282 
THE 
EW-YORKER. 
4 
(ftoergtobm, 
RURAL SPECIAL REPORTS. 
Ark., Greenwood. Sebastian Co., April 10— 
The last three weeks have been dry weather. 
Forest fires are becoming quite troublesome. 
Roads dry and dusty Apple trees in bloom. 
Blackberries blooming. Forest trees nearly 
in full leaf. Lettuce and spinach ready for 
the table. Immigrants coming in from all 
quarters. Real estate increasing in price. 
Wages both reasonable and plentiful. Farm¬ 
ers very busy preparing ground for cotton, 
of which a larger acreage than usual will be 
planted. Quite a number are going to try 
raising peauuts which are said to be a profita¬ 
ble crop. All kinds of fowls are raised hero 
with profit. R. R. 
Ills., Baldwin, Randolph Co.. April 12.— 
There will not be as large an acreage of oats 
sown as usual; the high price of seed oats and 
the wet weather are (be drawbacks. Wheat is 
looking better than it did at my last report, 
and where it is good, it looks very fine ; hut in 
some places it is very poor, and, taking all 
into account, the prospect now is not. nearly as 
good as it was at this time last year. Fruit has 
been injured in some places by the late frost, 
especially Peaches ; but from what I can learn 
through this section there promises to be a fair 
crop. Oats are hiah, 40e. per bushel; corn is 
also selling at 40e.; wheat has declined to .1(1.05. 
and Irish potatoes are all the way from 25c. to 
$1, the price depending on quality; the last 
figure being for New York Early Rose for 
seed. Sweet potatoes are selling at $1.25 per 
bushel. Farmers, as a rule, are well up with 
their work, with the exception of sowing 
oats. There are many farmers in this section 
who raise nothing but wheat—every acre they 
can possibly get ready in the fall Is sown to 
that. They do not even raise corn enough to 
feed their own stock, and some after pntting 
all their own land in wheat, pay a high rental 
for other land to raise a small crop of corn, or 
what is strictly necessary to f ?ed their stock. 
Their stock consists generally of only enongh 
horses to work their farms, one or two cows 
for milk and butter for family use. and hogs 
sufficient to fatten and kill in the fall for 
meat for home use the next year. In this 
way they risk everything on one crop. If it 
fails, they have made nothing; and sometimes 
they have really lost money. Of course, once 
in a while these farmers make it pay, as 
they did last year; but I think all will 
agree that last year was an exceptional one 
both as to the yield and the prices obt&iued. 
Taking it one year with another, however, 
I question very much whether wheat alone 
pays nearly as well as mixed farming. It hardly 
ever happens that we have a general failure as 
to crops and prices, aud by having several 
different crops to depend on, there are more 
and surer chances oi profit. If wheat iails, 
you can have corn, oats, hay or stock to tali 
back on to make up the loss; and if corn is 
short, wheat may pay. So I believe it pays 
better even here where there is no range, to 
keep a lew extra head ol cattle or hogs to use 
the surplus hay aud eoru on the farm rather 
than to sell these to some one else to feed. 
Such Btock are always sure of bunging money 
at any lime, and when wheat fails, it is quite a 
consolatiou to feel that you have something 
el6o to fall back ou. Then, again, a man who 
practices mixed farming has less money to pay 
out for hired help ; for he is able to do more 
of his own work himself, aud thus save con¬ 
siderable in the expense account. Wheat is 
always considerable expense, as it is a crop 
that has to be attended to at ouce, and at a 
time the laborer exaeto the highest price for 
his work; consequently a failure iu that in¬ 
volves considerably more loss than iu almost 
any other crop, aud to me it seems more than 
ever desirable for every farmer to raise some¬ 
thing else to make up the possible loss by rea¬ 
son either of low prices or of the failure uf 
the crop. n. J. 8 . 
III., Stone Station, Lee Co., April 14.—There 
was considerable wheat sown last fall, but on 
account of the open winter it is about all wiu- 
ter-killed, especially the Odessa vaiiely, which 
is a spring wheat properly aud not a good kind 
to sow in the fall; Last year, however, we had 
a very good crop of winter wheat of that kiud. 
Rye looks well considering the open wiuter. 
Our prices are lower in some of the staple pro¬ 
ducts than they were last fall. Corn, 30cts. now, 
and last fall S5cts.; oats, 28 els.; wheat $1@ 
1.15; rye 75ets.; hogs about $4. c. 8. 
III., Elkhart, Logau Co., April 12.—Wheat 
in our Beetion is geueruffy good. Wiuter 
seems to have been the worst on that which 
was broadcasted ; but even this appears to be 
coming out all right. The fly has not harmed 
it to my knowledge. Its general appearance 
promises an ordinary crop. o. p. o. 
Ini>., Argola, Steuben Co., April 13.—The 
condition of wheat here is excellent. The past 
winter did not injure it at all, aud siuce then 
the weather has been flue. We are increasing 
the area under wheat every year, * tall 
a much larger acreage than ever before was 
sown. Southern Michigan and northern Indi¬ 
ana will reap a far larger wheat harvest thiB 
year than they have ever done. The prospect 
for fruit of all kinds, too, is good. Spring 
work is “ driving.” t. b. l. 
Iowa, Dakota, Humboldt Co., April 13.— 
We raise no winter wheat in this vicinity; all 
ours is of the spring varieties. Last year the 
yield was good—generally from 15 to 20 
bushels to the acre of No. 2 wheat. On new 
land the yield was even better, in some places 
runniug as high as 25 bushels. The chief 
injury was done by rust; the weevil also did 
6ome damage, aud while in the milk some of 
it was iojured by showers and the hot sun. 
This spring a larger acreage is being put in. 
Wheat sells here now at 80 to 90c. The corn 
crop last year was large and the acreage 
much greater than usual. Tt e yield was 
from 50 to 60 bushels to the acre and the 
price from 17 to 25c. About one-third more 
will bo planted this year than last. o. L. h. 
Mo., Reigstmrg, Wells Co., April 15.—Some 
pieces of wheat are badly killed by freezing 
and thawing. Some on low ground was killed 
by drought last fall; but generally it looks as 
favorable for a good crop as I have ever seen 
it. It is not damaged by the fly to any extent. 
The acreage is larger thau usual. It shows no 
signs of disease as far as I have been able to 
learn or observe. J. H. g. 
Oregon, Springfield, Lane Co., April 6.—We 
have had oue of the worst winters known in 
thisState; rain and snow since ihe first of Dec. 
Winter wheat is looking well and there is a 
fair prospect of a large yield. Hessian fly has 
never been known iu this state. Acreage 
larger than last year. Spring wheat is mostly 
raised in this county and does well. Farmers 
are rather late in sowing this spring on account 
of bad weather. Wheat per bushel, $1; oats, 
45@50cts.; potatoes, 50cts. j>. o. 
Oregon, Long Tom, Lane Co., April 7th.— 
We had a hard winter in Oregon, yet early- 
sown wheat looks well. A great deal is sown 
that is not up yet, and much more will yet be 
sown ; probably seeding will not be done be¬ 
fore the first of May. There is no appearance 
of disease in the grain already growing, al¬ 
though frosty nights are no benefit to it. The 
Hessian fly is unknown here. The general 
appearance of wheat is about the same as last 
year aDd the acreage much larger, e. b. b. 
Oregon, Canby, Clackamas Co., April S.— 
Wheat in this section does not show any sigus 
of disease. The Hessian fly is not known here, 
its appearance is as good as in former years 
only it is smaller. The acreage of winter 
wheat i6 smaller ; but it is thought that the 
acreage of spring wheat will be larger thau 
last year. We have hud an unusual amouut 
of snow this winter aud a very late spring. It 
is very cold aud chilly at this time. j. s. 
Oregon, Cornelius. Washington Co., April 
5.—The wheat has not made as vigorous a 
growth as in former winters ; but It is looking 
very healthy. It is not injured by the frost. 
We have no Hessian fly in ibis country. The 
prospect for the fall-sown graiu is very 
good—equal to that in our most prosperous 
years, The acreage is a about the same as last 
year. There will bo a greater amount of 
spring wheat sowu than ever before, j. u. 
Oregon, Tangent, Linn Co., April 6.—The 
wheat in our Beetion looks worse than usual 
at this time. The winter has been uuusually 
severe on the crop. There is no appearance 
of any .injury irom the Hessian fly. There was 
us much as 50 per cent, more acres put iu last 
tali than ever before, but I thiug n looks 20 
per cent, worse. it. L. 8. 
Oregon, Portland, Multonomah Co. April 7. 
—Wheat iu this section is not injured by the 
wiuter. NuB'gus of auy disease. TheHosBian 
fly is unknown here. Its general appeal anee 
is good us compared with other years. Acre¬ 
age is larger. h. o. b. 
Oregon, Scotlsburg, Douglas Co., April 5.— 
About twenty-five per cent, more wheat was 
sowed this year thau usual. No llcssiaufly; 
no 6igns of disease. Plenty of oats aud barley 
—alwuys good crops. t. w. a. 
Penn., Cool Spring, Mercer Co., April 16.— 
Wheat looks well and more than the usual 
acreage was sown last fall. Prices are:— 
wheat, $1 30; oats, 85 cts.; corn, SOcts.; clover 
$5- Last year wheat and corn, half crops; oats 
good. 8. B. B. 
Tenn., Beckwith, Wilson Co., Apri 14.— 
Winter wheat is in fine condition; prospects 
good for a large crop , 1 have some that is knee- 
high aud preparing to head. The farmers in 
this county have nearly finished planting their 
corn. We have had too much rain siuce the 
1st. ol February. Seasonable at present. B. Y. 
Wash. Ter., Alpowa, Columbia Co., ipriI7. 
—The past winter has been a severe one for 
fall-sown wheat. There is no disease in wheat 
here except smut, aud this is preveuted by 
treating the seed with sulphate of copper. The 
HeS6iau tty does not trouble the wheat here, 
aud its geueral appearauce is not quite as good 
as on other yeais, but the acreage will be much 
larger. v. A. w. 
Wis., Labelle, Sauk Co., April 15.—Half our 
winter wheat appears to have been killed; 
the rest will most likely give an average yield 
per acre. No Hessian fly in this section. Fully 
half as much acreage as last year has been 
sown to wheat. w. 8- H. 
Cljf Querist. 
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
The New York Low on Line Fences. 
J. H. L., Coxsakie, N. Y., has a wood lot 
lying separate from the farm and assessed by 
itself. It has been owned by the family for 
40 years and has never had any fence in front 
of it—that is, along the road. On the three 
other sides, the atljoluing laud is owned by 
three separate men, one of whom has served 
a notice ou our inquirer that he must 
build his part of the line fence between 
the wood and the neighbor’s lot. The fence 
is of no uso to our correspondent, as the wood 
lies in common and w ill do so as long as it is 
owned as at present, and he askB whether he 
cau be compelled to build the fence. 
ANSWER BY F. K. MORELAND. 
The general rule in this State is, that w hen 
a land owner elects to let his land remain un¬ 
inclosed, it is no one’s business but his own. 
By allowing his laud to remain open and un- 
feuced he tacitly permits it to become com¬ 
mon. In no case can a land owner he com¬ 
pelled to maintain road fences; this has been 
the case since the legislature passed an act to 
that effect several years since. Our courts 
have decided over and over again that if a 
land owner doesn’t wish to build partition 
fences but chooses to let his laud remain in 
common, he cannot be disturbed iu this as¬ 
sertion of his sovereign rights. The Supreme 
Court says in Chryslar vs. Westfall, reported 
in 41 Barb. 159. “If an owner chooses to let 
a portion of his land He open, he cannot be 
charged with the proportion of the expense 
of a partition fence, under the Statute” (1. R. 
S. 353 § 30). Section 30, above referred to, has 
been several times amended and in 1S71 Chap. 
635 was made to read as follows: 
“ When two or more persons shall have 
lands adjoining, each of them shall make and 
maintain a just and equal proportion of the 
division fence between them iu all cases where 
each of such adjoining lauds shall be cleared 
or improved, and where such adjoining lands 
border upon any of the navigable lakes, 
streams or rivers within this State, it shall be, 
and it is hereby made the duty of the owners 
thereof, to maintain such diyi6iou fence 
down to the line of low water mark iu such 
lakes, streams aud rivers," Section 31 of the 
1 K. S. now reads as follows, Chapter 635Laws 
of 1871 : “ Where two or more persons shall 
have lands adjoining, and not within the pro¬ 
visions of section 89, as hereby amended, each 
of them shall make and maintain a just aud 
equal proportiou of the divisiou fence between 
them, except the owner of either of the ad¬ 
joining lands shall etioose to let such lands lie 
open. If he shall afterwards inclose it, he 
shall refund to the owner of the adjoining 
land a just proportion of the value, at 
that time, of auy division fence that 
shall have been made aud maintained by 
6uch adjoining owner, or he shall build his 
proportion of such division fence.” Such is 
the law in regard to division fences. 
And the portions of the statute law of 
this State in reference to lands lying uu- 
inclosed, seem to me to be founded upon 
the theory that the only person who suffers 
from the want of fences is tbe owner or own¬ 
ers of such umnclosed lauds ; that if such 
owner permits tbe world at large to come 
upon his uuiuclosed land at will, he, and not 
his neighbor, is the only person that is dam¬ 
nified. And if auj adjoining owner, in a case 
whore there is no division fence, wishes to 
have his lands inclosed, he must do it himself 
and not call upon a land owner who doesn’t 
wish to fence his own lands, to contribute to 
the cost of indosiug his neighbor’s lands—a 
proceeding in which there is not a particle 
of justice. 
Action of ihe Nitric Ferment in the Soil. 
W- M. O., Glenwood, Utah, referring to our 
editorial on Nitrification in the Soil in the 
issue of March 18, asks how does the nitric fer¬ 
ment produce the niter in the manure—does 
it decompose the woody fiber and extract and 
feed on the albumen; or does it feed on the 
fiber and inhale nitrogen from the atmosphere 
and compound it with the carbon, and develop 
nitro-carbon, or excrete Borne form of nitrate, 
aB of potash, soda, etc ? 
Ans.—V ery little is known as yet with re¬ 
gard to the precise mode of action of the nitric 
ferment. Indeed, looking at the matter from 
the agricultural point of view, it would seem 
best to eonteut ourselves for the present with 
the discovery that nitrates arc really formed 
through the intervention of a ferment, and to 
devote our energies to the application of exist¬ 
ing knowledge to the treatment of the soil and 
the compost heap so that the largest possible 
yield of nitrates may be got at the least cost. 
It is highly desirable, of course, that the natu¬ 
ral history of t his microscopic organism should 
be well made out. But for the moment, we 
may well pause to consider more particularly 
the good which is done in the world by the 
ferment and how best to avail ourselves of it. 
In seeking to form a conception of the action 
of the nitric ferment we naturally turn to the 
somewhat analagons case of yeast. When the 
yeast plaut is mixed with Hour and water, at a 
suitable temperature, it thrives; and as one 
result of its life various chemical reactions oc¬ 
cur in the Bubstunee of the flour, among which 
the production of carbonic acid specially in¬ 
terests the bread-maker. Just so the nitric 
ferment thrives iu the soil and compost heap 
when they contain lit food and when the con¬ 
ditions as to air, warmth, moisture, darkuess, 
etc., are favorable. In this case, also, chem¬ 
ical reactions occur, incidentally as it were, 
as a result of the growth and multiplication of 
the ferment, and among them the formation 
ot nitrates from the nitrogenous and saline 
matters in the earth, is of prime importance 
to the fanner. The nitrates are active aud 
approved forms of plant food, immediately 
available for the growth of crops, while the 
nitrogenous matters from which these nitrates 
were derived may have been inert and crude 
and of comparatively little worth. Wlieu ni¬ 
trification occurs, there is probably no gain to 
the farmer as to the total amount of nitrogen, 
but there is a very great improvement as to 
the quality of a part of it. Iu all probability, 
some of the nitrogen of the crude materials 
goes to waste during the fermentation, but the 
nitrogen in nitrates is of so much better quality 
than tbe nitrogen of the crude substances, that 
it is a great privilege for the farmer to be able 
to make nitrates from a part of Ms store of 
nitrogenous materials. There is every reason 
to believe (hat the ferment feeds on dead or¬ 
ganic matters in the earth, “ woody fibre, ex¬ 
tracts, albuminoids,” and what not, but the 
analogy of the yeast and other organized fer¬ 
ments points to the conclusion that the ni¬ 
trates formed are not in any sense to be re¬ 
garded as secretions. For tbe present, it may 
be said that we know that the nitric ferment 
can change the ammonium compounds, which 
result from the decay of humus etc., to ni¬ 
trates ; and that it Is not unlikely that the in¬ 
ert nitrogen of humus cau in like manner be 
changed by the ferment. But there is as yet 
no evidence that the fermeut can convert the 
free nitrogen of the air to nitrates. 
Coloring Butter. 
W. H■ S.. no address, asks, 1, how to color 
butter, 60 as not to look brown, as bis always 
does, when colored with aunatto, first mixed 
with melted butter, next strained and allowed 
to coo), and then mixed with the uewly made 
butler; 2, how to prepare a home-made in¬ 
cubator. 
Ans. —1, There are several methods employed 
by old and experieuced dairymen for preparing 
annatto for coloring butter, only a few of 
which space will permit us to give here. Melt 
about, say, a pound of butter, so that the heavy 
part may siuk to the bottom, and pour the light 
clear fat on the top iuto another dish. Into the 
fat poured oil, put a piece of annatto, about the 
size of walnut, wrupped up In a linen cloth, 
and place the vessel again over the fire. The 
coloring matter strains through the cloth, and 
turns the butter brown-red, when it should be 
allowed to cool off. When the butter is to be 
colored, some of this is molted, salted uud 
mixed very carefully into tin*, butter after wash¬ 
ing. The quantity to be mixed will depeud on 
the shade of color the maker wishes to impart 
to his butter, aud a little practice soon enables 
him to take the right quantity. Great care 
should, of course, be taken to work the butter 
thoroughly, as, if streaked or marbled, It will, 
most probably, fetch a lower price in the mar¬ 
ket than it would if uncolored. The better 
way is louse tbe annatto in the cream, and then 
during the process of churning, it becomes 
perfectly incorporated with the mass and gives 
an even shade throughout the butter without 
any trouble. A simple recipe for cutting the 
annatto for this purpose is as follows: Dissolve 
a half pound of concentrated potash in five 
quarts of water, by beating and stirring. Pour 
off the lye from the sediment, add oue pound 
of the best anuattoand dissolve it. Boil gently 
fort wen tj'-fivo minutes, byplacing the mixture 
in a kettle surrounded by water, so as to pre¬ 
vent scorching or burning. Then let the mix¬ 
ture settle; rack it off, and strain through a 
fine cloth, and bottle for use. By measuring 
the quantity of cream and the proportion ol 
annatto for the desired shade, a uniform color 
for different churnings may be obtained. 
When tbe annatto is cut by an akali, like potash, 
the coloriug sometimes gives a slightly reddish 
tinge to the butter, while It is claimed that an¬ 
natto prepared in the following manner pro¬ 
duces a golden hue: Take two ounceB of best 
basket annatto and dissolve it in a quart of 
eoft, cold, water, it should be shaken well in 
order that tbe aunatto may be thoroughly dis¬ 
solved; then strain the liquid through a cloth, 
and add oue teacupful of any good dairy salt, 
