MAYS 
THE RURAL WIW-YORKER. 
Fall I set two teams to plowing a piece of 
meadow; the sulky was used with two old 
horses, 20 and 25 years respectively; the other 
plow, a South Bend Oliver Chilled Plow, was 
drawn by a good young team five years old. 
I adjusted both plows to do the same kind of 
work; the old team did as much work as the 
yoimg one and never sweated a bit, while the 
other came in quite warm and sweaty. 
Some sulk}' plows are not attached under 
the sulky, but at the side, therefore the plow 
must govern itself. For one, I am in favor of 
the sulky plow. It is easily adjusted to any 
kind of work and soil, and I find it cheaper 
in point of wear on shares than a hand plow, 
Allen Co., Ind. W. H. Hartu. 
flbrintliitral. 
PROPAGATING BEGONIAS FROM 
LEAVES. 
We have lately been experimenting some¬ 
what in propagating Begonia Rex from the 
leaves, and have learned from an acquaint¬ 
ance a method that may be new to some of 
the readers of the Rural. 
After making several cuts through the thick 
veins on the uuder part of a large leaf, lay it 
upon a surface of water in an open-mouthed 
dish—an old glass fruit can will do. Add 
more water from time to time as it evaporates, 
and should it become tainted, add a few bits of 
charcoal, which will correct the offensive odor. 
Keep in a moderately warm place, but never 
in the hot sun. In a few weeks tiny leaves 
appear above the cuts in the veins, and roots 
make their way into the water below. When 
the leaves are as large as five cent pieces, the 
plant is ready for potting. All water-rooted 
plants are extremely delicate, the roots having 
so little substance that, oven the most careful 
handling will sometimes destroy them. To 
obviato the danger from removal, the can con¬ 
taining the young plant may gradually be 
filled with earth, pouring off a little water and 
adding a little soil, taking a week or more for 
the process. Finally, the can, if of glass, may 
be broken and the yoimg plant with its ad¬ 
hering ball of earth transferred to a larger 
receptacle. e. k. b. 
fHisctUanemts. 
RANDOM NOTES. 
Recently I saw two teamsters discussing 
the proper fit of a collar for a draft horse. 
The collar on one team fitted the neck snugly 
when the horse was standing still. On the 
other, you could nearly run your fist between 
the lower end of the collar and the animal’s 
neck. One teamster said: “That collar of 
yours would bo all right for a carriage horse ; 
but when he draws a load the draft comes 
right on his windpipe." The other said : “ If 
you work a horse with a collar that does not 
fit tight, you will soon gall Ills shoulder." 1 
believe, as a general tiling, fanners under¬ 
stand less about the proper fit of a horse col¬ 
lar than of almost, any other branch of tlieir 
business. 
Is there an objection to the red cob in sweet 
corn ? Last Spring my neighbor planted 
about an acre of Early Narragansett for mar¬ 
ket. His first load met with a roudy sale. In 
a few days he took into town a second load 
and asked one of the hotels if they wanted 
some more sugar com. “ Ain't you tho man 
that sold us that stuff that turns black when 
it is cooked f No, we don’t want any more of 
that. It’s not very pleasant to have a guest 
scud back his dish and tell the waiter he would 
like some corn that wasn’t cooked yesterday.” 
Sure enough, some of the ears turned about as 
black as “squaw" corn when cooked. Only it 
was a dirty, nasty-looking black. This was 
the mom notieable if it stood awhile after be- 
ing taken from the pot. 1 suppose it must bo 
due to the ulkuli in tho water—drawing the 
color from the cob—for the Narragansett is 
highly recommended by Henderson, and other 
seedmen, and gardeners would hardly want to 
ruise the second crop if it looked like this did 
when it was cooked. 
-+»« -- 
I believe the Rural reported that Land- 
reth’s Extra Early and the American Wonder 
Peas were about eighty days iu forming edible 
pods at the Rural Experimental Grounds last 
season. Tho Messrs. Laudreth claim that their 
“Extra Early” Pea will mature for tho table 
in -15 days, “ frequently under peculiar con¬ 
ditions in less time." Bliss &, Sous claim that 
the American Wonder, planted in June, was 
i eady for use in 53 days. Why this discrep- 
uncy ? Of course, there would be a difference 
between peas planted the first of April and the 
fitth of June, but that hardly accounts for all 
of tho time* 
Is the Rural’s illustration of the prize¬ 
winners at the Crystal Palace shows an im¬ 
ported one ? [No, re-engraved by us—Eds.] I 
believe Dr. Hoskins admires that picture. 
Perhaps the Doctor belongs to tho a?sthetic 
school. The fowls looked to me as though 
they had been to an “ all night session," and 
each member was waiting for a motion to ad¬ 
journ. Really, I think those English birds are 
very poor at posing.' 
Opinions will differ. Two Colorado men 
wore discussing the respective merits of Mis¬ 
souri and the Centennial State. Smith said : 
“ Well, I wish I was back in Missouri; I could 
get enough to eat anyhow. I’d be sure of a 
good living." “0, shut, up," said Jones, “I 
lived in Missouri five years and I know some¬ 
thing about their living. Why, if you get a 
sack of flour there Saturday night, every man 
within five miles will hear about it, aud they'll 
all be there Sunday for dinner. The road will 
just be lined with teams. Missouri ? Why I’d 
rather be hung in Colorado than die a natural 
death in Missouri—be more credit to my chil¬ 
dren." And Jones gathered up his groceries 
and started for home. Clem Auldon. 
-*-*-♦-. 
Hybrids and Sports. 
At the last meeting for the season of the 
Massachusetts Horticultural Society, held at 
Boston on the last day of March, the essayist, 
Mr. J. W. Talbot, wrestled with a subject in 
vegetable physiology of which but very little 
is yet known. He explained that “no natural 
plant, or tree can of itself alone ever change 
its kind." All right. Now, can the leaf of 
one variety of apple change into the leaf of 
another variety on the same tree without the 
artificial means of budding or grafting! It is 
conceded. I believe, since the days of Lindley, 
that the leaf gives character to the fruit Can 
cells formed in the cambium by the protoplasm 
[and these cells are only increased in numbers 
by division) partake of the character of a hy¬ 
brid ? This is the question for the Boston phil¬ 
osophers, for on the true determination only 
of this point can be fully settled the question 
of the influence of stock on graft. 
It was asserted not many years since that 
the halves of two different buds, when made 
to grow, would produce a fruit one half sweet 
and the other half sour. I would like to ask 
the Boston essayist if his protoplasm is of so 
mixed a uature in the graft and stock, and 
yet so completely separate in the formation 
and character of fruit? He declares in a few 
words that all sports are graft-hybrids. Would 
that he could prove or demonstrate that the 
apple which is sweet in one half and sour in the 
other has its origin in a blossom-hybrid! a. b. 
» ♦ » 
A Caution to Those Going to the 
Northwest. 
In the Rural of April 7 is an article by 
Prof. Stockbridge entitled Agricultural Ad¬ 
vantages of Dakota and Montana, which I 
consider a conservative and candid statement 
of the condition of things in this "Northern 
Pacific Country.” I wish every person think¬ 
ing of coming to this country would trust that 
article instead of the many lies and exaggera¬ 
tions published by the railroad companies. 
"Wadena, Minn. N. B. Hamlin. 
A Good Word for an Aspersed Firm. 
Having lately noticed an article in. as I 
remember, oue of the Rurals for January 
last, reflecting severely on tho business integ¬ 
rity of W. & T. Smith, nurserymen of Geneva, 
N. Y., I beg to say that I have had much 
business dealing with these gentlemen for 25 
years past, and I think I have never found 
in the nursery business, more accurate aud 
worthy men. F. K. Phoenix. 
Delevan, Wis. 
---- 
A Rural Corn Premium. 
I received last week from the Sandwich 
Manufacturing Company, of Illinois, one of 
the most perfect hand or power corn shelters 
I over saw. It was the eighth prize offered by 
the Rural New-Yorker on corn sent, out in 
its Free Seed Distribution lost Spring. Allow 
me to thank you and also the Sandwich Man¬ 
ufacturing Co., for the very fine and useful 
present. Dr. Wm. H. Chamberlin. 
- +-+-*■ - 
For “ Scratches" in Horses, for outward 
application I have found nothing better than 
washing with warm water and Castile soap 
and rubbing on, or in, sweet or castor oil. j. b. 
- ♦ ♦♦ - 
BOOKS RECEIVED. 
American Berkshire Record. This is the 
fifth volume of this model work on pedigrees of 
pure stock, which is the acknowledged aut hor¬ 
ity on Berkshire pedigrees everywhere. It is an 
invaluable guide to all iu search of well-bred 
stock of this superior breed; for with this in 
hand the farmer can easily avoid the mistake of 
purchasing sires or dams of unknown history. 
This fifth volume, of 254 puges, iu addition to 
he usual complex index to owners, giving the 
sex, name and number of the animals lie- 
longing to each, contains also a like index 
to breeders and several other improvements. 
In it the last number assigned to boars is 
4,085 and the last to sows, 8,370. The Record 
grows steadily in favor with breeders, as the 
advantages it affords them become from year 
to year more apparent. The demand for re¬ 
corded stock has never, we learn, been so great 
as at the present day, and the average quality 
of the animals now being bred shows a marked 
improvement over those of former years. 
This volume like its predecessors, is printed 
on tinted paper and handsomely bound in 
cloth, with red-colored edges. The five vol¬ 
umes of nearly 1,700 pages, containing a large 
number of valuable essays, and other infor¬ 
mation will be sent, post-paid, for $15. Appli¬ 
cation for the books and other information 
should be made to the efficient and courteous 
Secretary, Phil. M. Springer, Springfield, III. 
Dutch-Friesian Herd Book. Vol. II. 
Price $1.50. Of this handsome volume of 204 
pages, 11 are devoted to a review of the origin 
and history of the breed; 23 to the Holstein- 
Dutch-Friesian controversy in America; and 
18 to an account of the various breeds of 
Lowland Cattle; the Situation in Europe; In¬ 
ternational Conference; Milking Qualities of 
Friesian Cattle: and 18 to the Scale of Points; 
By-Lavrs, Index, etc. The Pedigree Register of 
bulls uumbers from 04 to 206 and that of cows, 
from 204 to 577. The Advanced or Main Regis¬ 
ter of bulls numbers from 44 to 47; and that 
of cows, from 186 to 342. All animals must 
at first enter the Pedigree Register from which 
cows are transferred to the Main Register only 
upon actual milk records of a few days or a 
week, as a trial for this period is thought to 
establish the milking capacity of an animal, 
white avoiding “the laborious and often ques¬ 
tionable practice of milking valuable breeding 
animals the full year." This work, which is 
well edited, is full of interest and instruction 
to all lovers of fine dairy stock. To be had 
from S. Hoxie, Seeretaiy, Whitestown. N. Y. 
Industrial Education in the Exited 
States. This work of 319 pages is a report 
made by the courteous Commissioner of Edu¬ 
cation, John Eaton, to the Secretary of the 
Interior, in reply to a Senate resolution of 
Dec. 19, 1882. asking for “the latest and fullest 
information in possession of the Bureau of 
Education in relation to technical and indus¬ 
trial education in the schools and colleges en¬ 
dowed in whole or in part by the Government 
of the United States," etc. A valuable work 
on this subject. 
Carp and Carp Culture— a profusely illus¬ 
trated pamphlet of 40 pages, by Milton P. 
Peirce, of the Penn. State Board of Agricul¬ 
ture, giving full and trustworthy instruction 
about carp and carp culture under all con¬ 
ditions. This is an invaluable pamphlet for 
all engaged or intending to engage in this 
promising industry. To be had from Milton 
P. Peirce, 117 Market St., Philadelphia, Pa., 
price $1. 
The History of the Shire Horse aud the 
Origin of tho English Cart-horse Society to¬ 
gether with an Essay on the Breeding, Rear¬ 
ing, Feeding and Farm Management of Farm 
Horses, by Frederick Street, published by Cas¬ 
sell, Fetter, Galpin & Co., New York. Price 
one shilling. This is a pithily exhaustive 
work on the English cart horse. 
Report of the Annual Meeting of the 
Holstein Breeder’s Association of America, 
held at Syracuse, N. Y., March 31, 1883. This 
little pamphlet of 20 pages coutains full infor¬ 
mation about all tliat was said aud done at the 
above large and successful meeting. Thomas 
B. Wales, Jr., Secretary, Iowa City, Iowa. 
Advertising Hand-Book of T. C. Evans, 
General Advertising Agent, 2, 4 and S Tre- 
mont Temple, Boston, Mass. This handsome 
little work contains an appropriately classified 
list of the most desirable advertising mediums 
in the United States and Canada. 
Hand Book for Advertisers, by Pratt & 
Co.’s Newspaper Advertising Agency, corner 
Nintli and Arch Sts.. Philadelphia, Pa. An in¬ 
structive and convenient pamphlet of 79 pages. 
Forty-second Annual Report of the New 
York State Agricultural Society for the year 
1SS2—a pamphlet of 141 pages. 
NORTHWEST ARKANSAS. 
ITS HORTICULTURAL CAPABILITES. 
The “Ozark Range" region of Northwest 
Arkansas, which embraces about a dozen 
counties, has been much lauded on account of 
its splendid climate, its fertile soil, its salubri¬ 
ty, the beauty of its streams, the charming 
character of its scenery, and, above all, for its 
remarkable agricultural capabilities. This 
praise is not altogether undeserved. Large 
areas, reduced to cultivation, have been plant¬ 
ed to such staple crops as corn, cotton, wheat, 
oats, sorghum and tobacco, and the yield has 
been surprising. But, after all it is not the 
agricultural capabilities of the country that 
constitute its chief attraction. It is one of the 
finest horticultural regions that I have ever 
seen. The soil and climate seem peculiarly 
fitted for the growth and perfect matur¬ 
ity of the apple, peach, cherry, pear, plum 
and quince. The native grapes in the size of 
the clusters and berries and in the richness of 
their flavor, are as good as any I have ever 
seen in the vineyards of Ohio, Illinois or Mis¬ 
souri. Here the peach seems to reach its 
greatest perfection. I have examined the or¬ 
chards of Delaware, New Jersey, and those 
about Grand Haven and St. Josephs, Michigan, 
but I never saw peaches so large in size, so 
firm in texture and so exquisitely flavored as I 
have seen and tasted here. Another thing: 
in a period of 30 years, as I have been in¬ 
formed, there have been only two partial fail¬ 
ures of the peach crop. The fruit is magnifi¬ 
cent in size. Last June I measured many 
specimens of the Amelia Peach, then folly 
ripe, that had attained the enormous propor¬ 
tions of 10 to 10 3 ;[ inches in circumference. 
Many specimens of the common seedling 
peaches measured from six to 10 inches in cir¬ 
cumference. These luscious productions of 
uncared-for orchards possessed a flavor of sur¬ 
passing delicacy and richness. 
Apples also produce well, and the fruit is re¬ 
markably perfect in development, but it ripens 
too early for Winter keeping. The best Win¬ 
ter apples from New York nurseries come to 
maturity here in Autumn. The fruit grows 
larger than in the North, and is excellent for 
evaporating. 
Little attention is paid to the orchards here. 
Trees are wholly neglected after once being 
planted, Pruning-shears. saws, etc., are un¬ 
known implements. Notwithstanding this 
neglect, enormous quantities of the fine peaches, 
such as I have descrihed, are produced every 
year. Well-informed persons estimate that at 
least. 300,000 bushels of peaches were left to rot 
in the orchards in the immediate vicinity of 
Watalula during the season of 1SS2. 
Strawberries, dewberries and all kinds of 
small fruits grow in perfection. The land is 
easily subdued and brought under cultivation. 
Very little fruit reaches market in the green 
state. A mere moiety of the immense produe - 
tion is dried in the sun by the wives and 
daughters of farmers, sold to country mer¬ 
chants, and is shipped by them to St* Louis 
and other Western cities. 
The old Arkansian inhabitants are extreme¬ 
ly ignorant, and know nothing of the modem 
methods of farming, and place small value on 
any crop save corn and cotton. A few of us 
are anxious to welcome any number of New 
York and New England horticulturists and 
farmers. Why do they not come? We have 
excellent transportation facilities. The moun - 
tain plateaus are extremely fertile, the 
valleys are charming, the streams beautiful, 
the climate delightful; aud as for healthful¬ 
ness, no part of the continent is more salubri¬ 
ous; land is cheap, and nice, improved farms 
can be purchased for very little money. Will 
not some enterprising man come and can and 
prepare the immense trait crops of this region 
for market? The foundation for a fortune 
may be laid very easily by any one with a very 
small capital. We will extend a cordial wel¬ 
come to all who come. It costs little to live 
here, all food-stnffs being quite cheap. Rail¬ 
road lines are near at hand. We have no 
long, cold Winters. There are no swamps in 
the “Ozark Range," and malarial diseases are 
unknown. Every condition is favorable to 
the immigrant. Will not some of the intelli¬ 
gent fruit-growers of the East and North 
come and make for themselves homes here? 
A very small capital only is necessary to 
commence with in Franklin. Madison. Wash¬ 
ington, Crawford and Carroll Counties. There 
is vet excellent land to be found subject to be 
homesteaded. Railroad hinds and private 
lands are cheap—from $1.25 to $5, according 
to location and improvements. We want 
good citizens, aud will do all we can to show 
that we welcome such. j. a. d. 
RURAL SPECIAL REPORTS. 
Dakota. 
Colfax, Richland Co., April 11.—This 
county is finely situated in the Upper Red 
Valley; county seat, Walipeton. The natural 
resources of the section are being rapidly de¬ 
veloped, and there is a heavy immigration. 
There will be an increase of 25 per cent, in the 
acreage of wheat, oats, barley and vegetables 
this year. The principal towns on the railroad 
