768 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
THE 
RURAL NtW'YORKLR. 
4 National Journal for Country and HuUurDun llo.ne 
Conducted by 
h. 8. CABMAN, 
J. B. WOODWARD, 
Associate. 
Address 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER, 
No. 84 Park Row, New York. 
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15. 1884. 
NoW r , SUBSCRIBERS, for the RURAL 
campaign of 1884-5, let us see what we, 
with your kind assistance, can do. 
Last week’s R. N.-Y. contained a sup¬ 
plement of 16 pages. If any of our 
readers did not receive it, let them advise 
Letters to E. 8. Carman, if prompt 
answers be desired, should be addressed 
to River Edge, Bergen County, N. J. 
Letters to J. 8. Woodward, should be 
addressed to this office. 
Rural New- Yorker pouters are now ready. 
They wilt be. ml to all of our subscribers 
without, application. All others who see 
th is not ire are requested to apply for them 
at once. 
-- 
Any of our friends who desire that we 
should send them specimen copies of the 
Rural Nkw-Yokkk have only to send us, 
by postal card or letter, a list of such 
names. We will gladly mail the copies at 
once without charge. This may aid our 
friends in securing subscriptions. 
The Rural contest for the biggest 
potato is closed. The prize-taker sent 
us a box of potatoes which in size Himply 
astounded us and every one else that has 
seen them. But we need not anticipate. 
Drawings are being made of these giants, 
and will, with some of the reports, be 
published in afewweeks. 
The Rural New-Yorker does not sell 
any of its premiums. If readers wish to 
purchase auy of the articles found in its 
premium lists, they must apply to the 
manufacturers. We have absolutely noth¬ 
ing to sell, and are not interested in the 
sale of anything except the Rural New- 
Yorker. It is not a trade journal. 
To Wealthy Readers.— Who will be 
the first to subscribe for 5,000 KuralB 
to be scut to hard-working farmers of 
limited means as Christmas presents? 
There may be showier ways of displaying 
wealth; but we doubt if in a quiet, un¬ 
ostentatious manner, the money could be 
more judiciously expended. There are 
ways, and ways, of being benevolent. 
Prof. J. L. Budd, of the Iowa Ag. 
College, will furnish the Rural with a 
series of articles on iroti-elad fruits. 
Those of our readers wholiveinthe “Cold 
Noith” will prize them. The results of 
his investigations in Russia and his exper¬ 
iments on the eollege grounds, will be 
presented to our readers, and the articles 
will commence in a few weeks. 
Remember this, that the gifts men¬ 
tion! din our supplement “For Subscrib¬ 
ers Only,” will go to our subscribers who 
send us the largest, clubs— NO matter 
HOW SMALL THEY MAY BK. When yOU 
send subscriptions, state that you are 
working for the Presents to Subscrib¬ 
ers, that w e may keep an accurate ac¬ 
count. These presents go to new as well 
as to old subscribers, for clubs. 
We are uow putting up the Prince of 
Wales Peas for our subscribers. They 
are a splendid lot, aud we have yet to see 
a weevil hole. It will be remembered 
that the “Rural New-Yorker” Peas were 
badly infested. Our Carter's Stratagem 
Peas come from England, and we do not 
fear weevils in them. We are fairly con¬ 
fident that. Rural readers will be delight¬ 
ed with these two kinds of peas. There 
is no doubt about this, if they will grow 
and yield as well for them as they have 
grown and yielded at the Rural Grounds. 
Nobody knows whether the Kieffer 
Pear is a hybrid or not. Nobody has a 
right to assume that it is. In the absence 
of proof to the contrary, we venture to 
ex]tress our belief that it is not a hybrid 
(crossbreed is the word) at all. We have 
before ua a “Mikado” Pear—one of the 
Japan or Chinese varieties. It looks like 
the Kieffer in shape, and the quality is 
about as good. It is enough to make all 
good, true jmmologistB hang their heads 
in shame,ang<r or both, (hatunscrupulous 
nurserymen will say just about anything, 
to insure a ready sale for the new fruits m 
which they are pleased to invest. Thou¬ 
sands of Northern people will have occa¬ 
sion to feel sorry that they purchased the 
Kieffer Pear. 
Our main crop of corn, grown upon the 
Long Island farm of the Rural, the past 
season, was the Chester Co. Mammoth, 
and the yield would have been very 
heavy, had the stand been good. This 
variety of corn is at least a week earlier 
now than when we began to plant it five 
or six years ago. The ears average very 
large and heavy; but they are borne too 
high on stalks which themselves are too 
tall and too thick. Another objection to 
the Chester is that ihc cobs are too large. 
The ears do not cure quickly and they 
shrink astonishingly. The great yields 
which we almost always get from this 
variety, are tlic only excuse we can offer 
for continuing its cultivation. It seems 
especially well adapted to our soil and 
situation. 
When we are spending so much time 
in looking after the welfare of our stock 
and striving to have each generation a 
little better than its ancestors, are we not 
a little too liable to forget that, in tlic 
great economy of nature, our children arc 
our offspring, and we should be much 
more anxious to make them a great im¬ 
provement on ourselves? Do wo not too 
often, in our desire to realize all we 
can from their labor, lose sight, of the tact 
that the most important thing is to fully 
develop their minds, to make them our 
worthy successors? They are our heirs, 
not our servants, aud should not be treated 
as servants. Our constant aim should be 
to awaken, develop and improve their 
minds; to make them more observant, 
more thoughtful, and in every way better 
tliau ourselves. Oh, the wonderful possi 
bridles hidden away in those undeveloped 
men and women, and the responsibility 
that rests upon us as parents! IIow 
many fully realize it ? 
-♦ »♦- 
A Strong Argument: —“ Take the 
Rural New-Yorker one year , my friend. 
If you do not like it, 1 will pay for it.” 
Really, don’t you think you are safe in 
making the offer to right-minded, pro¬ 
gressive neighbors? Try it. We have a 
mind to say that, if the “neighbors,” so 
induced to read the Rural for one year , 
arc unwilling to p-iy for it, wb will re¬ 
fund the money to our subscribers who 
send us the names. The conviction is 
firm upon us that the R. N.-Y. is worth 
far more to good farmers than its cost, 
and that if they could be induced to read it 
for a year , they would never rest content 
without it. 
Another good way is to give them a 
copy every week for several weeks, and 
then ask them if they will not subscribe. 
We will gladly furnish the copies for this 
purpose without charge. Give them the 
supplement containing the Free Seed Dis¬ 
tribution aud gifts to subscribers. Let 
them know the liberal, unselfish manner 
in which the paper is conducted. 
--- 
“ Fat in December, strong in March,” 
is a maxim that should be painted in 
large letters over the door of every sheep- 
house, The practice is altogether too 
common of letting sheep run on the pas¬ 
tures without, extra food till the snow gets 
so deep that they can no longer secure a 
scanty living. The first heavy freeze so 
injures the grass that it has but little nu¬ 
tritive value, aud unless additional food 
is given; the sheep will at once begin to 
lose flesh; and if compelled to live on 
what they pick, will get quite thin before 
severe cold weather. Tins is about the 
most foolish thing the farmer can do, for 
when they are once in this condition, it is 
very hard to arrest the'downward course. 
It is the result of this unwise practice 
that causes the great loss among the 
flocks towards Spring, particularly among 
the younger sheep, which is so often at¬ 
tributed "to “grub in the head.” Every 
sheep-keeper should have the facilities, 
and on the approach of bard freezes 
should commence to feed daily a little 
hay or grain. The necessary outlay will 
be money well invested. 
i - - — " 
For many years we have clubbed with 
the Inter-Ocean and Detroit Free Press 
and Household. We deem them to be the 
two best weekly newspapers published in 
America, aud they are just as good for 
the East as for the West. The Inter- 
Ocean has always sent us more subscrib¬ 
ers than we have sent to it, and we desire 
to change this the present subscription 
season in appreciation of the friendliness 
which that journal and its accomplished 
publisher, Mr. William Penn Nixon, 
have always shown towards the Rural. 
The Inter-Ocean is certainly the gTeat 
family newspaper of this country, 
and in gathering news, both American 
and foreign (we have nothing to do with 
its political proclivities) is scarcely equal¬ 
ed by any other weekly of its class. Those 
of our readers who subscribe for weekly 
newspapers (and all should) will do well 
to try the Inter-Ocean for one year. 
Whether they subscribe for it or for the 
Free Press and Household, or both, in 
connection with the R. N. Y., we would 
thank them to subscribe through us. We 
promise prom pit and careful attention to 
their orders. Our Seed Distribution will 
be sent, without application, to subscribers 
of the Rural with ether the Inter-Ocean 
or Free Press. 
ABUSES AT FAIRS. 
Most of the fairs have now been held, 
and the Rural has been represented at a 
large number, aud we are sorry to say 
that while none were entirely free from 
objectionable features, they have, with 
three or four exceptions, been so conduct¬ 
ed as to be a disgrace to the managers 
and a curse to the communities in which 
they have been held. The great central 
idea has seemed to be,to get all the money 
possible. No matter how fraudulent, 
demoializing, degrading or corrupting 
the thing seeking admission has been, if 
the proprietors were only willing to pay 
freely for the privilege, they have been 
permitted upon the grounds, and been 
usually allowed to locate in the choicest 
positions, and there ply their nefarious 
trades,entirely unmolested by the officers, 
managers or police. The fairs, as now 
conducted, are the most pernicious of all 
influences at work to ruin our people,and 
unless changed and purified, or abandoned, 
will result in exerting a most powerful 
influence to corrupt the morals of our 
sons, our daughters—indeed, of the na¬ 
tion. We have not time or space at 
present to enter into this matter as it 
deserves; but we cannot refrain from 
calling attention to it, aud asking far¬ 
mers and decent people of other callings 
to carefully consider aud talk it over with 
their neighbors, and resolve that, w hen 
the annual meetings come, they will see 
to it that men are put into control who 
will show some regard for the honesty, 
morality and decency of the young. 
The future of this nation rests with 
our hoys and girls, and we cannot afford 
to see them eoriupted, and the Rural 
will never reuse its agitation of this sub¬ 
ject till our faii-s are purified and made 
unobjectionable. Who will aid iu the 
good work?_ 
AN EARNEST INVITATION. 
Come one, come all and join in in¬ 
creasing the R. N.-Y.’s circulation for 
1885. How can we help you? Let us 
know and we will gladly do it. In these 
days of 25 -cent, farm papers, many severely- 
economical people may deem $2.00 a high 
price. But the cheap papers do not con¬ 
duct experiments; they do not bother 
over new’ and valuable seeds, and have 
the care and expense of putting them up 
and distributing them; they do not pay 
artists for original engravings; they cau 
not very well present a list of over 600 
contributors annually,or favor their read¬ 
ers with answers to 10,000 questions an¬ 
nually. Many of them, moreover, are in¬ 
terested in ihc* sale of books, live-stock, 
implements, land or something of the 
Kind, which being freely advertised in 
their columns, add largely to their income 
and profits. Besides, they visit you but 
once a month,while many of them are not 
over half the size of the R. N.-Y. As a 
matter of fact, we can not publish the 
Rural for less than $2.00 a year without 
impairing its present excellence, and we 
would give up its publication lather than 
do that. What we want is to increase its 
circulation, which would enable us to im¬ 
prove it accordingly. The circulation of 
the R. N.-Y. has'increased every year 
during its present management (or since 
it has been The Rural New-Yorker) 
and our readers are witnesses whether or 
not wc have increased its value and the 
cost of its publication proportionately. 
We want belter farm papers; those that 
are nut more devoted to their advertising 
patrons than they are to their subscribers. 
We can not get' them by lowering the 
price, which is merely a bid for a wider 
circulation to he supported chiefly by the 
income from advertisements. We would 
like in the strictest sense to choose our ad¬ 
vertisements, and to devote ourselves body 
and soul to the true interests of agricul¬ 
ture—and so, we ask our subscribers to 
help the good cause, and we offer them 
nearly $3,000 worth of valuable presents 
as a compensation for such work. Now-, 
come! _ 
THE RURAL “RAISING.” 
Of all people in the world fanners are 
the most friendly neighbors and ready to 
assist each other, and much of the im¬ 
provement of the country is due to the 
cooperative w*ork of fanners at “bees,” 
“raisings,” etc. Many years ago, the 
houses of the people were mostly made of 
“logs”—the trunks of the abundant 
forest trees cut to proper lengths, and 
placed upon each Other in piroper form 
by the “people round about,” who came 
to the “raising” and made it the source of 
much social intercourse, and even enjoy¬ 
ment. What was far beyond the ability of 
the unaided individual to perform, was 
but play to the host of willing hearts and 
strong arms always ready to gather ami 
lend a hand. It was always ft source of 
congratulation when one had outgrown 
the old house and needed to “put on an 
addition.” 
Well, kind friends, we need “an addi¬ 
tion” to our house; in fact, we wish to 
double its size. We know it can be done, 
and wc feel we can make good use of 
the additional room; but we know wc 
cannot do this “job” alone, and go 
have decided to make sn old-fashioned 
“raising,” and ask all our friends to take 
hold and “give us a lift.” The work 
that would be entirely too much for us 
alone, will, with such a host of friends 
as we have, and such willing friends hs 
their kind letters lead us to believe them, 
be a mere afternoon’s pastime. Let us 
have a “rousing old-fashioned raiding;” 
let all come, and each bring a friend with 
him, and we shall roll up such an edifice 
that we shall all be proud of it. Just 
make an afternoon’s work of it, and let 
each make it a point to send us one new 
subscription while renewing his own, and 
the “job” is done. Do this for us. kind 
friends, and begides heartily and sin¬ 
cerely thanking you, we will try to make 
the Rural better, and in every way more 
worthy of your confidence, love, and 
support, than ever before. Will you trust 
and assist us? Will you come to the 
“Raising?” 
BREVITIK8. 
We are sorry to know that the sorghum 
sugar works of Champaign. 111., are not to 
resume work until they can flo so profitably, 
when the price of sugar has greatly advanced. 
The Rural advertises thut it has over 
600 contributors every year. Let our frieuds 
take up this year’s numbers and court the 
number of contributors thus far. Let them 
also count the number of questious we have 
answered since Jan 1,1884. 
Anything that we can do to aid our friends 
• in obtaining new subscribers we are willing 
and anxious to do. We will gladly supply, 
without charge, as manv specimens, posters, 
premium-lists and Free Seed-Distribution Sup¬ 
plements as may be desired. 
Mr. T. V Munson, of Dennison, Texas, 
writes us that iu bis article “Grape Notes 
from Texas,” in the Rural of November 1. 
the words “North” aud “South” should 
change places under the beading "Hardiness.” 
Those who keep the table for reference cau 
easily make the correction with pen or pencil. 
We learn that a horticulturist in Rochester 
has crossed the strawberry upon the black 
berry and that the seedlings (not yet fruited) 
varv marvelously. Some fnok like black 
rosberry bushes; some a trifle like blackberry 
bushes, and oue like a small tropical tree. Of 
course, it will be time enough to believe that 
the plants are really hybrids when they fruit. 
Until then we may be excused for being in¬ 
credulous. 
The Board of Management of the World’s 
Exposition at New Orleans have deferred the 
opening from December 4 to December 16. not 
because everything would uot be ready at the 
old date, hut'because as the next session of the 
United States Congress opens on that, day, 
President Arthur could not be present to in¬ 
augurate the exhibition, nor could the host of 
Senators and Representativeswhodesire to wit¬ 
ness the grand spectacle gratify their w ishes. 
The President’s warm suppurt of the undertak¬ 
ing is highly appreciated all over the South, 
and it would be a keen di-appointment to the 
people if he were not present at the opening. 
Congress will be requested to ad journ on 
Dec. 12. so as toallow the members to accom 
pany the President, to the CrescentCitv. Gen. 
Djaz, who will be inaugurated President of 
Mexico on December 1. is expected to adjourn 
the Mexican Congress on the 10th, and will 
try to be present. Exhibits will be received 
till November 10. Every part of the vast 
range of buildings is either completed, or 
nearly so. and present appearances indicate 
that everything will be ready on the gala 
opening day. The exhibits of the Commission 
ers of the various States can henceforth be 
forwarded at auy time, as the main building 
is ready foi their reception. The extension ol 
Machinery Hall is on the point of completion 
Horticultural Hal) Is being rapidly filled with 
rareplauts, and there is now no doubt that Ag- 
rtculture will make a trauscendant display. 
Agriculturists should attend multitudinously 
