440 
tHE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
JUNE 26 
His boys, nine and eleven year6 of age, put 
them on the bunches and gather them at the 
top, and tie a cotton string at the top of the 
bunch. The boys could bag 300 bunches in a 
morning without feeling overworked. Often¬ 
times he found it a really fascinating work 
himself, and first-rate Recreation for a June 
morning. The bogs were put on when the 
grapeB were about one-third grown. 
The second method is that of inclosing in 
paper bags. When Mr. Bateham, of Ohio, 
first suggested this novel plan, he considered it 
an absurdity. He could not imagine how a 
bunch of grapes, shut off from sunlight and 
air, could properly mature with good color and 
flavor. He resolved to give it a fair trial. 
One fact is woitb a great deal more than many 
theories; and, starting out with prejudice 
against Mr. Batehain’s plan, after a first trial 
he mu6t confess himself a convert to it and its 
advocate. 
This year he put on 2,000 paper bags. The 
results were most satisfactory. The grapes 
ripened evenly with the best of coloring, 
fully as early as when not inclosed, aud with a 
flavor equal to any grown without the bags. 
More than this, the bunches came out of the 
bags with a splendid bloom and as perfect in 
every respect as it is possible for a grape to be. 
The paper bagging prolonged the season for 
nearly a month. They are very cheap, and 
are more easily put on than the netting, aud 
the grapes cannot be touched by the birds. 
The bag is slipped over the bunch when the 
grapes are about one-third grown, folded to¬ 
gether about the 6tem, and a pin stuck through 
the folds. TbiB is all the lasteniug necessary. 
Care must be taken, however, to make a small 
slit in the bottom of the Lag, for, unless this is 
done, when a heavy rain falls half a pint 
of water will get Into the bag, and, standing 
around the grapes, will injure them, or by its 
weight tear the hag off. Merely pierce the 
bettom with the blade of a knife. 
The New England Farmer has much faith 
in the future of the sugar industry in this 
country, bat trembles for the lazy and shift¬ 
less farmers who have invested in the en¬ 
terprise with high hopes of success, but with¬ 
out a due appreciation of the requirements 
necessary for securing profitable crops of beet 
roots. _ 
Crops after Peas.— The New York Herald 
has the following: A Massachusetts farmer 
says that be has planted the following crops, 
all with good success, after the early peas have 
been marketed and the vines pulled: squash, 
horse-radish, cabbage, all kinds of turnip, 
sweet corn, tomatoes, spinach, rye for fodder, 
clover to plow under, corn fodder and string 
beans. By getting two crops from the land the 
peas do not cost much, except the cost ot the 
seed, picking aud marketing. The second 
crop is the profitable one, as there is but one 
coat of manure applied for both crops. 
Col. Forney says: “Of 257 members re¬ 
turned to the British Pailiament 150 are mer¬ 
chants, manufacturers, or connected with 
commercial pursuits, only 53 are lawyers. 
There is a growing belief in some quarters 
that the composition of Congress would be 
improved by a decrease in tbe number of law¬ 
yers scut to that body, and an increase in tbe 
number of business men. The nation could 
get along very well with less talent for bun¬ 
combe speech-making if it were supplanted by 
a greater amount of practical familiarity with 
our varied interests and industries." 
The London Ag. Gazette has the following: 
“The vastly increased circulation of cheap 
daily newspapers, filled with general news, 
has, we fear, not helped the study of useful 
agricultural literature, the reading of these 
papers absorbing much of the time at disposal. 
We trust, however, that efforts are now being 
made to instil into our young agriculturist a 
knowledge of, and love for, agricultural 
science, which may prove beneficial. We 
shall thuB obtain a larger number of farmers 
at once practical and scientific, active aud 
watchful on the farm, ready to learn from the 
experience of the best farmers of this or other 
countries, and willing to impart any useful 
information they may be able to give to their 
brother farmers.” 
The Detection of Oleomargarine.— The 
detection of oleomargarine in butter, when the 
adulterating material is made, as it can be, in 
a careful aud cleanly maimer, is not easy, nor 
certain, except by methods which only a 
skilled chemist can execute. Several simple 
tests have recently been given in the papers, 
but my own experience with them has shown 
that they can be relied upon only wheu the 
oleomargarine is poorly or carelessly made, 
or when the butter cousists entirely of oleo¬ 
margarine 6iruply flavored by the small pro¬ 
portion of cream with which it is churned. 
Of these tests the following has given the best 
results within my hands : Over a piece of 
good butter a6 large as a chestnut, in a wine 
glass pour about twice its bulk of ether, stir 
it up until the fat is all dissolved. Let i ( 
stand for a few minutes till the undisBolvcd i 
salt has settled to the bottom, pour the clear 
solution off into a tablespoon and set it aside 
for an hour or two, or till all the ether haa 
entirely evaporated; perform the same opera¬ 
tion with a piece of oleomargarine, and on 
comparing the two fatty residues, the latter 
will be found to have a more or less distinct 
tallowy odor, which may become more appar¬ 
ent if the spoon is held for a moment in the 
hot steam from the boiling tea-kettle ; the 
residue from good butter has no such odor ; 
but genuine butter may be adulterated with 
halt its weight of oleomargarine, and the adul¬ 
teration cannot be detected by this test. Wheu 
genuine butter is heated to a temperature sev¬ 
eral degrees above the boiling point of water 
it foams much more than oleomargarine does 
when treated in a similar manner; I have 
found that this test enables us to distin¬ 
guish genuine butter from genuine oleomarga¬ 
rine, but it ib no more serviceable than the 
other for detection of adulteration of the one 
with the other. No one should place much 
dependence on either of these tests, without 
going through with the same operation with 
genuine butter at the same time, or at least 
not until thoroughly familiar with the different 
results given by the two substances under the 
conditions of the test. • 
Wo find the above in the agricultural col¬ 
umns of the New York Tribune, from the pen 
of Professor G. C. Caldwell. 
Col. F. D. Curtis holds that the cows we 
have are better than we give them credit for; 
that proper feed and care will greatly improve 
the quantity and quality of their product. To 
allow a cow to fall off in flesh, while giving 
milk for butter-making, is erroneous in the 
highest degree, and will be quickly detected 
by the expert in the butter trade, when the but¬ 
ter product is placed upon tbe market. The 
belter the cow, the more danger of this error, 
for the reason that her nature works to milk- 
formiug. and, if her system is not provided 
with proper nutriment, the result is, first, her 
fat, aud then her lean meat or muscle, are grad¬ 
ually transformed mto milk, and the butter 
from such milk will be deficient iu flavor, 
aroma, texture and color, whatever the sea¬ 
son of tbe year, or however well made. In 
short, it will be a fair competitor with the 
oleomargarine or tallow product of the pres¬ 
ent day. __ 
Avoid all five or ten-minute churns that have 
an action on the cream, says Mr.. Curtis. 
Such churns injure the grain of the butter, 
aud will be sure to tell against the butter when 
it is placed upon the market. 
Professor Arnold says: “The assertion 
is often made, and many people believe, that 
water washes out the flavor of the butler; but 
it only cleanses the butter of the buttermilk, 
sugar and milk acid which may adhere to it, 
just as clarifying sugar removes from it the 
loreigu matters which modiiy its true flavor. 
The flavor of butter consists of fatty matters, 
which do not combine with water, therefore, 
cannot be washed away by It. The effect of 
washing upon the keeping quality of butter 
depends upon the purity of the water with 
which the washing isdoue. If the water con¬ 
tains no foreign matter that will affect the 
butter, it will keep better for washing the but¬ 
termilk out than by kneading it out.” 
Cheap Refrigerators.— The Farm and 
Fireside, of Springfield O. has this to say 
about these: —Take two wooden boxes, one 
three inches larger in every way than the 
other. Line the inside box with ziuc. Fill 
the space surrounding it with dry sawdust, or, 
better, with fine charcoaL Let the cover to 
the inside box be covered with a piece of wool¬ 
en blanket. Let a small piece of pipe pass 
from the bottom of the inner box down through 
tbe bottom of the lower box, so as to allow 
the water from the melted ice to flow off. This 
is just as good as many of the patent iee chests 
at less than one-fourth Die cost. 
• • State laws are needed to define the duties 
and obligations of transportation companies 
within the jurisdiction of the State, and nation¬ 
al laws to regulate iuter-State commerce."— 
The Husbandman. 
Speaking of J udge Baleolm, a venerable mem¬ 
ber of the respected Farmers’ Club of Elmira, 
the Husbandman, which gives weekly reports 
of its valuable proceedings, says : “ Venerable 
iu years, rich iu experience, the J udge has 
undiminished interest in agriculture, and for 
the good service rendered in his profession, is 
regarded by the Club with warm affection. 
Allhough verging on fourscore years, he has 
the mental elasticity of robust manhood, aud 
as a farmer, is the Nestor of the Chemung Val¬ 
ley. There was another farmer at the meet¬ 
ing more advanced in years, Mr. David Neish 
of Breesport, who has nearly completed his 
eighty-third year, yet on his departure he 
mounted nimbly from the ground to the seat 
of a high carriage unaided, and with as much 
apparent ease as at any period of his life. It 
is very pleasant to meet and to talk with 
farmers who, to a good old age, have pre¬ 
served alike good health, sound minds and an 
uudiminished interest in agriculture. 
New Abutilons. —Mr. B. S. Williams, Lon¬ 
don, England confidently recommends them 
as being superior to anything yet sent out, 
both in color, habit, and profusenees of bloom. 
The Abutilou is one of the most useful dec¬ 
orative plants we have, aud can be had in 
flower all the year round; for cutting pur¬ 
poses there is nothing better. 
Charmer.—A grand acquisition, with bright 
rosy crimson flowers of fine shape, dwarf, 
and profuse. 
Crimson Banuer.—Habit dwarf, compact, 
very profuse, deep crimson, of flue form. 
Golden Nugget.—Flowers roundish, of fine 
form and substance, rich orange inside, out¬ 
side rich orange veined with crimson. 
Purity.—Flowers pure white, an improve¬ 
ment on Boule de Neige both as regards size 
aud substance, very profuse. 
Purple Emperor.—Large flowers, good sub¬ 
stance, rosy purple, distinct and pretty. 
Queen of the Yellows.—This variety has very 
large flowers, of fine form and substance, 
lemon-yellow, very distiuct. 
Violet Queen.—Flowers of fine form and 
substauce, of a bright violet color, very dis¬ 
tinct, and quite a new color amongst Abutll- 
ons. 
The above are selected from a large num¬ 
ber of seedlings. 
New Caladiums.— The following Caladiums 
are quite distinct in character to any hitherto 
offered, and may be considered the origin of 
a new type. The leaves are generally long 
aud narrow, not so arrow-shaped as the or¬ 
dinary forms, and having a peculiar grotesque 
appearance. 
Adnescens.—Leaves from 12 to 15 inches 
long by three to four inches broad, bronzy red 
veined with crimson, margin pale green, very 
distinct and fine. 
Fulgidum.—The leaves of this variety are 
from six to nine inches long by four to six 
inches broad, rather oval in shape, center sal¬ 
mon rose with rich metallic hue with bright 
veins, broad margin of pale greeD. 
Metallicum.—The leaves of this very distinct 
variety are from nine to twelve inches long 
by three to four inches broad, the center rose 
with a bronzy metallic band on each side, the 
margin pale green and wavy. 
PukherrLmum.—Leaves from nine to twelve 
inches long by four to six inches broad, the 
center transparent white with a broad margin 
of green, beautifully spotted ; very distinct. 
The One Best Addle.—I n Secretary Gar¬ 
field’* late Report of the Michigan State Hor¬ 
ticultural Society, the question was asked: 
“ Which is the one best apple ?” 
President Lyon explained:—If all the ap¬ 
ples were stricken from the list save one, what 
one would we choose to save for Michigan ? 
Mr. fiitely.—From my present experience in 
the market aud the home—for dessert, cooking 
and all uses, considering the tree as well as the 
fruit I should take the Baldwin. 
Mr. Selover.—The Baldwin ba6 many points 
of merit, but I would want a hardier tree aud 
a fruit of better quality, hence would 6ave the 
Northern Spy. 
Judge Lawton.—I would agree with the gen¬ 
tleman iu his choice. 
Mr. Harrison, Kalamazoo.—I should choose 
the Wagoner, because the tree is smaller aud 
bears earlier in addition to the good qualities 
of the Spy. 
Messrs. Williams, Dorr aud Pearsall chose 
the Baldwin as their favorite. 
Mr. Avery, Grand Traverse.—The Wagener 
will suit more tastes than either of the others 
mentioned. The Baldwins are in poorer con¬ 
dition, as to health oi tree, than almost any 
other variety in the State. 
Mr. Mcrriman said he was glad the opinion 
of any man was not final iu this matter—even 
his own—still his choice would be the Wagtuer. 
Mr. Chilsou thought he should choose his 
location aud save the old Rhode Island Green¬ 
ing. 
Mr. Lyon.—It is desirable to briug out opin¬ 
ions as to fir. t, second, third, aud fourth best, 
which are based upon actual experience. 1 
could not choose the Wagener because of the 
peculiar tendency to overbear, nor the Bald- 
i win because it lacks hurdiuess. 1 rather favor 
! the Northern Spy. 
i ■— -- 
Le Conte Pear.— The Southern Farmer’s 
i Monthly (Savannah, Ga.) says of this:— 
So lar we have heard no complaint against 
i the justly esteemed LuConte pear, which 
seems destiued under all variations of our 
climate to maintain us reputation lor vigor, 
fruitfulness, aud freedom from bllgbt and 
insect depredations. The bearing trees prom- 
i ise their usual crop of fruit, and thoa- 
i sauds of cuttings put out during the winter 
. are flourishing for the trade. 
The Fruit Recorder has the following: 
GOLDEN LAWS OF YE STRAWBERRY. 
1 . 
Strawberries choice wouldstthou procure? 
Dig deep and mulch and strew manure. 
II. 
To make the fruitful vines endure. 
Dig deep, and mulch and strew manure. 
III, 
To make nssnrauee doubly sure, 
Dig deep, aud mulch and strew manure. 
Stern cynic, here is naught to scoff at, 
On these throe laws bangs all the profit. 
Tue introduction of white grapes, says a 
writer in Dolman's Rural World, has proven a 
great blow to grape-loviug birds, for I have 
never yet observed one that was smart enough 
to discover that a white grape was good for 
eating. _ 
Me. Pierce asked if potatoes can be grown 
a number of years on the same piece without 
diminution iu yield, if well supplied with barn¬ 
yard manure. Mr. Laing said that he heard a 
gentleman say that he had grown potatoes on 
the same spot. 30 years, and tire last crop was 
the best. Had used barn-yard manure, only. 
Mr. Ross said that his father planted the same 
spot in the garden 25 years without diminution 
of yield and that it had been planted nearly 
that length of time since, and appears to do as 
well as over. Hog-pen manure had been used 
mainly. The above is taken from the pro¬ 
ceedings of the W. New York Farmers’ Club, 
as reported in the American Rural Home 
<i, o wp g m. 
RURAL SPECIAL REPORTS. 
Ala., New Market, Madison Co., June 9.— 
The wheat crop is now cut aud the yield is 
very poor, owing to rust. Oats are fine aud 
there is a prospect of a good yield. Cotton is 
growing finely, and a large acreage has been 
planted. Corn is laid by, of good color. Rain 
is abundaut and tbe weather cool for this lati¬ 
tude. Grass is luxuriant and pasturage flue. 
Gardens are prolific In all except cauliflowers 
which seem rusted. The Telephone peas are 
fiLe, some weevil eaten, did not come up. The 
flower seeds are growing finely. We bad a 
very mild winter, Sweet potatoes left in tbe 
ground last fall iu full sprout. Irish potatoes 
abundant and large. Fruits of all kinds in 
abuudauco in season. I find the Sharpless 
strawberry well adapted to this climate, giving 
prodigious fruit. Miner’s Prolific is nearly 
equal to it. The Cnthbert raspberry is all that 
is said of it—a great acquisition. Grapes are 
in abundance. Wo have no reason for com¬ 
plaint of the seasons or of fruits, vegetables or 
field crops, except that our wheat is short, but 
a larger acreage will make up for this. The 
health of tie country is good. 1 have planted 
largely of Blount’s corn, which is now laid by. 
The ground has been sown broadcast with 
Cow-peas. i>. 
Canada, Collinville, Lambton Co., June 8.— 
I planted 110 bug-eaten peas and of them 46 
only came up. More might have grown if I 
hadn't destroyed some while looking if they 
were germinating. This inspection showed 
that the insects have eaten some of them. 
The peas I plauted were McLean's Little Gem. 
Those that grew have been in bloom a week, 
and have beaten the Telephone. The seeds 
the Rural sent me are not growing well, 
though 1 had a nice plaee for them. The 
Cuthbert raspberry and the willow as well as 
the mangel aud oats arc growing, however; 
but the Cow-peas, planted on June 3id are 
not up yet. I have a few hills of Ambei sugar¬ 
cane that are ft l 8 ° growing. I sent to Kansas 
for a little of the Rice corn and it Is thriving, 
and bo Is the Donra which I am testing. Wo 
are huving lots of rain here now and the ground 
is very wet. Crops mostly look good. 8oiuc 
of the fall-sown wheat is fine and some poor. 
There is quite u sprinkling of all the sorts of 
fruit that grow iu this section, but the iusects 
are quite plentiful, aud wc hope no Ju*e frost 
will visit us to kill things. Potato beetles and 
grasshoppers are abundant. I wastu hopes thut 
these heavy rains would kill the 'hoppers, but 
they still hop lively. They ate our onions and 
carrots close to the ground last year, besides 
in j uriug the oats very much and doiug a good 
deal of other damage. 1 have a small piece of 
Defiance wheat grown from the seed saved 
from the Rural’s distribution last year, aud 
it is looking good. A Sursoriber. 
Canada. Listowett,Perth Co.,Out., June 7.— 
The Defiance wheat looks well aud is a good- 
sized patch this year. The Mold's oats look 
splendid- I sowed them as thin as 1 dare and 
now they look almost too tnick. I he other 
seeds are all sown iu a bed by themselves in 
the oi>en garden ; hut bo far not many of them 
are up. I did not put them iu until the ground 
was fit for cucumbers; this being my first year 
here, the soil is not just what I should like. 
Wc have had a very dry Spring, so that the 
farmers have got in their seed in very good 
order, and the rain since has brought it on 
fast, though the rainfall was so Heavy as to 
wash out a good many peas. The fall wheat 
