440 
THE RURAL WEW-YORXER. 
JUNE 21 
for ii)c l)outxg. 
m 
P| 
THE FOURTH. 
# LITTLE more than two weeks 
will bring us to the morning of 
the •* Fc urth w —our great raid- 
; Rummer holiday. This ought 
: to be a bright day for you: 
perhaps I can make a few sug- 
i gestious that will help you to 
^ make it so. To make the day 
jr'iwrp as pleasant os possible for your- 
self, you must try to make it 
: pleasant for others. 
|| 9 If you, who are boys, plan to 
have “fun"’ by frightening 
Jm sisters and timid friends with 
M your noisy explosives, you will 
W come to the conclusion, if you 
think about it honestly when 
the day is over, that you have not enjoyed the 
day as much us you might have, even though 
you laughed loud and long, and declared it to 
be “jolly fun.” 
If you, who ure girls, liegiu the day intend¬ 
ing to make it us disagreeable ns you cau for 
“those horrid boys,” and scold, or scream at 
every explosion of their fireworks, you will 
spoil your chance for a pleasant. Holiday. 
So, in planning for the day, don’t fail to put 
kindness on the programme; keep your noisy 
fireworks away from timid people and sensi¬ 
tive ears; and you who are timid and own the 
sensitive eurs, must have plenty of patience 
laid up to last through the day. If no one is 
planning to celebrate the day in your neigh¬ 
borhood, you cau make plans of your owu. 
Get together the girls and boys, and as many 
grown folk os you can, of your neighborhood, 
and make your arrangements for the day, A 
very pleasant plan, and one that l have seen 
tried, is for the young people to get up an in¬ 
teresting entertainment and invite all their 
friends to it. In arranging your programme, 
try to bring into it the spirit of the day. 
Rend in your histories of the Revolutionary 
war, and of the one year of fighting before that 
Fourth of July, when I he leading men among 
England’s American colonists met, and declar¬ 
ed themselves free and Independent from Brit¬ 
ish rule. Read also of the subwsjuaat seven 
years of fighting, with more of discourage- 
meut. and defeat much of the time, than of suc¬ 
cess. Perhaps one of your number cau write 
a little play, and you cau personate the men 
and women of those stirring Revolutionary 
times. If any oue can write in rhyme, have 
an originul patriotic poem. A few tableaux 
will be good, and be sure to have the national 
songs on the programme; then as little or as 
much of fireworks as you like. If the grown 
folk show their pleasure by furnishing refresh¬ 
ments to close the evening, you will of course 
have no objections. Whatever you may do, I 
hope the day will lie a hfippy and profitable 
one for you, and that July 6 may find you well 
pleased with the holiday you have celebrated. 
UNCLE MARK. 
--- 
LETTERS FROM THE COUSINS. 
Uncle Mark:— As you give information on 
all subjects, 1 send you an Insect the name of 
which I wish to learn, what It feeds upon, aud 
if it is injurious to the farmers' interests. 
These insects are quite numerous in a piece of 
ground that was planted to corn lastyear, and 
set in strawberries this Spring. They buzz 
around very much like honey-bees, aud are 
constantly going in and out of little holes that 
they have made iu the ground 1 first noticed 
them about two weeks ago, when they wen' 
quite small. I asked several farmers what 
they were, but. none had ever seen them be 
fore. 1 am much pleased with the Youths’ 
Department, l think it is just calculated to 
make us boys take an interest In farming, and 
make it our business. Respectfully yours, 
Salem Co., N. J, ALONZO ROBINSON. 
A ns.— The specimens were tw o solitary bees 
of the genus Andreria, Says Westwood, iu his 
Introduction to the Study of Insects: “These 
insects are all solitary, each species consisting 
ouly of males and females. The latter collect 
pollen from the stamens of flowers, rather by 
moans of the general hirsuties (bail’s) of the 
body than with the posterior tarsi (the fiat, of 
the hind feet). This they form by the addi¬ 
tion of a little honey into a paste for the food 
of their progeny. They burrow into the 
ground, often to a considerable depth, iu sandy 
situations; sometimes oven upon foot paths, 
especially if exposed to the sun. At. the foot 
of these burrows they deposit an egg, in the 
midst of a supply of this paste, sufficient for 
the entire consumption of the future grub, 
which is then covered up; they thus pro¬ 
ceed, building cell after cell, each being of the 
width of the burrow, closing up the hole at 
the top w ith earth, to preveut the attacks of 
parasites, which, however, often succeed in 
entering the bole and depositing their eggs in 
the cells ”_« 
Dear Uncles, Aunts and Cousins:—As 
we promised to give the results of our garden¬ 
ing, I suppose it is time we send in our re¬ 
ports. We had some very nice carrots, pars¬ 
nips, and salsify. We also had a good many 
celery plants, but they were rather neglected. 
We intoud to try a new plan this year, and see 
how it. works. We will first put Rome paper 
around the plants, over which we will Rlip a 
tile. It will save a great deal of labor if suc¬ 
cessful. We tried to raise cauliflower, but. 
only succeeded In getting one large, and one 
small head: we intend to try again this year. 
Our cabbage was fair; the onions were a total 
failure: the garlic crop turned out very good 
and we intend to raise a larger crop next. year. 
I wonder why the Cousins say so little about 
raising garlic. 1 think it can he made a pay¬ 
ing business, but we erred when we got our 
bulbs ready for market, as we cut the stems 
off, which we ought not to have done, as they 
do not sell as well then. We have been trying 
to raise strawberries for the last- five years, 
but have always failed. We inteud to beep 
at it until we get all we want. 
Erie Co., N. Y. N. and ». Rhodes. 
Uncle Mark:—W hen T was six years old my 
father died; then we, ray mother, brother and 
two sisters, went to my grandfather’s; wo 
lived there one year. My oldest sister went to 
one of our aunt’s to live, then I went to live 
in Nebraska with my aunt., on the broad 
prairie, where the deer and wolf run wild. 
One night, our dog barked all night. 1 heard 
wolves bark, and thought it was a little dog: 
in the morning our dog had three chickens 
lying by the door. He stood by them growl¬ 
ing. We suppose he met the wolves at 
the stable door aud took the chickens from 
them. The wolves are of a yellowish brown, 
about as large as a medium-sized dog. I have 
seen them run over the hills with chickens. 
When 1 went to Nebraska my aunt and uncle 
lived uuder a hill; the dug out was 12 feet, 
square. They had one hog and some little 
pigs, one cow and a little calf and a few 
chickens. You may guess 1 was lonesome, as i 
kuew no one but my aunt. There were no 
little folks to play with, so I played with my 
rag-dolls and brokeu dishes. We had a little 
pup, black and curly. I taught him to lead. 
There are many kinds of wild flowers in the 
Spring; a little pink cup w ith a fuzzy atom, 
is called May Flower. There is a little white 
flower called Lamb’s Tongue, and a kind of 
wild flower called Sweet William, a yellow 
flower called Indian Faint, and Johnny-Jump- 
Up, a little purple violet. When 1 went to 
Nebraska they had Sunday-school in a log 
house. 1(5 by 20, with home-made seats, Infour 
years 1 went back to the eastern part of Iowa 
to see my friends. 1 saw my mother. When 
I came back my brother came with me to our 
uncle’s in tbc western part of lOwa. In a little 
over three years, my mother came to see me. 
This Winter we started bark I came as far 
as my uncle's, and ns they wanted me to stop 
aud help them till Spring, I will not go on aud 
see the rest, until then, but my mother is in 
Ohio, and 1 will not get there to see her. The 
prairie fires are very destructive, and come 
every Winter if they do not have good fire 
breaks. The fire sounds like the cars two or 
three nules off. guliklma blackburn. 
Union Co., Iowa. 
is also the Charles Downing, which we prefer, 
as it grows on the Rural Grounds. Many 
thanks for yaur kind invitation. I am afraid 
the Cousins will think that I am not a very 
neighborly uncle, but it seems to be impossi¬ 
ble for me to accept the many kind invita¬ 
tions that I receive from the Cousins to visit 
them, not because I do not wish to, but because 
I cannot leave the Rural office. 
UNCLE MARK.] 
Dear Uncle Mark: — I am a farmer’s 
daughter, and until of late, have lived on a 
farm most of the time. I now live in the town 
of Kankakee, beautifully situated on the river 
of Die same name. Our former residence was 
on a farm down the river, eight miles west of 
Kankakee. 
Near the house is an old mound, supposed 
to be an Indian burying ground. Many per¬ 
sons came there to investigate, but they never 
found anything of any value. Bones were 
found iu abundance. Papa found, lying 
under a jaw-bone, a thin, round piece of cop¬ 
per, with holes in the sides, and we came to 
the conclusion that it must have been tied to 
the chin of one of the Indians, but for what 
purpose we do not know. We never thought 
to find, anything of value, and when persons 
would come to investigate mamma would say, 
“O! you can have anything you can find, ex- 
ce.pt the pot of gold."’ A stone was found that 
has the shape of a wedge. It is about two 
inches long, an inch in diameter at the base, 
diminishes in width as it nears the top. and 
has a sharp edge. I do not know to what use 
It was put. Home think it may be an axe; 
others, that it was placed on the end of n long 
stick and used os a spear. We have also found 
a number of arrow points which are made of 
stone, from the size of one an inch long and 
a half inch in width, to one 2inches long 
and nearly two inches iu width. We never 
fouud very many perfect ones. Some have 
sharo, others blunt points Small pieces of 
pottery are fouud scattered everywhere We 
have a stone axe, and it seems impossible that 
anybody could have cut wi ,h such a tool. 
We also have a pestle, used for pounding 
corn. This mound is very old, for large trees 
grow on the surface of it. When one of the 
old settlers came to this country the mound 
was about 20 l'eet high; it i* now 11 feet high. 
It is said that squaws brought the dust there 
in baskets, which they carried mi their heads. 
Iu my next letter, I will give a description of 
mv ex;>crienee on a farm, if you think it 
would be interesting to the Cousins. From 
your udefi. ETTA DICKINSON. 
Kankakee Co., 111. 
[By all means, do so. uncle mark ] 
Dear Uncle Mark.— I have bettor luck iu 
raising onion sets than anything 1 have tried, 
though strawberries do quite well; we set straw¬ 
berry plants 18 inches apart and let them mat 
one way. This year I have sent for some new 
kinds to try; we have always raised Wilson 
and Col. Cheney. The maple sugar season 
this year was quite good, although I have seen 
many much bettor seasons. So far we have 
had hardly enough rain to start the seeds 
quickly. Thanks for the seeds; will try to 
give them a fair trial. 1 have started some 
melon seeds iu boxes in the house; some think 
they grow better if they are uicely started be¬ 
fore putting them in the ground, and we do 
not have very long Hummers iu which they 
cau ripen. I should like to correspond with 
one of the Cousins farther west thau I am. 
Cortland Co., N. Y. 
E. H. z. 
Dear Uncle Mark:—Two years ago I 
joined your Club, and received the melon 
seed, but it did not come up on account of the 
(•old and wet. We have had no success with 
melons the past two years; it has been too cold 
aud wet iu the Spring. We tried Cuban 
Queen and the Boss Watermelon, but it was 
so wet that t hey did not do very well, aud we 
did not get uny more than enough melons for 
seed. I have raised some potatoes for two 
years. Year before last 1 raised seven bushels 
ou two short rows. We have the Early and 
the Late Rose Potatoes. 
Union Co., Iowa. John w. blackburn. 
Dear Uncle Mark:— We moved on to our 
raut'be almost two years ago. and like it very 
much. We have <little, horses, sheep and 
pigs: we farm only enough to (odder the weak 
stock in Winter. The Perfection Watermelon 
was true to its name, 1 planted seeds iu five 
hills, and they yielded 20 melons of good size. 
What variety of strawberry does the Rural 
think the best for this climate? 1 raised about 
200 chickens lust. year, trying different plans, 
as suggested in the Rural. I he plan 1 like 
best, is that of having runs, and feediug Die 
chickens rice, boiled eggs, millet, seed, etc., 
with sweet milk for a drink. 1 raised turkeys 
on boiled rice, oat meal aud sour milk. I 
should like to have Uncle Mark make me a 
visit. Your loving niece, 
Harper Co., Kansas. “ gem.” 
[The Mississippi Valley Horticultural Socie¬ 
ty thinks the Wilson the best berry for Kan¬ 
sas. The Sharpless is an excellent variety, as 
gUui gubttcations;, 
w—A AMERICAN MC 
Extensively illustrated. EH F 
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Vast ki> to handle a Honk fejj I 
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2d Permanent work ami ex- |> 
U tra inducements. Apply c 
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_ t..ry. BRADLEY & CO. H| c 
M S 66 N. 4th St. Ph’la . Fa. 1 v 
ru LIVE bTOUK BREEDERS 
A NEW WORK OX STOCK VM> FARM TOPICS. 
Complete in One Volume. 
- KIHTED BT 
JONATHAN 1'ERIAM 
V ^ 10 Years a I’racti- 
tjj cal Farmer. 
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B ralir j 3000 Title- of Snb- 
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CHICAGO. 
Dear Uncle Mark:— Again I want to join 
the Club, for I have not written for so long 1 
guess I am expelled; my last was sent to W. B. 
1 guess; but I will try again. We, pa and 1, 
have nearlv one bushel of new potatoes from 
the seed ball oT Wall's Orange. I’he blossoms 
were dusted with the pollen of the White StHf. 
We planted the seed in February, and when we 
set out the plants in May, we. found a good many 
little potatoes hanging to the roots. When 
we dug them, some of the vines were dead 
and dry, and some of them so green we left 
them till killed by the frost. There are some 15 
or more kinds. Color from clear white to a 
dark rusty blue, and of all potato shapes. 
We had poor luck with Niagara Grape 
seed, ouly one came Up, and the chicks got 
that. W bo will send me some iu exchange for 
something I have i Huve lots of plants (house 
and garden), roses, strawberries, best variety 
of raspberries, etc., etc. W ill exehauge plants 
or curiosities. By the wav. Uncle Mark, 
don’t you want some of the new potatoes, oue 
or each color ? Home were too large to go in 
a Mason half gallon jar. Well, isn’t this long 
enough for W. B. Fa says he didn’t think the 
Rural could improve but he knows it has. 
That stob at “Public Robbers’" ought to kill. 
Yours truly, 
Knox Co., 111. Levernk Bloomfield. 
WANTED, 
Within 30 days, 100 very, very interesting 
letters from members of the Youths’ Horti¬ 
cultural Club. Can’t you write a letter that 
will interest and instruct your Cousins? Try 
it, and see, 
SONG WORSHIP. 
TUB nrilil w 
SUM-SCHOOL SONG BOOK, 
BY 
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Price 35 ecmaj H3« per hundred. 
Ttie advent or a new Sunday-School Sons Book by 
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The M. *10 Is of a high order. SuperlntcndentR will 
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MntntTKits cannot fall to like the hymns. 
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OLIVER DITSON & CO , j Boston. 
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