JMI 26 
know quite well, and it may well be expected 
to develop certain pronounced and inherent 
tendencies in these different breeds of cattle, 
For instance, a tendency to run to flesh in 
our temperate and humid climate may pos¬ 
sibly become a certainty in your hot Sum¬ 
mers aud dry atmosphere, I do not say that 
such is the ease, because my experience of 
your climate is too limited to admit of a 
definite statement on such a point; but I 
throw out the conjecture that there may be 
something in it after all, and I seem to think 
that it is a problem iu whose solution a good 
deal >f interesting study and inquiry might 
be found by those who are fond of such 
things. 
Whatever may be the reply to this inquiry, 
if the inquiry be made, the fact remains that 
the Short-horns, and Devons, and Herefords, 
and Rod Polls have each a pronounced apti¬ 
tude to run to flesh in this country, while the 
Jerseys and Ayrshires have not. This, in¬ 
deed, is the reason why the two last-named 
breeds are not prominently popular in this 
country as, looking at their superior milk- 
yielding capacities, they seem to deserve to 
be; and the reason is found in the all-import¬ 
ant. economic fact that the dairy farmers of 
these islands require beef as well as milk in 
their cows. They require, I mean, that their 
cows, after giving a paying quantity of milk 
for several years, should ripen out into a good 
carcass of beef after the milking period of a 
cow’s life is past the best, and the flow of milk 
is waning. The four beef breeds I have 
named, then, have an inhereut tendency to 
lay on flesh, and it is quite possible, aud even 
probable, that your climate may still further 
develop this tendency, and develop it at the 
cost of milk, just as it may, ou the other 
hand, develop the inherent tendency to milk, 
which is so marked a trait in the physical 
character of the Jerseys and Ayrshires. And 
so it may haply be your climate which is to 
blame, if blame there be at all, in changing 
somewhat the reputations of the four other 
breeds in your country, I shall pursue the 
topic in my next article. 
Surrey, England. 
more than the others named, which was satis¬ 
factory to me. I feel that I have a perfect 
right to recommend the Kieffer or any other 
fruit to plant for profit, when I am willing to 
plant it largely myself for fruiting, 
of no better test for sincerity, 
mend Bny new fruits to others to plant out 
largely for market that I will not plant out 
myself in the same way. 
Burlington Co., N. J. john s. collins. 
[We feel sincerely obliged to Mr. Collins for 
the above free-hearted letter. Our readers 
will not deem that we feel the reference to 
the American Agriculturist a compliment to 
the Rural New-Yorker. We might have 
10 years ago, but certainly do not now.— Eds. 
mature, will appear to furnish far better seed 
than the two-thirds mature ear, shrunken by 
early frost, and the only merit of ■which is 
that it is bone-dry. Nevertheless the facts 
I know I are as stated, and may be accepted with 
I do notrecom- | profit. Still these facts may not apply to the 
entire Western corn zone, and therefore it will 
be well to test their accuracy by experiment. 
But in this connection it may be well to em¬ 
phasize the importance of early planting for 
next year’s corn crop. There are advocates 
for early planting and other advocates for 
late: and the average time is apt to be a com¬ 
promise between the two, and though com¬ 
promises may be proper in the conduct of 
affairs and in politics, they are improper con¬ 
cessions where natural laws are concerned. 
To be sure, we are not likely to be visited by 
another poor corn-crop year after the two of 
1882 and 1883, but we ought not to forget that 
iu England, 75 or 80 degrees east, on the other 
side of the Atlantic, six or seven years of bad 
crops followed, and the same may be in store 
for us. By planting corn at the earliest safe 
moment we not only increase the chances that 
the crop will receive the necessary number of 
degrees of accumulated heat during the warm 
season, but the number of hours of sunshine 
as well; and, what is of nearly as much im¬ 
portance, we advance the epoch of blossom¬ 
ing several days, and by so doing hasten that 
of maturity by as many weeks. This is a new 
and surprising statement to many, but it is 
nevertheless a correct one, and accounts for 
the exaggerated disparity which may be noted 
in poor corn-crop years between the outcome 
of fields planted only a few days apart. If 
those who have recorded or know the average 
time of the blossoming of corn for the ten 
years previous to ’81, will observe if next 
Summer it is at the average time, or earlier 
or later, they may assure themselves in ad¬ 
vance of wnat the crop will be—excellent, 
average, or bad. 
clamp that is simply perfection. It is made 
of wire of any kind—he prefers brass—and is 
shown at Fig. 30 A. The bottom is simply a 
circle about four inches in diameter, the wire 
on one side running to the center of the circle, 
where it is bent, upright, extending about six 
iuches upward, aud it is then bent in the form 
shown, about oue-andone-half inch wide 
SOCBTr w 
/! Id- 4L . p\° crr °it 
ex/mria v iVt // 
MORE OF THE KIEFFER. 
I noticed in a Rural of a recent date some 
reference to the effect that the Kieffer Pear 
trees took a year to start, and I wondered at 
it, as that has not been my experience, es¬ 
pecially when trees were cut back to one-third 
or one-half of the previous season’s growth 
at plantiug. A growth of one to two feet of 
new wood is not more than the average, and 
one one-year-old tree planted in an orchard 
without extra care, in the Fall of 1882,1 noticed 
had over 12 feet of strong, healthy new wood 
on it in the Fall of 1883. I recollect now see¬ 
ing Kieffer trees that had been planted and 
not cut back taking a year to start much 
new growth. The Kieffer tree grows well, 
bears well; the pears ship well, look splendid, 
are good to can, and can be used that way 
after canners are done with most other fruits; 
the fruit can be put up and sold at moderate 
prices, in which shape the markets of the 
world will take large quantities. 
Burlington Co , N. J. john s. collins. 
U&ir/Ai 
EXPERIENCE IN SORGHUM SIRUP¬ 
MAKING. 
HOLSTEINS AT GARFIELD 
At present there are over two hundred Hol- 
steins at the quarantine station at Garfield, 
N. J., about twelve miles from New York 
City. Messrs. Smiths & Powell have a small 
lot. Mr. Edgar Huidekoper, of Meadville, 
Pa., has 100 head, aud Mr. F. G. Babcock, of 
Hornellsville, N. Y,, has 103 head. Among 
the latter are members of the noted Aaggie 
family, which have become so reuowned by 
Aaggie’s performances in making the unprece¬ 
dented annual milk record of IS,004 pounds, 
and Aaggie 2d’s record, as a two-year old, of 
more than 17,500 pounds in a year. 
Aaggie’s record, however, w as not destined 
to remain first very long, as soon thereafter 
Echo (121 1 produced in one year 18,120 pounds, 
and this year, Deo volente, will exceed her 
previous record. 
In 1S70 the Rural published a letter de¬ 
scribing the purchase aud importation of four 
Holsteius by Hon. Gerrit S. Miller, of Peter- 
boro, N. Y., from which are descended two 
cows that have made the greatest annual 
milk records of any American-bred stock, 
viz.; Aegis (60) and Echo (121). The latter’s 
record has probably never been surpassed, un¬ 
less by Mr. Miller’s Empress, whose estimated 
Holland record is greater, 
Oswego Co., N. Y. Dudley miller. 
I had an extra large turn out of sirup this 
Fall, and wish to report for the benefit of the 
Rural family: 
Ground, sandy loam; southern exposure. 
Plowed deeply last Fall; harrowed thoroughly 
April 27; planted in marker tracks; bills three 
feet eight iuches apart; soil thoroughly pul¬ 
verized with a crusher; hoed three times; cul¬ 
tivated five times; made up from the 10th to 
the loth of October. Yield, one gallon of 
sirup to every 17 hills. From three to six 
canes in hill; kind of cane, Yellow Amber; 
hight about eight feet to seed bunch. From 
close observation of the above crop I derive 
the following conclusions: Cane should be 
plauted as soon as the ground will work up 
mellow; must not be planted too deep; a 
sandy loam neither too poor nor too rich is 
what it needs. Farmers here say ‘‘Worn-out 
corn ground is just the thing for cane.’’ All 
nonsense—such ground is only fit for clover. 
Again, cane does not love a wet foot; it will 
stand any reasonable amount of dry weather 
but not much cold or wet. It wants mellow 
ground and frequent cultivation till waist- 
high, then let it alone. Suggestion: Stir 
some radish seed iu with the cane seed so that 
two or three radish seed will be in each hill. 
The radish plants can be palled up when no 
longer needed for hill-markers. I am a firm 
friend to the Rural New-Yorker. 
Warren Co., Ia. r. j. w. moore. 
fair for the “scrubs.” 
I have kept a record of the amount of 
butter I have made the past year from 
four cows, including two two-year-olds, 
three years, aud one old cow, commencing 
some time in March. They were all scorned 
scrubs, and they had no extra feed, yet I got 
513 pouuds of butter and raised four calves, 
to which I fed sweet milk until they were six 
weeks old. mrs. h. c. Hudson. 
Ontario County, N. Y. 
Premium Card Rest.—F ig. 30, 
and one-and-three-quarter inch high, the 
wire after forming this square, being returned 
to aud passing around the upright, and then 
extending up through the center, is further 
bent in the form of a hook. This is placed on 
the plate upright, the fruit is piled around 
and on the base, holding it firmly. The 
label containing the name of the fruit is hung 
on the hook, as shown in Fig. B—The exhibi¬ 
tion card, when so desired, is placed behind 
the center piece and before the frame work 
of square, as shown in Fig. C, and where pre¬ 
miums are allowed the premium card is 
simply placed behind the entry card, and be 
ing longer, shows above it. Fig. C shows the 
three cards in position. Where a collection is 
shown, or an exhibit is made for any particu¬ 
lar section, n larger holder can be made to 
hold large placards. This meets a great 
want, aud the great-hearted Secretary pro¬ 
poses to make it free to all, not having it pat¬ 
ented. j. 8 . woodward. 
GOLDEN BEAUTY AND JENNIE LUCAS 
PLUMS. 
In the Rural of December 22 “M. S.,” of 
Essexville, Mich., inquires as to the probable 
hardiness of the Golden Beauty and Jennie 
Lucas Plums iu his State. In the answer it 
is supposed that these are varieties of the 
European or garden plums. This is a mistake. 
They were both introduced several years ago 
by Mr. G. Onderdonk, of Mission Valley, 
Southern Texas. I have fruited them several 
years. The Jennie Lucas is a pure Chicka¬ 
saw variety, aud Golden Beauty appears to 
be a native hybrid between the Chickasaw 
and Prunus umbellata, both of which grow 
spontaneously in thickets iu Western Texas, 
where the Golden Reuufcy was first discovered 
iu the woods by a German during the late war, 
taken into Victoria County aud planted in a 
yard there. When its merit became known 
to Mr. Onderdonk he propagated it and intro¬ 
duced it With me it aud Jennie Lucas grow 
equally well upou the peach or Prunus um¬ 
bellata stocks (the latter is the best plum stock 
known to me). They seem just as hardy as 
the Wild Goose Plum, and I believe will en¬ 
dure just ns hard Winters. t. v. munson. 
Grayson Co., Texas. 
THE KIEFFER PEAR 
I see by the Rural of the 5th inst. that 
some one has made a statement, the truth of 
which I doubt. I did hear remarks from a 
New York State mau that would justify the 
expression of “just hating the Rural and its 
Editor.” But I do not think it true with any 
one in this section who is particularly inter¬ 
ested in the Kieffer Pear, and I know it is not 
so with me. 1 do not know that the remarks 
apply to me at all: but if so intended, they 
are not true, as I admire the spirit aud mau- 
ner of fairness that are maintained by the 
Rural, aud the exertion the Rural is using 
iu testing and reporting on new fruits is bring- 
ing it to the front, aud I so stated to a visitor 
here last Summer, who is indirectly interested 
iu the American Agriculturist; and I stated 
further, that the Rural had been gaiuiug 
grouud over the Americau Agriculturist in 
this way, aud 1 know that the remarks were 
taken to the Orange Judd Company, and only 
last week a fruit-grower in Idaho wanted me 
to name a horticultural journal, and I recom¬ 
mended the Rural aud sent him a copy by- 
mail which I had read, that he might see it. I 
was at one time sensitive to remarks as to the 
quality of the Kieffer, but am not now, as my 
mind is umdu up. 1 have planted out a good 
deul more trees the past Fall aud the coming 
Spring will have in all about 3,000, in addi¬ 
tion’ to 50 acres or more I had out before. 
ijKcnt the fruit to market this season, aud had 
it sold by the side of Howell, (that had beeu 
kept back in ice) Lawreuce and Duchesse, and 
the Kieffer brought from 50 to 150 per cent. 
CARP CULTURE, 
SEED CORN FOR 1SS4, 
iu Lfecemoer, ivu, i received irom various 
sources about 80 young carp, part mirror 
carp aud part scale carp. Some of them were 
received from the United States Fish Com¬ 
missioner at Washington. When they came 
to hand they were about three inches long. 
They were placed in a pond made by dam¬ 
ming a small stream with earth at a cost of 
about 830. The pond is about eight feet deep 
at the dam, running back shallow at the edges, 
aud covers about an acre of ground- The bot¬ 
tom is commou soil which was covered with 
grass and weeds before the dam was built. 
The fish received no care after being pat in 
the water; but the next Summer I could see 
them swimming iu the shallow parts of the 
pond; they were apparently from eight to ten 
inches long. They were not disturbed that 
Summer, and in June, 1882. they spawned. 
B, F. JOHNSON. 
Referring to my notes on seed corn in the 
issue of December 22, I am glad to be able to 
report to you a new aud unexpected source for 
it for the crop of 1884. Recent investiga¬ 
tion and experiment have demonstrated that 
a considerable portion of the low laud fields 
that were cut down by the frosts near the mid¬ 
dle of September, will furnish seed which, 
though shrunken, germinates readily; while 
at the same time, seed from fields on higher 
laud, scarcely touched till a month or six 
weeks later, is quite unreliable. The ex¬ 
planation is probably this: the first frost, 
though sufficient to arrest growth, did uot 
harm the ear iuside the husks, or hurt the 
germ. Thereafter the seasonable and dry 
weafcher which followed deprived the ears of 
so much of the water of vegetation, that the 
sharp frosts since have not injured the grain, 
the fact being well known that the integrity 
of the germ of any corn is indifferent to a 
temperature of 40 degree more or less below 
zero. But if the ear or kernel contain mois¬ 
ture enough so the cells w ill be ruptured by- 
freezing, a few degrees of frost will do as 
much harm as many. To the inexperienced, 
the ear of com which stood iu the field till 
late iu October aud looks bright, sound and 
A POMOLOGICAL CONVENIENCE NOT 
PATENTED. 
Iiuit, exhibitors have long felt the need of 
some more effective way of attaching labels 
as well as exhibition and premium cards to 
Plates of fruit on exhibition. The common 
way has been to pluce all these on the plate 
with the fruit, and all know how liable they 
are to be misplaced or lost. Several at¬ 
tempts have been tuude to produce a sort of 
clamp or label holder, but so far all such de¬ 
vices have been attached to the side of the 
plate and were liable to displacement, or if 
they were not displaced they were so situated 
that if two plates were side by side it was very 
•ard to distinguish to which plate the cards 
