THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
AUG as 
THE 
RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
Conducted by 
' elbertTs.Jcar'man. 
Address 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER, 
No. 34 Park Row. New York 
SATURDAY, AUGUST 18, 1883. 
A new era in the rice trade has been in¬ 
augurated at 'New Orleans, and the exam¬ 
ple will probably besoon followed at Char¬ 
leston and other centers of this trade. Last 
Monday tradingin rice was regularly begun 
at the Produce Exchange under rules 
lately adopted, and which have been found 
satisfactory by those dealing in this im¬ 
portant Southern staple. These rules re¬ 
cognize a number of grades of rice and fix 
the time for carrying on the business in 
this article on the Produce Exchange be¬ 
tween 10 a.m. and 12 M. This cereal has 
become one of the most important crops 
of Louisiana and tbe area under it is grow¬ 
ing larger every year. The prospects for 
it tbe present season are reported to be 
highly favorable. The acreage has been 
increased and tbe weather has been 
extremely propitious. Some sanguine- 
people estimate tbe yield at 300,000 bar¬ 
rels of clear rice, but it is thought 250.- 
000 barrels is nearer the mark. It is 
thought the South Carolina crop will he 
about an average one, hut it will he a lit¬ 
tle late. As to the probable price, brokers, 
merchants and millmen appear to think it 
will ho from half a cent to a rent lower 
than last season, the decline being 
attributed chiefly to tbe lower tariff. 
Several months ago we announced the 
formation of tlie National Horse Show 
Association of America, whose organizers 
are men of high character and large 
means interested in the improvement of 
tbe various breeds of horses. These have 
yust decided to hold their first annual ex¬ 
hibition at Madison Square Garden, iu 
this city, on October 22 and tbe four fol¬ 
lowing days. Tbe show will be on a 
grand scale, and cash prizps aggregating 
$11.000 will be offered. This sum will 
be distributed among 15 divisions, such 
as Thoroughbreds, Trotters, Clvdesdales 
and Perch crops, etc., which will be again 
divided into 105 classes. In addition to the 
regular prizes donations for special prizes 
amounting to £2,000 have been alrpadv 
secured, and it is confidently expected 
that this sum will he more than doubled 
before tbe opening of the show. In the 
vast building there is ample room for ex¬ 
hibiting about 450 animals, and from pres¬ 
ent indications it is more, than probable 
that the spare will be fully occupied. The 
liberality of the premium list, and the 
character of the gentlemen who have the 
exhibition in band, are pretty sure to bring 
together some of the finest, representatives 
of thp various breeds in the country. To 
deserve the name of “National” the Asso¬ 
ciation will doubtless bold future shows m 
various other States, so as to afford every 
section a good opportunity of examining 
the choicest specimens of the equine race. 
- ♦ ♦ ♦ - 
Not a year passes without the announce¬ 
ment of some, new remedy, generally an in¬ 
fallible one, for the grape-vine phylloxera; 
but although the ravages of the pest first 
attracted serious attention in France as 
long ago as 1865, and it has since laid 
waste a large, proportion of the vineyards 
of that country, besides invading Spain, 
Portugal, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, 
Hungary, Germany, and, indeed, nearly 
every country where grape culture has at¬ 
tained the dignity of an important industry, 
yet no specific remedy lias yet. been dis¬ 
covered, despite the fact that thobest, talent 
of the Old World and the New has been 
stimulated in the investigation by high re¬ 
wards offered by different governments for 
such a discovery. The Commission ap¬ 
pointed by France to consider this ques¬ 
tion has lately declined to award to any¬ 
body the 300,000 francs offered to the dis¬ 
coverer of a trustworthy remedy or 
preventive of the fatal disease. There were 
not less than 182 competitors for this prize, 
all eager to obtain it, not only on account 
of its intrinsic value, but. also because the 
successful discoverer would obtain con¬ 
siderably more from other nations, which 
have also offered prizes for tlie same dis¬ 
covery: hut not one of the remedies “filled 
the hill.” It is said, however, that a 
Strasburg physician has found in naphtha¬ 
line an absolutely trustworthy remedy. 
The liquid is poured upon the ground 
around the root of the vine, and it is re¬ 
ported that it kills the parasite without 
injuring the grape. If this discovery 
proves effective, it will he a blessing to 
tbe grape-growing world and a fortune to 
that Strashurger. 
-» ■»» 
Ttte late constitutional amendment in 
this State making the canals free appears 
to be abundantly justified by the statis¬ 
tics of canal transportation. Since the 
opening of navigation in May the traffic 
this year has been 11 per cent greater 
than in tlie corresponding period ; n 1882 
and the gain is principally in increased 
shipments of articles made free bv the 
amendment. The importance of the 
water-ways as regulators of freight 
charges can he seen from the fact that 
during last month wheat was carried 
from Buffalo to New York for less than 
24-100c. a ton per mile, while merchan¬ 
dise has been carried from New York to 
Buffalo by river and canal, during tlie 
present season, for a fraction more than 
12-100c. a ton per mile, Tn both cases 
Western people have been considerable 
gainers inasmuch as in one case thev got 
high prices for their produce owin g to the 
lower transportation changes on them, 
and, in tlie other, they paid lower 
prices for their goods owing to the same 
cause. It is believed, on good authority, 
that freight charges could he further re¬ 
duced 40 per cent, if the canals were im¬ 
proved bv increasing the depth from two- 
aiid-a-half to three feet, and by lengthen¬ 
ing the locks so that a boat and its con¬ 
sort coidd be locked through at the same 
time. Then larger boats could be em¬ 
ployed, and one canal boat, fitted with 
engine and boiler, could to tv another, and 
both could be locked up together. In 
view of the great consequent advantages, 
the cost of the improvement would be 
small in comparison with the outlay on 
other public works of less value to the 
State and the country at large. 
LEGISLATION AGAINST WEEDS. 
Farmers are sufferers both bv the non¬ 
existence of suitable laws for their 
protection and by tbe lax manner in 
wliicli those in existence are often en¬ 
forced. The Statutes of Illinois pro¬ 
vide for the appointment of a “Com¬ 
missioner of Canada Thistles ” for each 
township or election precinct in the State, 
who is to hold office for three years, and 
to be paid $2 a day for pach dav necessar¬ 
ily spent in the performance of his duty. 
Tt is his duty to “diligently search through 
his district for Canada Thistles, to prevent 
them from going to seed and from spread¬ 
ing in the public highways and in unoccu¬ 
pied ground, as well as in inclosed lands 
when the occupant fails to do so after he- 
ingnotified,”and to employ the best means 
to insure their extermination. Ample pro¬ 
visions are made for the Commissioner’s 
pay and for the cost of eradicating the 
weeds. The criminal code also nrovides 
for the punishment of persons who bring 
Canada Thistles into the State in the pack¬ 
ing of goods, in grain, grass-seed or other¬ 
wise. and permit them to vegetate, and 
also of those who allow the Thistles to 
mature seed on their lands. The fine for 
each offence is not less than £20 or more 
than $200. But in spite of the craving 
for public offices, numerous townships do 
not know of such a functionary as Com¬ 
missioner of Canada Thistles, and where 
he is known. Canada Thistles generally 
flourish. Ts this important office unfilled 
because the incumbent would ready have 
some duties to perform ? 
Tlie last New York Legislature passed 
a law to take effect on Sept. 1st, 1883, pro¬ 
viding that any person, company or cor¬ 
poration that shall sell nr give away in this 
State anv sepd of Timothy, Herd’s- 
Grass, Bed-top. Meadow Fescue, Kentucky 
Blue or June Grass. "Red, Medium or Al - 
sike Clover, which shall contain any sped 
of White or Ox-eyed Daisy, Ragweed, 
Quack, or Canada Thistles, shall forfeit 
or pay for “each and every” offense $50 
as a penalty to any party who may have 
sown it on “ stocking land ” in this State, 
the sum to he collectable in any State 
Court having jurisdiction for the enforce¬ 
ment of civil claims. Will this law pre¬ 
vent carelessness or fraud in selling seeds 
to “York State ” farmers ? 
PASTEUR’S WORK. 
M. Louis Pasteur is now in his 61st 
year, and is one of the few scientific men 
who have received substantial honor 
during their lives. The French Assembly 
has lately more than doubled his pension 
of 12,000 francs, making it now about 
$5,000 a year, with continuation to his wid¬ 
ow and children. Tn the discussion preced¬ 
ing the grant, M. Paul Bert, now Minister 
of Finance, and Pasteur’s ancient rival in 
scientific resear eg, have a laudatory sketch 
of the latter’s career of public usefulness. 
Hebegan by experiments on the nature of 
fermentation, and his discoveries in this 
line have bad important practical results 
in tbe manufacture of beer and wine. 
Even among tbe Germans “Pasteurization” 
is practiced in tbe breweries on a large 
scale. Tlie attention of tbe Government 
having been attracted bv results of his re¬ 
searches. lie was requested to investigate 
the silk-worm disease which was destroy¬ 
ing the silk-worms in France and Italy. 
He soon found that the trouble was caused 
by a microscopic parasite in tbe patient, 
developed from germs in tbe egg, and by 
selecting sound eggs, healthy worms were 
reared, and the silk industry in France 
was saved. The sheep and oxen of France 
were dying off at the rate of from 15 to 25 
millions yearly of anthrax, and these new 
patients were submitted to the scientist, 
who found that the disease was due to 
another microscopic nuisance, and after a 
long series of experiments he discovered his 
famous mode of prevention bv inoculation 
with “attenuated” virus. This discovery 
M. Bert characterizes as the grandest and 
most gainful of all. France now vaccin¬ 
ates her flocks and herds wholesale, and 
anthrax in its various forms is no longer 
a terror to stockmen. M. Pasteur has 
also come to the relief of the pig by vac¬ 
cination, and discovered that chicken 
cholera has a cause similar to that of an¬ 
thrax. He is now investigating cholera 
in Egypt, and important results are ex¬ 
pected from his researches. 
Tt is a well known fact that discoveries 
in anv direction arc made in groups, 
bunches, clusters. One man makes a 
valuable discovery, and straightway many 
others begin to investigate in the same or 
cognate lines. Not the least important 
part of Pasteur’s work has been the stim¬ 
ulus it has offered to discovery in similar 
directions, so that a crowd of his follow¬ 
ers are now experimenting, with the ob¬ 
ject. of demonstrating tlie parasitic origin 
of all infectious diseases. According to 
Professor Huxley, Pasteur’s labors alone 
have been equal in money value to the 
whole of tbe 5,000.000,000 francs paid as 
an indemnity bv France tn Germany in 
the late war. yet he has generously given 
his discoveries to the public, although 
had he chosen to profit by them, he would 
have made a large fortune. 
AN AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION. 
Ts it important that our farmers’ sous 
should attend an agricultural college? 
This is an important pupation, upon which 
much can he said both pro and con,. The 
present system of conduct ing these insti¬ 
tutions has been vigorously discussed in 
the columns of the Bun at,, and as a rule 
it has been handled without glovps. We 
are afraid that many of the most vigorous 
opponents of these institutions have de¬ 
rived more of their ideas from the press 
and what others say, than from actual ex¬ 
perience with them. Mankind has a weak¬ 
ness for overlooking good in the search 
for evil, and this we fear hasheen the case 
with many of the opponents of agricul¬ 
tural colleges. That they have their 
faults we do not pretend to deny: hut 
have we made due allowance for the cause 
of those faults? These institutions are in 
their infancy in the United States, the 
classes oldest graduated, with one or two 
exceptions, not yet numbering a dozen 
years of age. The founding of tbpse in¬ 
stitutions was devolved upon persons who 
had all before them to lparn through the 
rough school of experience. Perfection 
could not be exppeted either from teach¬ 
ers or students, and we deem it unfair to 
condemn an undertaking before it has had 
a fair trial. Have these institutions been 
fairly tested? Shall it be said at tlie close 
of a dozen years’ work that thev are either 
a success nr a failure? We think not. Tt 
is a matter of regret that in a number of 
the States the agricultural college has 
been combined with the classical '■ollege, 
and allowed to sink into n nonentity, as it 
were. It surely greatly diminishes its 
field of future usefulness, and places it in 
an inferior position, whereas, represent¬ 
ing as it does, the most important branch 
of industry, it should occupy the supe¬ 
rior place. 
It is not necessary that these institu¬ 
tions should have fine buildings. What 
they most need are bright students and 
competent teachprs. As for the latter, 
every man at all acquainted with such of 
our agricultural colleges as are worthy of 
the name, must know that at least, four of 
those now in existence in the United 
States, have among their several facul¬ 
ties men with national reputations, the 
value of whose work while in connection 
with these same institutions has not been 
fully realized by the farmers and gen¬ 
eral public. 
The students who have graduated from 
these same institutions are young in years, 
and have not fairlv got started upon tbe 
work of life. The assertion has been 
frequently made that manv of the gradu¬ 
ates do not become farmers, but we have 
never beard the question asked as to the 
reason why. The graduates of those in¬ 
stitutions. as a rule, are not rich men’s 
sons, and after graduation many of them 
find that it becomes necessary that they 
shall take up with the first remunerative 
employment that presents itself, in order 
to earn their daily bread. We know for a 
fact that manv of these graduates leave 
their alma meter with a determination of 
being fanners when the day comes when 
they can possess a farm of their own; 
mortgaged farms they do not believe in. 
Young as thev ore. and just starting out 
in the world, is it fair to fudge their 
future worth bv what bas been accom¬ 
plished between 20 and 30 years of age? 
What business man would wish to see 
bis son’s or protege’s future life stig¬ 
matized as a failure, merclv bpcause of 
a few mistakes in tbe early part of bis 
career: while those very errors often term 
the turning points to success? We would 
sav to our friends, have patience, and do 
not indue the genuine agricultural college 
too harshly, but wait a bit. 
That our farming population is not 
educated up to the standard to which it 
should aspire, is generally conceded by 
all. and every progressive farmer having 
a son of proper age and ability to cuter 
such an institution, should ask himself; 
“Ought I to send mv son to a good, 
thorough agricultural college?” Wc would 
ask if your son is well enough educated 
to run the farm upon progressive prin¬ 
ciples? Has he been taught to investi¬ 
gate the laws of nature; the principles of 
stock-breeding and plant growth: bow 
plants feed: the composition of soils and 
manures; the structure of animals, and a 
thousand and one things that the farmer 
of to-dav should give his attention to? If 
he has given his attention to thesp things, 
and is attempting to solve the manv prob¬ 
lems which constantly present themselves 
in Ins pathway, he does not npcd an 
agricultural college education. But if he 
has no knowledge of these things, and is 
a willing and anxious student: if he de¬ 
sires to go to college to learn and not 
merely to have n good time; if he has a 
love for fanning, and desires to use what 
lie mnv learn toward the elevation and 
advancement of the condition of the farm¬ 
ing community: if he has been taugbt to 
use bis brain in coniunetion with his mus¬ 
cle. we would not hesitate to sav “Send 
lu'm to an agricultural college. “By such 
an institution, we mean a college that 
stands out holdlv bv itself as a pure, un¬ 
adulterated agricultural school: not where 
years are spent over classics, and where 
agriculture takes a hack spat, but to an 
agricultural college in tbe fullest sense of 
the word. 
RREVTTIES. 
Yesterday Mr. Dodson stated in thp Com¬ 
mons that inouiries made hv the Government, 
show that very little foot-and-mouth disease 
exists among A merman enttlp. that hv far the 
greater nnrinf the disease here i« direetlv at¬ 
tributable to im nor ted English enttle. and that, 
snnitarv regulations are being properly en¬ 
forced among ns. 
Ttik Versa Ilia ise a no (’berry Currants are 
not so prolific as the Red Dutch, nor is the 
nuility c n good, hut the fruit is larger. The 
Wln*e Grime hears fruit of large size and fine 
ounlifv and it. is nrolifie too. The now Fay’s 
Prolific is destined, we think, to take the place 
of the Versaillaise npd Cherry Currants, as it 
is more prolific, the racemes are longer and 
the berries of more uniform size. 
List year we planted our earliest peas April 
3d and made the first nicking June. 2(1—84 
days Tins year wc planted Anril (1. picking 
the first .Tune 12—fi7 davs. This shows the 
effect of the season even unon the bnrdv green 
non. Last year the season was cold and wet: 
this season it was warm and rather dry. Last 
vpnr Concord grape-vines bloomed not until 
June 20. This vear thev bloomed June 10. 
Tor: editors mav ho mistaken in estimating 
the Enir Number of the Ditrai New-Yorker, 
which we hop*' to mail next, week, nsthe most 
instructive and interesting of anv single num¬ 
ber of anv rural ionrnnl ever published. We 
should be delighted if those of our subscribers 
who read it through carefullvlvere'to deem this 
one number nlono ns worth the annual sub¬ 
scription price. 
Bismarck has issued another nrominoia- 
mento against the American Hog, having just 
forbidden the importation of hog products 
from Austria unless each shipment is accom¬ 
panied hv a certificate that, no part of it has 
come, directly nr indirectly, from the United 
States. One of the very first duties of Con¬ 
gress on its assembling next December should 
be the imposition of retaliatory duties on Ger¬ 
man products, and every friend of the Ameri¬ 
can Hoe should impress the necessity of this 
on his Congmssninn bv letter, postal-card or 
interview, We advocate the bold course of 
openly establishing a discriminating duty; but. 
if for diplomatic reasons « pretext is desirable 
one can readily be bit unon less flimsy than 
that on which the Chancellor wars so persist¬ 
ent! y.on the American Hog. 
