Jan 4i> 
We are lovers true, of knowledge, 
Fired with all the hopesof youth. 
Bound to win from school and college. 
Many a gem of lore aud truth. 
And while mingling with each other, 
From our hearts a snug shall flow, 
To each classmate, friend and brother, 
And our honored teachers too. 
May our alms and passions center 
In one plan of noble strife. 
That when we all shall enter 
In the mighty school of of life. 
We may act our part so nobly, 
With its tasks of truth and love. 
That we each may stand one hundred 
On the merit roll above. 
It Is true that time will sever 
All the ties that bind ns here, 
And will soon part us forever 
From our school and teacher dear. 
But If faithful to our mission. 
Though we oft may teel the rod. 
We shall reap a rich fruition 
From our loving teacher—God, 
We shall hope that time will ever 
With success our effort s crown. 
Till life’s school Is closed forever. 
And the night of death comes down. 
Then when shades around us gather, 
still our fondest thoughts will go 
To each classmate. friend and brother, 
Aud our faithful teacher too. 
R A. BUXTON. 
-.-+++— - 
THE POTATO. 
The word potato comes to us from the 
Spanish, batata, and the Spanish derived it 
from the Indian, papa*. The potato (Sola- 
num tuberosum) is a native of the table-lands 
of South America. There are several species 
of potato described as growing wild in 
Mexico, aud one of them (Solauum veru- 
cosum) is said to produce very palatable but 
small tubers. Onr cultivated species probably 
came from Chili. Centuries ago it was also 
found by travelers grow ing wild at Cuzco in 
Peru, at Quito in Ecuador, and in the forests 
of Bogota in New' Granada, nearly 9,000 feet 
above the level of the ocean From time im¬ 
memorial the potato has been growing in 
Quito on an extensive plaiu 1Q.2.S3 feet above 
the level of the aea. The mean temperature 
of the climate of Ecuador through the whole 
year is about 00 degrees Fahrenheit. 
The soil of these extrusive table-lauds is 
apparently the uplifted bed of an aueient 
ocean, aud belongs to the geological forma¬ 
tion of the Tertiary or Secondary period. 
This soil is generally composed of the detritus 
of the mountains, or, m other words, the sub¬ 
stance worn from the mountain surfaces, aud 
reduced to small particles, or diluvial detri¬ 
tus, a light, porous, and friable soil, contain¬ 
ing large portions of sand, lime, aud vegeta¬ 
ble matter. Travelers describe the country 
as having the appearance of perpetual Spring. 
Such is the native home of the potato, where 
it renews .itself from year to year by means 
of its seeds aud tubers. 
The foliage of the potato remains greeu 
throughout the entire season, aud only dies 
when its tubers aud seeds are fully matured. 
The potato is of tropical origin, tropical in 
latitude though not in climate; yet it wi 1 
grow by judicious culture, aud wdth tolerable 
success in any part of the American Conti¬ 
nent. Its wonderful constitutional vigor has 
enabled it to be transplanted to all parts of 
the earth, until it is now considered the most 
important of all esculent roots, aud next in 
value to the cereals as an article of human 
subsistauce. The cultivated potato found its 
way to the Carolinas aud Virginia and after¬ 
wards, in 15SG, Sir Walter Raleigh introduced 
it into England. The date of the introduc¬ 
tion of the potato into England is rendered 
uncertain by confounding the sw'eet potato 
with the common potato. 
There is no doubt that the potato was used 
as an article of diet by the Indians in South 
America before the discovery of Chili bj r the 
Europeans. 
Calumet Co., Wis. blanch c. buxton. 
LETTERS FROM COUSINS. 
Dear Uncle and Cousins:— Like all the 
other Cousins who have given their seed re¬ 
ports, I have nothing more to report, aud I 
hope Uncle Mark will excuse us who have 
given our reports, if w'edo wander in the wide 
fields of history. The other time I wrote, I 
ventured to say something against novel read¬ 
ing, aud caught the ’‘Dickens,” etc., from 
Uncle Mark; but I accept his criticism in 
good humor, ancl intend to write about the 
same subject another time. 
Dickens’s Nicholas Nicklehy is a good uoveUyfc. 
but Squeers was not a teacher; he represented 
the whole class of teachers, and Smike repre¬ 
sented the scapegoat of every school. This 
novel was so nearly true that numerous suits 
were threatened against Mr, Dickens by per 
sons who thought that they were caricatured. 
This novel is of an exciting nature, and who 
would not be tempted to clench his hand 
while reading how Nicholas whipped Mr. 
Squeers for treating Smike so roughly. The 
truth contained in this novel, is that the York 
shire schools were in a, very bad condition, 
and that their teachers generally were harsh 
and brutal; but this truth was told for fiction. 
The novel did its good work by aiding in the 
reformation in the Yorkshire schools. As a 
general rule, all the positive knowledge 
gaiued by novel-reading, is a knowledge of lit¬ 
erature. 
Young Historian’s questions have been an¬ 
swered, and one of Uncle Mark’s questions 
has been taken up aud discussed by Cousiu 
O. F. Fuller, and 1 will try to answer another, 
viz: Who was Jethro Tull? 
Jethro Tull was born in Oxfordshire, Eng., 
in 11180. He became a lawyer, made a tour of 
Europe, then settled on his paternal estate and 
afterward on Prosperous Farm in Berkshire, 
aud gave liis attention to scientific agricul¬ 
ture; invented the drill plow, aud published 
a book entitled New Horse-Hoeing Hus¬ 
bandry. The essence of his system consisted 
in plauting iu rows, and pulverizing the soil 
around the plants. 
Uncle Mark does not seem to be pleased 
with the history questions which the Cousins 
have asked through their columns, so I will 
ask a few questions on something else. 1. 
Why do plants that are placed in a window 
turn toward the light? 2. What is the char¬ 
acteristic ingredient of common clay? 3. From 
what is the soil of the earth formed? Now 
let the Cousins try to answer these questions. 
The first is a question in botany, the second in 
chemistry, and the third in geology. These 
three sciences may be studied by farmers’ 
boys (and girls too) to their great advantage, 
and if natural philosophy is added to these 
three they will be fully equipped for farm 
life. 
Cousius, whenever you observe anything 
strange or unaccountable, don't pass it by as 
something not worth thinking about, but 
think. Try to account for it yourself, nr 
search for it in the hooks that treat ou such 
subjects. Let us read such books only as will 
benefit us, and leave all others alone; then next 
Spriug report through the Youths' Depart¬ 
ment what we have learned by this practice. 
But U. M. wants to talk agriculture, so this 
won’t do. If U. M. wishes’ me to do so, I will 
send an illustrated article cn baying out 
Flower-beds, etc., for the Youths' Depart¬ 
ment. Sending you my best wishes, I remain 
your nephew, URSA major. 
[I think you misunderstood me. I am al¬ 
ways pleased to receive interesting letters on 
history or anything else from the Cousins, but 
I think you will agree with me when 1 sav 
that the limited space of the Horticultural 
Club ought not to be devoted to historical dis- 
cussion Arc agricultural ami horticultural 
subjects so dry aud uninteresting that we had 
better organize a Historical Club? or, shall we 
make the Youths' Horticultural Club a horti¬ 
cultural club? What would you think of an 
agricultural society’ meetina and engaging iu 
earnest discussion upon the distance of the 
planet Venus from the moon? Let the mem¬ 
bers of the Club ask more just such questions 
as you propose, and 1 assure you much beuelit 
will be derived from these columns. I shall 
be glad to receive your illustrated article. 
UNCLE mark.] 
Dear Uncle Mark:—I have written to 
the Rural three times, aud as none of my let 
ters were printed, I thought I would try again, 
I love flowers very much. I did not receive 
the Rural seeds last Spring. We have a 
great number of flowers and an orange tree. 
Papa’s Shoe-peg Corn looks very well. I 
would like to hear from the Bertha Cross 
whose letter was printed in the Rural of No¬ 
vember 10 I go to school and like to study. 
I like to rearl better than any thing else. But 
I must close, for fear this will n it be printed. 
Your niece, bertha cross. 
Baltimore Co., Md. 
[Your letter is so nicely written, aud as you 
have done so well before, I have printed this, 
hoping that you will try and write a longer 
one next time — uncle mark.] 
Driving a Bargain, 
$cu’ ^uMicattonsf. 
SEND 
FOR THE 
i POSTER and 
PREMIUM LIST 
SJeat (fitetatf. 
OF THE 
RURAL NEW-YORKER 
FOR 
1884. 
THEY WILL BE SENT PROMPTLY TO 
ALL WHO APPLY. 
NOW IS THE TIME to secure 
Clubs for the New Year. 
»'**«>*tlv 
{><*"'VLrV-'* 
_L 
■ -. mam want to buy a ball - section farm in 
|p 1 U U Ford County. Illinois, well Improved 
near railroads, schools and churches, address for 
particulars aud terms. 8. 0. MeQCISTON, 
Lebanon. Laclede Co.. Mo- 
~ , T Netting Investors 8 percent. 
I jailfl Loans Principal and interc-T guar 
antced. Guaranty based oti eu pltal of f ‘ |1 V^ ( ’ , f f r e s r 
to any commercial agency. Send rm < m mars. 
Texas' Loan Agency . Cors t eaPB, Texas._ _ _ _.i_ 
PARMS on James River, Va.. In a Northern scttle- 
F IUustrat t TScnl Claremont, ” 
Va. 
o/'IRQI NIA FARMS & MILLS 
Thanks to subscribers who work to extend 
the influence of any farm journal which ear¬ 
nestly strives to do its best. 
Address • 
EtlKVli NEW-YORKER, 
Park Row, IV. Y r 
Til K 
For Sale mol Exchange ,l ' v . ri . te 
for tree REAL ESTATE JOI UNAI.. 
lit. B. CHAFFIN A CO. Rich maud, 1 Irgl nla 
CHEAP FARMS. 
Near Markets. 
The State of Michigan has more than 4,500 miles of 
railroads and 1,(100 mites of Luke transportation, 
schools and churches In every county, public buUd- 
ings all paid for, and no debt. lf s soli and climatt 
combine to produce large crops aud it Is the nesi 
fruit state in the Northwest. Sever#I million acies 
of unoccupied and fertile lands are yet In the ntarket 
at low prices. The state has Issued a NEW PAM¬ 
PHLET eoutatning a map aud descriptions of the 
soil, crops and general resources of ri et y county in 
, the State, which may be had free of Charge by willing 
- I to the COMM’ttOF IMMlURATIO S. PETr.QlT.MlUM, __ 
llinAIMI & Kurins for Sale. Catalogue 
VIRGINIA 
PIIIPCD’O lAJCIPMIC unum m ,Stap?«<f‘C’o.Kichniond I Va 
oln u t H o wtLlURt. grazing s farming lands: 
Singing Clnss Hook by L. O. Emerson, is 
having great success. Is In every way a good book for 
the teacher and learner, with i he best of music, and 
improved elements. Hus received decided praise 
n oin those who have used It in their Fall classes, and 
they arc quite willing to reconimcud It to all com¬ 
mencing winter classes li)2 pages, tot) secular and 
so sacred tones, improved elements. Sc., tie. Order 
it with jH-rfect confidence. 
Price ■?.» eta. 
I l ■ 
^ n ~ ry. of very deslra- 
60000 ACRES me Land on the 
Ozark Plateau, in Southern Central MtwwyH. Atp/if 
Poursfri'iti St. Louis, along theltogof the l.ouls A 
San Franc 1 boo R. It., comprising '> 1 i tii ,',r 
Blue-grass, Tobacco, all kinds of l-rnlt. and Superior 
Grazing Lands. Climate, >"tldaJid/icalW , 'ft. 
people mostly from t In-Last. 1 lli OJAhKILA I L 
on application to LI ( I 
Cantatas far Satieties, mmsmmss 
-I flail Pan I ill (SO cist.. Ruck . 
Rrdnnpiioii <*l >.*.. Uoiinml. 
J flHC pit's linn.li.ue (SI) .Chart w i«‘k . 
Coma lit (SO ctsl...... I.ude 
Rebecca If!.! cl»'.....-...Hodges. 
It mil nml Him/, (fill elm.. .AihIicms. 
and ninny olln-rs. Also 100 >!«**«■« by the he*l 
authors, containing sonic- of the sweetest and best of 
-acred music. Send for lists and descriptions. 
All of the Operas, standard 
opera." In elegant form for #1 each- i.AKME ($2); MIg- 
N U V (,.0; CARMEN MEFIsTOFELK (SH. FAT1N 
rrzA istai: bells of oorneville »tsb: aida h>J); 
and the new light operas, IOLANTHL, I I HAT Eh, and 
PATIENCE, each fti; and main others. 
Any book mailed post-free, for the retail price. 
OLIVER DjTSON & CO., ««*<«»• 
t'. H. DITSON & CO.. 8 G 7 Broadway, New York 
- t t *3 WAM'I 1 1000 nmre BOOK AGENTS 
^ T the Grandest and fastest oslhno book ei-rr published, entitled 
JUR FAMOUS WOMEN 
^ri.wiiUTivr TntfiK-it. Th-miftiitlc Storv. St>i< y Humor, ana 
LANtTomci^ M ALPQ.Frb ntPA. Maps m pupersFR H 
putt HALE. ABO cheap Forms In w -. Vl, vV f 
which arc in Shenandoah Valley, famous for health 
Ailncss aid productiveness. ! ^ ! 
.criptlon, location, price, &<:, address J. H. Bristc n, 
Martlrifetnir y. W. va. ___ 
V1RCIMA IIO*- ES.-Journal describing 200 
*• Plcdinom” f'TinB 8ent rrec?. A«Idrrss N\. I. H1L 
LEAHY tS: SON, WarrentoD, FauquliT Co., > n 
^mplcmrnL and Wachinmj. 
1 
I’rratiit hriti.j A’it/tor*. Including bti:nsxtfl smart Phetjt, 
lurnfTPrra-alt SfiOJIord. II. .Vn»*. JVrpt/ W»;, 
lart'ian. Mary ('iriTiuw r Marian llnrtund, trna I X olnart. i hey 
ivc, roe the tSr.t tim*-\he true. Story ct O'" I.ivrt and lx-nl.n’,vur 
Hindus ..OHII-1I. Itb.sliperily UluBjuk-tL Mlaleler. .ay (M 
n,v<l it." Ten* ol .Jmo/anJ, aie^viilimr for it. ■nd Agent* 
,-ll 10 to SO a il«v. C rl'o rif^h, (I:.. U>l chjnc- U> nmke 
ACM E 
ulverizing Harrow, 
€wd Crusher andLev eler. 
^EE ADVERTISEMENT ON PAGEfSBi 
aon**y ofR.ved• cvmu 
A. 1>. WOliTlil>UT«l> A CO., 
lluFtibrd, Conn. 
ilmptcmcnt^ and ^hicluncnj. 
DARNELL’S IFURROWER 
MARKER 
Hum MrndilT. 
IA »lj u<< r^hli'RinuLf'Ts 
a ftnrl U nrker. A 
(in'i 
atlju>(ab) 
Oihsuv A 
v briefer r*»w Iu 
o'tll iavquiii^flF im* tllaa- 60 fi or Hard - - 
ttioR or Ktound^ ,\ytru«ud than any other Marker. 
Leaves the earth wrdl pulverized at bottom of f urrow. 
.Marks any width from 2‘p to 5 feet, and ftotn u uu-re 
mark to t; uiclieAdrop. 
o i age oles-uro in roeomnisml ms H. li(to,*Uir iiuMnoMI l« 
well made amt will U- i f-r y.-.c V./i.iMiHt.Moorettowa,JI J. 
•'ll fur i-rcestl. no e*twot»lit)D,. If ih" o-»l rnerltt of low 
HIGGANUMMFG.CORPV!‘;:^. l .V 
OUR 
No. I Plantation Saw Mill, 
$200 
(SEND FOR ITESCRIPTIVE C^RCTT-LaRS.) 
SMITH, MYERS & SCHNIER, 
323, 326, 327 & 329 W. Front St, 
CINCINNATI, O. 
THE VERMONT SUGAR 
evaporator 
“'Evaporates sap’faster with less labor, 
making more and better Sugar with greater 
economy in fuel 
than any other j 
also makes 
APPLE 
JELLY 
from sweet ct I 
tier, without the 1 
addition of Su¬ 
gar nr any for¬ 
eign substance. Send for circulars. 
VT. FARM MACHI NE f 'O. . Bell ows Falls. Vt- 
TROWBRIDGE 
il^BROAD-CAST^IS 
SEED SOWER 
_-_ v A.ifanrCT CIIADI CQT 
THE BEST, CHEAPEST and SIMPLEST. 
Bows all grains, grass seeds, lime, wilt, ashes, fertin- 
zers-and cvervrldng mimring lu-oiidoastmg—any 
uuuutity per acre, ix-Ui-r and laster ttian by uu> other 
method. .Sales reed by sowliiK It i-crtcctly eveu. 
Smve single or double east, all ou either or botli sides 
of wagon Not nlKr ted );v wind, ns the seed is not 
thrown no into tin-air. Perlholly rtuinle. EeadUj 
atiuulied to any wagon. l-a«« a life-tirm-. < aii in 
used wherever a wogou can Is-driven, ream walking 
one mtltt bows four acr.'x of wheat. Crop one-fourth 
larger lliau when drilled. Bend etarmi rnr circulars 
srivlug tomiB and testimonials. Mention tills paper. 
C). \V. DORR, TrenMiirer, 
RACINE SEEDER CO., DenMoineB, Iowa 
