4884 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
chess. I showed it to biin at the time; have 
kept it till this Fall, and have shown it to 
many farmers, and some millers. Some 
thought it chess; others thought it imperfect 
wheat that would not grow. [ ventured to 
say that if it will grow, it will produce chess; 
but confess T did notthink it would grow, as I 
have been an unbeliever in the notion that 
wheat will produce chess. But this Fall I have 
planted if beside the Diehl-Mediterranean, and 
it is growing sure enough, j. r. l. 
Hancock, Wis. 
iifli) Crops. 
BRIGGS’S EARLY SWEET CORN. 
We give, at Fig. 408, an illustration of 
Briggs’s Early Sweet Corn, omitted by mis¬ 
take from the series of illustration® given 
with Dr. Sturtevaat’s articles on sweet corn. 
It was described, in paper No, VI., as a dis 
carded variety, often with pink tinged kernels 
and eight rowed. Its characteristics are appar¬ 
ently not yet fixed, as Ferry says, the color 
runs from light red to white; and the ears are 
given as 12 to t(J-rowed and as 10 to 14 inches 
long by rarious seed men. Average weight of 
100 ke uels, 271 grains; extremes in three 
sam- ,es. 222 and .Tit grains. It is described in 
connection with Amber Cream, that variety 
being derived from a cross between Moore’s 
Early Concord and Briggs’s Early Sweet 
Corn. 
POTASH AND NITROGENOUS FERTILIZERS FOR 
POTATOES. 
I am not at all surprised that the use of ni¬ 
trate of soda on potatoes in the Rural Experi¬ 
ment Ground caused the vines to die early, 
and that there were many small potatoes in 
the hill. On ground long used as a cow-pen, 
and therefore very rich, I planted some pota¬ 
toes, which produced immense vines aud many 
small tubers. Too much ammonia was the 
cause of the trouble in both cases. From my 
experience, 1 would infer that the largest po¬ 
tatoes are produced when the vines grow only 
moderately high and are few in the bill. This 
klud of growth, together with a yellowish- 
green color, is produced by the use of potash 
manures, with a moderate use of those con¬ 
taining nitrogen, c. b. 
Americus, Ga. 
- » ♦ « 
SCAB IN POTATOES.- 
Hereabouts we have concluded that the 
scab on potatoes is caused by a fungus, and 
that wire worms, bugs, and other insects will 
eat the fungus, more or less, and cause rough¬ 
ness on the skin of the potato. Here a brown¬ 
ish bug is the worst; wire-worms are scarce, 
F »T S 
Lake City, Minn. 
_ruon.cn Itnra 
PHELLODENDRON AMURENSE. 
SAMUEL PARSONS, JR. 
The form of this tree has not become famil¬ 
iar on the lawn. It belongs to a class of im¬ 
portations from Asia—Northern China—that 
have until recently been considered on trial 
even by those who have had most experience 
in their employment; and now that the be¬ 
havior of large trees of the Phellodendrou, 
through the vicissitudes of many Winters, has 
satisfactorily tested their hardiness, years will 
be required to secure its introduction to the 
public. It is somewhat difficult to describe 
this Phellodendron, for we have nothing 
among our familiar ornamental trees that 
closely resembles it. One thinks of the Ailan- 
tus, perhaps, and still more of some tree like 
Rhus or Sumach on first meeting a good-sized 
specimen of the Phellodendron. It is botaui- 
cally allied to the Prickly Ash or Zanthoxy- 
lum, and naturally looks somewhut like it. 
Its growth is tolerably rapid, especially while 
young. To convey the idea of Its habit in 
more explicit terms, we may say that on the 
lawn specimens of the Phellodendron should 
be set 20 feet apart, like Fringe Trees, white 
and purple, and the smaller-growing mag¬ 
nolias and oaks, instead of 50 or 00 feet apart, 
like the largest-growing elms, lindens, maples 
and oaks. The leaves are pinnate, as shown 
in Fig. 40.5, and have a graceful, waving 
character and cheerful, green tint. 
The growth of the stem is upright aud sym¬ 
metrical, and the bark of the branches has a 
pleasant, brownish-green tint, especially on 
young specimens. The leaves arc persistent 
in the Fall, and brilliant in hue. It forms, in 
fact, a noteworthy addition to our compara¬ 
tively limited list of trees, the gorgeous au¬ 
tumnal dyes of which have become celebrated 
the world over. The Phellodendron is, more¬ 
over, a deciduous tree, which is decidedly in 
its favor in this country of sudden changes, 
of hot suns and bleak Winters. As to its , 
longevity, I can say little as yet; but its habit ] 
in its own land would indicate that it was 
likely to prove a tree of relatively permanent 
value. Its appearance is likewise sufficiently 
peculiar to render it a marked feature on the 
lawn. 
- - Ml 
PHELLODENDRON AMURENSE AT THE RURAL 
GROUNDS. 
Two specimens of this were planted four 
years ago. They are now about nine feet 
ixfc Wm 
mi % 
V'-Vf ? 
j i \ 
mm 
ilBH 
A\\ r '-A V 
Phellodendron Amurense. Fig. 405. 
high, having the past Summer made a growth 
of over five feet. The main petiole is about 
one foot long, bearing 18 leaflets, which, 
at this time (Oct. 10), are of a decided yel¬ 
low front the margin to near the midrib, 
where they are a dark green, giving them 
the appearance of buing variegated rather 
than changed by maturity. The flowers 
are said to dioecious and inconspicuous. We 
should judge from our specimens that the 
tree would never make a. compact growth. 
The illustration (Fig. 405) is half the natural 
size. X 
•ftXis cel ItmeoMs. 
ONTARIO AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE 
AND EXPERIMENT STATION. 
[EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE.] 
The city of Guelph, Ontario, is situated 
in one of the finest farming regions of 
Canada. The fine houses and largo barns 
everywhere to be seen attest the wealth and 
thrift of the owners. A ‘'Yankee’’ particularly 
notices the large stable's utiil the preparations 
for win ter stock feeding. Attached tonearlyev- 
ery burn is a root cellar. This is quite often uu- 
dor a ’‘lean-to” on one side and extends the en¬ 
tire length of the barn, and is capable of stor¬ 
ing several thousand bushels, thus showing 
the great reliance Canadian fowlers place 
upon succulent food for fattening animals. 
There is no crop the loss of which is more sin¬ 
cerely lamented, or which occasions the farm¬ 
er so much trouble jn securing a substitute. 
Does his hay crop tail, he has usually a good 
straw crop, and by taking extra care of this 
and of his pea fodder, and by sowing an extra 
amount of fodder-corn, he gets along nicely, 
and scarcely notices his shortage. If, for any 
reason, his peas—which are the great fatten¬ 
ing crop of the Canadian farmer—are short, 
he can easily and cheaply supply their place 
by buying a few hundred bushels of West¬ 
ern corn. But if, for any reason, the root- 
crop is short, there is nothing which in the 
estimation of t he feeder, can supply its 
place. 8o at the gathering of the farmers 
on market days, or other occasions, the 
first subject of inquiry is, “IIow is the 
root crop'/’’ Guelph is particularly known 
as the home of Mr. Fred Stone, a man who 
has done much to popularize improved stock 
in Canada, by the importation and breeding 
of the best strains of horses, cattle aud sheep; 
he is also favorably known to many breeders 
in the States. 
About one-and-a quarter mile south of the 
city is located the Ontario Agricultural Col¬ 
lege aud Experimental Farm. The far mcon- 
faius 550 aerps, and was formerly the home of 
Mr. Stone, It is slightly rolling; the soil is 
mostly a strong clay loam; 400 acres are un¬ 
der cultivation, about 50 of which were in 
swedes and mangels. The College building is of 
stone, plainly built, and besides containing 
the necessary class, lecture aud library rooms- 
etc., it contains a kitchen and dining-room, 
and sufficient beds and study rooms to accom¬ 
modate 100 students, and for the past year it 
has failed to accomodate nearly all the stu¬ 
dents that sought admission. The College is 
under the presidency of Prof. James Mills, a 
man well liked by the students and the peo¬ 
ple, and who fills the position to the great ad¬ 
vantage of t he yoiiug men under his charge. 
Professor Wm. Brown is at the head of the 
Agricultural Department., aud has full control 
of the farm and t he practical agricultural edu¬ 
cation of the students. He is a uiuu thorough¬ 
ly competent, and has stood by the college 
through all its trials, and now greatly enjoys 
its success, and has succeeded greatly in 
popularizing a more scientific education for 
the farmers' boys; and while he is thoroughly 
scientific, he is a genial, common sort of man 
and makes himself acquainted with the farm 
ers and their needs. He is not afraid to give 
a farmer a good, hearty hand-shake, even 
though the hand should bo rough and horny 
with much hard labor. Each student is oblig¬ 
ed to work four, and is not allowed to work 
more than five hours each day, atid is paid by 
the hour, according to his faithfulness and 
efficiency; aud the expenses of attendance are 
so small that many students hero acquire a 
good education, and, after paying all expenses 
by their labor, have something left. Our 
wonder is that with such advantages the boys 
of Canadian farmers do uot demand admis¬ 
sion in such numbers as to compel the erection 
of buildings two or tbreo times as large. 
In live stock there are 10 breeds of cattle, 
10 of sheep, and two of swine, besides tuuny 
grades. These are kept for study, compari¬ 
son, and experiment. At suitable times the 
increase is sold at auction, aud Prof, Brown 
informed us that, by Tar the largest part come 
to the States. 
The barns were mostly on the farm when 
purchased, and though covering mueh ground 
and capable of accommodating a large amount 
of stock, they are not adapted to the increas¬ 
ing demands of the college and farm, and are 
to be replaced by a new pet on another ami 
more convenient site. Prof. Brown now has 
the matter under consideration and hopes to 
perfect [ilaiisof buildings that will bo models 
of comfort to the stock, convenience to the 
attendants, and economy in space and expense 
of erection. 
The whole farm is worked experimentally; 
f. i \ 
Briggs’s Eahly. Fig. 408. 
but a field of 24 acres is set aside for 
especial experimental work. This is divided 
into 180 plots, situated in 0 ranges across the 
field. Range 1, is devoted to the testing of 
newly-imported cereals; range 2, to testing 
the effects of nitrogen in three forms and in 
three ratios; range 3, to testing phosphoric 
acid in the same manner; range 4, contains 
pasture grasses and turnips, treated to those 
forms of manures; range 5, grows green fodder 
crops and varieties of grasses and clovers to 
ascertain their productiveness iu forage; range 
6, contains varieties of mangels treated with 
special fertilizers; range 8, is utilized in testing 
vurietias of peas both native anil imported; 
ranged, is occupied with winter grains aud the 
tree nurseries. The experiments in ranges 2 
and .8 are made, by agreement, cooperative 
with those of Prof. At water, of Massachusetts, 
to ascertain the relations and effects of nitro 
gen and phosphoric acid with tbo growth of 
various plants. In this field is a fine analyti¬ 
cal laboratory fully equipped, a rain gunge 
with au area of one thousandth of an acre, six 
lysimelers, eight ground thermometers, with 
their bulbs from one to eight, feet below the 
suriuce, and the usual meteorological instru¬ 
ments. 
The Horticultural Department contains au 
arboretum of 150 varieties of trees, a vineyard 
of 75 varieties of grapes, au orchard of 20 
acres, liuving 1.20 varieties of apples, 00 of 
pears, 80 of plums, und 40 of small Traits, be¬ 
sides the vegetable and flower gardens and 
propagating houses. While here testing vari¬ 
ous fruits aud plants for this part of Canada, 
the students become thoroughly conversant 
with their characteristics and manner of 
growth, and thu soil and training best suited 
to each, as well us with the mauner of propa¬ 
gation, etc.; in short, they become practical, 
intelligent fruit growers. In the barns the 
various breeds are carefully compared with 
each other, as milk, butter and meat produc¬ 
ers under like conditions. Besides this, a 
large number of grades are each year under 
experiment, to determine the comparative 
value of the different crosses, and also the 
value of different foods and combinations of 
the same for meat and milk production, 
there are two largo silos, oue containing 
fodder corn put in whole and closely packed; 
the other, the same cut very fine; in each is 
a self registering thermometer, having the 
bulb in the center. We noticed that iu the 
uncut corn marked K8 V , the other 95° F. 
Prof. Brown informed us that his experience 
in feeding silage had, so far, not been at all 
satisfactory, and that he continued it this 
year in hopes to get more favorable results 
he is so far decidedly of the opinion that it 
will pay the farmers of Canada, at least, 
much better to depend upon turnips and 
mangels for succulent food. He says thut 
while silage does sometimes largely increase 
the quantity of milk, ho has found no 
increase in the amount of butter made 
from a cow fed a grain ration with 
silage, over that from the same cow fed 
the same grain ration with an amount of fod¬ 
der equivalent to the silage ration. He said 
thut he lmd tried very hard to show that peas 
Canada’s great stock food—were us valuable 
as a fattening ration, as Indian corn; but he 
must admit, even at the expense of national 
pride, that the golden gralu of the West is far 
ahead iu the scale of profit; that while ainix- 
ture of the two is better than either, yet if 
one must lie used alone, corn is much superior. 
The cattle arc also used as object lessons, iu 
the classes; for instance, an animal Is brought 
into the class-room, which is properly ar¬ 
ranged, and a student Is culled upon to ex¬ 
amine aud point out its distinctive characteris¬ 
tics and excellencies or defleiences; or it may 
be a lat animal, and he is expected to judge 
of it as such, giving a reason for his opinions, 
and these opinions are subject to criticism and 
review. At other times sick or lame animals 
are brought before the veterinary class aud 
used to illustrate such points as the teacher 
desires to impress upon the class. We near¬ 
ly forgot to mention that a creamery had just 
been erected and supplied with the most mod¬ 
ern and improved machinery, in which the 
milk produced on the farm, and that, of the 
fai niers iu the neighborhood, will be manu¬ 
factured into butter aud cheese, while at the 
same time the students will be taught prac¬ 
tical lessons in dairy husbandry. 
Altogether, wo were highly pleased with 
the clean, tidy appearance, and the thorough 
business manner which pervaded every depart¬ 
ment, and were glad to learn that most of 
those who have been students here, are now 
engaged in practical agriculture,on their own, 
or their parents’ farms, or as managers of 
farms for wi althy people. We thiuk Canadian 
farmers are very neglectful of their owu in¬ 
terests, since they do uot,by thousands visit the 
farm, and carefully study the lessons everyone 
might soea/jily find fitted to his own case. We 
firmly believe that the farmers of Canada in 
the next generation, will clearly show the 
good results of the instructions now being 
given Canadian youth. 
- -> » » 
CHINAMEN IN CALIFORNIA. 
In looking over the recent numbers of the 
Rural, I find several letters from an Eastern 
lady who is visiting on the Coast. I’Jeaseallow 
me to correct some of her statements in regard 
to the Chinese, whom she praises as clean and 
willing workers. Now, had she taken the pains 
to visit Chinatown, in San Francisco, or in 
any of the towns and cities on the Coast, ska 
