THE BUBAL NEW-YOBKEB. 
etc., but in his opinion the true cause was un¬ 
favorable weather during the blossoming 
period. 
Parker Earl, Superintendent of the World’s 
Fair at New Orleans, presented the special in¬ 
ducements that such an exposition holds out to 
nurserymen to make their business known 
and to study the difference in the various new 
fruits, and urged all not only to attend, but to 
contribute to the show. 
Mr. Sanders, In speaking of the past and 
present of floriculture, said the first green¬ 
house in Chicago was started in 1833, by 
Samuel Brooks; in 1805 the whole number en¬ 
gaged in the business was 304, and in 1S83 the 
number had swelled to the goodly proportion, 
of 8,328, and is rapidly increasing; such is the 
growth of the love of flowers. 
I noticed that the important question, 
'■What can the nurseryman do to protect his 
best friends, the plantersf did not receive 
much consideration: in fact, there seemed a 
great disposition to quietly ignore it. Can it 
be that there is any fear on the part of the 
nurserymen of offending the dishonest tree 
peddlers? If not, why this silence? Altogether 
there were 840 members enrolled, and the ses¬ 
sion was highly enjoyable. argus. 
-- 
CATALOGUES, ETC., RECEIVED. 
Joseph Harris, Rochester, N. Y. Cata¬ 
logue of thoroughbred stock. Seeds and 
plants. 
Series 1 , Nos, 3 and 4, of Houghton Farm 
Experiment Department Reports. Henry E. 
Alvord, manager. Prof. D. P. Penhallow, 
chemist. These embrace the subjects of me¬ 
teorology and soil temperatures. 
Catalogue of pure-bred imported Holstein, 
Aberdeen Angus and Galloway Cattle, the 
property of F. G. Babcock, Ilornellsville, N. 
Y. This is a pamphlet of 166 pages, contain¬ 
ing illustrations aud descriptions of the ani¬ 
mals In this herd. 
" Diffusion;” its application to sugar¬ 
cane, and a record of experiments with sorg¬ 
hum in 1*83, by H. W. Wiley, Chemist of the 
Department of Agriculture. This is a pamph¬ 
let of 35 pages giving a detailed description of 
the processes used in extracting the sugar 
from sorghum by the “diffusion” process, nnd 
the results as compared with those from ordi¬ 
nary milling. Sorghum sugar-makers should 
study this publication very carefully. 
Milk vs. Meat. — I received, the other day, 
a letter to the following effect, says Sir J. B. 
Lawes in the Farmer and the Chamber of Ag¬ 
riculture Journal: "Please will you let me 
know the difference of the manure from one 
ton of linseed cake, passing through a bullock 
or a cow?” Hi# correspondent then goes on 
to say that he sends milk to London for sale. 
There can be no doubt regarding the object 
of this question, which is evidently to find 
out whether the production of milk is more 
exhausting than the production of meat, and 
whether th« general opinion on the subject— 
that the production of milk is more exhaust¬ 
ing—is correct. His correspondent wants this 
opinion to be placed before him, not in a scien¬ 
tific formula, but in the more easily under¬ 
stood form of dollars and cents. 
Says Dr. Lawes, "I will try and work out 
the answer required from my own farm re¬ 
sults. I have a dairy of about 30 cows. For 
the last two mouths, each cow has consumed 
daily a little over 100 pounds of food, consist¬ 
ing of cake, bran, hay. and straw chaff, and 
mangels. The dry weight of this food is 28 
pounds, while the average daily product of 
milk is a little over 28 pounds; but if we call 
it 28 pounds, it will very much facilitate our 
calculation, as we shall thus have one pound of 
dry food producing one pound of milk. 
Milk contains about 13 per cent, of dry sub¬ 
stance; 1.000 pounds of dry food will there¬ 
fore produce 130pounds of dry milk. If I had 
fed oxen with the same food, I should have 
expected that the 1,000 pounds would have 
produced about 85 pounds of increase in live 
weight, containing G3 pounds of dry matter. 
The 130 pounds of dry milk will contain about 
seven pounds of nitrogen; the 63 pounds of dry 
animal will contain hardly one per cent. The 
1,000 pounds of dry food will contain about 20 
pounds of nitrogen, therefore the milk will ab¬ 
stract seven pounds—or about 35 per cent.— 
while the meat will take only five per cent. 
In dealiug with these figures, it appears to 
be the fairest way to show the loss of manure 
generally upon the whole of the food equally. 
If I were merely estimating the meat or milk 
produced by the foods, such?, a proceeding 
i- would be evidently unfair; or if I were esti- 
g mating the separate manure value of the dif¬ 
ferent foods, a different course would have to 
I be pursued; but here we have to deal with a 
certain number of ingredients contained in a 
mixed diet—part home-grown, part purchased 
—and it is required to know what amount of 
these ingredients is abstracted by a dairy cow 
as compared with the amount abstracted by a 
fattening ox. 
If we assume the manure value of one ton 
of linseed cake to be 60s. before feeding, it 
would be worth 57s. if fed by oxen, ns against 
38s if fed by dairy cows; these figures repre¬ 
senting the value of the ingredients removed 
in the milk and meat, though making no al¬ 
lowance for the waste or loss of manure. 
If, instead of charging the loss of the ma¬ 
nure upou the whole of the food consumed, we 
charge it upon the cake alone, it will require 
all the uitrogen in four pounds of cake to fur¬ 
nish the quantity contained iu two gallons of 
milk. Under those circumstances, a cow re¬ 
ceiving one-fourth cwt,. of linseed cake per 
week, and yielding 14 gallons of milk, would 
reduce the manure value of a ton of linseed 
cake to a very few shillings. It Is quite evi¬ 
dent, therefore, that the popular idea of dairy 
farming taking much more out of the land 
than grazing, is fully borne out by the figures 
given, and unless the loss is compensated by I 
imports in the form of foods or manures, pus- I 
ture land will soon deteriorate. 
The Fancy Stock Craze.— The Springfield 
Republican, speuking of the course of certain 
journals which foster this for the advertising 
it affords, says, there is an inside to the groat I 
combination auction sales of imported and 
domestic stock in cities, that the buyers are I 
not fully admitted to. Country animals are I 
sent there to be washed, shampooed, combed, I 
groomed and plumped by skillful hands, days I 
and weeks before the sale, and then under the I 
glare of an electric light lu the excitement of a 
crowd, the wily auctioneer caps the climax 
with figures of speech that entrap the unwary. 
This is a "gambling in stocks” that is literal, 
as some have found to their sorrow. The 
wonder is that some of the agricultural pa¬ 
pers. that are usually sensible, should sell I 
themselves so cheaply in abetting the swindle, I 
SAMPLES AND COMMENTS. 
There is a new quince, called Meech’s Pro- I 
ific, that is announced. Mr. Downing deems I 
t a promising variety, though he says it will 
ake some time to decide Hilly as to its mer- I 
ts... 
Don’t sleep in the same undergarments that I 
■re worn during the day. Don’t tuke long I 
ralks or work before breakfast, is the good I 
dviceln Green’s Fruit-Grower... 
T. T. Lyon says that mulching the trees iu I 
Vinter, aud heavy manuring in Summer, are 
he chief secrets of success with the quince... 
Mr. Armstrong, of the Husbandman, says 
hat farmers would be glad to find a way by 
which the use of money to direct the ballot 
could lie absolutely proh i bited. 
The early harvesting of wheat where clover i 
has been sown, gives the young plants a better , 
opportunity to grow, remarks the Philadelphia 
Weekly Press..... 
How shall we extinguish the host of un- I 1 
sound societies that prey upon the thrifty * 
poor? asks the Mark Lane Express. It 
The Adelaide Observer speaks of the sue- I ‘ 
cessful sinking of artesian wells in Mouth Aus- c 
tralia, abundant supplies of fresh water hav- 1 
ing been tapped in several districts where it e 
was not supposed that auy could be obtained. I s 
In some instancoe the water has been obtained | 1 
by boring to a depth considerably below sea f 
level. I u 
ter how skillful a farmer may be, yet he has a 
good deal to learn, and everything fresh can 
be found in the Rural. I am particularly 
pleased with the Eye-Opener. Fall wheat here 
is good on light lands, but on heavy land it is 
in a miserable condition. All spring crops 
were put in in good order and look well. All 
sorts of fruit will be fair crops. e. h. 
Dakota. 
R.a\ mond, Clark Co., Juno 15.—Vory favor, 
able growing weather since seeding time. 
Wheat and small grains, where put In early] 
looking excellent, with every prospect of au 
abundant harvest. Cora, potatoes, etc., all 
planted. Weather too cool now for corn, but 
root crops doing well, fully a fortnight earlier 
than last year. Hay promises to be more 
abundant this year, and is being anxiously 
looked for. T M 
Indiana. 
Mexico, Miami Co., June 14.—We had a 
very cold, wet, backward Spring, Cora was 
very slow in coming through the ground. A 
great amount of replanting had to be done, but 
we have recently bad a few warm days, that 
have given corn and vegetation in general a 
good start. Wheat fine, with an average 
breudth sown. Meadows excellent. Oats aud 
flax, not much sown. Stock is mostly doing 
well. There are some isolated cases of hog 
disease. Wages good, work abundant, and 
everybody contented, industrious and happy. 
Health good. Success to the Rural, and to 
the grand calling of which it is so earnest an 
advocate! N B H 
Illinois. 
Padua, McLean Co., June 16.—We have 
rain nearly every day. Some farm work is 
backward. Oats are looking well. Fruit will 
not bo as abundant as promised early in the 
season. w B 
Ridott, Stephenson Co., June 13.—Frost on 
May 29 cut com to the ground, and as the 
weather has been cold and wet since, the 
growth is very backward, while the worms 
are doing their worst in sod. Some pieces 
have been replunted three times. Strawber¬ 
ries, raspberries and grapes have about all 
"gone up the flume.” Small grains look well. 
Apples a good crop. k, j. j. 
Iowa. 
Oskaloosa, Mahaska Co., June 9.—Wo 
had the most comfortable Spring for agricul¬ 
ture we had experienced for three years. Not 
too much rain, aud yet no suffering from 
drought; equable ub to temperature, with no 
severe storms. The best outlook for crops in 
all directions we have had for half a decade, 
except for fruit. Fruit trees suffered severely 
daring the two past Winters. I think nine- 
tenths of all the Ben Davis trees are killed in 
this region. Horses and cattle are in great 
demand at high prices. Not a potato bug has 
put in an appearance so far. Potatoes looking 
fine. 3. R. P . 
Prof. L. B. Arnold says, in the Live- 
Stock Journal, that Canada has bocome the 
greatest cheese-producing country on the con¬ 
tinent, if not m the world... 
He further says that cheese, when properly 
made, and thoroughly cured, so that all of it*s 
substance is available for food, has twice the 
value of butchers’ meat for sustaining life, 
and is quite as easily digested, and as whole¬ 
some. But many circumstances interfere 
with its perfection, the first of which is poor 
milk... 
09tnjtul)euc. 
RURAL SPECIAL REPORTS. 
Canada. 
Elora, Ont., June 9.— I am much pleased 
with the Rural. It seems to be improving 
every week. It gives such good, sound 
advice on every topic it handles, that no 
wide-awake farmer in Canada or the United 
States can afford to be without It; for nomat- 
Pilot Mound, Roone Co., June 9.— Crop pros¬ 
pects in this aud adjoining counties are very 
good. Early Spring averaged rather damp and 
cool, but it wasjust right togive wheat and oats 
a good start. Wheat had been a failure with 
us for several years until Inst year, when the 
yield was from 12to20 bushels of good quality 
per acre, consequently there was an increased 
acreage sown this Spring, which, from pre¬ 
sent indications, bids fair to yield a better crop 
than last year’s. Com was planted between 
May 5 and 20; the soil was mellow, in good 
condition for planting, aud the weather very 
favorable; the seed corn wus not the best, but 
enough of it germinated to make a very fair 
stand, much better than last year’s. The past 
two weeks have been all that could be desired 
for cultivating, aud farmers have mude good 
use of the time. Our prospects for fruit of 
all kinds, both wild and cultivated, are the 
best ever known in this locality. Wo had the 
heaviest rainfall of the season yesterday, con¬ 
sequently farmers are "lying off” to day, as 
the soil is rather too wet for cultivating. 
A. W. H. 
Kansas. 
Junction Citt, Davis Co., June 19.—Our 
wheat harvest is just commencing, the May 
wheat being nearly all ready to cut,and Russian 
wheat coming on fast. There is more Russian 
wheat sown than ever before, as it proves as 
hardy as rye, but it brings about 10 cents less in 
the market than the soft wheats. There will 
probably be the largest wheat crop Kansas 
has ever produced. Cora is just comraeucing 
to look well, the .Spring having been cool and 
late. There will be a very large acreage of 
millet this year, as prairie hay ran short the 
past season, having sold in oar market this 
Spring at $12 to $15 per ton. Cherries and 
strawberries have been good crops. No 
peaches. Apples and grapes promise an 
abundant yield. Lands are changing hands 
rapidly and rising in price every day. There 
is a large immigration, principally from the 
older Western States. c. H. m. 
a North Topeka, Shawnee Co., Juue 16.—It 
n has been a very wet and backward season. 
> More rain has fallen iu this section this Spring 
•o than iu any previous Spring in the history of 
is the State. Wheat Is looking well aud prom- 
»s ises a full crop. The same with oats. Corn is 
11 now all planted. Much was put iu with the 
"Inter,” and many have planted a second and 
third time. Corn never looked so spotted. 
While in some sections ft is two feet high, in 
the most it is just above ground. Everywhere 
the cultivator is at work, the soil generally be¬ 
ing in the best possible condition. Harvest 
j will not commence before July 1st. j.w. h. 
t Parsons, Labette Co., June 17.— It will be 
st, ven weeks to-morrow since we lmd any rain 
3 until yesterday, when two inches fell, aud now 
, t l)er0 is a promise of two more. No serious 
want of rain was felt, probably because seven 
weeks ago to-morrow, in oue day six inches 
fell. We have another proof that our spring 
1 rains can lie relied upon every year. Pasture 
* aud meadows will now become good. Wheat 
is good, but cheuty: outs good; and corn is a 
good stand; the vegetables are fine, but fruits 
' are scarce. Apples did not fulfil their great 
promise, 50 to 60 per cent, having dropped 
1 from the trees. Oue to two hundred cars of 
Texan steers are fed and watered here daily. 
J. B. 
Michigan. 
Sherman, Wexford Co., Juno 9._We 
had a medium-early Spring. Everything is 
sowed or planted except potatoes, Ruta bagas, 
nnd buckwheat. Grass aud wheat, ure grow¬ 
ing finely. Corn is all up and looks splendid, 
and farmers are cultivating it now. Oats look 
well, clover extra fine. Fruit prospects very 
good. Cherries and cun-ants were injured 
somewhat by the frost iu the last of Muy; but 
apples promise a full crop. The Rural seeds 
are up uow nnd look just splendid. The Rural 
Union Corn is very nice and growing fast. 
I am taking six papers, and the Rural New- 
Yorker stands at the head of the list. I read 
it with pleasure and profit. In fact, I don’t 
see how 1 could keep house without the Ru¬ 
ral. Stock of all kinds are looking well after 
the long, cold Winter, except, some sheep that 
keep poor and weak, and finally get so feeble 
in the legs that they cannot stand up, andsoon 
die. Prices are: oats, 10 to 45 cents; no wheat 
or corn in the market; potatoes, 25 to30 cents; 
butter, 15 to 20 cents; eggs, 15 cents a dozen. 
J. N. C. 
St, Clair, St. (lair (Jo,, June 8,—It is very 
dry here; we haven’t had any rain since 
the freeze of the 28th of May, which did a 
great deal of damage in some localities. Ap¬ 
ples are all killed, I saw to-day several fields 
of wheat badly hurt; they are turning yel¬ 
low, and look as if fire had swept through 
them. Corn is also suffering— Hot more thau 
half of it is up; the rest will have to be re¬ 
planted. Hay is $6 per ton; outs, 36 and 38 
cents; potatoes, 50 cents; butter, 15 cents; 
wool, 23 and 25 cents per pound. w. a. t. 
Minnesota. 
Spring Grove, Houston Co., June 9.—I was 
engaged in mercantile business, but got 
sick of it, so I bought 20 acres of land with 
good buildings, and moved out to try farming 
of some sort. I raise corn, potatoes, onions, 
small fruits and general nursery stock. All 
grow splendidly here. Tbo Gregg and Turner 
Raspberries and the Snyder and Kittatinny 
Blackberries, and two kinds not yet named, 
all stood the Winter, und will bear amazingly 
this Summer. Coldest day, 39° below zero. 
I grow the Wilson and the Crescent Strawber¬ 
ries together—just the thing! a. a. u. 
Mliiourl, 
Iberia, Miller Co., Juno 10.—The Rural 
seeds are all doing well. Cleaveland Peas are 
ripening; Hereford's fit to use; both planted 
April 1. Outs four feet tall; not yet headed. 
Storm last week laid them flat,; afraid they 
are ruined; expected to get one bushel from 
seed sent. Some seeds produced 47stalks; not 
very good ground either. Have a large num¬ 
ber of flowers. Crops of all kinds are very 
good. Cora Is somewhat backward on ac¬ 
count of wet weather causing late planting, 
but the stand is good. We are outing new 
potatoes. Wheat Is ripening well; will be cut 
next week. No cheat where good seed was 
used. Grass was never better. Apples a full 
crop. No peaches. h. a. s. 
Mill Sprino, Wayne Co„ June 8.—Not 
more than one-tenth of this section Is adapted 
to cultivation. The rest of the land is neither 
“grazing,” “mineral,”nor anything else,unless 
it may be classed as “timber” land, as there 
is a great deal of pine, for which there is a 
good market. It would require several times 
the subscription price of the Rural to buy 
my Blush Potatoes from the Meed Distribution 
of 188&-3. The seeds 1 got this Spring have 
come up better than any others I had. t. a. d. 
New Httirtpshire. 
Melvin’s Mill, Corroll Co.—W e are hav- 
