THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
THE 
RURAL NEW-YORKLR, 
A N ational Journal for Country and Suburban Home < 
Conducted by 
E. S. CABMAN, 
J. S. WOODWARD, 
Editor. 
Associate. 
Address 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER, 
No. 84 Park Row, New York. 
SATURDAY. FEBRUARY 28 1885. 
Ip the number on your address label is 
1832, your subscription term will expire 
next week; if 1833, the -week after, and 
so on. Please look to this. 
ricultural colleges, and earnestly urging 
the Illinois Representatives in Congress 
to use every honorable, means to secure the 
passage of the measure at the earliest 
date. Why shouldn’t the Boards of Ag¬ 
riculture of other States follow this praise¬ 
worthy example, and get the Legislatures 
of thtir respective States to urge Congres¬ 
sional action in this direction. Of course, 
advice from those States w T hicb have been 
wide-awakp enough to establish expert 
ment stations of their own, should have 
most weight with Congress, but the 
promptings of even such a State as Illi¬ 
nois, the value of whose annual agricul¬ 
tural productions is over §300,<'00,000, 
should have considerable weight, though 
she has not yet been sufficiently awakened 
to the great importance of such institu¬ 
tions to establish one for herself. 
Wk shall print another Farmers’ Club 
supplement as soon as the copy can be 
prepared. Our readers must bear with 
us. We are doing the best we can. 
Three different poster*; the full account 
of our Free Seed Distribution; the offer 
of $2,800 in presents to subscribers for t he 
largest clubs; our premium list and speci¬ 
men copies will be sent to all, post-paid, 
on application. We will also gladly send 
specimens to any list of names which our 
readers may send us in order to aid them 
in obtaining new subscribers. 
A National. Potato Society. —How¬ 
ever odd this may sound to us Americans, 
there exists such a society in Eoerland, 
and it is promotive of great good in the 
cultivation of this most excellent and use¬ 
ful of all our edible roots. This society 
awards prizes tor the best potatoi s offered 
for exhibition, and gives certificates to 
superior sorts only, rejecting all such as 
are of an inferior quality. This enables 
those who desire to cultivate an improved 
bind to gpt their seed with the certainty 
of being able to do so at once, and not be 
obliged to experiment for themselves, for 
years, at a considerable expense to obtain 
it. We wish a potato society might be 
got up among us, for it would be certain 
to do great good in the improvement of 
the quality of this indispensable tuber for 
the table. 
The amount of snow on the winter 
wheat offers a fair indication of the out¬ 
come of the crop at harvest time in most 
8tasons;aheavy coveringis usually follow¬ 
ed by a good harvest; a light covering, 
by a poor yield. Accoiding to reports 
from various parts of the winter wheat 
area, the snow line at the end of D cem- 
ber extended south scarcely as far as Ten¬ 
nessee, the reports from that State show¬ 
ing that the average snowfall in Decem¬ 
ber was only about a quarter of an inch. 
In Minnesota the snowfall was unusually 
heavy, but in November it was only 
three-fifths of an inch. Id Missouri, also, 
the December precipitation was very 
abundant, except in the northern part of 
the State, which at the close of the rounth 
had a cover of only from half an inch to 
an inch, “the snow line passing from a 
point somewhat south of Kansas City 
eastward aloni the Missouri River to near 
Washington, thence northward to Hanni¬ 
bal.” In Nebraska there was only a slight 
snowfall in the south-west, amounting 
only to less than half an inch. In view 
of the amount of the precipitation over 
the whole winter wheat area, it is proba¬ 
ble the crop will hardly turn out in 
Spring in as good a condition as last 
year’s wheat; yet there are no indications 
of extensive winter-killing. 
MORE AGRICULTURAL EX. STATIONS. 
Editorial experience has taught the 
Rural New-Yorker the great value of 
agricultural experiment, which, while 
costly to the experimenter, are of great 
benefit to the public; hence this paper 
has been for years aa earnest advocate of 
the establishment of experiment stations 
by the State and National Governments. 
For several years b-11s have been intro¬ 
duced at each session of Congress provid¬ 
ing for the foundation of such stations in 
connection with the agricultural colleges 
established by the act of July 2, 1862. 
Congress is exceedingly dilatory in legis¬ 
lating on matters affecting toe agricul¬ 
ture of the country, unless stimulated by 
a very decided expression of public opin¬ 
ion. We are glad, therefore, to see that 
the Illinois State Board of Agriculture 
has passed a resolution, which has been 
favorably received by both branches of 
the State Legislature, heartily approving 
the bill now pending before Congress 
providing for the establishment of experi¬ 
ment stations in connection with the ag¬ 
ANTI-OLEOMARGARINE LEGISLATION. 
In several of the States, notably in Il¬ 
linois and New York, there appears to be a 
determination to passmore stringent laws 
against the sale of oleomargarine and 
similar imitations of dairy products. A 
bill prohibiting the sale and mai ufacture 
of the articles is n w betore the Legisla¬ 
ture of the former State, and another hae 
just been introduced into the New York 
Legislature providin'* an additional fine 
of §100 for every violation of the act pas 
sed last year against the manufacture 
and sale of the imitation products, the 
amount to be recovered by the Dairy 
Commissioner, one-half to go to the 
State, aDd one-half to the County in 
which the violation was committed ; also 
an extra fine of $500 for manufacturing 
oleomargarine,to i>e recovered and divided 
in the same way; also prohibiting hotel, 
hoarding-house, restaurant, and saloon 
keepers from furnishing their guests with 
any of the imitation goods under a fic¬ 
titious name, under liability to a penalty 
of $500. By it also the annual appropri¬ 
ation for the enl wcement of the “oleomar¬ 
garine laws” is increased from $30,000 to 
§75,000. 
tVe heartily commend every judicious 
effort to restrict the sale of all deleteri¬ 
ous imitations of dairy products, aud to 
prevent the sale of all imitations or 
adulterations of butter and cheese under 
the gu'se of the genuine articles; but 
moderation should be the guide of the 
friends of reform in this direction; ex¬ 
cessive. severity may be a very powerful 
weapon in the hands of disguised ene¬ 
mies; for Draconian laws cannot be 
enforced in these modern days any roor° 
than in the days of old. 
CANNED GOODS. 
Canned goods have become an essential 
part of the food of the human race now¬ 
adays. Of their advantage there can be 
no doubt. An invention that puts the 
fruits and vegetables of Summer within 
the reach of even the poor, the year round, 
is a great boon to producers and coDsum 
ers, beca’ ee it extends the market lor the 
“perishable” guods of the former, and 
cheaply supplies all classes of the latter 
at all times with health-promoting escul¬ 
ents which were formerly, for the greater 
part of tiiey*ar, luxuries which the weal¬ 
thy only could afford to enjoy. By this 
means, too, the fruits of one climate can 
be used in all, and fresh meat is access¬ 
ible where the butcher is never seen, 
Li tie wonder, therefore, that the business 
of canning has reached a wonderful de¬ 
velopment in a very short time, aud that 
canned goods are as universal as bread or 
coffee. It is notorious, however, that 
accidents are constantly happening 
from the use of canned goods, either 
because they are badly put up or because 
the acida of some canned articles necess¬ 
arily combine with the containing metal, 
making poisonous compounds. On this 
account, poison is sometimes sold in the 
stores for food, and we notice that in 
several States in which the canning bus¬ 
iness is extensivedy carried on, it is pro¬ 
pose d to remedy this evil by legislation, 
which will prescribe certain things the 
cannors must do for the protection of the 
health of the public. The canners, how¬ 
ever, do Dot like the proposed restrictions, 
and in this State there appears to be an in¬ 
clination among our legislators to permit 
them to suggest the provisions of the law 
to suit themselves. The canners are mere 
middle men; the inti rests of the consumer 
and producer alike demand that the goods 
shall be put up in the most, wholesome 
manner, for by this means danger to the 
health of the former will be reduced to a 
minimum, while owing to the increased 
popularity of the goods, the markets of 
the latter will become greater and more 
profitable. Let the canners be modest 
SOMETHING OR NOTHING. 
Is not this a fitting time to discuss the 
matter, and would it not be profitable to 
cease for a while the squabble over the 
question who shall be the next Commis¬ 
sioner of Agriculture, long enough to 
consider whether it would not be better 
to so reorganize the Department as to 
make it of some value to the farmer? 
The annual expense of this Department is 
now very nearly one-half a million dol¬ 
lars, and we defy auy one to point to any 
substantial benefit to the farming inter¬ 
ests, The money is wasted nr worse than 
wasted in catering to the whims of poli¬ 
ticians; a lot of old, second-hand or com¬ 
mon seeds ate scattered over the country 
to be neglected in some by-place, or be 
fed to the fowl9, and in many cases it is 
even better so, for the most pernicious 
weeds have, in .not a few instances, been 
introduced* mixed with the seeds sent 
out. We insist that the farmers have 
been fooled and imposed upon long 
enough under the guise of having their 
interests fostered. We boldly announce 
that we are in favor of the entire abolition 
of the Department and the saving of the 
money now r squandered, or of reorganiz¬ 
ing it on some common-sense basis, com¬ 
mensurate to the importance of the agri¬ 
cultural interests, and of placing it 
beyond and above politics anti the poli¬ 
ticians. While we believe that our Com¬ 
missioners have done the best they could 
under the existing circumstances, as at 
present organ zed, the Department is only 
an incubus on an already over-hurdenpd 
industry. Let us have a Department 
w r orthv the name, and that shall really 
accomplish something to aid the producer; 
or let us relieve agriculture of the stig¬ 
ma. The farmers had much better pad¬ 
dle their own canoe than to be burdened 
with such an old scow. 
MORE HUMANE TRANSPORTATION OF 
LIVE S' OCK. 
With laudable persistence the Humane 
Societ' is continuing its efforts to secure 
a reform in the present methods of con¬ 
veying live stock to market. Who is 
there ihat. has witnessed the cruelty of 
the current mode, unless he is a partici¬ 
pator in its horrors, who is not opposed 
to it? The half wild cattle from the 
plains or the prairies are goaded into the 
cars as thickly as their bulk will permit. 
Then their torment begins. Anger and 
fright make the vicious war upon the 
weak, until the latter are trampled under 
foot, maimed and often killed on the road. 
Now and then the train stops at a siding, 
and the cattlemen find many beasts down 
under the hoofs of the maddened crowd. 
The goad is mercilessly used until each 
animal gets upon its feet, if he has strength 
enough. When the train, after a long and 
cruel journey, has arrived at its destina¬ 
tion, often two or three are found 
dead in each car; while many others are 
barely alive. r lhe laws upon thp subject 
require the stock to be unloaded, rested, 
fed and watered at least once m every 28 
hours of their journey; but this require¬ 
ment is habitually disregarded; benee, 
the Society hae appealed to Congress to 
prohibit the conveyance of live stock on 
railroads, except in cars in which there 
are facilities for feeding and watering in 
transit. It baseB its argument on three 
grouuds:—First, for the sake of human¬ 
ity: that the sufferings of the animals 
are intense may be inferred from the fact 
that an av. rage steer loses from 80 
to 100 pounds in weight durmg the 
journey from Chicago to New York. 
Second, on the ground of public health, 
as the meat of feverish, sick and dying 
animals is unfit for human food. Third, 
on the score of economy; for according 
to its statement, the loss by the present 
system amounts to about $16,000,000 
annually, a part of which falls on the pro¬ 
ducer and a part, on the consumer, so that 
the owners who pay less and charge mo r e 
for the animals, have but little interest in 
reformed methods. The iron prod of the 
cowboys costs from §300,000 to §400,000 
in punctured hides. On each of the above 
grounds, every citizen should favor ap¬ 
propriate action by Congress in this 
matter. 
THE NEW ORLEANS EXPOSITION. 
Last week the centennial anniversary 
of the exportation of the first bale of cot¬ 
ton from New Orleans to Great Britain 
was fittingly celebratid in the Music; Hall 
of the Exposition, “in the presence of 5.000 
people, including the members of the Na¬ 
tional Cotton P/anters’ Association, and 
others directly or indirectly interested in 
the staple, together with prominent exhi¬ 
bitors and visitors.” Mardi-gras, with its 
fun and festivities, always attracts large 
crowds to the Crescent City, and the ex¬ 
ceptional brilliancy of the spectacle this 
year, together with the presence of the 
Exhibition drew an unusually large mul¬ 
titude. No exposition was ever held in 
this country which received mote cordial 
support from all parts of the nation and 
every shade of politics, than that now 
open at the Southern Metropolis; yet its 
success seems highly problema’ieal. In 
addition to an appropriation of $300,000 
for the National Buildings, the enterprise 
secured a “loan” of $1,000,000 from the 
National Treasury, to be repaid out of the 
surplus profits; but nobody now expects 
that a dollar of this money will be recov¬ 
ered. In spite of this poor outlook, how¬ 
ever, the managers arc again in Washing¬ 
ton, peeking another advance of §500,000, 
and if this is refused, it appears highly 
probable that the whole affair will col¬ 
lapse. The current receipts are not 
paying the current expenses. Not a 
dollar is in the treasury to pay 
the $65,000 in premiums awarded to 
exhibitors. The latter, whose outlay 
and labor gave the enterprise whatever 
chances of success it has ever bad, have, 
according to all accounts, been treated 
insolently and shabbily, and are so angry 
and indignaut as to have mobbed and 
threatened to lynch the Superintendent 
of their Department the other day. The 
wealthy citizens were liberal with their 
promises of subscriptions, hut they are 
said to he miserly in fulfilling them. Ex¬ 
orbitant prices for poor accomodations 
are charged visitors; and the whole 
city has become transformed into a den of 
gamblers, supported by the municipal 
authorities. The city itself is at the end 
of the country, and on the road to no¬ 
where in particular, and the buildings are a 
great deal too large and expensive,not per¬ 
haps for the storage of the goods received, 
but for a profitable display of them. Then 
to “cap the climax,” there appears to 
have been a good deal of mismanage¬ 
ment from the first in some Departments. 
BBHJVniKS. 
Plant a Liquid amber tree. 
Spring always and everywhere is the best 
time to transplant magnolias. 
Prof Riley, in another column, gives ice- 
cold water us a remedy for the cabbage-worm. 
The good Jonathan Taloott says that he 
hopes a good deal from the Rural’s cross bred 
varieties of corn. 
We are receiving many replies to and criti¬ 
cism of Mrs. Wager-Fisher’s Transcontinental 
Letters, which, at present, we can not flud 
space to publish. 
Kalmta latifolia is a splendid, large-leaved, 
evergreen shrub that will thrive tn partial 
shade. It is familiary known as the Calico 
Bush, and is indigenous from Maine to Florida 
in rocky woods. 
A friend writes us f an “eminent fanner” 
near him who owns 200 acres of land so poor 
that a hopping toad would die hopping 50 
feet od the best, and 25 feet on the poorest part 
of it. He wants to buy more land, and “to 
run in debt for it.” 
The F.ver-blooming roses will give you 
flowers quicker than any other kind. Do not 
expect the Hybrid Perpetual or the Climbers 
or the Mosses to tdoom constantly- The last 
three are hardy, however: the Ever hloomiug 
are teuder in this climate, though hardy South. 
Prof Budd. of Iowa, remarks, in an article 
soon to appear, that the recent troubles with 
the stemsof cherry and plum trees will induce 
many to try the Russian plan of growing tlieir 
fruits—on bushes rather than trees. '1 he 
Rural has many times advocated starting 
fruit trees with short stems, that is. low tops. 
Among the many varieties of sweet corn, 
the Me Plus Ultra, advertised in many cata¬ 
logues, will suit our readers exactly. It is 
sweet. The variety is prolific, the plants 
hearing, with us, three and four ears—though 
the ears are small. The rows are so mixed up 
that it is difficult to count them. The ears 
taper precipitately from the middle towards 
the tip, and somewhat towards the butt. Try 
it—that is, for home use. The market, you 
know, needs laige, showy ears The market 
judges from appearances, and has not sense 
enough to care for quality. 
From now until Summer is the particular 
lime for our readers to benefit themselves by 
looking over tbo advertising columns. If 
there are any deceptive advertisements amoug 
them it Is hot because we are not careful to 
inquire as to tbeir trustworthiness. We re¬ 
ject thousands of dollars’ worth of advertise¬ 
ments which are admitted by our contempo¬ 
raries, ami our readers should appreciate it. 
Our friends should al way’s mention the Ru¬ 
ral while corresponding with advertisers. 
It helps all ulong the line. 
It is much to he wished that every neigh¬ 
borhood of farmers would institute aud main¬ 
tain a farmer’s club for the discussion of the 
countless questions which coniinually come 
up relating to their business in all its ^ranches, 
stages und connections. Definite conclusions 
may not b«* often reached, hut all find both 
profit aud pleasure in the interchange aud 
ecu fltot ot views The isolated life of the 
farmer needs such encounters with the faces 
of friends. It Is a platform ou which woman 
cun appear with advantage to herself and all 
her friends, aud the oftcuer she participates 
in the discussions the bettor for all the inter 
eats in question. 
