734 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
she detested.” It was funny, I thought, that 
one should so thrive bodily while suffering so 
mentally. 
The chief discomforts of the town were dust, 
an abundance of mosquitos, and some fleas: 
the latter, I judge, are met with everywhere 
on this coast, but are less annoying than I 
found them to be in Italy 10 years ago. Fish¬ 
ing is an endless pastime, and salmon, salmon 
trout, black bass, smelts, and various other 
kinds of flsh are abundant and very cheap. 
Venison is plentiful, and other game should 
be. Most of the butter comes from Califor¬ 
nia. Milk is good, and sells for 10 cents a 
quart. Apples, plums, pears, and garden vege¬ 
tables are abundant. Peaches aud grapes grow 
finely in the eastern part of the State, where 
the Winters are cold and the Summers hot 
The priucipal agricultural lands near here lie 
in the Puyallup Valiev, where bops are raised 
iu large quantities, ami the Indians are com¬ 
ing in from various places ou the Sound and 
fr< )in even so far north as Alaska, to pick 
them I shall visit this valley, after which 1 
can speak of it more intelligently. Some of 
these Indians are so fllthy aud degraded as 
scarcely to be looked at for a moment. I saw 
one squaw clean the dirty face of her child as 
a cat performs the toilet of her kitten But 
there are others who arc rather pleasant to 
see; they look tidy, healthy and happy, and 
the young women show some taste aud coquet 
ry in their dress. Rarely one of them speaks oi 
understands a word of English. They make 
beautiful sliver bracelets ontof coin; cover bot¬ 
tles with bright-colored wicker-work, weave 
mats, and baskets, which they sell at very 
reasonable prices. In hop picking, the women 
do the picking, receiving one dollar a 
box, while the men carry the boxes. 
A squaw will pick from one to two boxes a 
day. They have a great aversion to the 
Chinese,aud will not work with them. Their 
“dugouts” are beautifully shaped boats, and 
large enough usually to carry a largo family 
with ull t heir baggage—blankets, mats, wares 
for sale, dried provisions, pots aud pans, etc. 
Their family life seems to be entirely United, 
the very old women and men as well as the 
children coming on the 60 long sea journeys. 
They have no comforts, from the standard of 
civilization, but their life is iu large part, 
passed free and w ithout care. The laddie, w ho 
has read and re-read Longfellow's “Hiawatha” 
many times, never tires of visiting their 
camps, seeing their painted faces, and watch¬ 
ing them seated about their camp Area kindled 
on the beach. But he says he never finds 
Hiawatha among them. 
Iowa. 
Cherokee, Cherokee Co., Oct. 20.—We had 
our first swooping frost last night, and the 
tqpiatoes show the effects of freezing for the 
first time. September and October to date 
have been very warm. Corn is very good, 
but not an extraordinary crop, and busking 
has commenced. Potatoes are not a very good 
crop. E - w - 
Kansas 
Winfield, Cowley Co., Oct. 22.— Last 
night’s was our first frost. The crops of corn 
and grain were good, and the fall sowing of 
wheat looks splendid. E. E. v. 
Maryland. 
Westover, Somerset Co., Oct. 27.—The 
drought continued here from Aug. 31 to Oct. 
22; od the night of the 22 hist, we had u light 
rain—enough to do some good in softening the 
lumps whore farmers were tryiDg to get land 
in order for wheat. Most wheat is now in 
the ground; another week will about finish. 
Some fields that have been sown three or four 
weeks, are up and looking quite green, 
though how the seed could sprout during the 
dry weather is almost a wonder. Owing to 
the low price of wheat Ihe past season, many 
of our farmers have not. used any commercial 
fertilizers ou this Fall’s sowing. Apparently 
as large an acreage is being sown as is former 
years. Weather quite cool; nights very cool, 
with much wind. 8. c. s. 
Mnssncbusert*. 
Cummington, Hampshire Co., Oct. 26.— 
Although we had a very dry season, we had 
good crops with the exception of hay, which 
was about half -a crop. Corn is especially 
good. Apples abundant, and of good quality. 
Other fruits were cut off by Spring frosts. 
J. w. G. 
Nebraska. 
Valentine Station, Antelope Co., Oct. 17. 
—I have 320 acres of as fine laud as Nebraska 
affords, 50 miles west of this place, and on it 
I intend to try my fortune. I expect to grow 
small fruits, and raise pure bred hogs and 
fancy poultry. I subscribed for the Rural 
that I might learn the best varieties of small 
fruits, and how to grow them before I com¬ 
menced; and lean truly say my money has 
not been thrown away, aud 1 am now very 
deeply interested. Of course, our country is 
raw prairie; but what proves a success in old 
soils is surely worthy of our consideration. 
Last April there was not a settler in the region 
of which I write; now almost every section 
of tillable land is taken by a very energetic, 
go ahead set of people, and not by a set of 
speculating rovers. Everything tried on sod 
has proved a success beyond expectation. I 
have gathered a host of tree seeds, which I 
will plant this month, hoping to grow enough 
to supply some of my neighbors, when the 
time comes to plant tree claims. I am two 
miles from Gordon, the metropolis of Ante¬ 
lope County, now a village with two general 
stores. c. w. m c q. 
Oregon. 
Salem. Marion Co., Oct. IS.—Crops in this 
“webfoot” region have been tbe best raised 
in years; thirty ami forty bushels per acre 
have been no uncommon yields for wheat, and 
I have heard in oneinstunce where it made a 
yield of 00 bushels. Oats have yielded from 
80 to 90 bmhels in some cases. Prices are very 
low this year wheat, No. 1, 55 cents; No. 2, 
50 to 52)-£ c.; oats, 20 to 25 c.; potatoes, 15 to 
20 e. ; apples, 15 to 20 c. F. c. d. 
Vermont* 
Shelburne, Chittenden Co., Oct. 23d — Ap¬ 
ples and apple pickiug are the principal items 
of interest with our farmers at present. As 
this is not the bearing year for this section, 
the crop will be comparatively small. No 
regular price for winter fruit has as yet been 
established. Buyers are confident, or appear to 
be that the best grades of winter fruit will not 
sell for more than $1.60 per barrel. Some grow¬ 
ers will bold theirs rather than sell for this 
price, and ore in hopes that the price will rise to 
$2.50 per barrel. Fall apples have been low 
and the sales dull, prices ranging from 50 
cents to $1.50 per barrel, according to quality 
and variety. At present, the outlook is un¬ 
settled, but prices will probably rule lower 
than for the past two years. w. h. r. 
Wisconsin, 
Plover, Portage Co., Oct. 24.—Crops in 
this section are very good. Wheat, 12 to 25 
bushels; oats. 15 to 50; rye, 10 to 20; corn is 
very good; hay, lighter than usual; clover 
seed badly hurt by the floods of rain we have 
had for a month past. No l'ros to damage 
anything until October 8th. c. s. 
West Rokkndalk, Fond duLac Co.,Oct. 23. 
—We have had excellent crops here this sea¬ 
son. Bpring wheat yielded 18 to 28 bushel to 
the acre; oats, 40 to06 ; barley, 30 to 50. Corn 
is fine—the best for the past three year*. All 
are busy husking. Potatoes are also good. 
Stock is iu good demand, and at fair prices. 
I have sold eight steers—a Short horn and 
Devon cross, average weight 1,035 pounds— 
at $4 75 per ewt. My next neighbor on the 
same day sold 15 head of common stock, aver¬ 
aging 1.060 pounds, at $45, per head. These 
15 steers had a better range on tame pasture, 
whih- the eight were sold off wild marsh pas¬ 
ture; but high-grade steers pay best. Mine 
were two and three-year-old steers; while my 
neighbors were three and four-year-olds. 
J. K. Y. 
RURAL SEED REPORTS. 
Canada. 
East Williamsburg. Out., Oct. 25.—My 
Rural New-Yorker Pea was fit for tbe 
table the middle of June, long hafore any of 
my neighbors thought of having auy; but 
the entire crop was saved for seed. Tbe Hors 
ford'bore well, bu* was later. The Rural 
corn was fine; it stood from nine to thirteen 
feet high, and gave me a bushel and a half of 
finely matured ears, with some of which I could 
knock a decent man down. I am much 
pleased with it. Tbe tomatoes were tine, and 
we had some fine flowers. My largest White 
Elephant weighed 2% pounds. I like the Pride 
of the North better than the Learning Corn, 
and the Welcome better than the Black 
Champion Oats. The latter are too late; per¬ 
haps they would do better sown in the Fall. 
H. W. M. 
Low, Ontario, Oct. 27.—The Rural seeds 
were a splendid gift to all farmers and gar¬ 
deners. The R. N.-Y. Pens were excellent, 
and so were the tomatoes, which yielded mor.e 
than double the usual crop. Tbe Garden 
Treasures were by all means a treasure in 
themselves. We had a very dry season, so 
that our hay and straw were short; but we 
had splendid crops of grain aud potatoes. 
J. S. 
8t. Giles. Lothiniere Co., Province of 
Quebec.—I believe from the appearance of 
the R. N.-Y. Pea when growing that it will be 
quite an acquisition. It is the earliest pea 
here, and very productive. My two vines of 
Horsford’s gave me 83 finer peas than those 
sent me, so that I am all right tor next year. 
This pea is at least two weeks later than the 
R, N.-Y., but it is quite prolific. 1 shall have 
some very heavy and bright oats; no sign of 
rust with me, and no lodging. I believe it is 
a good oat for rich ground sown somewhat 
thickly. w - H - T - 
Colorado. 
Table Rook, El Paso Co.—The Black 
Champion Oats did splendidly; they stood, on 
an average, five feet high, and thrashed out 
16)4 pounds. I sowed the new rye and wheat 
in Augmt. and now I have two rows of rye, 
each 12 rods long, and one of wheat the same 
length. Some of the stools are 12 inches iu 
diameter; I never saw fall grain look better. 
Tbe Garden Treasures were a great success 
for this high altitude. The Rural has paid 
me many times over. My White Washing¬ 
ton Oats are good, and what seed I sold 
through the country here, has yielded better 
than any other kind. The White Elephants 
are a perfect success with me. Have raised 
this year about 60,000 pounds. They have 
doue equally well for others that have bought 
seed of pie. Potatoes are from GO cents to 
$1 per cwt.; oats, $1.20 to $1.50; wheat, 75 
cents; rye, 75 cents. Crops generally good in 
this vicinity. j. e. k. 
Illinois. 
Peoria, Peoria Co., Oct. 17.—The Rural 
tomatoes are all that could be desired. We 
have had them on table every day since July 
15, and there are bushels of them going to 
waste now. w, e. e. 
Iowa. 
Wirt, Union Springs, Ringgold Co., Oct. 
80.—We do not grow either wheat oi rye here, 
as the chinch bugs always destroy both, con¬ 
sequently we do not feel much interest in 
either crop. I f the Rural could devise some 
method or destroying chinch bugs, the far 
mors of this county would be everlastingly 
grateful. Wheat growing has been almost 
entirely abandoned on this account. Our 
crops have been fair this season. Oats rather 
a light crop, yielding from 25 to 40 bushels 
per aero. Hay not so heavy as last year. 
Corn the best we have had in four years; the 
quality is excellent, but the yield per acre will 
not average more than 35 bushels. Vegeta- 
ables of all descriptions are plentiful. Fruit 
crops were good. Oats are 15 cents per bushel; 
corn, 20 cents; potatoes, 13 cents; apples 
from 20 to 40 cents. Stock of all descriptions 
are high. Calves are from $12 to $15 per 
head; fat.hogs, from 4 to 4)4 cents per pound; 
steers, from $4 to $4}{ per cwt. Nearly all 
the grain grown in this county is consumed 
here in feeding stock,as it is tbe only thing that 
pays. There is not a manufacturing estab¬ 
lishment in the county. J. D. 
Kansas. 
Winfield, Cowley Co., Oct. 22.—We 
left our old home too early in the season to 
plant our Garden Treasures, but we will keep 
them to put with those that will come next 
season. We think you have been doing the 
Good Samaritan’s part in sending the seeds 
to farmers, their wives and children. I sowed 
the rye and wheat this Fall; they came up 
beautifully; but the grass-hoppers ate the 
herbage clean. We hope to begin a new era 
in tbis neighborhood, by induciog tbe farmers 
to try the Rural New-Yorker, which we 
consider the farmer’s best friend. K. K. 
[We shall appreciate the kindness and hope 
for you abundant success.—E ds.] 
Maryland. 
Westover, Somerset Co , Oct. 20.—I bad 
321 plants from the Rural Tomato seed. They 
all grew finely. I picked the first bushel July 
7, and shipped them to New York in a bushel 
crate. They sold for $3.50; not, $2.90. 1 
subsequently shipped aud sold from them 2G 
bushels—27 in all. The total net proceeds, ull 
expenses deducted, including cost of crates, 
was $20,02. and 1 think I can afford to take 
the Rural another year. Tbe tomatoes were 
shipped in bushel crates, and sold in New 
York and Wilmington markets. Besides this, 
I gave away 4V* bushels, used many upon our 
table, and from some of tbe very best saved a 
quart or more of seed, w'hieh 1 would not take 
the price of the Rural for. I used common 
stable manure under the plants at plauting; 
after they had started to grow 1 applied two 
handfuls of wood ashes to each hill, and cul¬ 
tivated it in. I gave them au ordinary culti¬ 
vation—no staking or trellises. The toma¬ 
toes were fine, with the exception of a very 
few hills, which were rough and inferior. 
s. c. SMITH. 
Nebraskn. 
Macon, Franklin Co., Neb,—The Blush Po¬ 
tatoes did finely. I had ten bushels. The 
peas were very good; I saved them all for 
seed, Tbe Garden Treasures were fine. 
The Black Champion Oats yielded one peck. 
The tomatoes are grand and are bearing yet; 
they are of tbe best quality I ever saw. The 
wheat and rye I have sowed this Fall; both 
are looking well. w. G. G. 
New Jersey. 
Hilton, Essex Co.—I notice that the Rural 
Union Corn, as a general thing, gives satis¬ 
faction; yet it is strange that from the same 
seed the results should be so different in differ¬ 
ent localities ; though we had the worst 
August ever known in this section, I had it 
four feet high on June 10. and ripe on Aug. 
25; planted May 25, it was dry enough to 
grind by the middle of Sept.; and some plant¬ 
ed the first of July, was ripe and fit for seed 
on Oct. 1. w. e. m. 
[No variety of corn does equally well 
everywhere; that is why we hope our sub¬ 
scribers will each tiy and see what he can 
breed out of our cross-bred seeds which we 
shall send out.— Eds.] 
New York. 
Caledonia, October 13.—My Rural Union 
Corn grew ten feet high; some stalks have 
two ears. Tbe Black Champion Oat-s did not 
ripen. The peas did splendidly. The R. N.-Y. 
Pea was the earlier ; but Hen-ford’s was 
more prolific. The Rural tomatoes were good 
In quantity and quality. The flower seeds were 
a partial succees. I will save all my seed for 
another year. d. j. c. 
Queens, Queens Co , L. I.—The tomato 
seed sent out in the Rural’s last Free Seed 
Distribution proves to be very fine indeed. 
From the packet sent me I raised over 200 
plants, and upon fruiting I find them to be a 
very fine mixture, embracing all the older 
sorts as well as many of our improved later 
varieties. From those plants I selected a 
doz^n fruits, and exhibited them at the Sep¬ 
tember meeting of the New York Horticul¬ 
tural Society, and was awarded the first pre¬ 
mium. This was doing well, as the vines 
received little care beyond keeping them free 
from weeds. Tomatoes have done well here 
this season, and there has been little or no 
rot. C. E. p. 
Oregon. 
Oregon City, Clackamas Co., Oct. 17.—We 
prize the Rural seeds very highly. From 
the Black Champion Oats wo got ono-tbird of 
a bushel of very heavy aud nice grain. On 
the 8th of last March I sowed the Thousand¬ 
fold live anil Diehl-Mediterranean Wheat. I 
supposed them to be winter varieties [they 
were— Eds.]; but knowing oar climate here, 
I sowed them, and in September cut some of 
the rye, and to-day cut some more, and if the 
rains would bold off another month I would 
have another cutting. The same has been 
the case with the wheat. I have about one 
quart of rye that is nice and beats the seed, 
and about a teacupful of nice wheat. I 
sowed both kinds to day. The peas did first- 
rate. I saved all for seed. All other seeds 
did well. L. H. A. 
Pennayli a., ia. 
Hope Church, Allegheny Co.—The Black 
Champion Oats were planted April 15th in 
rows eight inches apart ami four inches apart 
in the rows. As I have not tbrnsbed them yet, 
I cannot report as to their yield; but I find 
them rather late. Tbe tomatoes were excel¬ 
lent—the finest I ever saw. The Rural Peas 
were sown on May 3. The Rural New-Yorker 
is very earlv and prolific. Although Hors¬ 
ford’s Market Garden is somewhat later, I 
think it much superior. As to their edible 
qualities, I am unable to report, as I have 
saved all for seed. The Garden Treasures were 
super-excellent. e. f. s. 
Merry all, Bradford Co.,—I take a great 
deal of pleasure in reading the Rural. The 
last Free Seed Distribution was quite valuable. 
The peas were excellent bearers; I saved all 
for seed. The tomatoes were splendid. I think 
the corn will be a fine variety for this locality. 
The oats very prolific, but late. The Blush 
Potatoes yielded well. J. T. c. 
West Virginia. 
Raleigh, C. H.. Wake Co.—The flower 
seeds gave satisfaction ; there were some 
beautiful specimens. The tomatoes were 
especially nice—the finest we ever raised. 
The peas were quite early; alt are saved for 
seed. I have three objections to the corn, as 
a field crop; the cob is too large; the grains 
are too shallow, aud the ears are too small, 
and it is not quite as early as our old variety. 
I had bad luck with the oats; I sowed them 
too thick, they tillered so much. The wheat 
and rye were sowed this Fall. T. s. 
Wisconsin. 
Lynxville, Crawford Co.—The Rural to¬ 
matoes are splendid—the nicest I have ever 
seen. The Garden Treasures are beauties. 
The Black Champion Oats rusted so badly that 
they failed to fill out, so I did not cut them. 
The Diehl-Mediterranean Wheat aud the rye I 
sowed this Fall; both look nice now. w. d. 
Plover, Portage Co.—The Rural Corn is 
the first dent corn I ever got that I could 
plant on May 3d and have it all ready to cut 
up on September 1st. 1 would not take $10 
for tbe seed I have raised, if 1 could not get 
more. Tbe peas of both kinds are very good, 
indeed, Of course, we did not eat what we 
ra i se< j_they are too valuable. Tbe tomatoes 
did not succeed very well tbis year. The 
Rural oats would not grow to perfection with 
me. The Rural wheat and rye are sown 
and are now four inches high. c. u. 
