230 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
THE 
RURAL NEW-YORKER, 
A National Journal for Country and Suburban Homes 
Conducted by 
E. S. CARMAN, 
Editor. 
and writing, will do much to purify one’s 
conversation. It -would pay any of our 
present subscribers to send us a new one, 
and obtain one of these books for handy 
reference, and then encourage the children 
to study it: audit might not harm the 
older people to take an occasional look. 
area under spring wheat will be enlarged 
instead of being decreased. 
THE EUROPEAN WAR CLOUD. 
Queen Victoria has issued a procla¬ 
mation callimr out the reserves and mi¬ 
litia for permanet service. This order, 
issued for the first time since the great 
Indian mutiny of ’57, summons to camp 
artisan, plowman and labore? from every 
village and hamlet in the United King¬ 
dom; forces to the field the mechanic 
from the workshop, and the clerk from 
the office in the cities; breaks up families 
and causes much private distress and 
lamentation, drowned by the uproar of 
public rejoicings and warlike exultation; 
for although England may Ire a “nation 
of shop-keepers” under ordinary condi¬ 
tions, when the honor of the country, 
and especially its commercial interests are 
concerned, experience has shown that the 
“shop-keepers” become enthusiastic and 
formidable soldiers. 
The army reserve called into permanent 
service has a nominal strength of 47,250 
men, and an available strength of 44,503, 
by the latest returns. The nominal 
strength of the militia is nearly 142 000 
men of all ranks; but 75,000 would prob¬ 
ably be as many as could be depended on 
for service in the United Kingdom or for 
garrison duty. The active service of 
these would permit the withdrawal of an 
equal number of the regular army for 
duty in the field. Recruiting is in full 
blast in all parts of England, Scotland 
and Ireland. The military and naval 
workshops are full of turmoil and activ¬ 
ity by day and night. Contracts are being 
made, not only in the United Kingdom, 
but in nnst other parts of the -world also, 
for supplies of all kinds for army and 
navy. The newspapers and public speak¬ 
ers have become fervidly patriotic and 
hotly belligerent. Jingoism is abroad 
throughout the entire country, and the 
glorious deeds of military prowess of Eng- 
land in the past, are exultantly recalled, 
while those in the future are loudly fore¬ 
told. The war fever is raging, and 
Russia-phobia is rampant. 
Throughout the British iBles, “Will 
there be war or peace with Russia ?” is 
the absorbing question, and the interest 
in it extends to every civilized land. In 
her constant march of conquest, Russia 
has at length reached the confines of Af¬ 
ghanistan, on the other side of which li«'s 
the teeming empire of British India. It 
has long been regarded as certain that, 
sooner or later, the Muscovite and Saxon 
would engage in tertiblc conflict for the 
possession of the fabulous wealth and the 
actual enormous resources of India. 
Every ad vance of the former to the east 
and of the latter to the north in Asia, 
brought, both closer to the place and time 
of conflict. The recent conquest of Merv 
by the Russians, aDd ot Afghanistan by 
the British, has brought, the two hostile 
forces face to face across the Afghan fron¬ 
tier. 
The matter in dispute at present is the 
line of this frontier. Russia claims that 
the boundary of her recent acquisition 
Merv, extends south as far as Pendjeb, 
while the Ameer of Afghanistan, as the 
mouth-piece of Great Britan, maintains 
that his territory stretches considerably to 
the north of that point. Herat, however, 
about 100 miles to the south of Pendjeb, 
a strongly fortified town and one of the 
gateways on the road for a Russian army 
on its march to India, is the real objective 
point, of both parties. Both feel that the 
struggle must come some day.and that that 
day cannot be lone deferred, and each is 
pondering whether the present moment is 
not the most propitious.if not on account 
of her own strength,at any rate on account 
of the weakness of her opponent.. 
The English army is a mere handful in 
comparison with innumerable legions of 
Russia; but it is well organized, and from 
75,000 to 100.000 effective men can be put 
into the field in a very short time. The 
Ameer, subsidized by English gold, 
promises 75,000 native troops, which will 
be at once available. At least 50.000 
India troops can be immediately pushed 
to the front, and in case of emergency an 
enormous army of Sepoys eould be readily 
raised from the 250,000.000 inhabitants of 
India, many sections of which are inhabi¬ 
ted by races famous for their belligcrt nt 
qualities from time immemorial. The 
English colonies, too, in all parts of the 
world would never see the Mother Coun¬ 
try hard-pressed without hastening to her 
assistance. But, above all. England has 
an abundance of the “sinews of war,” 
whereas Russia is already nearly bank¬ 
rupt. 
The Russian army though imposing on 
paper, is not very formidable in tbe field, 
judging by the display made during the 
Turko-Russian war in 1876, when the 
Minister of War engaged to put 350,000 
men across the Pruth and 150,000 into 
Armenia during the first three months, 
but was unable to send more than 170.000 
men to Bessarabia and less than 100.000 
to Asia within the promised time; and 
the difficulties of transporting men and 
“materials” to Afghanistan are immeasur¬ 
ably greater than to the scenes of hostil¬ 
ities during the Turkish war. 
The question of war or peace will prob¬ 
ably be decided before the Rural will 
again visit, its readers. This morning’s 
cable tells us England has sent an ultima¬ 
tum to Russia demanding an answer by 
next Monday. Russia will probably pro¬ 
crastinate to permit the massing of her 
troops on the Afghan frontier: but a few 
days at most will decide the matter. 
American farmers would be greatly bene¬ 
fited by war,ns a largely increased demand 
would arise abroad for tbeir products. 
Already Armour & Co., of Chicago, have 
contracted to furnish 5.400,000 pounds of 
canned meats to the British Government, 
and the Fairbank Canning Company last 
Tuesday received orders for 3,800,000 ad¬ 
ditional pounds. Wheat and ether agri¬ 
cultural products would be sure to rise in 
price, both because competition with 
Russian products would be cut off. and be¬ 
cause the energies of tbe belligerents 
would be diverted from the production of 
food to the slaughter ot food producers. 
BREVITIES. 
Strawberries and raspberries next. 
Dana’s Hovev. It is a pear that all should 
try. 
We shall not plant potatoes this year, as ve 
did last, on April 7tb. 
Try one plant of Rosa rugosa, either white 
or rose colored. It will please you. 
Read tbe catalogue notices. We prepare 
them faithfully in the interests of our readers. 
By next, week we shall have s^nt the Ru¬ 
ral’s present seed distribution to all appli¬ 
cants up to March 20. 
Perennial Phlnxps—few of the reader 
know what splendid flowers they are—the 
improved varieties. 
C, C. Warren, of Mobile Co.. Ala., writes 
us that the Le Conte and Kieffer Pears are 
successes with him. while other kinds fail. 
Contented, happy, prosperous, old age is 
hut the reasonable fruit of the seeds of tem¬ 
perance, frugality, and industry sown in 
youth. 
Were we to judge the next wheat crop by 
our plants as they look at prespnf, we should 
advise all farmers to hold their wheat for 
higher prices. 
We are glad tosee that Ellwauger & Barry, 
in their new catalogue of fruits, have adopted 
the revised nomenclature of the American 
Pomologieal Society. We hope all will do 
the same, 
Isn't it fairly reasonable that society, on 
which rests the support of widow* and orphans, 
should have the right to control or abolish the 
bnsiuess which makes three-fourths of all the 
helpless widows and orphans of the land? 
Scores of those 321 presents will render 
your work more valuable by enabling you to 
do twice as much in the same time. Have you 
carefully considered this matter, aud thought 
with bow little effort it was possible to se¬ 
cure one? 
Wk don’t know of any seedliug plants that 
will interest our amateur friends more than 
those of the Coleus. Seedlings vary in a re¬ 
markable manner, and the seeds germinate 
so freely that we urge our readers to sow 
them. Most catalogues offer the seeds fora 
trifling price. 
The children's food should he plaio. simple, 
nutritious and wholesome, lest their tastes be 
vitiated and their health ruined. It is fiius'ly 
important that their reading be pure, health¬ 
ful aud moral, lest their minds he weakened 
aud their hearts made vile Pound minds in 
sound bodies are essential to perfect manhood! 
If you see a farmer who has a thorough 
system and method in his work, you mav be 
sure he is a thinking man and has given much 
thought to his business before hand, and he is 
almost certain of success. There is no calling 
in which thought uvuils more than iu the til¬ 
lage of the soil, aud the management of the 
farm. 
In making butter, wanking is better fhau 
working When the butter grains are of the 
size of raddisli seeds, draw off the butter milk 
aud till the churn with cold water, stir up the 
butter and draw off and replace this with 
cleau water: repeut this till no appearance of 
butter milk is seen, and your butter is ready 
and in tbe best possible condition for sailing. 
Have you a Magnolia glauca, tbe White 
Bay or Beaver Tree, though it is scarcely more 
than a sbrubf There arc few flowers more 
fragrant thau those which it bears in profusion 
iu June, just, when the rose-bugs abound. It 
is unfortunate that these pests prefer the buds 
and flowers of tbe White Bay to those of al¬ 
most any other plant,, except, it may be a few 
of the Spirreas. Its leaves are leathery, persist¬ 
ent and beautiful. 
Wk are wondering whether our half acre of 
potatoes planted ou a wretchedly p Kir soil 
under tbe Rural’s trench system, will prove 
a success or a failure. If a failure, we shall 
state it just as freely as if it prove the success 
for which we have hopes. Iu the latter case, 
we shall iuvite all of our readers to the har¬ 
vest. Iu the former case the statement of 
our failure will end the matter. We are glad 
that many of our readers intend to try our 
method. We wish them success. 
J. S. WOOD W AUD, 
Associate. 
Address 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER, 
No. 84 Park Row, New York. 
SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 1885. 
It is with no little satisfaction that we 
are enabled to announce to our readers 
that the circulation of the Rural New- 
Yorker for 1885, is greater than for any 
preceding year, and is steadily increasing. 
We judge that few farm journals can 
truthfully make the same statement. We 
feel under many obligations to those of 
our friends who have so generously assist¬ 
ed in extending the R oral’s circulation 
during this season of depression and low 
prices. 
Do the roots of potatoes grow above or 
below the seed pieces? Do the lubers form 
above or below the seed pieces? Where 
then should chemical fertilizers, or ma¬ 
nures, be applied —above or below the 
seed pieces? 
And now, good readers, remember that 
the next special Rural New-Yorker 
will present an Election of Small 
Fruits. Experienced growers from 29 
States and Territories have expressed 
their views as to the best varieties. 
Again we say, don’t fail to plant the 
Rural’s crossed varieties of corn because 
the kernels seem small or imperfect. This 
corn was raised on poor land and the 
emusculation necessary to insure crossing 
caused many imperfect, ill-shapen ears. 
Here are two hired men on the farm. 
Both are industrious, and each is paid 
$15.00 and his board. One of them is 
oblivious and careless, and destroys $10.00 
a month. The other is attentive and 
careful and saves his employer $10.00 a 
month. How much more can the em¬ 
ployer afford to pay the one than the 
other? 
From an experience of 12 years with 
Alcock’s Spruce, we are confident that it 
is one of the handsomest evergreens that 
can be planted. It is so thoroughly hardy 
at the Rural Grounds that we should say 
it would endure the climate far north. 
Those who are familiar with this tree 
would not give much space to the Nor¬ 
way Spruce. 
Are you aware, readers, ‘that the 
beautiful Rose of Sharon is raised from 
seeds as easily as a cabbage, and that the 
seedlings vary indefinitely? Even now 
seeds of this autumn-blooming shrub may 
be gathered upon tbe bushes, and, if 
planted at once, will give you plants 
many of which will bloom next year. 
The following little note will show how 
well the Rural pays its Canada advertis¬ 
ing patrons: 
“Hensall, Ont., Canada. 
“Please discontinue my advertisement of 
seed grain. If every seed grower would UBe 
your columns, there would be less stock to 
carry over from year to year. The number of 
inquiries I have received is something wonder¬ 
ful. ROBERT BELL, JR.” 
On Tuesday, March 24, we delivered to 
the post-office at Niagara Falls, Ontario, 
the seeds applied for by our Canadian sub¬ 
scribers up to March 18th. In a few 
weeks we will make another delivery to 
the same office of the balance asked for. 
The Marlboro Raspberries will be deliv¬ 
ered to the Bame office as soon as the 
weather becomes suitable for sending the 
plants. 
The use ot correct language is an ac¬ 
quirement greatly to be desired, and the 
habit formed in youth is seldom abandon¬ 
ed later in life. Hundreds of good Eng¬ 
lish words are outraged in their pronunci¬ 
ation or use, mostly through ignorance. 
The possession of the World’s Cyclopedia 
and the careful study of the chapters of 
“objectionable words,” “false pronunci¬ 
ation” and common errors in speaking 
Remember that the newspapers you 
admit to your homes are read and tmsted 
bv the little ones, and wield an influence 
for good or evil almost omnipotent. How 
very important then that each one be 
carefully examined, and if it contain 
anything in the least objectionable, even 
though it be but an advertisement of some 
lottery scheme, or some guessing scheme 
or some game iu which the Bible is made 
tbe basis of gain, or if it offers something 
for nothing, banish it at once, as you 
would clothing infected with some loath¬ 
some malady. Moral pollution is as much 
to be dreaded as bodily infection. We 
cannot be too careful as to what our 
children read! 
■ -■- 
AREA AND CONDITION OF WINTER 
WHEAT. 
The extent of land to be sown to spring 
wheat will depend largely upon the area 
and condition of the winter wheat as well 
as upon the price of wheat at sowing 
time, and, still more, upon the prospects 
for prices next harvest. The estimates of 
shortage in the area of the present 
fall-sown wheat as compared with that of 
last year, according to various views of 
crop' statisticians aDd Secretaries of 
State Boards of Agriculture, vary from 
12 to 50 per cent, but probably it will not 
exceed 15 per cent., but the condition of 
the crop is at least 10 percent, worse than 
last year, so that from present indications 
there should he a shortage of from 100,- 
000,000 to 125,000.000 bushels in this 
year’s winter wheat crop as compared 
with that of last year. It is far too early 
yet, however, to prophecy with any degree 
of assurance as to what the next harvest 
will be. 
As specimens of the reports from vari¬ 
ous quarters, the Commissioner of Agri¬ 
culture of Virginia estimates the acreage 
at fully 10 per cent less than last year, 
while the crop has been almost destroyed 
by wiDter-killing, so that the prospects 
are worse than they have been since 1860. 
In Maryland the area is reported to be 
over 25 per cent less, but no damage is 
reported, though owing to haste in pre¬ 
paring the soil and sowing the crop, its 
condition is by no means promising. Our 
friend Prof. j. W Sanborn. Secretary of 
the State Board of Agriculture of Mis¬ 
souri, says the area there is 10 per cent 
short; but little damage is reported. In 
Illinois the acreage is about 15 per cent 
short; but as the ground is still gen¬ 
erally covered with snow, nothing can yet 
be said with certainty about its condition. 
Commissioner of Agriculture Whirter, of 
Tennessee, says the acreage is fully 20 per 
cent, short, and the damage by freezing 
about 10 per cent. In Kansas, it is esti¬ 
mated that the area is 30 per cent, less 
than last year, some of the largest wheat¬ 
growing countries having reduced the 
acreage from 25 to 50 per cent., owing 
chiefly to the low prices for the product. 
The condition of the crop is also reported 
to he below the average, though it is a trifle 
too early to he dogmatic on this point. 
The acreage in Kentucky is put at 15 per 
cent, less than last year; but the latest 
reports make the condition excellent, 
though earlier rumors spoke of a good deal 
of winter killing from alternate thawings 
and freezings. The area sown in New 
York is about the same as last year, and 
little in jur? is reported from winter-kill¬ 
ing. Mr. H. H. Young, statistical agent 
of Minnesota, says that, the area to he 
sown to spring wheat will probably be 10 
per cent, less than last year, or not more 
than 2,500,000 acres. 
From the experience of the past eight 
or nine years, we are disposed to take a 
moderate view of the shortage and con¬ 
dition of the winter wheat crop this year 
as compared with last. The area is prob¬ 
ably 15 percent, less; considerable dam¬ 
age has been done by winter killing, es¬ 
pecially in the southern part of the win¬ 
ter-wheat area, but a fine April may re¬ 
pair most of this; it is entirely too early 
yet to predict the shortage in the aggre¬ 
gate yield of winter wheat, as compared 
with last year; but it is not likely to be 
less than 75,000,000 bushels. From the 
recent rise in the price of wheat, the pros¬ 
pect of war in Europe in the near future; 
the shortage in the area under wheat in 
other countries as well as in the United 
States and Canada, and the more reason¬ 
able estimates of the stocks of wheat in 
the world yet to go into consumption, it. is 
not unlikely that the prices of wheat next 
harvest will| be" profitable and that the 
