Dear Uncle Mark:— I have delayed writ¬ 
ing because I bad no success with my melons. 
I received six seeds, but only three came up, 
and only two lived. I never saw such long 
vines and so many blossoms with no melons. 
There were over 800 blooms on the two vines, 
but not the first melon. Pa said I watched 
them too closely. We planted the corn you 
kindly sent us and it did well. We had no 
place for the hollyhocks. We will move next 
Spring, and then I shall plant them, for we 
will then have plenty of room for flowers. I 
had a good many flowers this Summer, and I 
have a few house plants now. I go to school 
at the Worcester Academy, which was erected 
last Pall, and it iB named for one of the first 
missionaries that came to this nation. Music 
and painting are taught there. I am taking 
music lessons. Your niece, 
Dark Eyes. 
Vinita, Cherokee Nation, I. T. 
Ptellane0U0 
1 THINK it is a favorable time for the inter¬ 
change of experience in regard to poultry¬ 
keeping. This department should not be neg¬ 
lected, because when properly managed it is 
a source of profit and pleasure, and makes an 
excellent stepping-stone to something better. 
The best layers that I ever had were a cross 
between the Buff Cochins and Dominiques. 
They were handsome fowls, the majority 
having bright golden necks; the rest of the 
plumage dark grey, and beautifully pencilled. 
My flock numbered about 75. They received 
good care during the Winter; a warm mash 
of bran, corn-meal and potatoes was given 
them every morning. A second meal of oats 
and corn on the ear was given them early in 
the afternoon, and they were well supplied 
with fresh water, gravel and ashes for dust- 
baths. From January 1st to August 30, 0,264 
eggs were sold, amounting to $51.98. No ac¬ 
count was kept of the eggs used in the family 
or for sitting. Between two and three hun¬ 
dred chickens were sold, which brought $50. 
The proceeds from the eggs went towards 
supplying the table with groceries, but I bad 
sole and undisputed right to all the money 
received from the chicks. 
Fifty dollars seemed quite a snug little sum 
for pocket-money, and how to spend it was 
the next question, which was quite as import¬ 
ant as how to get it. $25 of the money paid 
my tuition for three months at the Chicago 
Academy of Fine Arts, leaving a fair margin 
for incidental expenses. It was money well 
spent, for the knowledge acquired, in addition 
to that which I possessed, now helps me to 
earn a large share of my pocket-money by the 
use of the brush, which is much pleasanter 
than devoting all my spare time to my poultry. 
This year I shall cross my flock of thorough* 
bred Plymouth Rocks with the Light Brahma, 
with what success remains to be seen. If any 
of the Cousins’ fowls are troubled with the 
cholera I wish they would try the following 
preventive, which I have used with good suc¬ 
cess: Into a 12-quart pan of water put one 
tablespoonful of copperas and one of Venetian 
red. As the fowls drink it, add fresh water 
until there is little or no color to it. If it is 
given once or twice a week during the Spring 
and occasionally through the Sommer, I do 
not think there will be any trouble with the 
cholera. It will not cure a fowl that has it, 
nor will anything else, according to my ex¬ 
perience. If this letter is acceptable to Uncle 
Mark, in my next I will tell the Cousins about 
my books and how I manage to add to my 
library. Ivy Green. 
Plainfield, Illinois. 
[We shall be pleased to hear from you 
again.—U. M,] 
BUTTER WORKER 
PROFESSOR 
HUM KffwtWcAnd Cunvcn'H’iil. 11 K 0 
Power Wovkova, Huttpr Print¬ 
ers, Shipping Boxes, etc. 
DOC POWERS. 
Write Jor 1U UMt rain! ('< t>nt o<jne.\ 
*U0SP HAT; C 
Creamery, and Dairy Apparatus and Supplies, 
Send for catalogue. 
CHILDS & JONES, Utica, N. Y. 
JjrapunuHua aad 
Uncle Mark: —My son (John R. Peebles) 
desires me to return his heartfelt thanks to 
you for the valuable premium “Young Amer¬ 
icans in Japan” you so kindly sent him, aDd 
to assure you that it is highly appreciated, 
more especially so as it came unexpectedly. 
He had but a faint idea of receiving a premi¬ 
um when he sent bis report on the watermel¬ 
ons; as the seeds were so widely disseminated 
over so large a section of country he thought 
his chances very slim, but thought it was his 
duty to let you know what success he had. 
Imagine his surprise and joy, when 1 received 
my mail, to And a valuable book addressed 
to him. He has shown it to a number of his 
friends, and all, with one accord, pronounce 
it a beautiful and valuable book. Permit me 
also on my own behalf to thank you for the 
book. G. W. Peebles. 
Prince George Co., Virginia. 
RICHMOND CITY MILL WORK 
Made from Professor Horsford’s Acid 
Phosphate. 
Recommended by leading physicians. 
Makes lighter biscuit. cakes, etc., and 
is healthier than ordinaly Raking Pow¬ 
der. 
J n cans. Sold at a reasonable price. 
The Hereford Almanac and Cook Rook 
sent f roe. 
Rum ford Chemical Works, Providence, R. I. 
II. M. ANTHONY. Ag’t 100 and 103 Reade 8t.,N. Y 
RICHMOND, Ind. 
MANtTFACTOUEttS OF 
Mill Stones anil 
Flooring Mill Machinery 
We manufacture gee a> 
the beat French Bu.hr ft -r-T J U 
CORN AND FEED MILLS 
l n the country. Send 
for description and 
prices. 
State you saw this 
in the Rural N-Y. 
DIAMOND 
OUR LATEST INVENTION. 
tvwvm*, The most rapid Grin ter ever 
- mgf - made. We make the only 
''MW Oru and Cob Mill with Cast 
Stekl Grtfdkhs If we full 
to furulsh proof, will give 
Sarr—J you a tnliL Ten different 
stvlcs and sizes. The only 
mill that sifts the meal. We 
Y alBO make the 
Irl^ACelebrnted BIG GIANT. 
I Send for Circular* and Prices. 
J. A. HELD & 00., 
. llilS X. Eialnh *t. to p 1 ATTIC VIA 
1 to l Howard m. 1 O i • lA/Uio, 1UU. 
#5rF0R S1I.K. WOOL, OK uu i 
DRESSES, COATS, SCARF8, HOODS, 
YARN, STOCKINCS, CARPET RACS, 
RIBBONS, FEATHERS, or any fabric or 
fancy article easily and perfectly colored to any 
Hliic, Scarlet, 
rn, «llve 
__ and 20 other best colors. 
Warranted Fast and Durable. Each package will 
color one to four lbs. of goods. If you have never 
•used Dyes try these once. You will bo delighted. 
Sold by druggists, or Bond ns 10 cents and any 
color wanted sentpost-paid. £i colored samples 
and a set of fancy cards sent for a 3c. stamp. 
WELLS, JtlClI VRDSON .A CO.. Burlington, Yl. 
THE YOUNG QUERIST 
Black, Brown, Green, 
ill Red, Navy Bine, Scot Brow 
Terra Oottn i-- 
S. A. L. Monroe, N. Y.—l am going to raise 
carrots on something of a large scale next 
Spring. Please name three or four good 
varieties. 
Ans. —For early use the Early Horn is good. 
It is much earlier and more tender than the 
larger kinds. Market gardeners grow it quite 
extensively. For an intermediate try the 
Early Half-long Scarlet, and for a general 
crop, the Long Orange is mostly grown. One 
of the best kinds for feeding to farm stock, 
is the Large White Belgian, but it is not often 
used on the table. 
P. M. G., Mo reton, Kans .—How shall I 
preserve grape cuttings until Spring? 
Ans.—T ie them up in bunches of 50 or 
100 and pack them away in sawdust or moss 
in the cellar or bury them below the reach of 
frost in the ground. 
F. O. T., Trumbull, 0 .—With whom did the 
Superb Raspberry originate and where? 
Ans. —On the grounds of Mr. J. Church¬ 
man of Burlington, N. J., about eight or 
nine years ago. 
P. J. K., Lawton, Mo.—Will you name some 
shrubs and small trees which bear ornamen¬ 
tal berries? 
Ans.—T he Barberry (Berberis vulgaris); 
Bittersweet (Celaatrus scandens); Mountain 
Ash (Sorbus Americana); Buffalo Berry 
(Shepherdia argentea.) 
W. N., Afton, Mich .—What is the best time 
to plant lily bulbs? 
Ans.—I n the Fall if the ground is dry, but 
mulch them well through the Winter. They 
may be kept, however, in damp soil or sand 
in a cool cellar and planted out in the Spring 
as soon as the ground is in condition to work. 
M. K., Beeton, Kans .—What are the parents 
of the Poughkeepsie Red grape? 
Aes. —It is a cross between the Delaware 
and Iona. 
O. F. F ., Blaclcstone, Mass .—Will you please 
answer through the Rural what is the mat¬ 
ter with my poultry. I notice that they do 
not eat, and what passes them is like water. 
I feed them with scalded feed, ship feed and 
shorts, and give them all the skim-milk they 
will drink. The floor to the poultry-house is 
covered with chaif, in wich there is consider¬ 
able rye, and there is sawdust around where 
I feed them. 
Ans, —You are uot feeding the proper food. 
Feed them wholly on hard food, as whole 
grain, until the movements of the digestive 
system are regular. Wheat is preferable to 
corn for your purpose. 
TTHE BEST 
yCc * With Cunt-iVerl GriwUn</pan*, 
€ (\A > Crusher. *md Sieve 
for Meal. They lake LESS 
.i I’ll" l it, flu More \\ ork, 
V* mid nve more du/rnbl* than any 
/-t&L' other mill- Srud fr*r Jiescriptixe 
Cntuliu/ue. Al^miairfra of the 
1. Union Horae Power, with Level 
•*' Tread. Threshers ami Cleaner*, 
- Fred Cult err. Circular Satrs, etc. 
W. Ii. BOYER «Sfc BUCK, Philadelphia, Pa. 
GOLD and SILVER PAINT 
MILL MANUFACTORY 
Guaranteed at home, 
8IIEI**R!» BROS., <’ln. 
clnnutl ami Kantli City. 
a week in tout own town. Terms and $5 outfit 
free. Address H H mj-*t .V Co , Portland, Me. 
u etc _W CARDS FOR 1883 
S 0 r'SuniB UfJitlv printed hi prrttv 
£*• i ii i .Gi h.wni.i. i itico tio li.nis. .j 
p? i.likt , Ju.L nut, in t-U. 20 U1LT Hr:\ j 
KKGfe, avv'd (urnnl romur- h?i«I pintn,l ri«\ 
$ 12 PKAKL lii()IUI.S, Imp'll, m»ir #iu- 
*>OAsed hnnd 2Kc. 12 SWIK8 
tmmo co*»M‘rd i»» Ir.ind $n<l flower*, 2’.r, 
lor new AM mm nf*Sumn1«» ft*r Awnk Ke¬ 
rr LUIf. ke. 200 JVKVI KFSHJXS Mldcd ll»i- 
Jrdcr- proinpllv fl1lr*l. lll.XXK Cl It IIS nt 
STKII XS KIWiS. .. (Ml. VrlIlford* Conn. 
Queen the South 
u PORTABLE 
FARM MILLS 
For Stock Feed or Meal for 
Family use. 
10,000 X2T USE. 
Write ebr Pamphlet. 
Simpson & Gault M’fg Co. 
Successor* to Straub Mill Co. 
CINCINNATI. 0. 
My young friends should not fail to send 
for the catalogues announced on page 89, 
many of which contain a good deal of plain 
instruction to guide you in your next season’s 
garden work. These catalogues cost a deal of 
money, though for the most part sent free to 
all applicants, and all who raise seeds or 
plants of any kind need them as books of 
reference. Compare them carefully, and see 
if you cannot assist your parents in improving 
the kinds of vegetables, flowers, roots or 
grains they have been raising. It costs but 
little to try new kinds in a small way, and 
such trials may prove of great value, u. m. 
7’ ln Elegant Seri pi Type, N r> ^ a 
/ oh BO FmvUDiI Imported clirmno 
J ^Ye«nli,llo.lt pks- $ 1. 20 pearl bevelV*^ 
•CvV/glUcil(ce,ICHn1«wll]i tupped comerB,10c.Y /a 
/ AkoiiIb 1 Urge album coulnlntug all thelateit 
- / Htv!.-* Of Imported bevel edge arid Betln fringe \ 
/ cards, with iliuBtruU-i! premium list A private term* 
to »g»nte, s:,r. CAUD MILLS, Korlhford, Conn. 
IMPROVED FARM IMPLEMENTS. 
Non-Explosive Steam Engines, Best Railway & Lever 
Horse-Powers, Tlireshlnif-Maelilues, Straw ).reserving 
Threshers; LaDow’s Disc uml Steel Spring Tooth Har¬ 
rows.Eagle Sulky Horse hakes,Cultivators Feed Mills 
Feed Steamera,etoetc.WuBKLKUAM«LioK Co., Albany 
N.Y. Established l-dii. Send for Illustrated Catalogue 
T w t-eo 
.tyle typo 
’ I Oh 60rlevnitl n. .. ( lirnni... :ir.l- Itlr. 11 |.L,.gl 
f 1 .. 30 prrcriO. IVisc - nd 20e for Audit'* 
A K Allm'.ii of ,»mpl,».. I’r. n.iiim l et Ai. Itlnnt t ank lit 
wlinlemle. MIKTIMUKU t lftll " OllhH A,. r lI,lenl.Cmm. 
A I IH\ ft Nkw Stvi.ks Gold Beveled Edge and 
I I 11 If I Chronio Visiting Cards, finest quality, 
H K | | \ largest variety and lowest prices, 50 
U IIII U U ohromoswithnauulOe.,aproaentwith 
each order. (Juntos Baos. & Co.,CllntonviUo,Conn. 
Price, $25. 
For manufacturing or Family use. Is now known 
throughout America and Europe as the simplest and 
best Knitting Machine ever made. Makes seamless 
hose, double heel and toe. Runs either by hand or 
power. Capacity, from 6 to 8dozen pahs socks per 
dav. A child can use them. For circulars address 
James l. branson, we chestnut 8t„ Phiia.. Fa. 
LETTERS FROM THE COUSINS, 
Dear Uncle Mark:— I have heard the let¬ 
ters from the cousins in the Rural read so 
often aud heard brother Claude talking so 
much about them, that I feel as if I would 
like to joiu such a wide-a wake company, and 
see if I cannot do something better than play¬ 
ing all of the time. I think it has been the 
cause of our (brother and I) studying harder 
this Winter than we would have dene if we 
had not hoped to be able to write letters for 
the Rural; also brother Claude’s getting the 
silver cup for the first prize in the watermelon 
contest, stimulated us, so if you will take me 
into the Horticultural Club I will try and be a 
good boy and help mother to work and take 
care of her flowers and chickens. She has 
some very pretty flowers; one rose bush is 19 
or 12 feet across, it is very large. It is called 
the Laurel rose. I have a colt that is very 
gentle; he is about six or seven months old. I 
want to ride him but father will not let me. 
I have one black pullet named Jim Crow and 
hope to raise some chickens this year. A ter¬ 
rapin’s head that had been cut off caught one 
of grandmama’s chicken by the leg and held 
it until his mouth was pried open and the leg 
taken out by force. Nat Bernard Fosque. 
Little Falls 
New York 
BURRELL & WHITMAN 
Inventorn and Manufacturers of the latest Approved Apparatus for manufacturing BUTTER and 
CHEESE, most successfully and obtaining the largest profit. New developments constantly coming out. 
Send for our Illustrated Catalogue of 53 pages. 
PRESTON’S BINDER TRUCK 
XJ 
wmm ,w> 
NEW MEMBERS OF THE CLUB. 
“Angus” (send name and address). C. H. 
Burchard, J. M. Brodnac, J. W. Gregg, Jen¬ 
nie Gilbert., E. 8. Durkee, Nat. B. Fosque, 
Jennie C. Bruce, Florence Russel, Rufus Rus¬ 
sel, Lansing Williamson, Gertie Williamson, 
Eliza Lick, Belle S, McAboy, W. S Brnall, 
Wilber Hendricks, Prentiss Hendricks, Archie 
Waterman, Alex. Lookhead, Daisy Johnston, 
Orville Morse, Julia Pelton, Bessie Underhill, 
T. H. Sponsler, Victoria Cox. 
AGENTS WANTED in Every County and State in the TT. S 
Mention this paper. 
\n English Veterinary Surgeon and Chemist, 
now traveling In this country, says tuat moat 
of the Horse and Cuttle Powders *okl here 
are worthless tra*li- He says tlml Sheridan s 
■ ■■ m ■ ■ m ■■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Condition Powders are absolutely pure and 
Immensely valuable. Nothlngon earth will make hens lay like Sheridan’s (Yriulltlon Powders- teuapii- 
ful ioL pint food. Bold everywhere, or sent by mail for tt 'otter-stamp*. L B. Jolts son & Co», Boston, Mass. 
