AUG. SB 
SS 
THE RURAL J9EW-Y0RKER * 
R. M. T., Philippi, W. Va., asks whether 
lightning rods are of any real utility in pre¬ 
venting a house from being struck by light¬ 
ning. 
Ans. —See Mr. Ruf”£*-Mason’s article on 
lightning rods elsewkt^T in this issue, and the 
remarks thereon. 
J. L. E., Fulton, mq„ having a large artlflclal 
pond between hla house and burn, asks what kind 
of plants would give It the most oruamentai ap¬ 
pearance. 
Ans.—S omething would depend upon the eleva¬ 
tion of the banks of the pond above the water. 
Alders, the LaurKolla Willow (Sallx pentandra), 
Rose of shuron (Hibiscus Syriac us), Cletlmi alnl- 
folla, moat, of the maplos, Uquldambar, Amorphu 
fruticosa and Lewlsll, Llguslrum ovallfollnm 
(Cadfomla Privet), Yucca tllamentosa, Azalea vls- 
cosaand nudltlora.lllgh blueberry and black Ruek- 
leberry, elder, Iron-weed, Uorieset, Arailaspluosa, 
Snow-drop Tree, Hibiscus mllltarls, dog-woods. 
There are hundreds of herbaceous plants suited to 
such a place, as Closed blue Gentian, dog-tootn 
violet, Llltum aupei’bum, that would greatly add 
to the interest ol such plantations, such lake- 
bands are, indeed, the moat suitable lor “wild 
gardens." Among evergreens, we may mention 
the American arbor-vine, hemlock, cypress, Nor¬ 
way Spruce, and even Scotch and Austrian Pines. 
We have lutd such pines growing beside our own 
lake. They flourish admirably though suited also 
to the highest, sandiest locations. 
J. ip. s., ot/aensuoro Kij„ says that Umber being 
scarce In that section, farmers are Investigating 
the merits of barbed wire fence, and he asks what 
Is our experience with that sort of lence; la It, 
economical, and whether wc know of any animals 
being seriously injured by its use. 
ans.— Wc nave had no personal experience with 
wire fences; but a good deal bas been said about 
them lu the Rubai, by those who have used them. 
We kuow of no cases In which an animal was 
crippled by contact with such fences; though we 
do know a tew cases in which animals were hurt. 
E. F. H., Heading Fa., and several others ask 
whether the American book Exchange of this 
city is reliable. 
Ans —So far as we now the Arm Is quite trust¬ 
worthy and is Ailing all orders as rapidly as pos¬ 
sible. Their sates, however, we are told, are so 
heavy that occasionally a slight delay Is inevita¬ 
ble In sending the works ordered; but we are as¬ 
sured that the orders will be Ailed in due time. 
/. IP. 0., Mg Rapids Mich., asks what would be 
the price of a hand-power elder press. 
Ans— The Higganum M’f’g Co , Hlgganum, 
Conn., sell good presses of the sort for from $15 to 
$25. 
M. F. McC.. Darlington, Pa., sends plant for 
name. 
Ans.—E nslenla alblda. It belongs to the Milk¬ 
weed Family. 
Communications received for the week ending 
Saturday. August21 
J. W. s. —m. u. r. C, Van ii., thanks.—C. C. 
J. S. McC.—W. E. M.—A. M.-L. W. S.—G. E. M.— 
K. F. D -F. H. D.—L A. M.-A. S. B.-G.C. C.— 
C. L. C.-U. T. II.—J. S. G.—It. L.—A. M. G.—B 
F. J.—G. T.—E. W.—J. G. A.—1). H. II.—M. I\ A. 
-J. E. S.-H. it.—W. L.-J. A. S.—J. J.—A. J. S. 
L. M. S.—M. II.—It. T. H.—K.-S, It. T.-A. B. A. 
T. H. M.-S. K.—A. B. A.—T. 11. M.—S. R.—lv. b. 
11.—T. O. M.-W. S. H.-ll. It—T. VV. L.—Mr. II. 
S.-J. b.-W. H. N.-A. I. E.-J. U. P.—A. L. J.— 
J . M. 11.—H. D.—iff. L. W.—R. A. W.- W. S. 
Miscellaneous. 
WHAT OTHERS SAY. 
SOKUHUM SUGAR-MAKING. 
The Elmira Far mo, s’ Club discussed sugar¬ 
making at tnolr last meeting and we make ex¬ 
tracts from the moat important part of the pro¬ 
ceedings as reported la ihe Husbandman: 
Mr. Ale Real of Cayuga. At what stage of 
growth do you cut corn stalks to get the best re¬ 
sults in sugar? 
C. J. Reynolds. When ihe ears are nearly ma¬ 
tured. Before they are dead-ripe and ths sulks 
dry, of course, but when the grain Is tully formed 
and so far advanced that It will ripen on the sev¬ 
ered stalk. 
Mr. 51 cKeel. 1 suppose the right time to cut 
sweet corn, is w lieu tue ears are ripe enough to 
pluck lor (trying? 
C. .1. Reynolds. Yes, although the exact con¬ 
dition can be ascertained only by experiment. 
We shall kuow better about It when we are more 
familiar with all branches of the work. The time 
to cut Amber Cane la wueu the seed la black—when 
it Is in the dough state. That is as near as we 
can now indicate the time wueu the Juice will 
work Into tue greatest amount or sugar. 
N. L. lilgglus. Have you made any sugar ? 
C.J. Reynold*. Yes, the crude raw sugar—not 
in large quautiiles, but enough to show that only 
skill Is required to got, the sugar out of the Juice. 
I had a barrel or molasses boUed down to nearly 
twelve pounds set away in my collar, and there 
are now several Inches ol' sugar at the bottom. 
Ezra Loomis, ot bradiordco., Pa., Can you use 
anything more than the stalks—the leaves or 
tops ? 
C. J. Reynolds. Only the clean stalks are avail¬ 
able. We shalltry coarse alum this year to aid 
crystallization. Mr. Stewart’s process was a great 
gain no doubt, but he has changed It somewhat 
I understand m the hope or making Improvement. 
He uses now a solid compound more easily man¬ 
aged than hla liquid preparation. 
N. L. Higgins, lias alum been used lor this 
purpose; ucu It so, to what extent? 
c. J. Reynolds. It has been used at the West, 
but 1 do not know how muon. TbOae who have 
used it say It leaves the sli up In better condition 
for crystallization, and that Is a material gain If 
true. 
N. L, Higgins. In your experience has the 
stripping of the leaves from the stalk been at¬ 
tended by any other advantage than reducing 
the amount of coarse material passed between the 
rollers? 
C. J. Reynolds. Certainly; they are worthless 
for sugar-making, and would Injure the products. 
The way to strip them Is to pass along the rows 
and strike, the leaves off with a light lath, making 
quick downward strokes. The tops can be separ¬ 
ated host at the time of loading on the wagon. 
This should he done with a sharp knife to make 
the work easy. They should be cut six or eight 
inches below the seed. There is another precau¬ 
tion to be observed in the work. If the stalks can 
not ho worked within forty-eight hours after they 
are cut they should be Inverted, for standing on 
the top ends the tendency to oxidization of the 
juice In the butts la lessened. In cutting I would 
be careful to sever the stalks a few Inches above 
ground. 
Mr. MoKeel. Why not cut at the ground and 
get the whole? 
C. J. Reynolds. There Is more earthy matter 
In the lower portions ol tho stalks, and this gives 
a hurlful flavor to the juice. For this reason the 
lower Joint should be left as worthless. Bo with 
the tops, they are not worth working, tor there Is 
not only less Juice in the stalks near the tops, but 
the Juice Is not so good as In the body below. 
Namuel Hall, la the refuse after passing the 
crusher good xor anything as eattlo lood? 
C. J. Reynolds. 1 think not. We have never hud 
slock that would eat It. The leaves are excellent 
as rodder, and they make up an Important item to 
the creditor the crop, l amjspeaklng now of Am¬ 
ber cane. It Is possible that crushed corn-stalks 
might be eaten by cattle, but as I have had no ob¬ 
servation lu the case, 1 cannot say whether they 
have value or not. Now 13 a good time to remove 
the suckers, a very Important matter, ror after 
suckerlng the stalks grow stronger and work up 
with moreproilc. 
Ezra Loomis. Y'ou think it necessary that the 
stalks should be worked within forty-eight hours 
of the cutting ? 
C. J. Reynolds. Yes, by all means, it possible. 
President McCann. Uaa the seed or Amber Cane 
any value ror feeding to cattle ? 
C. J. Reynolds. Yes, It makes good food when 
ground. 
Mr. Goddard, of Bradford Co , Pa. How much 
good syrup do you expect to get from a ton or 
snipped cane ? 
C. ,J. Reynolds. Forty, or forty-flve gallons of 
sirup weighing eleven pounds. 
Mr. Goddard. What is the estimated cost ot 
manufacturing alter the machinery is on hand? 
C. J. Reynolds, That question 1 cannot answer 
fori have not advanced so far In the business as 
to gather up details ot Information embracing the 
cost ns applied to such quantities as should be 
worked to give profit. A cord ot good, hard, dry 
wood will reduce two hundred ana liny gahons of 
juice to dense sirup. 
Ezra Loomis. You would run the evaporating 
pans night and day, 1 suppose, when mere is 
enough caue to keep them employed. 
C. J. Reynolds. Yes. The pans we have wtU 
reduce about lour hundred gallons ot Juice In a 
day and night, making, say, eighty gallons of 
molasses. 
Steam Cultivation.— We have made mighty 
strides In steam cultivation since ihe flrst Carlisle 
meeting of 1855, says the London Chronicle, but wc 
think it Is a happy coincidence that the second 
Carlisle show has made ot steam cultivation 
almost as prominent a leaturo as was bestowed on 
the former occasion, lu fact, we have taken a 
new departure, and ou the sliver medal by the 
Society being presented to Messrs. M I.aiou ior 
their improved bar by digger, we have the promise 
of tilling being conducted more In ruiuro on the 
principle of Mr. lloskyris. (le pointed out mat me 
mole, by the action of Its claws nod me lino mold 
left behind, affords an example tor the Imitation of 
(he steam cultivator. Mr. Harby, of Chelmsrord. a 
few years since, went out or the usual track In de¬ 
vising a steam digger, which works more according 
to this principle mau any other of the steam culti¬ 
vators previously devised. 
To whatever extent tho Darby digger may be im¬ 
proved, we think Mr. bailey Dentou a little too san¬ 
guine in hinting at mo bare possibility of British 
larmers being enabled through its aid to get over 
their dldlouiues, and compete suecesslully with 
the occupiers of virgin soils on the other side or 
the Atlantic. We cannot forget that in whatever 
degree mis or auy other improved appliance of a 
mechanical nature may enable us lu England to 
decrease the cost of production, the same appli¬ 
ances are open for adoption to toreigu and colonial 
agriculturists, who, in addition, have unbounded, 
resources in free, uutaxed laud. 
Silk-Worm Raising in Pennsylvania.— The 
Philadelphia 1’ress, as we learn by the Prairie 
Farmer, Is authority for the statemeut that about 
60,000 silk-worms are at work on tho farm of 
Frank Gruff, In Birmingham. Delaware county, 
Pa. 'I he worms are in charge ol a young lady 
living at Mr. Graff s. Wheu tne eggs are hatched 
the creatures are as line as a hair, and have to be 
lifted arouud with a camel's hair brush. But they 
are voracious leeders, and It is no light task to 
keep them supplied with mulberry leaves. Their 
growth is very rapid, In sLx weeks’ time reaching 
their full size, nearly three inches. When the 
whole herd is engaged In feeding, the noise made 
by them Is like rain talUng ou a roof. While feed¬ 
ing the worm la ot a light green color and as soft 
as velvet to t he touch. Along the body are ntne 
small breathing holes. The Insects have strong, 
serrated Jaws which soon make their way through 
a leaf. The silk while in the worm Is a gum 
which Is exuded in two strands. These untie and 
form one thread ot silk. The worm In starting Its 
cocoon flrst makes an outer covering of floss silk. 
Within this they spin the silk, bending the head 
and body up and down and crossing to every side, 
entirely surrounding the body as a protection 
against wind and cold. The intention of the 
insect is to make a covering for Kself, and it has 
little thought. o( the tens of thousands of gayly 
dressed women tor whom It la weaving rich and 
durable attire. Tbo cocoon made, the worm 
passes Into a chrysalis state and comes forth a 
raoch fly to lay eggs and die. If the silk grower 
wants the eggs he allows the insect to go through 
all these stages, but If be wants the silk, he chokes 
the worm while In the chrysalis state, for If It Is 
allowed to eat its way out the thread of the silk Is 
broken and valueless. The chrysalis Is kUled by 
heating It over a fire, or throwing It Into boiling 
water. _ 
A corhesi'ONdknt of the Mark Lane Express 
(London) makes comments upon our last crop 
number, from which we take the following: 
“ A special number of the Rural New-Yorker, 
filled with crop reports, came Into my hands the 
other day. It gives, to begin with, nearly a 
column of headings, generally of the most starts 
llngly sanguine description. ‘ Wheat a splendid 
crop, the largest ever produced! Ohio, Indiana, 
Minnesota, Illinois, New Y'ork foremost. Kansas 
disappointed. Porn (maize) an immense crop, the 
heaviest ever raised, oats, aflne crop everywhere. 
Barley probably 5(t,ooo.noo bushels. Rye, good 
everywhere;’ and so on. The reports themselves 
do not seem to me lulJy to bear out these • boom¬ 
ing’ announcements." 
As “ startling ’’ as were the headings, we think 
that results are showing that they were In ihe 
main quite to be trusted, and as for the reports 
not. bearing out tbe *• headings,” we know that our 
critic Is mistaken, inasmuch as all the reports 
were thoroughly analyzed uuder the three dif¬ 
ferent headings of ‘-good,” “middling,” “ bad,” 
and the result honestly summarized In our head¬ 
ings and editorial._ 
l am more and mure convinced, as my years In¬ 
crease, says Mr. Mechl, ot England, that my war 
against excess of lences and trees la a just one. 
and still greatly needed, and, tu fact, Indispen¬ 
sably needful now we have, as agriculturists, 
to compete with every foreign source of food 
supply _ 
Tub Bio Uobse.— Our t rans-Atlantic cousins are 
nothing 11 not great In everything, says the Lon¬ 
don Live stock Journal. But there la no denying 
the fact that the perception or the modern Yankee 
Is keen, amt that he possesses the perseverance 
necessary for experimenting upon a •• notion." 
Re talks “ talk” and loves to do •* tall" things; and 
the love of praise. Is as great with him as of the 
“almighty dollar." The American breeder has 
Improved on the Short-horn, the Hereford, the 
Ayrshire, the Jersey and the Holstein breeds of 
cattle, not to mention bis efforts lu the ovine and 
porcine families. But he has conceived a new 
Idea, and there Is no doubt It (bis latest creation 
In the equine species) “licks creation’’—If true. 
The Nortuan-Percheron is In great favor In the 
States, but the stock-bleeders’ love is divided* 
Someprerer the Clydesdale for draft and agricul¬ 
tural work; but a new horse has turned up which 
puts all other dray-horses out of court. The big 
thing this time Is a big cart-horse, standing 20 
hands one Inch high (or SI Inches), and Is said to 
welch aoout 3,sfto pounds, it is said he was bred 
In Ohio from native stock, and Is well proportioned 
and healthy, English horse-breeders must there¬ 
fore look to their laurels, or the Y T ankees will be 
getting as high prices for their draft-horses as 
they do for their Short-horns. 
“ Now, with regard to Alslke Clover,” says a 
writer In (he Germantown Telegraph, " I can say 
that I have as fine a stand as I ever saw on upland 
now in bloom, and my bees are on It by thousands 
gathering the rich nectar so abundantly furnished 
them in this, oneot Nature s richest honey-plants. 
And now. while I am wilting, rny Italian bees, as 
well as my neighbors’bees ot ihe native or black 
race, are working ou the Alslke Clover by thou¬ 
sands, arid storing honey of the richest quality 
quite rapidly.” _ 
A liuKKK Decision.— Judge-Biddle, of the Phila¬ 
delphia courts, has decided that a retail dealer 
who sells oleomargarine need not deliver a label 
with It stating ihat the compound Is oleomarga¬ 
rine, adding that the Intention or tho Legislature 
tu using (ho words “stamped, marked or labeled,” 
In the act regulating the sale of oleomargarine, 
was ouiy to affect wholesale dealers. 
Catalpa— The seeds come from the Department 
of Agriculture at Washington Since wrltLug his 
report Prof. Beal says the trees have twice home 
fruit and prove to be the hardy species or variety. 
Since they came up and have made tbelr present 
growth they have passed through two of the se¬ 
verest Winters, when (he mercury went 32 and 33 
degrees below zero. They wore once killed back a 
little, but at present they seem healthy. 
[Young trees ot this Catalpa (speclosa) have 
stood is degrees below zero at the Rural Grounds 
without any harm —Ens.J 
Early and Late Sowing of Wheat.— Tho farm 
manager ot the Ohio state University writes to the 
Ohio Practical Farmer as Follows: “ In the wheat 
crop or '79 We commenced a series of experiments 
designed to ascertain the proper time for sowing 
wheat In this neighborhood. Five sowings were 
made on bottom land, one each on the 3th, 16th, 
33d and 30 th ot September and 7th of October, tn 
plats two rods wide by 40. long, containing one-balf 
acre each. The variety ot wheat used was Claw¬ 
son, and it was sown at the rate of six pecks per 
acre. The result was as follows: 
That sown Sept. 3 yielded. n't 210 bush, per acre 
That sown Sept. 16 yirideil.3” S-’O “ “ 
Thai sown Sept. yielded..36 4-1U 
1 h t sown Sept So > tolded. 33 7-10 
That sown Oct. 7 jielded. 26210 
The first two sowings were, perceptibly Injured 
by the fly. These experiments were continued in 
the crop ot 1880 , by making ten sowingsonthe 
same dates as those of 1879. The variety of wheat 
used was Silver Chaff, sown at. the same rate per 
acre as before. The result was as loilows: 
That sown Sept a yinldod.bush, per aero 
That sown Sept, is yielded.as “ 
That Mown Soot. 23 .yielded . xdw “ “ 
That sown Sopt. Soyielded. 2<iV.' " " 
That sown Oct. 7 yielded. 20 ^ " “ 
In this we found no Indication of the fly. 
Horse Trots and Aoricltijral Fairs —Mr. Al¬ 
exander Hyde has the following to say on this 
topic: We hear tanners sometimes complaining 
of our agricultural fairs, and refusing to at tend 
them because they are managed by horse Jockeys 
and have degenerated Into agricultural horse- 
trots. There are some societies of which this 
complaint Is too true, hut there are others whose 
fairs are conducted by farmers, and the horse Is 
given a Just proportion of premiums on his merits 
as a horse, and not solely on hts t totting powers. 
We dislike the betting, drinking and other con¬ 
comitants of tbe race-course as much as any one, 
but It this evil has crept Into any society It la the 
duty of fanners to attend tho annual meetings 
and root It out. If they will turn out In force at 
these meetings, they will And themselves In the 
majority and can regulate things to their mind. 
If the experience ot the past la any criterion by 
which we can Judge of the future, a pure racing 
association cannot long be sustained. We have 
known a good many race-courses started, some of 
them In opposition to cattle shows and farmer, 
fairs, but we have never known one to flourish 
long. The fast men kno w that in order to suc¬ 
ceed they must graft tbe racing on an agricultural 
fair, so as to give It character. Just, as a circus Is 
attached to a menagerie. It Is for the farmers 
themselves to say whether tlielr fairs shall be run 
down by racing and pool-selling. Majorities rule, 
and there can be no question that If tho farmers’ 
are united aud rally to I he annual elections ot the 
societies, as they do to the political elections, they 
will find themselves managers, not subordinates. 
In any event. It is not worth while to succumb 
without trial, and give up an institution to Jock- 
ies which properly belongs to rarmers. 
-♦ -» ♦- 
BR’ EFLET3, 
Major Freas says:— "A number of dwarf pear 
trees now In full bearing and In good health, grow¬ 
ing tn his grounds, w. re planted In 1847, when 
they were not less than three years old. The dwarf 
Tyson la his best pear except the Sec tel_w. F. 
Brown, it appears, has also uled Mr Gregory’s Mar¬ 
blehead Sweet-corn. He tells theobfo Farmer that 
It proved to be "the earliest of all, being ready 
for iho table in nine weeks from planting.” Our 
report wasoi days.We bave had more po¬ 
tato beetles ihls season than ever before.In 
all or Prof. Beal's experiments with root-pruntug 
corn, wheat, etc., the results were a diminished 
yield—whUe the plants were checked tn growth... 
....rrof. Busman, in the Rural World, in a reply 
to Mr. J. J. Thomas who is opposed to the use cf 
wine tn any form or quantity, says: “ We have no 
right to forbid its moderate use to those who feel 
themselves refresh. : and luvJgorated by an occa¬ 
sional glass.” But it always Invigorates and re¬ 
freshes for the time. That is Its dangerous quali¬ 
ty. It is that which, as soou as the effects ot one 
glass pass away, induces people to drink a second 
and a third. It la that. In abort, which leads (hose 
todruukeuness who cannot controtthelr appetites. 
. It. Is about time to bud peach trees. Have 
you any sound, young peach trees about your 
homes that bear poor fruit? A little trouble now 
may change the poor fruit to ihe best that grows 
In your neighborhood. .The Minnesota Slate 
Fair to be held at Minneapolis. September 6. offers 
over $3,ooo to be divided among Jerseys, llolsielns, 
Uerefordsand Short-horns. Between Perclieions 
and Clydesdales, overfi.ooo will be distributed in 
premiums.A correspondent of the London 
Gazet te-says that he sowed this Spilrig two beds 
of onions, each eight yards long by one w lde. On 
this ground. Immediately before sowing, he dug 
In at least 15 cwt. of unmlxed poultry manure (as 
much as a strong mulecould draw), and iheonlons 
now are looking magnificent. ab this ts over 200 
tons to the acxe, It la an exceptional dressing, and 
he owns he is himself surprised to And It did not 
kill the ootoos. We learn from many of our 
Missouri correspondents that fruit of all kinds is 
thus early a glut In the market.The polit¬ 
ical situation as described by an enlightened press: 
Hancock—la no better than he should be. Gar¬ 
field—la a good deal worse than he ought to be. 
English-ls several degrees removed from what he 
might be. Arthur—Is where he ought, not to be. 
The latest ticket out, and one which, allhough cav¬ 
iare t.o tho general, bids fair to become luite as pop¬ 
ular as any other in the Presidential field is;—For 
President—General Indifference. For Vice-Presi¬ 
dent—General Apathy.- Puck.It, is remark¬ 
able how smart a woinau is discovered to be after 
her husband has been nominated for President — 
Cinelunatl Sat. Night .... Tho growers of pot- 
grown strawberry plants now present their an¬ 
nouncements In our advertising columns. 
Mr. Muuro, ot Georgia, fattens his pigs on sweet 
potatoes.A Maine ranoler has a three-legged 
hen that can scratch her head and a flower bed 
at the same lust-aut.. .... Mr. tlovey, of Boston, 
tells the Gardeners’ Chronicle, or England, of •• the 
very great beauty " of hla golden,leaved variety of 
Magnolia acuminata, some ot the leaves being 
conspicuously yellow. It Is more showy than any 
golden-leaved tree he knows of. It is an accident¬ 
al seedling of the cucumber Tree now about io reet 
high—vigorous and beautiful. 
-*-*-*- 
CATALOGUES, ETC., RECEIVED. 
Illustrated Catalogue of the Columbia Bicycle, 
manufactured by the Pope Mf'g Co., 87 Summer 
Street, Boston. Mass. It will he forwarded to our 
readers who lorwurd a th.ee ceut stamp. 
Balmy sleep, good digesilon, rich blood, elastic 
step and chetrlulntss in Hop Biiurs. 
