COMMERCIAL 
NURSERIES 
$mpUmettti0 m*a Iflarhlttfry 
Jluivy j&upptiejs 
mustard, parsley, and spinach. In the mean¬ 
time, it. would he well for the children to sow 
some seeds in boxes in the house. "Nothing is 
better forthis purpose than a mixture of one 
half ordinary sandy soil and dry moss, in equal 
parts bv measure. Roth the soil and the moss 
should be run through a sieve, not coarser 
than the one used for sifting coal ashes, and 
if finer all the better. Yon can get, the dry 
moss from any nurseryman or market-garden* 
er. There is plenty of it in the woods. 
Mr. Harris makes the boxes out of half iu«-h 
stuff, four inches deep und twelve iuches wide, 
and just long enough to fit in the window. 
A tablespoonful of superphosphate to each 
box. thoroughly mixed with the soil will be a 
great help. Fill the boxes full with the mix¬ 
ture of half soil and moss and then saturate it 
with hot water. As soon as the soil gets dn 
enough to work nicely, make rows crosswise 
of the box about an iueh apart. A pencil 
placed flat, ou the soil and -pressed down an 
eight of au iuch deep makes a nice smooth 
diill. Iu these drill-marks sow tomatoes, let¬ 
tuce. egg plant, celery, cabbage and cauli¬ 
flower and such flower seeds as phlox, pansy, 
ten-week-stock, mignonette, aster and ver¬ 
bena, all that is necessary. If the soil was 
thoroughly saturated with warm water be¬ 
fore sowing the seed, no more water will be 
needed for several days. It is a common mis¬ 
take to water too frequently. When you do 
water, put on all that the soil will hold and 
then not water again till the surface soil or 
moss is quite dry. It is desirable to use warm 
water, say as warm as new milk. When the 
plants are fairly started and before they be¬ 
gin to crowd each other, transplant them into 
other boxes. Many plants grown by the chil¬ 
dren in this way are often far larger and 
healthier than those in the hot-bed. 
“I have ased the 
( A CME’ Pulverizing 
Harrow, Clodl Crusher 
and Leveler on soil so 
heavy that an ordinary 
Barrow would hardly 
mahe an impression; by 
giving it a few strokes; 
with the ‘ A CME / the 
hard\ lumps were trans¬ 
formed ./ into a mellow 
soil fit to receive any 
crop.” (See page 18 S this 
paper.) 
OLD TIMES, 
now WE USED TO GET OUR WINTER CLOTHING 
_- y.. HE first process was to wash 
and shear the sheep, the shear- 
~ v r ing of which is probably kept 
up in most of the agricultural 
parts of the States, but since 
the introduction of the less 
hardy fine-wools the cruel 
process of immersing the sheep 
in cold water, is in a measure dispensed with. 
The next process was the assortment of the 
wool by the females of the family into three 
parcels according to quality, this to be spun 
and knit into stockings, that for weaving aud 
dressing at the fulling mill for female wear, 
and the other to be further failed and sheared 
for the men and boys. These several parcels 
of wool were next sent, usually by a boy on 
horseback, to the carding machine, where they 
were made into rolls ready for spinning and 
done up in a blanket or sheet , pinned with a 
thorn, and returned by the same mode of 
transit. Next was the process of spinniug, 
which was usually done in the family, either 
by its own members or by girls hired to come 
into the house for that purpose, The girls of 
the rural districts were thus enabled to earn 
a little money with which to gratify a taste 
for dress aud ornament. In the mazes of the 
dance the female form has ever loon considered 
in its most attractive phase, and its motions 
the most graceful, but it there lacks one ele¬ 
ment of beauty as compared doth the motions 
of the girl at the spinning-wheel. Here is not 
only put into graceful motion the lower limbs 
and feet, but also with every thread the full 
display of the aims and hands, and while from 
the dance little but weariness and lauguor are 
the results the manipulations of the spinning- 
wheel b ring muscular development aud health; 
and the operation results in administering to 
the wants and necessities of man, and if it is 
true as has been said, that beauty consists in 
the perfect adaptation of the thing to its use, 
the spiuning gilds have it. 
The next, process in this home manufacture 
was to send the yarn to the weavers. The 
weavers patronized by the family of which I 
was the errand bov, consisted of Mammy, the 
widowed mother, and Benny and Lizzie, the 
growm-up son and daughter. It was quite 
common to send with the warp of the piece to 
be woven only a part of the wool, or what we 
called the filling, the remainder to be sent in 
installments as fast as spun, and it was no un¬ 
common thing for Benny to call with the er¬ 
rand. “Mammy says she wants some more 
filling, she says.’" Now, this little family of 
weavers, living in their very small, impainted 
house with their little garden aud their loom 
all their own. with their simple industrious 
habits fulfilled as honorably the destiny 
marked out for them by Providence aud as 
well performed their share towards helping on 
the world as any of their more wealthy and 
refined neighbor's, and 1 doubt not ill the end 
were more missed than the majority of their 
townsmen. The rolls of fiatinel w'heu they 
came from the weavers were next sent to the 
fulling-mill, where by a process of excessive 
pounding in a solution of soap they were par¬ 
tially felted, increasing their thickness after 
which they were colored, pressed and sheared, 
and were then seutto the village tailor who cut 
them by a measure taken of the prospective 
wearer, w r heu they were made up in the family 
general ly by a hired seamstress. 
The garments made by the processes were 
strong and durable, and though they might 
lack the polish and exactness of fit of that of 
the city business man or dandy, they had the 
advantage of economy in their production at a 
time when money was harder to obtain than 
at present and when each member of the fam¬ 
ily thought it a duty and a privilege to labor 
for each other’s benefit. Vieillard. 
BUTTER-WORKER 
SEND FOR CIRCULARS 
FULLY DESCRIBING AND ILLUSTRATING IT 
After a two years test Gy a large number of the 
Lest butter-ruakors in all parts of the country, we are 
now ready to oiler, witu confidence, to Dairymen 
and to the Trade, a Hand Butter-Worker, op¬ 
erating on theprinelpleof direct andptneerful pres¬ 
sure, instead of rolling, grinding, or sliding upon 
the butter. 
We. claim that it is the only It utter-Worker which 
will certainly, ag/dfe/w, atul tonify take out all the 
buttermilk, ana Widen date not and eannol injure 
the grain of the butler. Jtvnrk* in the -salt as easily 
and as well, tt leaves the batter in better condition 
even/ troy Ilian is possible by any other method or 
machine. It is the greatest la bur-sating iinptem> nt 
ever placed in the dairy-room. In these days, when 
tin* best butter brings ao high a price, von cannot 
afford to be without the latest improved appliances 
for producing the finest quality of' “gilt, edged.” 
We are making more extensively than ever the 
well known 
Blmiclmrd Omni, 
with our many recent improvements. Five sizes 
made for Fanitly Dairies. Five sizes made for Fac¬ 
tory use. Perfect stock and best work. Strong, 
simple, efficient, convenient, and durable. They 
are cverv why ‘“THE BEST,” and continue to tie 
NEW HAND-BOOK 
Hardy Omamental Trees, shrub*. ICrirgrcens, 
Vines, Pieomes, Phlox, etc. tai pages,with handsome 
colored plate. Price. g5etn. Plnln.tSOel*. Send for it. 
ELI.WAXfi r. K A II I RKY, 
M r. nor* Nurseries, Rochester, n. y. 
WHAT CAN WE SAY 
CV Illustrate.! fit 1 tJV SH V 8 U 
Catalogue I’BEfi. R—. » ■ A. , 
Seitd (Tie address of TEN Persons who buy 
SKEWS And PUNT& und we will send you 
gratia a PM. of the new OsmrWIIde Sunflower 
TNNISFALLEN GREENHOUSES. Springfield, 0. 
LETTERS FROM THE COUSINS, 
Dear Uncle Mark:—I am a little girl nine 
years old and 1 wish to join your Club. My 
papa has taken the Rural ever since 1 can re¬ 
member. and I like very much to read the let¬ 
ters from the Cousins. I have neither brother 
nor sister, but I have an Uncle Joe who brings 
me apples and oranges sometimes when he 
comes from town. I have made four bed- 
quilts: one for my mamma, two for myself 
and one for my Aunt Fannie, aud she gave me 
a silver dollar and a hen with IS chickens for 
it. I ltad a garden 'ust Summer and planted 
some peppers, peas, tomatoes and pop-corn, 
and one plant of tobacco in it. I have some 
box plants that are in the house. 1 go to 
school and have to walk two-and-a-half miles. 
Your niece, Janie C. Bruce. 
Prince Edward Co., Ya. 
P&3&3&S. 
Jolin. S. Carter, 
Manufacturer aud Dealer in 
APPARATUS AND SUPPLIES 
FOR 
CHEESE FACTORIES. CREAMERIES 
AM) DAIRIES. 
Manufacturing Outfits a Specialty. 
Send for Illustrated Circular of Improved Appara¬ 
tus for making CHKKSF and BUTTER. 
JOHN S. CARTER. Syracuse. N. V. 
1883. s &m? 
Will be mailed fhkk to all applicants, and to cus¬ 
tomers of last year without Ordering iL Iteontains 
about 175 page*. (it)0 Illustrations, prices, accurate 
r.oct iptcins and valuable directions for planting 
15 m varieties of Veer-table mid Flower Seeds, 
Hants, Fruit Trees, etc. Invaluable to all, espec¬ 
ially to Market Gardeners. Seud for it! 
D. M. FERRY & CO. Detroit Mich. 
500,000 Manchester 
STRAWBERRY PLANTS, 
By THBOriginatok at Reds red Pricett for Spring 
of 18SS. Buy at the fountain - heap and get the puke. 
Averages twice ns Lurin'us tlie Wilson and yields fully 
double the number of v 1 aiits per acre: Is au excel¬ 
lent shipper, very ATTRAmvK In anponrunec. of ex 
ckllrnt i i.i vok, and retains Its color and flavor to a 
remarkable degree after being picked. Circulars 
free at an earlyante. J. BATTEY, 
Manchester, N. J. 
Uncle Mark.—B eing a member of your 
dub, I write this my first letter. Your late 
discussion on boys lea ving the farm prompts 
me to say I think it is because they want, en¬ 
couragement, more home amusements and 
kind words, and their parents are the ones to 
give them. 1 think it is better to see a boy at 
work on the farm trying to help his parents 
than to sec oue doing nothing but swearing 
aud smoking cigars. It. is no worse to have the 
physical system overtaxed than the mental. 
I have seen more sad faces in villages, towns 
and cities than ou the farm. I am a farmer s 
boy, 13 years old. I have been able to attend 
school but very little. When boys have leisure 
how much better it would be for them to take 
up a paper and read than to be wholly idle. 
Your nephew, Harry W. Butler. 
Nurseries at Flushing, N. X. 
LATE OF 
R. B. PARSONS & CO. 
ORNAMENTAL TREES mid SIIREBS 
Iti excellent condition and at large discounts. 
For Catalogues, address 
A. It. ( BANE. Exr.. Flushing, S. V. 
THE FERGUSON 
BUREAU CREAMERY 
Makes the Best Butter 
0^ IF YOU LOVE 
It develops the finest flavor mid en l - The Letter 
iusUIY. 
we* tiia lend lee, and 
Hundred* have dmonrdnd deep rettcra and adopted 
^PON ; T a isiXY ANY CANS, PANS OK CREAMER 
or send your millc to the factory. tmtU you have sent 
lor our large imiiKr.-Pxl .-ircnlare and price lint*. 
THE FI RRl'SfPi M’F O. Burlington, \ t. 
It \KU FLOW KRS. send 10c. for packet of Hilda- 
cum i “occiiicu. m. • d, our specialty f-- ns:i. One of the 
choices! new plants irrow u. Blooms first summer from 
sc<"I 12]mi ki ts seed ft. J’: ants $1 each- P1NUREE & 
KIXGSI.KY. Seedsmen, Box +15. Now Haven, Conn. 
hiothc bent mion.uin 
It niakou tin? roost 
Biivoetliomost labor. 
RELIABLE SEEDS 
Of the verv best strains Tor .MARKET GARDENERS, 
FARMERS, FLORISTS, anil FAMILY GARDENS. 
Seed* sent by mall all over lhe country and guurau 
teed to reach purchasers. Cntnloguc.-i free ouappli 
cation. HOVEY A (OilPAW, 
Importers and Wholesale mat Retail Dealers in 
REID’S 
CREAMERY 
NEW MEMBERS OP HORTICULTURAL 
CLUB. 
JALU.IVH )| ik is •(»()« 
= BUTTER . 
SIMPLEST AND BENT. 
Amks. Mattie, Bucyrus, O.: Ames, Blanche, 
Bucyrus, 0.; Biglin, Maggie L., Beioan, Kan.; 
Butts, Carl, La Cygno, Kan.; Bodge, Paul 
V,, La Porte, Ind.; Bergen. Helen, Parkville, 
L. I.; Campbell, J. Frank, Puuxsutawney, Pa.; 
Carpenter, U. Grace, Woodstock Valley, Ct.: 
Croop, Clarence, Fowlerville, Mich.; Croop, 
John, Fowlerville, Mich.; Croop, Willie, Fow¬ 
lerville, Mich.; Dodge, Ernest G., Turin, N. 
Y.; Dressier, Martin, Mt. Etna, la,; Green¬ 
wood, Lynne C., Cortland, N. Y.; Hawker, 
Charlie, Urbana, Ill.: Hawker, Walter, Ur- 
bana, Frank, Urbana, III.: Hunt, Lucy L., 
Frankfort, Dak.; lluut. Nettie A., Frankfort, 
Dak.; Hailman, Hattie 8., Arbor Hill, Va., 
Hinds. Marian, Do Burster, N. Y.; Hinds, 
Clinton. De ltuyster, N. Y.: Hoag, Hannah 
E., Okaloosa, la.; Huffman, Archer. Roan¬ 
oke. Ind.; Johnson. Allen K., Collin (’enter, 
N. Y.; Kinyou, Johnnie, Middleport, N. V.; 
Kollev. Lowry, Abiugton, Va.: LiugroU, Jud- 
son B., Stevonsville, Mich.; McCleary, Josie 
8., High Point, la.; Nutting, Mabel C. V.. 
Randolph, Win.: Rawson, Arthur. Algona, 
la.; Sei ink. Harry O., Hanover, Mo.; Strong, 
Arthur. Naples, N, Y.; Hhisler, Emma, IV i 11- 
ianisvillc, N. Y.; Shisler. Sura E., Williama- 
ville, N. Y.; Tangao, Winnie, Bellefontaine, 
O. ; Taugee, Clarence, Bellefontaine. O.; 
Thompson, Nina, Cloverdale, Kan.; Thomp¬ 
son, 8teUa, Cloverdale Kan.; Van Haim, 
Clarence, N. Linsdale, O.; Woodburn, C. II., 
Sterling, Ill.; Wilbur. Lvdia F., Middle Falls, 
N. Y,: Wilbur, Robbie, Middle Falls, N. Y. 
I<» South Market St., Ilonton, IIumh 
BUTTER WORKER 
nml K!f„ctitr ami ' nil >,nli t! I. [I I-n 
Power Workers, iiiiltcr Print¬ 
ers, Shipping Boxes, etc. 
DOC POWERS . 
Write for Itliwiratr.'liWnioyu*.' 
A. H. REID, 
UJAklTm If ' or d'e purpose of promoting pro- 
nil El I i II Ki’essive agriculture, we desire to pro- 
11 Mil I LU rare .stocks of Seed of all new and im¬ 
proved varieties,especially I* n re Seed ('urn and oth 
or grains. New variet ies should have their cnaracterls- 
lles fixed by a course of five years or more of careful 
selection anil breeding. Auy person having such will 
please send sample, with his own address plainly 
marked upon the package, and write enreful descrip 
Hon. with history, t" 
IIIII A II Si HI.KY *V ('«.. Seedsmen, 
Koeliester. N. V .. and Chiengo, 111. 
CHILDREN’S GARDENS, 
Mr. Joseph Harris, well known as a farm¬ 
er, and author says thas he wants all the 
children to have u garden of their own. it 
need not be a large one. If possible it should 
be a light, easily worked, sandy soil; sow on 
it early in the Spring, three or four pounds 
of some good artificial fertilizer to the square 
rod, and spado or hoe or rake it into the soil. 
If the laud had been plowed and prepared 
ready for the seed the Autumn previous, so 
much the better. In this case it need not be 
spaded again iu the Spring. As soon as the 
frost is out of the ground and the first three or 
four inches of soil is dry enough to work, hoe 
it and rake it smooth, and then let the chil¬ 
dren sow, in rows wide enough apart to ad¬ 
mit the use of a hoe, such hardy seeds as rad¬ 
ish, lettuce, cabbage, cauliflower, carrots, 
parsnips, turnips, onions, beets, celery, cress, 
Creamery and Dairy Apparatus and Supplie 
Send for catalogue. 
CHILD* A- JONES, Utica, N. Y. 
PATENT CHANNEL CAN 
CREAMERY 
Deep setting, without ice. Perfect refrltt- 
erator Included, .suited for large or small 
dairies, creameries, or gathering cream. 
Special discount on large orders. One 
Creamery at wholesale whore I have no 
agents. Send for circular. 
Mr- Agents wanted. 
W.E. LINCOLN. Warren, Maui 
The best NEWand OLD varieties. Ind ad mg Cham¬ 
pion, Brighton. Delaware, DucIii-kh, Lady.. I offer- 
son, I, inly WiislilugiiHi. ill no re 'k Early. Pren- 
i Ink. Poeltlitiglou, \i (Every variety Hardy 
Treenuiid Plain*.) Send for CntiiloRurr Address, 
VV. S. LITTLE, Rocbealer, N.Y. 
BURRELL 6c WHITMAN/SIS 
Inventors and Manufacturers of the latest Approved Apparatus for manufacturing BUTTKR and < HKhSL 
most successfully, aud obtaining the largest profit. New developments constantly coming out. Send for our 
Illustrated Catalogue of M pages. 
