
present number may fall, we present a list of 
those who may be considered as the present con¬ 
tributors to our columns; from wlffch it may he 
seen whether or not our claim to having the most 
eminent practical writers is well founded. 
Dr. J. B. Lawes.ttorhamsted, England, 
Prof. J. P. Sheldon, Hants. & wilts. Ag’l col. “ 
William Robinson, F. It. S., Editor and 
Founder of the London Garden. “ 
Prof. s. w. .Tohnson, Sheffield scientific 
school, vale college.. .. 
Gen. W. II. Noble. 
W. M, Yeomans. 
Prof. F. H. storer, Bussey Institute. 
lion. Marshall P. Wilder, Boston. 
William Falconer, Cambridge University 
Richard Goodman, Pres. J. C. C. 
Richard Goodman, -Jr. 
B. Plckman Mann. 
Prof. W. J. Beal, Agricultural College.Mich 
Prof. R. C. Carpenter “ “ . « 
F. ouUey, Farm Manager “ “ . « 
Prest. T. T. Lyon. Pom. Society.” » 
Sec’y. C. A. Garfield, “ “ . « 
S. B, Peck. . “ 
“MayMaple*’. <* 
Mrs. Mary Beal McLouth. “ 
Mrs. O. W. Day .. ■* 
W. I. Chamberlain, Soc'y state B’d Ag.Ohio. 
C. E. Thorne, Farm Manager state Ag’l Col. “ 
Dr. John A. Warder. . « 
B. F, Johnson.. , Ill, 
Prof. G. K. Morrow, state Ag'l Col. “ 
Prof. Cyrus Thomas. « 
G. W. French. << 
W. B. Derrick.... •< 
rrot. E. M. Shelton, Agricultural College.Kan. 
Prof. Elbrldge Gale, “ »« _ <• 
James Barton. « 
Prof. Thomas Meehan. Author of NatlveFlow- 
ers and Ferns... . 
Mrs. Mary Wager-Fisher . 
W. G. Waring, Sr. 
Miss Margaret B. Harvey. 
Miss Bertha Winkler. 
Mrs. M. L. Stone... 
Henry Stewart M. D... 
E. Williams. 
J. T. Lovett. 
Col. M. c. Weld.. 
Ira J. Blackwell. 
James Taplln.... 
Mrs. J. E. MeConaughy. 
Ex-Gov. Robert ,\V. Furnas. 
8. Rufus Mason. 
Rev. R. H. Crane. 
Prof. c. C. Georgeson Agr’l College_ 
George Marti. 
George Gordon. 
Charles Shinn..... 
W. C. L. Drew. 
Luther Burbank. 
J, B. Armstrong. 
“Maude Meredith.". 
Mrs. B. O, Dunlap. 
Prof. G. 0. Caldwell, Cornell University 
I. P. Roberts, Farm Manager. 
Prof. L. B. Arnold... 
Dr. A, R. Ledoux ... 
Charles Downing. 
Samuel B. Parsons... 
Samuel Parsons, Jr. 
A, B. Allen. 
Prof. K. W. Stewart. 
Col. F. D. Curtis.. 
Peter B. Mead. 
L. S. Hardin...: . 
C. R. Dodge. 
James Hogg.*. 
Forrest K. Morel and.. 
Jonathan Taleott... 
LorCDzo Rouse. 
Nelson Ritter... 
L. A. Roberts.•. 
D. S. Marvin. 
J. G. Bingham. 
G. A. Goff. Jr. 
G. D. Hopkins, Vet. Surgeon, N. V. city 
G. M. Doolittle. 
E. W. Powell. 
Miss Alloc Hough. 
Miss Elinor Brooks. 
Mrs. W. V. Asplnwall.. . . . . . 
Mrs J. E. Sweet.. 
E. S. Salmon, D. V. A1. 
M. II. Prince. 
8. 0. Shelton. 
Mrs. Annie L. Jack. 
J. F. Forfar. 
Ulclmrd Gibson . 
Prof, s. M. Tracy.... 
J). 8. Holman.;. 
Adeline Storey. 
H. W. Ravenel. ”!'!’*'! . 
8. Ott. . 
j. w. Kerr.. 
HughL. Wysor .. . 
W. o. Bellamy. Ala 
A. E. Blount, Farm Manager Agr l. Coii.V.V. . - . Col! 
Dr. T. H. Hoskins, M. D. Yt 
0.8. Bliss..... 
Mrs Sarah H. Howell.!.!!!!!!!!!.’!!! “ 
And 000 occasional correspondents all over 
the country. 
The Qi kukjt column and Evkuywueuk Depart¬ 
ment form a medium of discussion and Intercom¬ 
munication among our most progressive farmers 
and horticulturists. 
The Rubai, New-Yorker Is now the recognized 
organ lor the announcement of all new seeds, 
plants and methods. 
The Proprietors aim so to conduct the Rckai, 
Njbw-YOHker that, It shall have a just claim upon 
all who love Nature among the English-speaking 
peopled the world. 
Truth, progress, the real Interests of the land and 
all who cultlvatelt; the dissemination or Improved 
seeds aud plantH and or the knowledge.how bests to 
cultivate them, are the alma or the Knit a t, New- 
Yorker. 
Farmers and gardeners—rural people of any 
and every occupation—city people who Uave con¬ 
servatories or gardens, It not familiar with the 
Rural Nkw-\orkkr inquire as to Its standing 
and Influence of those who are, and 
SUBSCRIBE! 
Price $ 2 .oo, 34 Park Row. N. Y. 
FARMING FOR BOYS AND GIRLS.-NO. 6 
HENRY STEWART, 
Preparation of the Soil. 
It has been said, “As a man sows, so shall he 
reap." This is true In every Bense In which It can 
be used, and It applies In the most forcible way 
to tire manner of preparing the soil for sowing the 
seed. This work needs to be done most carefully, 
that the seed cast Into the soil may be able to re¬ 
ceive the utmost benefit from the soli itself, as 
well as from the water, air, light, and heat, which 
all exert so great an influence upon It. The first 
work In preparing soil for the seed Is to plow It. 
The modern plow is constructed upon truly scien¬ 
tific principles—by which la meant that It Is not 
fig. 440. 
the ground, he finds a hard bottom very close to 
the surface In many places. The consequence 
would he that the seed might sprout, hut the 
plants would he very poor and weak, or would die 
for want of soil to grow In and because they could 
not ent er the hard soli to find rood. Besides, as 
the air and the warmth of the sun could not 
penetrate this hard soli, these could not serve 
their purpose in preparing food for the young 
plants, and the plants would Starve; and when the 
sun’s heat becomes fierce In the Summer time, 
this shallow soli would dry out aud the crop would 
perish. Thus poor work gets poor pay, and it is 
only good work that Is well paid for; for we see 
Conn 
Mass 
fig. 487. 
made by guess-work, but is shaped in conformity 
with certain well-known rules and principles 
of mechanics, so as to use the force applied 
to it In the best and most effective and eco¬ 
nomical manner. It Is necessary for the young 
farmer to understand these principles, and why 
plows are shaped as they are, because he can then 
use them much better and do better work wit h 
them than It he knew nothing about It. The work 
of the plow la to turn over the soil so that a fresh 
portion may be brought up and exposed to the air, 
and the manure, weeds, sod or stubble may be 
covered up. and also to break up and loosen the 
soil. That the latter part of the work be well 
done is very important; and a well-made plow in 
the hands of a good plowman does this work better 
than it can be done m any other manner, better 
even than it can be done with a spade. The plow 
also cuts out the furrow slice as well aa turns it 
over; it therefore requires, for easy work, to have 
a sharp edge aud the general form of a wedge. To 
turn over the boll, the surface ol this wedge Is re¬ 
quired lo he curved or rounded and hollow, so that 
wheu the furrow slice Is cut loose It Is luted and 
turned partly over, and In the bending the slice of 
soil is broken loose, crumbles and falLs apart. The 
following Illustrations show how this useful work 
is done. At figure 437 is shown the form of the 
plowshare and the mold-board as If the plant were 
cut across in several places from the middle of the 
share to the end of the mold-board. When the 
share at a enters the soli, it first cuts the ground 
fig 415, 
large blade. All inclosed In a compact white 
handle, the whole weighing only two ounces. This 
knife Is given for a club of 8. 
THE OLD FARM-HOUSE 
PIG. 441. 
that nature herself refuses to help those who will 
not, or do not, help themselves, by doing their work 
well. 
“ Nurse, tell me once more, please; then I will 
shut my eyes and try lo sleep." 
So nurse told the good news again. Next .day 
they were all to go to grandpa’s. “ Where the 
ducks arc ?” cried Mollle. 
“Yea, the ducks, the brook, and the old rarm- 
house, the horse aud carriage, and ever so many 
good things,’’ said nurse. 
“Willmamma let me wade in the brook? I 
must ask her before I can get a wink of sleep.’’ 
Mamma was busy packing. She brushed away 
some tears when she heard little feet along the 
hall. Mollle lorgot the nm In a moment: “Mam¬ 
ma Is thinking about; Rule Alllc in heaven—how 
she Is not here to go to grandpa’s,” 
Then Mollle clapped her hands and cried, “ Let 
us take the lame girl; her mother has no money 
to send her to tbe country. Would not this please 
A file if she could look down !” 
So the poor llcile lame girl had a good time at 
the rarm, 
Though Allle might not know, we are sure 
Jesus was pleased with love shown to one of his 
dear children.—su nbeam. 
PREMIUMS 
Dear Uncle Mark:— What premiums may I 
have for getting new subscribers to the Rura l ? 
Moniicelio, Iowa. h. p. t. 
[We have had inquiries similar to this several 
limes of late, and have concluded to make one 
answer which will cover them all at this time. 
The cousins may, of course, work for any of the 
premiums offered In our premium list as published 
m the Fair number, or we will furnish an extra 
copy of the Rltrai. for every seven new subscrib¬ 
ers. 
we have also selected as of special interestto 
the you ug the articles illustrated on this page, 
For the young ladles we have live varieties of al¬ 
bums, given for clubs of eight, eleven or eighteen 
names. Also books lrom the house of i-eo a- stimi. 
Also books lrom the house of Lee & Shep¬ 
hard, counting each subscriber as 50 cents. 
fig. 412, is a Monitor clock. Our Illustration is 
about a quar- 
ter of the size bH 
of the clock. 
The Monitor 
is an accurate \ 
time - p 1 e ce, 
and ^ an alarm 
diameter; the H 
wound, set 
admirable \ r 
“movement” - -• 
Is Inclosed in pig. 442. 
a seamless copper case, that Is stamped out and 
heavily nickel-plated. A club of 7 secures the 
“ Monitor." 
This cut, Fig. 443, la a boy’s express wagon, con¬ 
structed with Iron axles and heavy welded tire 
wheels. It la 10x33 inch body, has good-sized 
wheels and the front ones turn under the box; la 
loose and lifts it a little, 
Texas, 
A good excuse for sickness of yourself and fami¬ 
ly Is that you don’t use Hop Bitters. 
Iowa, 
. Wis, 
N. Y. 
HIDDEN BUSINESS MEN 
FIG. 438. 
When tbe furrow slice is pushed along the plow 
share to o, it Is lifted still more and begins to bend 
and turn at c. When it comes on to the mold- 
board at a it Is nearly on edge; at e It is bent so 
much that the soil crumbles and the slice falls 
apart, unless it. Is very tough; and at./ the furrow 
slice la turned over so that it falls Into the position 
shown at fig. 438. This illustration shows how the 
furrows lap and tie, one upon another. By using a 
differently shaped mold board the furrow slices 
may be laid flat, and tor some purposes this Is 
done, hut what useful purpose Is served by it that 
Is not, done by lap furrowing, does not seem very 
clear, in making Jap furrows, the top soil and any 
manure or other useful matter that may be upon 
It, are placed In the best possible position to be mix¬ 
ed with the soil. This is easily seen by referring 
to fig. 439. This Is intended to represent the sur¬ 
face of a field that lias been manured. As the 
furrow slices arc turned over on their edges, the 
top soil, and the manure, which is shown by the 
dark fines, lie between the slices from the bottom 
to the top, except where they are covered with a 
little of the loose, broken soli which falls Into the 
1. Is that spot terebinth? 
2 . Do you halce rolls ? 
3 . Thus add Le Rena. 
4. I am mamma’s only child. 
5. Do you sell at retail or only.wholesale ? 
c. Rut the hen In the coop, Ernest. 
7, With thlshoe make radish beds, 
s. Those present were Messrs. Jones, Black- 
Smith and Brown. 
a. Let the cob rick Jay, Erllngton. 
10 . I saw papa In terrible agony, 
it. Look at the mat in Nerva’s hall. 
12 . I can make Ruth laugh. 
13. Bah! Don’t krout stink, Frying ? 
14. Use a corn-cob, filerney. 
15. Did you shuck steruay’s oyster. 
ig. What a buff arm, Krsle. 
17. It put Philip B.ln terror. 
IS. I saw a carp enter a shark’s jaw. 
19. He is a Jew, Elermo. 
20 . “ i lert do clocks mit her mtther.” 
21 . Down in the cabin, Et, make Rosa lie down. 
22 . You'll undertake riddle guessing. 
23. on our pup, Holster, eruption is visible. 
24. Homer chants In church. 
25. The negro certainly is a lower race, 
Answer In two weeks. Little One. 
VERBAL CHARADES 
My first Is In wine, but not in beer. 
My second is In courage, but not in fear. 
My third Is in case, hut not In box. 
My fourth la In keys, but not in locks. 
My fifth is In green, hut not In yellow. 
My sixth Is In hall, but not In bellow. 
My seventh is in yours, but not In ours. 
My whole la a sweet smelling bunch of flowers, 
ivAnswer in two weeks. w. c. f. 
FIG. 443. 
well made throughout, which of course, combines 
strength. The possession or one or these satisfies 
many a boy’s ambition. It is a toy which is both 
useful and amusing. Price $5. This wagon is 
given for a club of 12 subscribers. 
Fig. 444 19 a velocipede, suitable for boys from 
the ages of a to 9. Its front wheel Is 22 inches and 
has an iron hub; the wheels are oval tired and 
FIG. 431). 
new furrows. When the harrow Is drawn across 
these furrows, tbe teeth will mix the Boll and ma¬ 
nure together very completely. But, although this 
may not he done, when the seed Is sown It lafis in¬ 
to the small furrows and Is covered by the soil 
from the edges, as the harrow passes over them. 
The l oots of the young plants find a supply of ma¬ 
nure to feed upon directly in their way as they go 
down Into the soil and as they go still further down, 
they find more looa ready tor them. As the fullest 
growth of the. erop Is the object sought by t he far¬ 
mer, this maouer of plowing la then seen to be 
precisely what he requires to galu his object. A 
ill tie observation, thought aud study may very 
easily expialu such matters as this to the young 
farmer, su that lie may not only know what ho 
works for, but why he docs this or that, and how 
his work should be done to make It more profitable 
for him. rne plow crumbles and loosens the soil 
and makes It mellow; this Is necessary- to make a 
soft bed tor the seedln which the young roots may 
easily torce themselves In their search Tor food. 
At figure -wo is shown the effect of good plowing 
upon the soli, In which the furrows are straight 
and even In width and depth. In this case every 
part of the soil is turned; the surface of the field 
is raised evenly, and If one should push a stick Into 
NUMERICAL ENIGMA 
The whole consisting of 25 letters Is a proverb, 
The lo, (i, 25,17, 2 , Is a kind of tea. 
The 5,3, 19, 9, 20 . is, 10 , la to gesticulate. 
The 21, 4,14,8, 7,19, Isjthe turning point. 
The 3,14,1,13, 22 , l, Is barbarous. 
The 13, l-L 1,15, li, is a fragment. 
Of*Answer la two weeks. “ Gus.’ 
PUZZLER ANSWERS.—NOV. 27 
Answer to Triple Acrostic— 
Cat c H w orB 
AffiAnce It 
FIG. 444. 
the handles tipped. It is upholstered with a fine¬ 
ly-stitched leather saddle, with wood parts painted 
and ornamented. Exert yourself to obtain the 
needed number of subscriptions. Price $«. Given 
for 14 subscribers. 
Fig. 445 la a pocket knife as here shown. The 
ITimals form “cart”; ceutralB form “hack”; fin 
als form “ dray” 
Hidden Okpiouus.— 1 . Lieutenant; 2. Cadet; 3. Mid 
slnpman; 4. General; 6. Commodore; 6. Brevet; 7 
Drum-Major; 8. Briumlier; a Dragoman ; lu Khedive 
11. Private; 12. Proctor ; 13. Orderly; 14. Gunman 4er 
ln-ohiel; 16. Hospital Steward. 
