18S4 THE RURAL fiEW-YORKER. 497 
agricultural fairs in Maine have been pro¬ 
hibited by law, says that the day is fast ap¬ 
proaching when the scenes of dissipation that 
disgrace not a few of onr agricultural fairs 
will be seeu no more. Let the reform com¬ 
mence in earnest in this year of grace 1881. .. 
Puck says that the boy who will cry and 
make au awful fuss if compelled to take a 
bath in the house, will consider it the acme of 
romantic pleasure to tramp miles over a dusty 
road to take a swim in a stagnant pond. 
Dr. Hoskins says that every large interest 
has its workers and its lobby except the agri¬ 
cultural Interest Put up a measure that will 
either harm or help the farmers, and the 
farmers will have the least influence of any in 
determining the result......... 
Men who quietly attend to their own busi¬ 
ness and yet are often interfered with—bur¬ 
glars.... 
Phosphorus, uitrogen and potash are the 
golden tripod ou which rests successful agri¬ 
culture. says Prof. R. C. Kedzie. 
Success in butter making depends upon 
skill acquired only by actual experience, says 
Prof. L. B. Arnold, in the Tribune. 
To prevent (not cnre) the attack of borers 
on fruit trees, wash the trunks with a mix¬ 
ture of soap and kerosene, says Prof. A. J. 
Cook. 
The necessity of having the premises about 
the house thoroughly dry and well drained, is 
too obvious to need any argument, says Prof. 
W. J. Beals.. 
It ia desirable to make those who happen to 
he in a rut and can’t see any way out, as com¬ 
fortable as possible, remarks Prof. L. B. 
Arnold. 
•HlisccUartcous. 
CATALOGUES, ETC., RECEIVED. 
Seventh Volume of the Holstein Herd 
Book. Compiled and edited by Thos. B. 
Wales, Jr.. Secretary of the Holstein Breed¬ 
ers’ Association of America, 1884. This ?a a 
nicely printed and bound volume of 675 pages, 
containing the registry of 986 bulls and 2,217 
cows of these famous milk givers, bringing 
the registry numbers up to 2,887 for bulls and 
5,521 for cows. It also contains many fine 
illustrations of valuable animals of this breed; 
also the record of tin- proceedings of the third 
annual meeting of the Holstein Breeders' Asso¬ 
ciation. held at Syracuse March 21, 1883, at 
which a scale of 100 points w as agreed upon 
by which Holstein cattle should hereafter be 
judged. It also contains records of the re 
markably large yields of milk during the year 
then last past. It has a good introductory 
editorial by Gerrit 8. Miller. We wish re¬ 
spectfully to call the attention of the members 
to the fact that these are Holland cattle, and 
very few% indeed, ever saw the little picayune 
province of Holstein, and suggest that it would 
be better if they would carefully consider the 
matter at their next meeting, aud adopt the 
name “Holland,” which would convey a cor¬ 
rect ideu of the origin of these fine cattle. 
Dutch-Friesian Herd-Book— third vol¬ 
ume, containing a registry of all the Dutch- 
Friesian cattle imported or bred between Jan¬ 
uary 1, 1883, and April 1, 1884, bringing the 
bull numbers tip to 430, of which 323 are re¬ 
corded in this book; and increasing the cow 
numbers to 1,330, of which 752 are here re¬ 
corded. The system of advanced registry, 
which was inaugurated two years ago, has 
worked with so much satisfaction that it has 
been continued, and 10 bulls and 54 cows have 
been admitted to this register. Only those 
animals are admitted which are judged worthy 
by inspectors apjKjinted, and which have made 
a milk or butter record up to a certain stand 
ard, and this must be sworn to by the owner 
and milker, aud these statements are sufficient 
evidence for registry only where the animal 
does not exceed a certain standard, viz.,—50 
pounds for a two, fiO pounds for a three, and 
70 pounds for a! tour-year-old, and 85 pounds 
for a full grown cow. Above these figures, 
the record must be attested by a committee 
appointed by this society, or by some State, 
County, or local agricultural society or stock¬ 
breeders’ association; and when eligible to 
entry, the full record and description are in¬ 
cluded, This volume contains 325 pages, is 
well gotten up.'and is published by the Ameri¬ 
can Association of Breeders of Pure-bred 
Friesian or Dutch-Friesian cattle, and can be 
had for $3 of 8, Hoxie, Secretary, Whites- 
town, N. Y. It is very unfortunate that we 
should call the same noble breed of cattle by 
two names, and neither of them the right one. 
Gentlemen of both associations, please lay 
aside all your prejudices, and come together 
on some mutually agreeable plan, and call 
these cattle Hollands or Netherlands. 
TRANSCONTINENTAL LETTERS. 
III. 
MARY WAGER-FISHER. 
When leaving Chicago, I felt that the “big¬ 
gest” buildings in the world are In that city, 
and particularly railway stations. One would 
naturally suppose that with the almost illimit¬ 
able measure of land with which the “ Groat 
West” is provided, cities and towns would be 
laid out liberally as to land; but just there 
verse is true. Buildings are just a* high in 
Chicago and other Western cities, as in New 
York, and speculation in land has run to such 
excess that nobody dreams of keeping a door- 
yard of fairly good size. Even in what are 
really country villages, the small extent of 
ground given to houses is pitiful and mean, 
and Anaximander assures me that such is the 
case throughout the entire width of the United 
States, where there is room enough for ten 
thousand millions of people, and as yet we are 
but fifty millions. 
[Isn’t our friend a trifle enthusiastic heret 
The whole area of the United States, including 
Alaska, is 3,003,884 square miles; or 2,200,485,- 
760 square acres, so that according to her 
statement, every acre, from the arctic limits 
of Alaska to the Gulf—sandy desert and snow- 
clad mountain top, turbulent river, nud sun¬ 
less gorge, thronged city and storm-swept lake, 
would have to support five persona. It was 
only by poetic license that Goldsmith could 
declare of the fertile surroiunlings of “sweet 
Auburn, loveliest village of the plain," that 
“every rood of ground maintained its man;” 
If our friend is right, every four roods of 
land, water, dasert, and mountain, throughout 
the length and breadth of this country, would 
have to maintain five “men.”— Eds.] 
If any body fears over-population in 
this country for many years to come, he 
has hut to cross the continent to change 
his views. But I am no advocate of a 
large population. In leaving Chicago by the 
Chicago and Alton Railroad, we began to 
realize the much talked of hospitality of the 
West, On this road we found the cars most 
beautifully and luxuriously fitted up with 
chairs that are readily turned into reclining 
couches for the night, without extra charge. 
Porters frequently passed through the cars 
aud would bring on a tray very toothsome 
lunches for a very reasonable sum, every 
order being from five to ten cents each, and 
one could refresh himself at his leisure. It 
was certainly very nice. 
The road stretched along for many miles 
by a series of quarries, from which are ob¬ 
tained much of the pale yellow, or cream- 
colored building stone used in Chicago, which 
gives the city a Parisian appearanco. There 
are in these quarries layers of stone as finely 
prepared for flagging the streets of a city as if 
they had been hewed and cut for the purpose, 
and no une visiting Chicago can well fail to 
observe how superbly her pavements are 
flagged. 
Until Bloomington is reached, 180 miles 
south-west from Chicago, the country suitors 
greatly from lack of drainage. It is all the 
way a dead level—low, flat, and wet. It had 
evidently been visited by a heavy rain, and 
the wetness was pre-eminent. There is no 
painful lack of trees, elms and maples grow 
ing luxuriantly, AU the time and everywhere 
there is a mania for planting maples—they are 
the national tree. The railroad is bordered by 
hedges. All the farm-houses are of wood, 
painted white. The soil looks rich—a heavy, 
black loam; but the farming is slovenly. The 
vast fields of coru are full of weeds, and the 
indifferent farming may account for the poor 
success attending corn-raising for the past 
three or four years. Throughout this belt of 
country, 200 miles south of Chicago, very 
little wheat is raised, grass, oats, coru, and 
some rye being the chief crops. It is not a 
good fruit region. Bloomington is quite a 
town, and land thereabout ranges In value 
from $50 to $100 per acre. 8011th of Bloom¬ 
ington wheat aud fruit are cultivated success¬ 
fully, especially small fruits. A feUow-pass- 
enger, who had been to Chicago with cattle 
to sell, said that many horses and hogs are 
raised in the central or southern part of Illi¬ 
nois—very many fine horse* of various breeds. 
Some of the horse farmers go to Europe near¬ 
ly every year, and Import stallions and brood 
mares. He said that one man near Blooming¬ 
ton had 150 of the latter. He himself had be- 
gim poor, but is now worth from five to six 
hundred thousand dollars. He was what a 
Bostonian would call a “clod-hopper,” but he 
had learned a “thing or two.” He conceded 
that Illinois farming was poor; but some 
Pennsylvania farmers had come into the State 
who farmed well and had good houses and fine 
barns. A Jerseyman had also come in near 
him—bought a run-down farm for $35 an 
acre; it was over-ruu with burrs; he got from 
his neighbors all the manure he could obtain 
for nothing; the average Illinois farmer 
doesn’t think it worth while to utilize his ma¬ 
nure (believes that his farm is rich enough 
without it), and bought more, and now his farm 
is worth $100per acre. Butter is worth but 10 
cents. There is little chills and fever now, 
but the country is fearfully infested with 
tramps. While the farmers do not properly 
attend to their business, idle men abound. He 
related a conference he had with a tramp who 
said to him that he couldn’t get work, and he 
thought he would steal and go to the peniten¬ 
tiary, The cattle man told him that he didn’t, 
want work, while the tramp persisted that he 
did. When asked if he would work for 50 
cents a day. the tramp said. “No. he ought to 
have $1,50,” and actually refused the man’s 
offer of $15 per month with board, claiming 
that a “fellow ought to have $25." And yet 
the people—always at least enough of them— 
feed these vagabouds and support this system 
of vagrancy, which has already become a 
most dangerous nuisance. If T wore sovereign, 
1 would fine every man, woman and child 
that fed tramps; and I would arrest and put 
at hard labor every man traversing the coun¬ 
try without visible “means of support.” 
There are some very comfortable-looking 
farm houses In Illiuois. with abundance of 
shade. The crowds of people at the stations 
—it was Saturday ufternoon—were well and 
fashionably dressed. Everywhere the Jersey 
waist has made its appearance. The young 
girls in particular, were, for the most part, 
very prettily attired, I noticed two young 
women mounted on flue horses which they sat 
well; but I wondered why they did not adopt 
the sensible English fashion of short riding 
habits, in lieu of their long skirts, and the Illi¬ 
nois roads are very muddy after a rain, and 
never very good, 1 should suppose from their 
unmade condition. During a large part of the 
year they must he Impassable. One of the 
greatest tnsks that lies before the American 
people, is the construction of good carriage 
highways. In Pennsylvania, the piked roadR 
built by William Perm are still in use. and it, 
Is characteristic of the English that wherever 
they rule and reign, there are good roads, 
while with Americans they are the last, things 
to receive attention. It, is to he hoped that 
some of the nice, bright-looking boys that T 
saw in Illinois will one day have the wisdom 
and energy to divert a generous part of the 
public moneys into building good roads for 
their State. 
As we sped through the State, we were un¬ 
decided about traversing an y part of the coun¬ 
try during the night. If we kept on our way, 
we should cross the Mississippi at, midnight, 
and as Anaximander and myself had both 
been upon it, we consulted the laddie. “Oh, 
yes,” he eagerly replied; “of course F want to 
see it: for I am interested in all the laryr riv 
enret.he Mississippi, the Missouri, the Amazon 
and the Congo I But I can see it annuwer 
time;” so we went on. But the early dawn 
soon came, ami we had a long stretch of Mis¬ 
souri before reaching Kansas City, where wo 
alighted, and where the Missouri River lay 
a curve of muddy water as wide as the Missis, 
sippi. Missouri is a groat State, and one of 
vast resources. The land is somewhat, rolling, 
fairly wooded, and corn looked better than in 
Illinois. The State has' suffered severely 
from outlawry; the proceedings of the noto¬ 
rious James Brothers, and the persistency 
with which some of the “best people” iu their 
country defended them, and still do, must long 
remain one of the Inexplicable things of Mis¬ 
souri history. 
Kansas City, 20 years old, and with 70,000 
inhabitants (I think they must register travel¬ 
ers passing through), is a marvelous place—a 
second Chicago. It is an immense railway 
center, and immense iu everything. Some of 
the business blocks areas fine as any in Phila¬ 
delphia. It has great meat-packing houses, 
grain elevators, and agricultural machinery 
depots. The railroad station is at the foot of 
a high bluff on which the city is built. While 
Kansas City is the great commercial center 
for Western Missouri, Kansas and New Mexi¬ 
co, and a place of wealth and progressiveness, 
it is in a very chaotic condition. The improve¬ 
ments being made, however, are of the most 
substantial character, and the city one day 
will become quite “tolerable.” As an index 
of what real estate brings iu this city, I may 
cite a one-acre lot that sold at auction the 
other day for $118,000. But I haveueverbeen 
in so large a town where so few flowers were 
to be seen. 
RURAL SPECIAL REPORTS. 
Connecticut, 
Leetes Island, New Haven Co., July 19.— 
Rye was much injured by frost; wheat was 
not. After the frost the great question was 
what to do with the potatoes. Old settlers 
said they would sprout, up and grow a mass of 
little potatoes; some were left to themselves; 
others were dug up and the ground was re¬ 
planted. Influenced by older men, T replant¬ 
ed some of the land, but, it was a mistake. The 
rest I ridged with a horse plow, and left them 
well buried. When they hroke into daylight 
the second time, they did it in good shape. 
Now they are the nicest, potatoes I know of. 
The vines come together where the rows are 
more than three feet apart. They are too 
large to work. They are Hebron. Blush and 
Burbank. Complaint is hoard from various 
sources that the hay crop is light. I do not 
notice that, it is so here; my own was heavier 
than last year. I think I took at the rate of 
four loads to the acre from upland thut has 
bad seven crops mown off It,in five years, with 
no fertilizer applied in that time; but no stock 
is allowed on it iu the Fall. G. w. L. 
Illinois. 
Lodkmia, Livingston Co.. July 13.—We 
had a very wet Spring, and Summer has 
been the same ro far. The crops look well, 
considering the bad weather. Winter wheat 
and rye are ripe. A good deal will go into the 
ground, as it, is so wet that, the crops cannot be 
taken car© of. Oats are promising; corn is 
looking good; it is more forward than it has 
been for several years at, this season; a good 
deal of it is in tassel. Early hay was all dam¬ 
aged and a good deal of it mined on account 
of the wet weather. Small fruits are abun¬ 
dant. Apples just an average crop. There 
will be no peaches; a good manv of the trees 
were killed by the weather last Winter. 
J. w. B. 
Indiana. 
Attica, Fountain Co.. July 13.—The season 
has been quite wet, excepting a week or two 
in Juno. Wheat is better than farmers look¬ 
ed for. Corn and oats very promising. Po¬ 
tatoes and garden-truck never better. Fruit 
is plentiful, but no peaches, The Rural New- 
Yorker Pea was early, t hough not earlier than 
others of the same class; but the pods were 
larger and better filled. 1 got nearly a quart 
of seed from 82 peas. The Rural Union Corn 
is over nine feet high and was in silk a week 
ago, beating anything around here. Oats til¬ 
lered immensely, hut the heads are not as Inrge 
as I expected. All blew down flat a few days 
ago. o. m. s. 
Iowa, 
Osage, Mitchell Co.—My White Elephant 
Potatoes are doing their very best. I planted 
33 by 33 feet of ground, three feet each way, 
132 hills, on sod plowed last, Fall. A better 
prospect no one could ask. The ground is 
completely covered with ft remarkably long 
growth of tope. Here the larger the tops, the 
better the yield. The Blush Potatoes are just 
splendid. High hopes are entertained for this 
new rival in the potato family. Thanks to the 
Rural New-Yorker for these two leading 
^titles. The Rural Hollyhock is spreading 
itself, making one of the finest, floral displays 
of nny one flower in my garden, If not in any 
garden. I gave the Garden Treasure seeds 
three successive plantings, and but tow of the 
seeds grew. The soil was most favorable for 
seeds to vegetate. L. s. c. 
Kan ana. 
Junction City, Davis Co., July 19.—Last 
week the Kansas farmers who had stood 
“grass-hoppers and drought,” were threaten¬ 
ing the newcomers with* ‘nocorn,” but during 
the past week we have been thoroughly 
soaked; corn which was curling a little, looks 
as thrifty as possible, and we will have as large 
a crop as we ever lmd. The wheat crop is 
in mens©, there being no unfavorable reports 
excepting from some fields that have been in 
wheat for a number of years, which had a 
great deal of cheat in them, and have turned 
out light. This, with reports of damage from 
the corn-root worm in some of the richest 
bottoms that have been cultivated continu¬ 
ously in corn for 20 years, gives our farmers 
warning, in the midst of what will prove the 
greatest crop year ever known in Kansas, that 
they must adopt a mixed system of husband 
ry and rotation of crops, if they wish perma¬ 
nent success, and cease depending oil the nat¬ 
ural fertility of their soil to carry them 
through in spite of all the ill usage to which 
it is subjected. Fruit trees set out last Spring 
have all done first-rute, with the exception of 
peaches, which were probably injured by the 
severe weather of last Winter while in the 
nursery. My Focklington ami Moore's Early 
Grape vines have made a fair growth. Pren¬ 
tiss is small and spindling. Jeffersou and 
Highland have done well, and Faith, of 
which I have but one vine, has made uearly as 
strong a growth as the Concord, sot at the 
same time, though it was a smaller vine. 
Wheat No. 2 is selling iu our market at 58 
cents. Hogs are worth about four cents. No 
corn or cattle being sold. c. H. m. 
Jlasnur linnet is, 
Agawam, Hampden Co. July 14.— The Rural 
Union Corn is doing finely, being nearly four 
