782 
MOV 22 
THE MURAL WEW-YORKER. 
breeders of thoroughbred stock. The annual 
•ale is largely attended by people from several 
other States. Some very choice stock, es¬ 
pecially in the Jersey line, is always offered 
for sale. Alabama reeders co-operate with 
those of this State in these sales. 
The hay crop in this State was large this 
year, and the quantity saved will probably 
be not less than one third more than in any 
preceding year. Much of this hay is from 
our native grasses. Japan Clover, Bermuda 
Grass, Crab Grass, and Gamma Grass all 
make first rate hay; #o do Broom Hedge and 
Johnson Grass—Sorghum halapense. 
Everywhere farmers are becoming more 
and more interested in stock raising. In 
many localities, private dairying pays hand¬ 
somely. A few years ago not a pound of but¬ 
ter was shipped from this county (Oktibbeha); 
but during the past Spring and early Summer 
about 1,000 pounds of choice butter, made 
from Jersey and grade Jersey cows, were 
shipped weekly from Starkville. A ready 
market is found in New Orleans, Mobile and 
Meridian. Rearing grade Jerseys in this )o 
Cftlity has proved highly profitable, and a 
large number of cows are sold to parties in 
neighboring Stutos. A good grade readily 
brings from $50 to $100. E. m. 
Starkville, Miss. 
RURAL SPECIAL REPORTS. 
Michigan. 
Athens, Calhoun Co., Nov. 4.—Times are 
very dull; wheat. 70 to 80 cents and going for¬ 
ward slowly; hogs, live weight, 4 to4)^c; 
apples $1 per barrel. Farmers are feeling 
blue about the prices of produce ami are hir¬ 
ing as little as possible. Most of them are 
considerably in debt, and are curtailing their 
expenses all they can. Potatoes not more 
than half a crop; but more than an average 
acreage was planted. Price 80 cents per 
bushel. J. mcl. 
Calkinsville, Isabella Co., Nov. 3 — 
Crops are very good, but prices are so low 
that farmers feel very poor. Wheat sells at 
from <55 to 71 cents per bushel; oats, 25 cents; 
corn, 17 to 20 cents (not much raised here). 
Potatoes were a large crop; some rot; 25cents 
per bushel. R. m. 
Adrian, Lenawee Co,, Nov. 2.—We have 
had a very fruitful season. The midge in¬ 
jured the wheat to some extent. The oat 
crop Is simply immense; some report 75 
bushels per acre, weighing 45 pounds per 
measured bushel. Some pieces of corn are 
cut short by the drought; but generally the 
corn was planted on sod, and late. We have 
as nice corn this year as we ever put in a 
crib. The wheat on the ground looks well, 
except that sown too early, which is thin and 
spotted. D. R. 
Michigan. 
St. Clair, Sfc. Clair Co., Nov. 3.—As a 
whole, the past season has been a good one for 
the farmers in this vicinity, though a heavy 
frost, iu the latter part of May. followed by a 
few weeks of dry weather, damaged the fruit 
and bay crops considerably. Wheat and oats 
yielded well ami are of excellent quality. 
Corn is good. The potato crop is exceedingly 
large, the market uow being overstocked. 
Buyers are not willing to take many even at 
20 cents per bushel. w. a. t. 
Ohio. 
Bristolville, Trumbull Co. .Nov.3.—Wheat 
was a good crop,some fields averaging 20 bush¬ 
els per acre, and it is of the best quality. Oats 
were a pretty good crop,though not as good as 
in some years. Corn was pretty good—better 
than was expected. Grass was rather light 
in' most, places, though some meadows were 
very good. Kay is worth more than double 
what it was last year at this time. Wheat, is 
80 to 85 cents per bushel; oats, 85 cents; pota¬ 
toes a very good crop; are worth from 40 to 
50 cents per bushel. Wheat looks very well 
uow, though the fly has hurt it badly in places. 
J. s. B. 
Tennessee. 
Daisy, Grainger Co., Nov. 4.—This is prob¬ 
ably as healthy a section of country as there 
is in the Union. The weather does not become 
very hot in Summer, seldom reaching 100°, 
and the zero point is seldom reached in Winter. 
Tt is nowhere surpassed for water. Numerous 
dear, soft-water springs gush from the moun¬ 
tains, aud the air is balmy aDd bracing. Of 
course, there are places where wells aud cis- 
terus have to lie depended upon for a water 
supply; we can’t all have springs. This sec¬ 
tion offers superior inducement* to men of 
moderate means to engage in fruit culture, 
for which it seems specially adapted; while 
the railroad facilities for marketing are about 
as good as can be desired, forreaching North¬ 
ern aud Eastern cities. The numerous coal 
and iron industries furnish ready local markets 
for eggs, fowls and vegetables. The river 
bottoms yield excellent crops of corn. The 
ridges between river and mountain are excel¬ 
lent fruit lands, and ought to swarm with 
sheep, and would only for numerous worthless 
dogs. The sheep industry can no doubt be 
made profitable by a judicious use of strych¬ 
nine. Hundreds of cattle range over the 
mountains from March till January. Grass 
grows well where it has been tried, but it has 
been cultivated but slightly. It is a marvel 
ous thing that indolence has not made a much 
greater use of grass. After once seeding it 
requires but little care, except to gather the 
crop. Indolence has been too intent on mak¬ 
ing a crop of corn to think of that. Taxes are 
very low outside of the cities. The taxes on a 
farm of 97 acres are about $4 a year for 
all purposes. One thousand dollars’ worth of 
personal property is exempt from taxation, so 
that, poor people and those in moderate cir¬ 
cumstances pay no tax on personal property. 
The extreme amount of tax levy can not ex¬ 
ceed $1. on $100. of valuation, and the valua¬ 
tion is placed very low. The law exempts 
from execution for debt a homestead to the 
value of $1,000, and more personal property 
than the majority of families possess. An 
excellent provision made for the families 
of laboring men is that $30. in wages due for 
labor are exempt from garnishee or attach 
ment of any kind. The “mechanics’ lien law” 
is the excellent lien law of Iowa. 
Fruit lands at present are very cheap, and 
convenient to market facilities. Good titles 
can be bad, but titles need to be looked after 
pretty closely. Hero arc grand mountain 
scenery, pure air, excellent timber, good mar¬ 
kets. cheap land, and loyal inhabitant*. I do 
not know where elsea inanof moderate means 
cau go to find so many advantages!. I have 
no land to sell. Persons coming here from a 
prairie country will hardly like it ut first—all 
is so different. The land is uneven, rough, 
billy, mouutainous, and there is but little soil 
that is not gravelly and stony, and the stones 
und gravel generally are of a flinty nature, 
but they form the very best fruit land 
I carue from Northern Iowa last Winter. 
This Summer 1 purchased 72 acres for $300. It 
has about 20 acres fenced with rails, in three 
fields, a good hewed log-house, a smoke house 
and stable, a well 50 feet deep, about 250 apple 
aud peach trees in bearing, and a lot of plums 
and shrubbery. The rest of the farm is in 
timber—considerable pine, hickory, oak. and 
chestnut. I believe I have a better farm now 
than 1 could have had by going West or North¬ 
west and taking up a homestead. 1 have more 
on it and around it now, than 1 could have had 
on a homestead in five years. Besides, 1 am 
only two miles from market—a railroad sta¬ 
tion, coal mine, etc., and 18 miles north of 
Chattanooga, the Pitteburg of the South, 
There are other burgnins to be bad iu the 
vicinity as cheap or cheaper than mine. I do 
not advise any one to come here with family 
and household gods until he has first, come and 
found a place to put the gods into. He might 
not like it at all here. But should any one 
come, he should be sure to bring everything 
he can’t sell for nine-tenths of its value. One 
must, remember, however, that this is the land 
of log houses, with stick chimneys and no 
windows n. l. g. 
Vermont. 
Bakersfield, Franklin Co., Nov. 8.— 
Weather cool and wet. The ground has been 
white two [or three times. Crops all in but 
garden truck. Apples plentiful; cannot give 
them away. We like the Rural very much. 
w. o. s. 
RURAL SEED REPORTS. 
Os m<da. 
Milton West, Ontario.—The Blush Potato 
is doing well. Several raised from sprouts 
alone, weigh one-and a-half pound. The Ru¬ 
ral corn has all ripened; hardly any two cobe 
alike. The Garden Treasures—Well! I’m 
perfectly delighted with them. The tomatoes 
did well. a. A. 
Villiers, Peterboro, Ontario.—The Rural 
Union Corn grew from ten to eleven feet high. 
I have saved a few ean for seed, but it will 
be too late for this section. The R. N.-Y, 
peas were early and good. The tomatoes did 
extra well; they were the nicest we have ever 
seen. The Garden Treasures were splendid. 
The Black Champiou Oats are too late; they 
grew well but got badly rusted. T. B. 
Colorado. 
Denver, Arapahoe Co.—The R. N.-Y Peas 
were planted 13 days later than the Improved 
Dan. O'Rourke, and 11 days later than Hen¬ 
derson's First of All, and had edible peas as 
early as either. I am greatly pleased with 
them, and saved all of the peas for seed. I am 
also pleased with Horsford’s Market Garden as 
an intermediate variety. G. M. a 
Kansas. 
Burlingame, Osage Co.—The R. N.-Y. 
Peas were.one week earlier than Horsford’s 
M.G., and two weexs earlier than any other pea 
I planted. I saved all for seed. The R. U. Corn 
was small beside our native sort; but it was 
two weeks earlier. It may pav to raise it for 
early feeding. The tomatoes were finer than 
anything we ever raised. The Rural Treas¬ 
ures gave us some very fine varieties; but a 
majority of them were quite ordinary. 
E. K. T. 
Michigan. 
St. Clair, Rt. Clair Co., Mich.—My Blush 
Potato did not do very well last year, but I 
raised enough to save 13 pounds to plant last 
Spring, from which I raised 16 bushels of mar¬ 
ketable tubers. I used no fertilizer except a 
few leached ashes. Nearly all the seeds this 
year did well. The tomatoes were extra fine, 
the peas very early—the earliest we had The 
corn matured, but is rather late for this cli¬ 
mate. The oats are also too late. w. a. t, 
Adrian, Lenawee Co., Mich.—The Rural 
tomatoes were worth more than all the other 
seeds. Buch tomatoes I never saw before—as 
smooth as an egg, of fair size, but not too 
large, ripe all over at the same time, and of 
rare quality; in short, perfect. The R. U, 
Corn is not a* good as two or three kinds we 
grow here. d. r. 
Calkinsville, Isabella Co., Micb.—We 
planted the Rural peas and find they are earl¬ 
ier than any other kind. I have a quart for 
seed, and about ilia same of H. M. G. The 
tomatoes did well although rather late. I 
have about one-balf bushel of cars of Rural 
Union Cora. I think it is rather late for this 
country. We had an extra good Fall for it to 
ripen. I sowed the Diehl-Mediterranean 
Wheat. The oats did not do well and are too 
late. The Garden Treasures did well, we had 
quite a variety of flowers from them. R m. 
New York. 
Buffalo, Erie Co , N, Y.—On May 9th, I 
planted the R. N.-Y., Horsford’s and Mini¬ 
mum Peas side by side, on rich sandy loam, 
without any fertilizer. July 5th, 57doysfrom 
planting, the R. N.-Y. were nearly all mature 
enough to pick, the pods maturing very even¬ 
ly A large portion of the Minimum were al¬ 
so ready for picking, but were not as evenly 
matured as the other. A few pods of the 
Horsford’s were ready to pick, but most of 
them were in all stages, from just forming to 
maturing, and the tips of the vines were cov¬ 
ered with blossoms, TheR. N.-Y. were in ft 
row six feet long, containing 50 stalks or vines 
averaging 30 inches in bight and l>earing 142 
pods. The average pods were two and one- 
half inches long and the largest contained sev¬ 
en peas. The Horsford row was four feet 
long, containing 84 vines averaging 20 inches 
high, bearing 109 pods in all stages of growth, 
and 82 blossoms. The largest pod was three 
inches long and contained six peus. The Min¬ 
ium row was tbree-and-one-half feet long, con¬ 
taining 50 vines averaging 12 inches in hight, 
bearing 155 puds, averaging two inches long, 
aud the largest containing eight peas. A 
large lot of American Wonder Reas was 
planted April 24th on sandy loam without fer¬ 
tilizer, and the first picking from them occured 
June 21st, 57 days from planting. F. c. 8. 
Columbia, Herkimer Co.—The R N.-Y. 
Pea was a grand crop here—the earliest of 
four different kinds. From the packages sent 
I got almost two quarts of as fine peas as I 
ever raised. The Hereford's were also excel 
lent; I saved all for seed. The It. Union Corn 
was a failure—not early enough for this cli¬ 
mate. The Garden Treasures did splendidly. 
When in bloom they formed as fine a bed of 
flowers as any one could wish to see. The 
Blush Potato that was seut out last season 
did finely. From the two small tubers, I got 
this season two barrels of flue-looking pota¬ 
toes, aud they can’t be beat for their eating 
qualities. They stand drought well. This 
season other kinds of potatoes were a very 
light crop. The tomatoes were fine. Thauks 
to the Rural for its seeds, and for its wealth 
of iuformation to all. I am almost blind, but I 
do try to read the Rcral. h. l. m. 
Keene Valley, Essex Co.—1 set the R. N.- 
Y. Peas to soak on May 18th because of dry 
weather. My especial pet top-knot hen en¬ 
tered the back kitchen window and swallowed 
said peas. Such is life 1 Planted Horsford’s 
Market Garden Pea May 21st. Up in 10 days, 
showing low vitality. Largest vine bore 27 
pods; smallest, 16; average of all. 21. Largest 
number of peas from one vine, 103; average 
number iu one pod, 3)$; maximum, 5. Hight 
of vine, 26 inches, with usually four branches, 
and the pods at the end of the branches. The 
peas were still green and eatable September 
1st, when American Wonder, Abundance aud 
Pride of the Market, planted the same day, 
were entirely ripe. A very yood pea. Plant¬ 
ed Black Champion Oats May 10 iu rows 15 
inches apart aud 9 inches between the grains. 
Sowed broadcast 2 1-16 pounds of mixture of 
four pounds Mapes H. G. superphosphate, four 
pounds sulphate of ammonia and two pounds 
muriate of potash, rate of 800 pounds to acre, 
and harrowed in. Cultivated with “ Planet 
Jr,,” three times after heavy rains. Yield, 
26 quarts of gram, which was scarcely ripe 
when frost came August 26, fully two weeks 
later than common oats here, and 10 days later 
than Welcome. As there were four rows 60 
feet long, T calculate the yield to be 118 bushels 
to the acre, or 1,300 to 1. The largest stool 
had 79 stalks, of which 71 bore grain. The 
average number of grains to a stalk was 104. 
Tallest was five feet eight inches; average, 
five feet. Welcome Oats are better in yield 
aud weight, RuralUnion Corn isentirely too 
long in growing to ripen in our short moun¬ 
tain seasons, between frosts of June 16 and 
August 26! The tomatoes (130of them) did 
very well for this climate. The “plum” varie¬ 
ties were the first to ripen Some varieties 
rotted in the blossom end before they began to 
ripen. A large, smooth, round, crimson to¬ 
mato, which ripened only in the house, was 
the best variety, being far superior to the 
scarlet sorts. Owing to unfavorable weather 
at the time of planting, the Treasures were 
few in numbers, but abundant id blossoms. 
Many, many thanks for the treat of new and 
rare seeds which the Rural gives us every 
year ! R. f. 
So. Byron, Genesee Co —In order to test 
their comparative merits as an early variety, 
I planted, on April 29, tne R. N.-Y. Pea, to¬ 
gether with the First and Best received from 
the Department of Agriculture, together with 
Bliss’s American Wonder and Horsford’s 
Market Garden. All were planted on a well 
prepared, rich garden soil, aud given good 
garden culture. The first pea* were picked 
for the table on June 29. from the R. N -Y., 
aud the First and Best—58 days from plant¬ 
ing. No striking difference apparent as to 
carliuess between these two, though there 
seemed a larger proportion of the former 
most suitable for picking. The American 
Wonder came ou about one week later, while 
the two early varieties mentioned were nearly 
all ripened on July 8. Horsford’s Market 
Garden showed only an occasional pod suita 
ble for use,and at the same time many blossoms 
were still to he seen; but for a late variety it 
bids fair to prove all one could desire. 1. D c. 
Ohio, 
Bristolville, Trumbull Co., Nov. 6 —Last 
Fall I sowed four different kind* of wheat rej 
crived from the Rural Office, viz:—Surprise, 
Shumaker, Fultzo-Clawson, and Illack-bearded 
Centennial; each kind did very well, and all 
produced very nice wheat. The B.-b. Cen¬ 
tennial froze out the most; the Shumaker was 
the earliest of all. Tho Rural Union Corn, 
planted nearly the last of May, ripened well, 
and some of it was pretty early; ou some ears 
the kernels were nearly three-quarters of au 
inch wide. I also planted the Shoe-peg va¬ 
riety last Spring, and raised gome very nice 
corn. The Rural New-Yorker Pea is a very’ 
early sort. My small Blush Potato received 
in last year’s Seed Distribution, I don’t think 
would have weighed two ounces. I cut it in 
twelve pieces, one eye iu a piece, and planted 
them about a foot apart; two of the pieces 
did not sprout, so I took off a couple of sprouts 
from some piece* that had more than they 
needed, and planted them in the places of 
those that did not sprout. They grew right 
along and did as well as the rest. I raised 30 
pounds last year, and this year I planted them 
again, cutting them to one eye in a piece, 
“from north-east to south-west,” and raised 
173^ bushels. j. 8. r. 
Warren, Trumbull Co., Ohio—My Rural 
seeds gave great satisfaction. The corn rip¬ 
ened in good time, and I have enough seed to 
plant quite a large plot next year. The to¬ 
matoes alone were worth the price of the 
paper. They were the handsomest I have 
ever raised, aud not only were there enough 
for my own family, but I sold $2.50 worth, 
besides giving some away. The Garden 
Treasure delighted wife aud children. I 
grow the White Elephaut now as my main 
potato crop, and all the seed came from the 
single little tuber sent me by the Rural. 
Success to it! w. L. m. 
Pennsylvania. 
Shoustown, Allegheny Co.—The Rural 
corn is splendid, maturing in 90 days; 
the ears are large and fine. The Rural Trea¬ 
sures were given to a grand daughter eight 
years old; she is saving all seed. The peas are 
all right ; saved all for seed. j. c. b. 
West Virginia. 
Charleston, Kanawha Co., Nov. 5.—The 
Rural NewYorker Pea is not superior to 
Landreth’s Extra Early. The Market Gar¬ 
den is a good pea, but I have some I like bet¬ 
ter. We have had a severe drought here, 60 
1 cannot say anything about the Rural corn 
or oats. I will try them next year, a r. c. 
Wlaconnn. 
Darien, Walworth Co.—Rural Union 
Corn is splendid. The Rural oats, rye and 
wneat were sent to a Dephew in Portage Co. 
The Garden Treasures did well; many wen- 
new varieties here. The Niagara seedling 
grapes mildewed badly. 2 . a. 
