442 
THE RURAL WEW-YORKER. 
JULY 6 
for i\)C JDoimtj. 
NOTES BY UNCLE MARK. 
UNT MOLLY writes: “Please 
out. the crust off the rlark cake 
before yon make the marble 
cake described in Rcral of 
June 14, for if you don’t, the 
secret is out.” 
I have some short letters from 
I toys and Kiris whose names I 
have put on the list as members 
of the Horticultural Club. 
When you write attain, write 
longer letters, so that i can print 
them. 
One of my nieces asks if she 
_ can regain her membership in 
the Club, after a silence of three years. Yes, 
you ure welcome again, and we hope in those 
three years you have learned some things that 
you can tell us in an interesting way, in a 
letter. 
Read the articles, in this week’s paper, on 
strawberries; you have been growing and eat¬ 
ing them, and will remember what you read 
now about them; anything you learn will be 
useful to you atsome time. 
ries, just like our strawberries. We have a 
Mimulus in blossom. We have seven hens 
and 21 little chickens. 
About three months ago I saw in one of the 
Rurat.h that you had received a motto with 
the words “To My Dear Uncle.” but you did 
not know who sent it. I think I know who 
sent it. Don’t you think you can guess? I 
was wondering a few weeks ago, Uncle Mark, 
what my aunt’s name is. I intended to write 
in the lust discussion, hut I was busy with my 
lessons, so I did not find time; if the next one 
comes m the holidays, perhajw I will get time 
then. 1 received the seeds you sent me and 
than k you very much for them 
Ontario, Can. ell a m. turner. 
[I am very much pleased to know who owns 
the fingers that worked the motto so nicely 
for me. Your aunt, thinks yon must lie a deft 
little needle woman, and thinks perhaps you 
could tell the cousins something about fancy 
work. Bho says you may cull her Aunt Beth. 
We will announce the next discussion Boon. 
UNCLE mark. | 
Look at the climbing plants wherever you 
find them, and discover, if you can. the answers 
to these questions: What vines climb by ten¬ 
drils, what by their leaf stalks, what by little 
roots, called rootlets, along the stems, and 
what vines twine for support around a pole, 
weed, or string? 
This is for my nephews, so attention, boys! 
llow many of you ure proud to be called good 
boors? How many of you enjoy seeing the 
garden lino, mellow', and free from weeds? 
Do yoil go into the garden sometimes with ft 
hoe, without being asked to go? 1 would lie 
proud to hear a hearty “Yea Sir, from you. 
Your uncle likes sometimes to go into the 
kitchen where the girls are washing tlie dishes; 
he has even been known to help a little some 
times; but the girls he likes to help are those 
who take pride in their work, and have the 
disli table looking neat, but what attracts him 
most is cheerful faces. Would 1 enjoy watching 
you wash dishes? 
Don’t, let the bugs ruin your melon vines 
DOW, boys; a little care will save them, and 
your visions of melon feasts will become real¬ 
ities. 
TOISON IVY. 
The mail brings me a letter from Nellie 8., 
not intended for publication. Biie is very 
mill'll interested in the study of Botany, and 
stic writes to me of a recent misfortune that 
befell her while working at her favorite study. 
.She Haw some greenish yellow flowers grow- 
ing on w hftt seemed a tree; but. she could not 
analyze them, so she went back to look at the 
tree again, and found it. was Rhus Toxicoden¬ 
dron, a vine, but growing with a thick, woody 
stem that gave it the appearance of a tree. 
Hho knew then that her face would soon be 
badly swollen; but she writes me it is not so 
Uid as she feared, aud she is not at all dis¬ 
heartened. but wants to know it there is any 
plant l hat grows near the ivy, that is used us 
an antidote to t he poison. The leaves of the 
nettle,when 1 miisod.an* said to cure their sting; 
Is there auy plant with healing in it, that fol¬ 
lows the steps ot the Poison Ivy f 
We have only a few plants that, are poison¬ 
ous te the touch; you can soon learn them, 
and avoid them. I am glad Nellie wrote me 
about this, for it is well to bo forewarned. 
When you go on picnic excursions or black- 
berrying, be careful to avoid the three-leafed 
ivy; some people are more easily poisoned 
t.lmn others, but all will do well to lie careful. 
Your undo does not want his nieces aud 
nephews shut in the house with swollen faces 
this bright weather, so he puts up this dauger 
signal tor you, thanking Nellie lor reminding 
him ot the need of one. Indian Pipe |M<uio- 
tropa uni flora), is a pretty parasite that is 
poisonous in the same way, if the llowers are 
crushed or cut. UNCLE mark. 
Dear Uncle Mark and Rural Cochins. 
—I would like to become a member of the 
Youths’ Horticultural Club. 1 was twelve 
years old the 14tli of May, and received an 
elegant present, from papa in the shape of a 
little calf; I named it Bessie. We raised on 
our farm last year 400 bushels of jiotatous, 
different varieties; 800 bushels of wheat, Boa 
Island and Lost Nation; 1,800 bushels of oats, 
the White Russian and Norway, and ISO 
bushels of (lax. Our granary is 14x10 feet, 
quite small 1 think. We have a barn 100 
xl4 feet. Eight horses and a span of mules 
constitute our working animals, aud I have 
a pretty little Indiun pony for my riding horse. 
1 am quite fond of riding horseback. We 
milk nine cows and have ten little calves. 
We have a poultry house eight by ten feet, 
and about 40 or 50 chickens. We. would have 
had more, but the wolves carried them off 
whenever they had an opportunity. Our 
house is 28x30 feet, two stories high. 
Your niece. 
Hand Co., Dak. queen b. furman. 
Dear Uncle Mark and Cousins.—I am 
going to tell you about, ray Dakota home and 
life. I came out here a year ago last May, 
aud like it very much as a Territory. There 
are very nice schools here, but none in the 
country. My sisters and 1 attended school in 
town last Winter; it is two and-a half miles 
from our home. 1 planted some pop corn 
and squash seed this Spring, I have read the 
department “For The Young” for a long time, 
and I would very much like to know how 
Uncle V ark looks. Your niece. 
Hand Co,, Dak. nkllie o. furman. 
Dear Unci.e Mark:— l suppose you think 
1 have really forgotten you, but such is not 
the case. 1 had been so busy with my lessons 
1 did not get time to write. 1 have sorted all 
the seeds among the “Darden Treasures.” Wo 
planted some, and they are doiug nicely; one 
variety is the Sensitive Plant. Pa pulled up 
two, thinking they were weeds, but there are 
three left. 1 have a good mauy house-plants. 
We have a hanging plant, called the Chinese 
Strawberry, that blossoms and has red ber- 
Df.ar Uncle Mark and Rural Cousins. 
—1 am greatly interested in horticulture, and 
desire to become a member of the “ Youths’ 
Horticultural Club,” if the age of eighteen 
years i* not too old. 
I will tell the Cousins about, the straw¬ 
berries I raised last Summer. In the Spring 
of 1882 I set out (J00 plants in rows, 
three feet apart, and the plants 15 inches 
apart in the row. The variety was Chau. 
Downing. 1 kept the ground mellow and free 
from weeds, and pulled off all the runners. 
At the beginning of warm weather I mulched 
the plants with fine, well rotted stable manure, 
which served the double purpose of manuring 
the laud aud keeping the ground moist. Last 
Jur.o 1 picked 233 quarts of berries, which re¬ 
turned me $20 72. 1 think this a good yield, 
considering that, there were t.wo apple trees 
in the plot. 1 have a nice bed of pansies. 1 
am particularly fond of flowers and enjoy 
cultivating them. Many thanks to the Rural 
for the seeds received. The tomato plants 
look strong and healthy. I shall endeavor to 
give them a good chance, and report failures 
or successes later. Fearing this may lie too 
long, I will close. Yours truly, 
Ixmg Island, N. Y. harry craft. 
Uncle Mark:— Last Spring I planted two 
bushels of potatoes. They came up nicely, and 
were as good as the best, but wet weather 
came on, and for about a week the field was 
like a lake. We could not hoe them uutiL the 
middle of August, aud then it was too late to do 
any good. 1 got but, 10 bushels of good potatoes. 
This Spring I bought one halt a bushel of 
Win to Elephant Potatoes to plant, and hope to 
do better. A neighbor gave me 600 strawberry 
plants this Spring, and they are doing quite 
well. I set out lOOCurrant cuttings, which are 
also doing well. We have about 80 chickens. 
1 am 14 years old. and live on a farm of 100 
acres. Last year we planted the Shoe-peg 
Corn, and it was about 10 feet high when the 
frost killed it The Blush Potatoes did well. 
Broome Co. ,N. Y. chak, w. inuraiiam. 
Dear Uncle Mark:—W e have taken the 
Rural a short time, but think it a very good 
paper. I live ou a farm of about 300 acres; 
we have 85 sheep, 83 lambs, three cows, and 
seven head of young stock. We have sowed 
about 3>* acres of grain, planted about 
acre to potatoes, and one to corn. I have 
planted a two ounce package of Welcome 
Oats in rows 15 inches apart, and about four 
inches apart in the row. We have planted 
most of the Rural seeds. I have several rab¬ 
bits and dove*. We live by a reservoir that is 
well stocked with pickerel. I have sometimes 
caught 10 or 12 pounds of fish before break¬ 
fast, but do not, always have as good luck; the 
reservoir covers about 420 acres. Last year I 
raised 47 bushels of potatoes on one-fifth of an 
acre. I shall plant one-fourth of an acre this 
year. Respectfully yours, J. H. F. 
Berkshire Co., Mass. 
Dear Uncle Mark:—I would like to join 
the Youths' Horticultural Club. My father 
takes the Rural and likes it very much; he 
has it bound at, the ond of the year. I am go¬ 
ing to see how many things I can grow here 
that grow in warmer climates. I have planted 
10 coffee grains, 15 kernels of rice, and eight 
lemon seeds. I am 11 years old. I go to 
school every day. Please print this letter; no 
one knows I am writing it but my mother. 
From your niece, gracie prohskr. 
Yates Co., N. Y. 
[When you write again, Grade, write a 
longer letter, and tell us whether the coffee, 
rice, and lemon seeds grew. Have you a 
warm, sunny window, where you can keep 
your plants next Winter?— uncle mark 1 
Dear Uncle Mark:— My father takes the 
Rural, and I nearly always read the letters 
from the Cousins. 
We had a beautiful flower-bed last year 
from the RURAL seeds; some of the plants 
live/1 over Winter. We had a slight frost 
about the first of June. Our cherry trees are 
full of fruit this year. I goto school and study 
arithmetic, geography, grammar, spelling, 
reading, drawing, writing, and physiology. 
We have also gymnastic exercises. We live 
on the Old White Women’s Reservation, not 
far from Genesee Falls, and 2!i miles from 
Silver I .dike. 1 would like to have Uncle Mark 
visit us. Your affectionate niece, 
Wyoming Co., N. Y. minnie higgins. 
[Why is the place called “Old White Wo¬ 
men’s Reservation ? ’ It sounds as though the 
Indians must have named it. 1 know I would 
enjoy a visit with you, but am afraid it is one 
of the impossible things. -UNCLE mark.) 
Dear Uncle Mark:—1 have read the let¬ 
ters from the Cousins as long us father has 
taken the Rural New Yorker, which has 
been fora long lime: we think we could not 
do without it. We live on a farm of 98 acres 
seven miles west of Lafayette. Our orchard 
of 100 trees is full of apples; hut we will have 
no peaches. Wo have a large garden of cur¬ 
rants, raspberries and strawberries. The 
worms ate all the leaves of four currant bushes, 
but we have plenty of strawberries and rasp¬ 
berries. 
May I join your Club, anil be one of the 
Cousins? Your niece, 
Tippecanoe Co., Ind. hope allen. 
__BE5T TONIC. 
This medicine, combining Iron with pure 
vegetable tonics, quickly and completely 
t'nre* l>vM»»'i*«in, ln*Hirt**ti«n, WmanesH, 
Ini|»urr Tt I nod, Alnln rin.t hills nnd Fevers, 
nml Neuralgia. 
II la an unfailing remedy for Diseases of the 
Kidneys nnd I.iver. 
It is invaluable for Diseases peculiar to 
Women, and all who lend sedentary lives. 
It does not injure the teeth. cause headsehe.or 
produce eonsti pat ion —olbr Iron meffirtnrs do. 
It. eti riches nnd purifies the blood, stimulates 
the appetite.aids the assimilation of food, re¬ 
lieves Heartburn and Belching, and strength¬ 
ens the muscles nnd nerve*. 
For Intermittent Fevers, Iiusdlnde, T/tek of 
Energy. Ac., it has no equal. 
ATir The genuine has above trade mark nnd 
crossed red lines on wrapper. Take no other. 
..til, lit BROWS CHKMIOAI. CO.. KAI.TIMORF, MB. 
' 1S40. FOB 1SS4 
BH A VI 3 NT 
HAS NEVER DF.K.N EQUALLED. 
genuine \ 
YANKEE SOAP 
f/anu/*ftvnd «l 
MANCHESTER, CONN., 
WILLTA MSA JiTiOTTIERS 
GUKSfXflTB AN!> Al*OTIfKOAR!Bft. 
To prevail couni«rMU, »iguil«I*WUl b#QpoB 
_~ l,ak - 
I ( \>T>U of tsi-hr l .) 
ALL DRUGGISTS KEEP IT. 
Trinl Sample for Twelve Cents. 
.l.lt.M IbUA.llsA' CO.. Olamonhury. Con 
£Uui #ubUnitiott$. 
A AMERICAN 
Extensively illustrated. 
Laiuis and Gr.vn.KMFN 
WANTKUtohftiidlea Book 
that Bel laitaelf. Over 800 
Page* and 100 Skotches. 
Permanent Work and ex¬ 
tra tnUiiwmcnls. Apply 
early P>r oxi'liwlve t »• r r I - 
t.,rv". BRAOLEr & CO. 
66 N. 4th St. Phila., Pa. 
NOW READY. 
L. 0 . EMERSON’S NEW BOOK, 
CHORAL WORSHIP. 
For Choirs, Singing Classes and Musical 
Convent Ions. 
Dear Uncle Mark:— 1 am 10 years old; I 
live on a farm of 50 acres. Papa raises corn, 
cotton, peas, potatoes, oats and millet. Ihe 
Rural Peas yielded largely; we saved all the 
jieas for seed. The Treasure seeds came up 
nicely, but the storms on the tenth of May 
ruined nearly all of the plants. 
1 huve a small garden containing flowers, 
peas, potatoes and onions. 1 have sold a few 
potatoes, and 1 am going to send the money to 
New York for a sugar shell to give to my little 
sister as a birthday present. I have a nice 
pony and a saddle, and I help papa gather his 
cattle; we have branded 5u calves this Spring, 
and we are not half done yet. Yours respect¬ 
fully. T. J. DEVDKN. 
Navarro Co., Tex. 
Uncle Mark:— I send you a stalk of coru 
that has grown up through an old milkweed; 
other plants hi the hill were not over three 
inches high, while this must, have been ten 
inches. Perhaps it may come under the head 
*• Freaks of Nature.” My son Edwin found it, 
hut as ho cannot write, I send it for him; as 
soon us he can write, he will join the Cousins. 
Yours, CYRUS GUNN. 
Putnam Co.. Ill. 
[ l'he specimen was received, and was quite 
a curiosity. Mauy thanks for it to both fiude r 
aud sender. uncle mark.] 
Dear Uncle Mark:—I am all by myself, 
and quite lonesome, so I thought 1 would drop 
a few lines to the Cousins. I am 13 years old. 
My mother died the 26th of last December, and 
there are only five in our family now, my 
father, my three brothers and myself. 1 have 
to keep house, but 1 do not like to. I raise 
chickens, ducks and turkeys. 1 have nearly 
loo chickens, live ducks,and about 40 turkeys. 
1 also have u Berkshire sow; she has 11 little 
pigs, and they are beauties. My pets are one 
shepherd pup: he is very smart; my fowls, 
and a little brother five years old. I think 
the letters from the Cousins very interesting. 
Y T our nephew, frank m. white. 
Trigg Co., Ky, 
Full Church Music Book Size. Price $1.00. 
Choral Worship ha* 3» pages. 
Choral Womliin bn* Ut) page* of Elements, Exer- 
V|m « Busy anil Graded Sung* In one, two, or more 
part*, Glees, etc. A good variety. 
Choral Worship has <3 pages of the best Metrical 
Tidies. 
Choral Worship him 110 pagjs of the finest An - 
thetas, Motet.*, Senteneen, etc., for Choir list. 
Choral Worship lia* HA page* of miscellaneous 
matter, 1 tie Hiding good material for l oncert Sing¬ 
ing. ami for training the voter. 
on the whole, Choral Worship Is a book for the 
tlines Annonrlua a* Ohorii** Choir nn«t i.horal 
Ing ltagalneomlng In favor, and creating a demand 
for just what thin book supplies— In the best way. 
Send $1 for Specimen Copy. 
SONG WORSHIP (just out) Is a Sunday School 
Song Rook of the greatest promise, by Emerson and 
Slierwin. Send 25 cent* for one Specimen Copy. 
OLIVER DITS0N 4 CO., Boston. 
C. H. DITSON & CO.687 Broadway, New York. 
BLAINE 
Agents wanted for antheti 
tie edition of his life. Puh 
Mailed at Augusta, his 
home. Largest, handsorn 
__ __ —---eit, cheapest, best. My the 
renowned historian and biographer. Col. Con well, 
whose life of Garfield. published by U«, outsold the 
twenty Others by «l,Uu. Outsells every book over 
published In this world; many agent* ar-selling fifty 
dally. Agent« ure utaktng I■ .rtunaa AII ntw Mj- 
liers successful; grand chance for them; al...V rnaile 
Ijv u ladv ngeul the llrst day. Terms most liberal. 
Particular* free. Metier send 25 cents for postage, 
etc on free outfit, now ready, including large pros 
pectus book, and save valuable time. 
Al.GEN A: t O.. Augusta, Maine. 
live 
/fv w mm n Month nnd Board for ,J 
Va voting Men or 1 adles. In each county, 
ip To take orders for the Lives of 
BLA.INE and LOGAN. 
Address P. W. ZIEGLER A CO.. Philadelphia, Pa. 
AGENTS WAXTEI) for the lives of 
BLAINE AND LOGAN 
Bv Pol. Tiros. W. Kxox. Outsells *11 others 10 to 1 . Author 
I rid. Authentic, Jmiwrtiiil. Co’i'l.lele, the />-< 
500 page* * I .AO. Sells like wdilllce 50 |*-r cent to Au> ut>. 
find Gulfit line■. Send for Cirrul.r-. Extra 1 mas 
It IRTfOKII HI III.I'll I NO / <».. HurUbrd. I 
AOKXTS WAYTED for thebook 
♦‘OUK K%MOr* \VOMr>.** Jwt'[bit h!' 
Stuurt Plut.'S. 2 tnriuH Hurbwl. ami ‘^^a^nOlo 
Writer*. Tlte grinulnt fcouA'O/ th> wje .Agents MU 10 w 
tit^jss&siSi ss assarts 
A MILY BIBLES! 1 
SiSSSS- 
F 
(Dnzc-iajo 
