77 0 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
NOV 45 
stead of blue. The cows are very gentle and 
quiet, and with kind treatment become 
great pets. 
The calves art* hardy and easy to raise, the 
steers growing to a fine size. For instance: 
my father owned a pair of Devon oxen, a 
number of years ago, that he sold to a gov¬ 
ernment freighter, and after the freight was 
delivered in Colorado, the oxen were allowed 
to run for a short time on tho Buffalo Grass 
and were then slaughtered; one weighed2,000 
pounds and the other very nearly that. The 
beef is generally conceded to be the best., tho 
fat being evenly distributed through the car- 
cass.aod Isdng so quiet they are easily fattened. 
This is truly a noble breed of cattle, and one 
that embraces more points of excellence than 
any other, I have long wondered why some 
people are so blinded to their own interests 
that they still persist in running after and 
paying such ruinous prices for stock that have 
only half the merits of tho beautiful, modest 
and unassuming Devons. 
Johnson Co,. Kan. 
floricit Ultra l. 
CHRYSANTHEMUM EXHIBIT. 
The exhibit at the November meeting of 
the New York Horticultural Society was con¬ 
fined entirely to chrysanthemums. Plants in 
pots and cut flowers in vases, arranged in 
baskets, and singly, filled the hull. Those In 
pots occupied all the wall space, long tables 
occupying the rest of the space held the eut 
flowers. The peculiar aromatic fragrance of 
these flowers filled the hall, and proved the 
magnificent blossoms to be, in truth, chrysan¬ 
themums. At the end of the hall, opposite 
the door, a large group of the tallest plants 
with lower ones formed n bank of great 
beauty, of which soma idea cun bo formed 
from the size of the plaut.s, tbe tallest being 
nine feet high trained to a single stem, the 
top spreading in a solid mass of flowers 18 feet 
in circumference, each blossom being large 
and showy. The plants ranged in hight from 
these tallest specimens to dwarf varieties two 
feet in bight. 
There are several distinct types of chrysan¬ 
themums, differing from each other so much 
as to seem to belong to different species; the 
pompons, neat, campuct and double, includ¬ 
ing all the small, daisy-like blossoms: tbe 
Japanese, large and often grotesque, the long, 
narrow ray* giving them a ragged appear¬ 
ance; the Chinese globular and symmetrical, 
and a newer variety, anemone flowered. 
These wore all generously represented both by 
cut flowers and in pots. The displays were 
made by professional florists and by amateurs, 
the largest display from the profession being 
made by Hallock & Thorpe, of Queens. 
L. I.; William Barr, of Llewellen Park, 
Orange, N, J., made the largest exhibit 
of plants and flowers among the amateur 
exhibitors. The tables containing the display 
of blossoms, arranged singly, attracted most 
attention; some of the blossoms were marvels 
of size. A specimen of Viceroy of Egj p\ a 
Japanese variety, measured six inches in di¬ 
ameter, its long, narrow ruys filling the head 
loosely, were of a clear, rosy crimson, the re- 
flexed tips showing under sides of white this 
making a beautiful tangled flower. Comte de 
Germiny, a flower of the Chinese type, was 
almost as large; its broad incurved rays a 
bronze red on the inner side; a paler tint on 
the outer, giving them the appearance of 
scales, the flowers resembling a large flattened 
cone; a yellow flower of the same type, Ben 
d’Or. seemed a mass of curls, so rolled and 
curved toward the centers were the rays; it. was 
a beautiful and curious blossom. One of the 
most curious exhibited was Julius Rcharoff, a 
Japanese variety; the blossom shown was 
about five inches in diameter, the quilled rays 
of a dark rose color, curved and twisted with 
the tips pointing in all directions, making of 
it a marked flower. Rod Robin, another Ja¬ 
panese variety, was yellow in the center and at 
the tips, and a dark rich red between, very 
striking and attractive. The pompons were 
represented by many very beautiful varieties. 
Lady St. Clair is a pure white one of much 
beauty and large size. 
Several baskets were arranged with ferns 
and other leaves, but the plants shown were 
each a natural bouquet, rivaling any made by 
exhibitors; though oue basket in which delicate 
colors and leaves of begoma, coleus, and the 
dark-leaved Wander jug Jew were used, proved 
by its beauty that cbrysautliemums can be ef¬ 
fectively displayed in a bouquet. The arrange¬ 
ment. of the plants was such through the entire 
hall as to give an harmonious, pleasing effect; 
the colors included pure snow-white, all shades 
of creamy white, yellow, pink, crimson, many 
combinations, and peculiar colors and shades 
In bronze, amber, aud rich brown. The choic¬ 
est as well as the most common chrysanthe¬ 
mums are comparatively hardy, a protection 
of loose leaves and evergreen branches will be 
ample for ordinary Winters, or where snow re¬ 
mains on tbe ground through the cold weath¬ 
er, it alone is sufficient protection. These beau¬ 
tiful late flowers may therefore be grown by 
all, and the season of flowers be thus prolong- 
M. 
BOOKS RECEIVED. 
Harper's Magazine for November has for 
a frontispiece an engraving of Charles I. and 
Henrietta Maria, followed by an illustrated 
article entitled Columbia College; A Day 
with Sir Joseph Hooker at Kew, bv Joseph 
Hatton; Norman Fiiberfolk. by Mary Gay 
Humphreys; Chrysanthemums, by John 
Thorpe; The Great Hall of William Rufus, 
Chap. 4; The Acadian Tragedy, by Francis 
Farkmun; Three Quiet Ladies of the Name of 
Luce, by Harriet I'rescott Spofford; Sydney 
Smyth, by Andrew Lang; Natures Serial 
Story, Chap. 12, by E. P. Roe: Judith 
Shakespeare, Chaps SI to 3fi, by William 
Black; with several poems. The Editor's Easy 
Chair, Literary Record, and Editor's Drawer, 
are as replete with good thingH as usual. 
The Century for November opens with an 
article by Horace Scudder, entitled Vedder’s 
Accompaniment to the Song of Omar 
KbayyAm. Following this is The Old Sedan 
Chair, Austin Dobson; The Rise of Lapbam, 
W. D. Howells; Chinese Theater, Henry Bur¬ 
den McDowell; In November. W. P. Foster; 
The Principles and Practice of Housedru inage, 
Geo. E. Waring Jr.: Tbe Lost Mine, Thos. A. 
Janvier: Sculptor* of tbe Early Italian Renais¬ 
sance. Kenyon Cox: An Acquaintance with 
Charles Reade, Mrs. Jas. T. Fields; The 
Battle of Bull Run, General Beauregard; 
Reeollections of a Private, Warren Lee Goss; 
A Phase of Social Science, Rt. Rev. Henry 
Potter, D.D.; with other articles, also poems. 
And has the regular monthly Topics of the 
Time; Open Letters, and Bric-A-Brac. 
St. Nicholas has a colored frontispiece 
from a painting by A. M Turner, called Great 
Gra ndmother’s Girlhood. His One Fault, Chap. 
1, 2, 3, J. T. Trowbridge; The Cooking Class, 
Louisa M Alcott; Personally Conducted. 
Frank R. Stockton ; Tales of Two Continents, 
Part t, H. H. Boyesen; The Cruise of the 
Pirate Ship “Moooraker,” F. Marshall White; 
A Queer Coasting Place, E. George Squier; 
Ready for Business, Geo. J. Munson; Tea-Cup 
Lore, C. C. Ward; Among the Law Makers, 
Edmund Alton*. Work and Play for Young 
Folks, Chap. 13, Chos. G. Iceland; with seven 
poems, five of which are illustrated. The 
Riddle Box, Editorial Notes, The Letter 
Box, etc., etc. A grand number, full of prom¬ 
ise for 1885. 
BOOKS. 
The Evolution ok a Life, described in the 
Memoirs of Major Seth Kviand. Price 
$1.50. S. W. Green’s Son, Publisher. 
In this volume Major Eyland, who com¬ 
manded tbe first New York Mounted Rifl“s, 
describes his personal experiences in field and 
camp during the Civil War, as Captain, Prov¬ 
ost-Marshal, and Judge-Advocate, and gives 
scores of interesting and amusing anecdotes 
(never before published) of Lincoln, Grant, 
McClellan, Scott Butler, Joe Johnson, Stone¬ 
wall Jackson, Martin Van Buren. Horatio 
Seymour, President Arthur, Col, Fisk, and 
other noted men. 
Three Visits to America. By Ernilv Faith- 
full 12mo, pp. xii.400. Cloth, price $1.50 
Published bv Fowler & Wells Co., 753 
Broadway, New* York. 
The author of this volume needs uo intro¬ 
duction to an American public; her work in 
behalf of struggling women during the past 
20 years has been attended with so much suc¬ 
cess that she has acquired wide-spread cele¬ 
brity in spite of herself. Her three visits in this 
country were made for the purpose of studying 
our society, ourindustrial methods aud orgaui 
zations in behalf of poor and unfortunate 
English women. Sketches of conversations 
occur all through the book, most of them with 
well-known people, all of whom cordially 
aided Miss Faithfull toward the attainment 
of her mission. While it will entertain every 
one who takes it up, it will be sure to instruct 
those who are thoughtful. 
Square and Compasses; or Building the 
House. By Oliver Optic. Price SI.25. Lee 
& Shepard, Publishers, Boston. 
This is one of tbe “Boat Builder’ series, in 
which the author adheres to the rule he has 
followed for the lifetime of a generation: 
never to present bad characters in such a 
light as to wiu the admiration and sympathy 
of the reader, but still believes in the old- 
fashioned practice of rewarding the good and 
punishing the evil. 
Perseverance Island: or the Robinson 
Crusoe of the 19th Century. By Douglas 
Frazar. Price $1.50, Lee & Shepard, 
Publishers. 
This story proves the limitless ingenuity 
and invention of a man who was a castaway 
upon a desert island. Shows his ability to 
use his brains, and to practice the common 
arts taught him in early life, so as to sur¬ 
round himself with something like comfort in 
his desolate condition. 
fov XUfmtett. 
CONDUCTED BY MISC RAY CLARK. 
AMONG THE S TOVES. 
BY BETH SAMPLE. 
The stoves offered for sale this Fall stand in 
shining attractive rows and suggest comfort 
in sitting-rooms and parlors, savory cooking 
and warmth in kitchens and dining rooms. 
Those for heating are in attractive patterns 
and oruumented with nickel.silver and bronze; 
the ornament* often costing as much as the 
iron from which the stoves are made, so that 
the prices are governed not by tbe cost of 
iron but by that of the patterns, mouldings, 
mountings and the decoration. They are 
varied in form, and there are very few but 
have one or more places for boiling a kettle, 
and some au oven as well, so that a small 
family can cook by the one stove; or a large 
family use it in addition to the kitchen stove 
when it will not accommodate all tho kettles, 
pots and skillets in which the dinner is to 
cook. The tall cylindrical stoves are still 
offered, but a later pattern shows a square or 
cabinet stove, with transparent mica around 
the fire-place, and this shape gives a flat sur¬ 
face in which ornamental tiles are inserted 
around the top. A stove that will give the open 
fire of our grandfather's t ime wit h its cheerful 
light and combine the even warmth of late 
Inventions, has been sought for by dealers and 
purchasers. The mica used in almost every 
stove shows that they are making progress In 
this direction. There is offered now an open 
fire stove, with square corners, a grate like a 
fire place and, before it a narrow hearth, in 
which either wood or coal can be burned, and 
it approaches the ideal sought. But to one 
who has enjoyed on old fashioned fire place, 
the blaze seems small and confined, but that 
the warmth is distributed much better even 
such will admit. The ornamentation of the 
stoves is in itself a study; scarcely six inches 
of plain surface are left on any of them, tho 
designs in silver, nickle or iron are varied and 
include lettering, leaves, flowers, scrolls and 
borders. Rurmounting many of the stoves are 
figures of birds and deer in bronze or a 
simple ornamental bar of shining metal. 
The tiles used are square, and made of fine 
clay, shaped aud painted before it is baked; 
they are pretty in designs and colors and add 
to the interest of the stove as well as to its 
beauty, for tiles bring the quaint Hollander 
and other ancient people to our thoughts. 
One thing that we have missed since the fire¬ 
places disappeared, is the feeling that the fire 
connect* us with homely, contented living, 
and a dark stove cannot make up by its 
warmth for this loss; even the most open and 
brightest, suggest no thoughts of enthusiastic 
labor such as the builder often puts into the 
home he made, with its fire place and walls 
of logs, and into the wood cutting that sup¬ 
plied the winter's fuel. Where the mother' is 
housekeeper,- the fire that will always shine 
in the children’s thoughts is tbe one that burns 
in tbe kitchen stove. Here the house-mother 
feels no regret that tbe days of bending over 
the fire-place to cook are past, and the children 
invest the stove with the charms of dougbuut*, 
roasted turkeys, ginger cakes, molasses candy, 
and all the good things that satisfied their 
hungry appetites, built- up bone and muscle 
in their bodies, and contented that “sweet 
tooth” every boy and girl possesses. 
Among the stoves for the kitchen are shown 
various sizes and shapes, from the smallest 
made to economize space and afford all ad¬ 
vantages possible for six dollars, to the largest 
raoges six feet high set in bricks, having all 
the modern conveniences and costing more 
than $100. Any stove, whether sot in brick or 
not, is called a range when the hearth is at 
one end. One style of these ranges have a 
“high closet” above them, as large as an 
ordinary oven, where cooked dishes can be 
placed to keep hot; at tbe end of the range 
opposite the hearth is a shelf of iron about 
a foot wide, and surrounded by a rod on which 
towels may be hung, or else a reservoir occu¬ 
pies that position; over the hearth are two 
doors, one above the other, the upper one to 
be opened for the purpose of broiling; by this 
arrangement what is cooking on top of the 
stove need not be removed in order to broil 
steak, toast bread, etc. Smaller stoves have 
five or six holes for the pots, thus making use 
of all the space possible on the top. Tbe 
reservoirs have a copper boiler inside, which 
has another made of tin, which can be lifted 
out to be cleaned or filled, and are preferable 
to porcelain lined, as t hese soon get discolored 
and the porcelain wears off in spots. Stove 
lids are made in several pieces, and are secure¬ 
ly joined, making them less liable to break or 
bacome warped by the heat. They are made 
as if a smaller lid was within a larger one, or 
with a center-piece resembling a flower. 
Oil stoves are becoming more popular every 
year, and are now made as beating stoves, 
with a cast iron frame that radiates heat 
equal to a coal stove of the same size. These 
are very convenient for those living in cities 
where space for storing fuel Is limited: and 
they might be used in the country in rooms 
lacking fines. Not only do these stoves give 
heat, but the burner* are behind mica doors 
and give a light equal to a large lamp. They 
aI*o have one, two or three places for cooking 
utensils, as well a* an oven, which is said to 
bake perfectly. Would not one of these be 
jost what is needed to raise the temperature 
in the cellar, cold winter nights, or to stand 
in the pit where flowering plants are stored, 
or to take the chill from the air in any room 
lacking a stove where work must be done? 
If they could be nsed in this way, the fruit 
and vegetables saved in one night, when the 
mercury suddenly sought the very bulb in 
the thermometer, would more than pay for 
one of them. 
Another style, called the Parlor Heater, 
is made for heating rooms only, and is of a 
fancy pattern in the form of an arch, having 
an urn over tbe part inclosing the burners. 
These vary in prices according to size, from 
$5 to $15, while quite a small one, giving light 
and boiling only one pot at a time, is offered 
for $2. Lamps burning oil, arranged for 
heating water, can be bought for 75 cents. 
The manufacturing of stoves has become a 
large industry in our country. There are 
foundries that melt auuually eight or ten 
thousand tons of iron. The iron formerly 
used was Rcotch pig, but many manufactur¬ 
ers now prefer our own ores. The advance in 
the beauty of stoves has heen equaled by im¬ 
provements in the general construction. 
Changes have been made in the grates and 
illumination; the fire chambers are now lined 
with patent iron-stone, and the provision for 
ventilation and equal distribution of heat is 
better than evor before. All parlor stoves 
are arranged for keeping a continuoui fire. 
Many stoves are sent from here to China, 
Australia, South Africa, and to some extent 
to England and Germany. 
Good fires through the house are very essen¬ 
tial during the Winter, and good stoves are 
necessary to insure them. An oven that is 
cracked and will not bake half the time, 
means many an unwholesome mcul and not a 
few cross words and angry thoughts. Cold, 
uncomfortable rooms take the very life out of 
home, and cold feet and aching heads do not 
aid in work or pleasure of any kind; so tnat 
warmth is an important element during the 
winter season. We are said to huve more 
comforts as a people than any of the nations 
across the sea, but we often allow miserable 
little discomfort* to spoil the pleasures of 
every day. And cold can do this as quickly as 
anything of which we complain. So that in 
looking at the buudreds of stoves for sale, be¬ 
side tbe pictures of cosy warmth they suggest, 
is another of old cracked, worn-out stoves, 
and shivering, unhappy people around them; 
not always la homes of poverty either; but 
where forethought is lacking, and discomforts 
courted, rather than driven out with a vigor¬ 
ous hand. 
SILK CULTURE. 
The culture of silk is an industry for women. 
Though in its infancy, is destined to become a 
great source of wealth to these United States. 
It was by a woman the art was first discov¬ 
ered, and women it principally adorn* and by 
women let it be produced. Woman’s work has 
been limited to a very few kinds of employ¬ 
ment, none very lucrative. The production 
of silk has millions of dollars for the willing 
workers of our fair daughters of America. 
The industry is a profitable one as is shown by 
the nations engaged in it. Our climate is just 
as advantageous for the purpose of silk culture 
as Ckiua, where it originated in the northern 
portion of that country, aud where we get the 
best and finest silk. We should, m every part 
of our country, foster this industry; we have 
eager, anxious women that would be glad 
of this kiud of work, but they lack the 
courage to undertake it. It is a matter of 
national importance that silk culture should 
be established ou a firm basis. Without na¬ 
tional aid it will necessarily make slow pro¬ 
gress. Congress is standing in her own light 
when she does not make liberal appropriations 
to carry on this great industry. Only a few 
years’ time, and it would be all returned 
through the revenue derived from it. Woman 
aud woman’s work is ouo of the great ques¬ 
tions of the day. She has ever been depend¬ 
ent, though her share of toil has been heavily 
borne; aud it is very important that she 
should share in this appropriate industry. We 
ought to plant the mulberry tree, as its uses 
