THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
of course; but the best way is not to procure 
a whole library at once; get just a single book 
as it is required, and will be read. Let the 
whole family read, comment upon, and criti¬ 
cize it. and then keep it for reference. Send 
the children to the library for information 
upon doubtful points; they will thus learn to 
use and value it. The best rural journals are 
quite as necessary as the books, and perhaps 
more so, as being fresher and ofFering more 
variety. Let the young folks not only read 
and profit by these, but prepare reports of 
crops and other articles for them. Encourage 
them to attend fairs, takiug their finest pro¬ 
ducts for exhibition, since some things can 
only be learned by competition. 
The physical sciences, especially physiology, 
chemistry, and botany, should be included in 
their education. The advantages of a good 
agricultural school are very desirable, though 
all cannot enjoy them; but we may and should 
interest ourselves in the studies aud investiga¬ 
tions which our young friends are pursuing, 
cow must be sought for in some breed—either 
existing or to he created—combining both beef 
and milking properties in fair proportion. 
The Jerseys and the Ayrshires being essen¬ 
tially dairy cows, and but ill adapted for fat¬ 
tening, are, on that account, considered 
ineligible; but in the established beef-produc¬ 
ing class—which includes the Short-horns, the 
Devons, the Herefords, the Scotch black, and 
the red polled cattle—wo iiud many cows that 
will contribute baudsomely to the milk-pail, 
and yet fatten kindly when put up in the stall. 
These are exceptional animals, however, and 
their performances are uot sufficiently reliable 
for our purposes. 
The philosophy of profitable farming em¬ 
braces, among other things, tho judicious 
selection of stock to meet the requirements of 
different localities. If we desire to send milk 
to the cheese factory, we should specialize our 
cows so as to obtain the largest yield. And the 
same rule will apply either to tho creameries, 
or to the raising of steel's for meat production. 
It would he unreasonable to expect that nuy 
individual animals could develop all the good 
qualities for which the different breeds may 
be celebrated. Such a thing would he a viola¬ 
tion of the natural law which provides that if 
any faculty be unduly developed, it will be at 
the expense of others. We recognize the fact 
that there exist certain distinct breeds or types 
HOW SHALL WE EDUCATE OUR CHILDREN 
AGRICULTURALLY? 
K, M. BEATTY. 
We take it, for granted that the parent loves 
and honors his occupation, aud desires his 
children to engage in it. This being so, a 
long stop is gained. To little children father 
and mother are infallible, and their opinion is 
unquestioned. To lead others, even though 
children, it is well to occasionally imagine our¬ 
selves in their places. If we recall our own 
childhood, and think carefully what would 
have most influenced us, we shall be far bet¬ 
tor prepared to guide the little 
should take children 
ones. V\ e 
very early into our con- 
fldence and friendship; teach them to notice 
and enjoy the pleasant things around them, 
and let them have pets and playmates among 
the animals aud fowls. Always accept their 
ofTers of help with smiles and pleasant words, 
even though the help may yet he a hindrance, 
and when tboy are old enough to be really 
useful, set them first only light and pleasant 
tasks, always showing them that their efforts 
are appreciated, whether successful or not. 
Never allow them to feel that they are simply 
to be fed and clothed and kept out of the way; 
but, rather impress on them that they are fa¬ 
ther’s and mother’s dearest friends and help- 
era. Here it is that the work must be chiefly 
done; a failure now, can never be fully made 
up. But it maybe objected that in (he rush 
of work there can be no time for these things. 
It is true that such a training takes consider¬ 
able time, though more of loving thouglitful- 
ne-ss. For whom are we spending our time? 
Is it not for our children ? 
Then comes a period later, when tbechildreu 
have grown to be real, active helpers, when 
it is very important that we consult their 
tastes, and give them, as far as possible, plea¬ 
sant work to do. It takes time for the young 
to realize that they are mado for anything 
except enjoyment. Let the boys and girls use 
the newest, nicest tools as soon as they can do 
so without injury—the older folks can have 
patience with the poor ones, and the children 
will take better care if they have the best. 
As soon as they can manage them, give them 
their favorite horses to drive and cows to 
PRIZE ESSAY OF DUDLEY MILLER. 
This appeared in tho Rural of May 17th, 
page J25, and as there are some material 
errors in it, I think, for the benefit of the 
readers of tho Rural, they ought to be 
corrected. 
Mr. Miller says: “In England, stock for 
tho shambles almost monopolize tho breeders’ 
attention.” This never was, nor is it now the 
case, for what is called unimproved Short¬ 
horns have been bred there iu largo numbers 
from time immemorial down to the present 
day. It. is from these that the groat London 
dairies have been almost exclusively stocked, 
and the cows generally are almost as great 
milkers as tho vaunted Friesian* of Holland 
and those imported into the United States un¬ 
der tho false name of IIolstclns. There are 
other breeds of cows also out of which fami¬ 
lies of large milkers cau bo selected, as the 
Welsh, for one example. 
Mr. Miller classes the Red Polled Norfolk 
pounds wheu 80 mouths, after a four months’ 
course of good stall-toeding. By this means 
the greater portion of my rough grain was 
consumed on the farm; and although the feed¬ 
ing profit appeared to ho small, the manure 
cows with tho Polled Angus and Galloways, 
which “fail in tho dairy.” The contrary is 
tiio I act, tor cows of this breed as well as their 
cougeuers, the Suffolk*, huve ever excelled in 
tho dairy; and vvbeu dried off and fattened, 
they also excel in the quality of their beef, 
and art; thus most excellent general purpose 
cows, lie classes the Guernsey cow with the 
Kerry and tho Jorsey, as laokiug in size for 
tho dairy. As to this, the Guernsey is usually 
about 50 per cent, larger than the Kerry, and 
25 per ceut, larger than tho Jersey. But tho 
latter, small as she may be, has produced as 
much butter per wpek, and especially per an¬ 
num, as any other breed of which we have 
record, so that I cannot see why her small 
size is objectionable for dairy purposes. 
Mr. Miller speaks of Mr. Wales’s Holstein 
cow Mercedes, as makinc a lui ’fffir HIBinHfv nf 
vauuiuiu or tne bovine nice 
are said to have originated from the union of 
the Friesland and tho old Yorkshire stock, 
subsequently improved by pure Durham bulls 
imported from England. The Dutch are care¬ 
ful breeders and utilitarian in their ideas. An 
almost unlimited demand for prime dairy pro¬ 
duce existing iu London, the Hollanders, with 
characteristic industry, set about obtaining a 
cow that would furnish such commodities in 
perfection, aud seem to have found her In the 
breed above mentioned, which supplies the 
rich butter and cheese for which the Nether¬ 
lands are famous. These cattle are handsome; 
of good form and fair hulk—say from 1,100 to 
1,200 pounds—yielding, in good hands, from 
40 to 45 pounds of milk per day, and weighing 
frequently from l,fi00 to 1,700 pouuds when 
finished off for market. The cows of the cele¬ 
brated “Angie” strain arosaid to havegreatly 
exceeded the above milk records, and are be¬ 
coming almost phenomenal when such a re¬ 
gister as 18,000 pounds, and over, of milk in a 
year has been reached. But here we are met 
with the objection that such copious milk- 
yielders are not likely to prove better beef 
cows thau are the Ayrshires or Jerseys, when 
their milking dayB are over; and that assump¬ 
tion is probably correct. Nevertheless, the 
mu, uul give ran oearty appreciation to every 
faithful effort. But, of course, as life is not 
all pleasure, it will be sometimes necessary to 
set them very uncongenial, disagreeable tasks. 
Let them see that doing this is an unpleasant 
necessity to yourselves as well as to them; it 
will not hurt your authority or dignity a par¬ 
ticle. There will be occasions when the child’s 
understanding must bow to that of the parent, 
but it would astonish many of us to find bow 
reasonable young people are, when reasonably 
treated. Of course the absolute “ must ” and 
“shall” should always lie behind a parent’s 
reasoning and persuasions, ready to be evoked 
if all else fails; but neither will have to he 
called forth often if we have treated our chil¬ 
dren with one half the consideration which we 
use towards our neighbors and friends. 
Make asking advice of children one of the 
strong points in trying to interest them. Ask 
it just as seriously and courteously as from 
any one else, and very often you will be un¬ 
expectedly helped by it. If they are wholly 
ignorant of the matter in hand, that makes 
no difference; complimented by the asking, 
they will go to thinking to good purpose! 
How the dull eyes will brighten, and how 
energetically they will set to work to help you. 
And their ideas are not at all to be despised. 
Consider their counsel carefully, and adopt it 
if you can; and if it proves good, sometimes 
mention your indebtedness to them. 
In brief, if we would gain or retain the 
affectionate interest of our children, we should 
not regard or treat them as simply a part of 
the farm machinery, but as our intelligent, 
trusted partners and friends. If the boys 
have a big field to cultivate, to let them have 
a small percentage of the crop as their own 
will help very much towards having the work 
cheerfully and thoroughly done, 
PRIZE ESSAY.— Class IV. 
THE BEST CATTLE FOR THE DAIRY AND THE 
SHAMBLES,” 
F. A. DEEKKN8, 
The principles of cattle-breeding are so well 
understood that any desired change either in 
the structure, the natural tendencies, or the 
qualities of certain animals, can, by careful 
selection and patient effort, be gradually 
effected. How are we to obtaiu that desira¬ 
ble animal, which, combiuing the best bovine 
properties in a greater or less degree, shall 
represent a maximum of profit with a mini¬ 
mum of waste? As the majority of farmers 
are already familiar with the leading charac¬ 
teristics of a well-bred milch cow, it is unnec¬ 
essary to enlarge upon the advantages 
THE FARMER’S EDUCATION. 
If the most “successful farmer” is merely 
the one who makes the most money out of his 
calling, without regard to the influences 
which it may bring upon his spiritual life, and 
that of his family; if he may stifle within him 
the ever recurrent why, and coutent himself 
with simply knowing the how, as his fathers 
have taught it, without asking if there be a 
better way; if the aunual breaking forth of 
the grand mystery 0 £ life in its varied forms 
The girls 
will do their part of the work with better 
courage and more faithfully if a. certain share 
of the dairy and poultry products be assigned 
them for pocket money. 
In dealing with our children we must take 
care that business is strictly business. It is 
the meanest sort of fraud to call any certain 
thing theirs, and then dispose of it at our 
pleasure and for our benefit. 
We must have books„reIating to farm topics, 
