THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
JAN 31 
for t\)c 1)omt0. 
THE NEXT DISCUSSION. 
id you guess which of the 
plants that furnish us food 
is to be the subject of our 
discussion ? 
When growing plants 
that are for food, every 
farmer wants to kuow 
how to make each plant 
produce all that it will, 
and he wants to know 
what varieties will do the 
best on his farm, which is 
the best in flavor, what is 
the best time to plant, and 
the best way to cultivate 
and take care of it. 
You are fanners, though only boys and 
girls, just learning your work, and in this 
discussion you can learn these things from 
each other. 
The subject of our thirteenth discussion is: 
Beans, and Bean Culture. 
Let each member of the Club tell us what 
he or she knows of this crop. Where it has 
been grown by the acre we want to know 
the yield, methods of harvesting, whether 
it paid, aud how the beans were pre¬ 
pared for market. When fed to cattle, 
how fed, and with what results. Tell 
us what beans grow best for the table in your 
garden. Do you like the Black Wax Bean, 
with its yellow pods aud blue beans turning to 
black as they ripen! 1 Have you raised the 
Scarlet Ruuner Bean for the table? 
What makes the best poles for the climbing 
beaus! Tell us how to save them for Winter 
use, and how to cook them when fresh aud 
tender, or when dry and served as Boston 
baited beans. 
The letters must all be in by March 1. Any 
who are not members of the Club may join 
now, if they want to write for the discussion. 
Write oniy on one side of the paper, and tell 
us plainly what you know about this vegeta¬ 
ble in the garden or the field I wilt be very 
much interested in all that vou write, for I 
want to learn all I can about this crop in dif¬ 
ferent parts of the coautry, aud I think you 
will be interested in each other’s letters. 
UNCLE MARK. 
NEAR NEIGHBORS. 
BY UNCLE MARK. 
There are myriads of little lives on every 
farm be.ide those that occupy the chicken 
yards, the barns, and are cared for in past¬ 
ure and stnll by tbB farmer and his boys and 
girls. You will recognize in our picture the 
mischievous Gray Squirrels and the Cousins 
who have them for neighbors have. I am sure, 
ofteu enjoyed watching them scamper about 
the trees or sit with their busby tails erect 
against their backs, while they bold some 
toothsome nut between their paws. Their 
quick motious and busy scampering hither 
aud thither, results iu a winter store of nuts 
to be eaten when the scow is deep on the 
ground, and Winter keeps them in their bur¬ 
rows but they do not lay up a very large store, 
as on pleasant days they find their food on the 
ground among the fallen leaves of the nut 
bearing trees. 
Wild animals, birds, fish and insects pos- 
pess a quality called mimicry, not that they 
imitate each other, but they are so like their 
surroundings, that when motionless, only very 
quick eyes cau see them. Notice this when 
in the woods or fields, how much the squirrel 
looks like a piece of the tree trunk; and that 
the rabbit in the grass cannot be seen until it 
moves; wheu some one exclaims, “See that 
rabbit!” you look up just as it halts and say 
“W here! I can't see it,” though you may be 
looking directly toward it. This rule is a 
very general one and you will find it very in¬ 
teresting to notice how many of the wild 
things are able to hide iu plain sight, because 
of their resemblance in color and markings to 
the things around them. 
I have often thought it true of fruit and 
wild flowers too; a red strawberry leaf has 
decieved me and yellow or red peach leaves 
disappointed my search for fruit; the early 
flowers in the woods have escaped even care¬ 
ful searching to be discovered in full view at 
last, by accident. 
Such neighbors, so near, are well deserving 
of your friendliest notice, and will repay your 
thought of them by telling many an interest¬ 
ing secret told only to attentive loving list¬ 
eners. 
Dear Uncle Mark:— The last time I wrote 
to you was about strawberries, nearly one 
year ago; now I will tell the Cousins how I 
succeeded with plums this year. After shak¬ 
ing the trees for six or seven years and saving 
them from the ravages of the curculio, I have 
found more trouble from the plums rotting 
while green. The first appearance of rot is a 
small, light spot, and by the time the plums 
are ripe they are about all rotten. Last 
Spring I thought I would experiment some. 
One of the trees I wholly enclosed with thin 
muslin: under another tree 1 covered the 
ground about one foot deep with loam, the 
lest of the trees (25 in number) were left to 
themselves, with the exception of occasional 
shakings. From the tree that had the loam 
under it we sold five pecks of ripe fruit.and from 
the tree with the muslin over it we picked 
two quarts, the rest rotted while green. From 
the other 25 trees not one bad more than one 
peck of fruit free from rot. Thanks for the 
seeds you sent me, they all did well. 
Fairfield Co., Conn. CLARENCE jackson. 
[These experiments are very interesting; 
we will be glad to hear from your plum or 
chard again next Summer, whether mulching 
with loam is still effectual as a remedy for 
rot.—UNCLE MARK 1 
CHARLES DOWNING. 
A man who gave much of his life to the 
study of fruits, and who has been for years 
an authority on questions pertairmg to them, 
is dead. Mr. Charles Downing died on Sun¬ 
day, Jan. 18, at the age of 88, having been 
born ir 1802. His brother, A, J. Downing, 
wrote the book “Fruit and Fruit Trees of 
tion and accurate reports of the facts he 
learned. Several fruits have been named 
after him; and his writings on poroological 
subjects will be read with profit for years to 
come. The boys and girls will hardly realize 
how much has been done by such men as Mr. 
Downing to improve our fruits, but their 
grandparents will recall the fruits of 00 or 70 
years ago, when Mr. Downing was a boy, and 
can appreciate the great changes that have 
been made in our fruits. 
Uncle Mark: —Our children have really 
enjoyed their garden this Summer, if the}’ 
aid not have good luck with all their seeds. 
Every few days I would hear, “Oh, mamma! 
you must come to the garden and see what a 
beautiful poppy I have this morniug.” or “Do 
come and see my new flower and tell me what 
it is.” Sometimes I would hear them say, “I 
have an aster or sebizautbus, but it is prettier 
than mamma’s.” They have been accustomed 
to flowers from infancy and have had some 
of their own for two or three years; but those 
last Summer were a little better than ever 
before. They were always watching for 
sometbiug new. They have several plants 
that will not blossom until next Summer, 
which Willie did not mention. 1 think send- j 
ing out seeds iu this way is a grand scheme to I 
interest the children as well as the older \ 
ones. With mauy wishes for your happiness, ; 
Gray Squirrels. 
America,” and after his death, Mr. Charles 
1 remain your friend and that of all of the 
Cousins, MRS. w. \\\ HUNT. 
Cuyahoga Co., Ohio 
Uncle Mark:— My sister aud I planted the 
seeds that you sent us, in our flower garden, 
which was near mamma’s. Our seeds came 
up very nicely, aud mamma helped us trans¬ 
plant them, as we bad the whooping cough 
v very hard for three months. We had several 
plants of antirrhinum, asters, zinnias, phlox, 
gudetia, caUfopsis, diambus, sunflower, two 
Kinds: chizanthns. erepis, candytuft, beauti¬ 
ful poppies, and each of us had a cunning, 
little sensitive plant I knew the names of 
part of the plants aud marumu .told me the 
rest of them. Mamma had a large flower 
garden, aud took flowers to the fair. She had 
12 first premiums and one second premium. 
Some of my flowers helped her get one first 
premium. I intend to take flowers to the fair 
next Fall. It was very dry this Summer, and 
we had to water the flowere nearly every 
night. I had a vegetable garden, but it did 
not do very well, as it was so dry. I hope 
that you will send ns some seeds next year, 
aud th at we will have a good season. 
Downing revised and enlarged it several 
WILLIE W. HUNT. 
Charles Downing. 
times. The respect that fruit growers have 
for his opinions is due to his careful observa¬ 
Rheumatism 
tVo doubt if there is, or cun be, a specific 
remedy for rheumatism} but thousands who 
have suffered its j»aln* have boon greatly ben 
rflted by Hood's Sarsaparilla. 11 you have failed 
to find relief, try this great remedy. It corrects 
the acidity of the blood which is the cause of the 
disease, and builds up the whole system. 
I was a Idle ted with rheumatism twenty years. 
I revious to 1SS3 I found uo relief, but grew worse, 
until I was almost helpless. Hood's Sarsaparilla 
did mo more good than all the other medicine 
lever had.” H. T, J3 ai.com, Shirley Village, Mass. 
Hood’s Sarsaparilla 
Sold by all druggists. Si; six for $5. Made 
only by C. L HOOD & CO., Lowell, Mass. 
100 Doses One Dollar ^ 
PisceUantw ^(Hevti.sing. 
This medicine, combining Iron with pure 
vegetable tonics, quickly and completely 
Cures Dyspepsia, f ndigrstion. Weakness, 
Impure Blond, .Huluriu,thill-ti,ut Fevers, 
and Neuralgia. 
It is an unfailing remedy for Diseases of the 
Kidneys mid Liver. 
It is invaluable (or Diseases peculiar to 
Women, and all who lead sedentary lives. 
Itdoespot injure the. teeth,cause headache, or 
produce constipation —other Iron medicines do. 
It enrichesand purl lies the blood, stimulates 
the appetite.aids the assimilation of food, re¬ 
lieves Heartburn and Belching, and strength¬ 
ens the muscles and nerves. 
For Intermittent Fevers, Lassitude, Lack of 
Energy, Ac., it lifts no equal. 
-62* The genuine has above trade mark and 
crossed red lines on v, rapper. Take no other. 
lUdeoiilybj BltOWN OIKTIICAL 00w BALTIMORE, JID. 
THE LINE SELECTEB BY THE U. S. GOV’T 
TO CARRY THE FAST MAIL 
ONLY LINE RUNNING TWO THROUGH 
TRAINS DAILY FROM 
CHICAGO, PEORIA &ST. LOUIS, 
Through the Heart of the Continent by way 
of Pacific j auction or Omaha to 
DENVER, 
or via KaDsaa City and Atchison to Denver, con¬ 
necting In Union Depots at Kansas City, Atchison, 
Omaha and Denver with through trains for 
SAN FRANCISCO, 
and all points In the Far West, bbortest Line to 
• KANSAS CITY, 
And all points lu the South-West. 
TOURISTS AND HEALTH-SEEKERS 
Should not forget the fact that Round Trip tickets ah 
reduced rates can be purchased via this (treat. 
Through Llue. roall the Health and Pleimur* 
Resorts of the West and South-West, Including 
the Mountains of COLO ft A DO. the Valley of th« 
Vosemlte. the 
CITY OF MEXICO, 
and all points In the Mexlcau Republic. 
HOME-SEEKERS 
Should also remember that this line leads direct to 
the heart of the Government and Railroad Lands In 
Nebraska. Kansas, Tesus, Colorado and Washing¬ 
ton Territory. 
It Is known as the great THROUGH CAR LINK 
of America, and Is universally admitted to be the 
Finest Equipped Unilrond in the World for 
oil clnsses of Truvel. 
Through Tickets via this line for sale at ult Rail* 
road Coupon Ticket Olhces lu tUe United States and 
Canada. 
T. J. TOTTER, 
Vice Tre3. and Gen. Manager. 
PERCEVAL LOWELL, 
oen. Pass. Ag’t Chicago. 
JNO, <4. A. BEAN, Geo. Eastern Ag’t, 
317 Broadway-. New York, aud 
AXi Washington St., Boston. 
LINSEED MEAL. 
ABSOLUTELY THE BEST FEED FOR 
Cattle, Horses, Calves, Sheep and Hogs. 
This Meul Is the product of pure sound Flaxseed. 
I. lnseed being Its oilier name. 
The reason why Linseed Meal Is the most nutrit¬ 
ious of all foods is because It contains the largest pro¬ 
portion of nitrogenous substance: 
The effects or Nitrogenous Foods, such as Linseed 
H ut, may be briefly summed up as follows: 
1. Fed with straw or other t-oar-e fodder they ac¬ 
quire a value as food not nftalnnhleln any other way. 
'■!. They mid great value to the dairy. 
8. They lay on flesh and fal rapidly. 
4. They promote a healthy activity In all the organs. 
5. They Increase the fertility of the soil by enrich 
iug the manure or animals fed with them. 
H, They prevent disease by keeping the organs in n 
healthy condition Linseed Meal has been frequently 
used In Hog Cholera, nod has never failed to prevent 
its spread. 
It Is almost needless to say. that In order to derive 
much benefit from the use of Linseed Meal It must be 
fed In quantity. At least one half of all an animal 
consumes may sufely.und profitably lie Limskud 
Meal. 
KV*Please send in a sample order or for circular 
aud prices, orders will be promptly tilled by any one 
of the following parties: 
Cleveland I,inured Oil Co., Cleveland. Ohio. 
'Toledo l.lnseed OH Co.. Toledo, Ohio. 
Detroit Linseed Oil Co., Detroit. IHiehiuaii. 
1. T. Kvun* & Co., Indianapolis, led. 
St. Paul I Disced till Co . St, Paul. [>liuu. 
Cluelnuntl I.lnseed Oil Vo., Cincinnati. Ohio. 
Central Linseed Oil Co., l.euveuwoi th, Kan, 
AOKXCJtC* AS KOLLO WB: 
T. K. F. RANDOLPH & CO. 190 West St.. N. V. City. 
J K SOPER if- CO.. No. 2 and H Indlu St,, Boston, 
J. CUBBING CO., Fitchburg. Mass. 
JOBE KINO. Norristown, Penn- 
w 
AN I ED , , ckntlemen who 
nil I LU w»ah to make Bit tc*4 a .lay easily ill their 
own homes. Work scar by maii.No canvassing. Address 
with stamp l rown M 1 Co., Vine St„ Cin’ti.O. 
For Agricultural Implements or Machines call or 
address The New York Plow Co., 55 Beckman Street, 
