502 
FHE RURAL WEW-YORKER 
JULY 25 
THE 
RURAL NEW-YORKER, 
A National Journal for Country ami Suburban Homes 
Conducted by 
E. S. CARMAN, 
Editor. 
j. s. 'woodward, 
Associate. 
Address 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER, 
No. 84 Park Row, New York. 
and after that at Washington. The scope 
of the investigation will cover the entire 
field of the inter-relation of birds and agri¬ 
culture, particularly from the entomolog¬ 
ical standpoint. The inquiry will relate 
primarily to the food-habits of birds, but 
will include also tbe collection of data 
bearing on tbe migration and geographical 
distribution of North American species. 
In this last inquiry the Department hopes 
to have the co-operation of the American 
Ornithologists’ Union, Dr. Merriam being 
in charge of the Committee on Migration 
for said Union. 
SATURDAY, JULY 25, 1885. 
% 
Our first ripe blackberries are upon tbe 
Early Harvest.. We have all sorts and 
this is the earliest. 
Kinver Wheat was received from the 
London seedsman, Webb & Co. A few 
plants only survived the Winter, They 
bear fine heads, but are among the latest 
in ripening. 
The weather is very warm, but the 
Rural rests not. There is no peace for 
the wicked. We are now "working upon 
a Special, which we trust will, of all the 
Specials issued by tbe R. N.-Y. prove in 
its way the most valuable to the greatest 
number of our readers. We hope to have 
it ready before the first of September. 
A small plot of Diamond Wheat, 
Wheat of Taos, Montana Rye, etc., etc,, 
was again sown last Fall at the Rural 
Grounds. Not one plant survived the 
Winter. Now remember this, kind read¬ 
ers, and don’t be cheated by the offer of 
this splendid-looking grain under any 
name whatever. 
If any readers of the Rural find any¬ 
thing in the answers to queries under the 
Farmer’s Club to which they take excep¬ 
tion, or which is contrary to their experi¬ 
ence, we shall be happy to hear from 
them. Such criticisms or comments 
should be marked “Discussion,” and they 
will appear under that sub-head. 
From quite a number of inquiries re¬ 
ceived, we find that the old European 
Blackberry (Rubus fruticosus) is again 
being sold by plant peddlers under vari¬ 
ous names. Most of our inquirers call it 
the “Evergreen” Blackberry. It is curi¬ 
ous as a vine, and may be fastened to a 
trellis or building. The leaves are deep¬ 
ly cut. The fruit is sweet but small, and 
borne sparingly. Except as something 
curious, it is of little value. 
The Hansell surprises us with its be¬ 
havior so different from that of last year. 
Then it was decidedly our earliest red 
raspberry. This year its main crop is 
ripening with the Marlboro, Superb, 
Caroline, etc. Agaiu, its berries are near¬ 
ly as large as those of the Marlboro. The 
berries are fair in quality, bright in color 
and firm. Superb is hearing an immense 
quantity of berries of the largest size; 
but they are imperfect in form and of 
poor quality. 
After a service of 22 years, President 
Abbot, of the Michigan Agricultural Col¬ 
lege, retires to a professorship, and the 
Hon. Edwin Willits, an ex-Member of 
Congress and a former graduate of the 
State University, takes the place as Pres¬ 
ident. He comes from the State Normal 
School, where he has met with marked 
success as President for two years past. 
At his first appearance in conducting the 
chapel exercises a few days ago, after at¬ 
tending the agricultural convention at 
Washington, he was greeted by a full 
house. He spoke well, and talked 
“business” to the boys. Intimate friends 
say he possesses for good a wonderful 
influence over students. They get his en¬ 
thusiasm, and will run their legs off to 
please him. He will proceed at once to 
make the acquaintance of every student. 
If any students have occasionally or fre¬ 
quently visited saloons in town, they 
must stop now. There must be no “taper¬ 
ing off” about it. 
■ - ■ •»»» 
Among the new investigations started 
in the Department of Agriculture, Dot 
the least important is one relating to 
Economic Ornithology. This work has 
been begun as a branch of that of the 
Division of Entomology, of which Prof. 
C. Y. Riley has charge. Dr. C. Hart 
Merriam, a well known ornithologist, and 
Secretary of the American Ornithologists’ 
Union, has been appointedja special agent 
to take charge of the Divisional work. 
Dr. Merriam will make his headquarters 
at Sing Sing, N. Y., until October first, 
Since the latter part of May, Western 
newspapers have from time to time con¬ 
tained alarming reports of swarms of 
young locusts or grasshoppers in the 
Valley of the Arkansas and in other por¬ 
tions of the State of Colorado, and the 
fear was expressed that Kansas, Nebraska 
and Missouri would be visited by an in¬ 
vasion of the Rocky Mountain Locust 
(Melauoptus spretus). Under direction 
of Prof. Riley, Mr. Lawrence Bruner 
has visited the portions of Colorado from 
■which the rumors came. His report was 
received early in July and is of such a 
nature as to allay all fears. The principal 
reports were from Salida, Rico, Canyon 
City and Pueblo. During his sojourn in 
the State, he visited all points along the 
line of the Denver & South Pass R. R., 
between Denver and Leadville, followed 
down the Arkansas River, stopping at 
Buenavista, Salida and Canyon City, and 
then going to Granite, Pine Creek,Garros 
and Como. In every locality visited 
from which grasshoppers were reported, 
it was found that the numbers bad been 
greatly exaggerated, and in no ease was 
the migratory species found. All reports 
arose from a rather undue abundance of 
native species, which are present every 
year, and most of which have their pre¬ 
ferred food plants in the shape of wild 
growths and noxious weeds. 
A NEW PEA OF PROMISE. 
Among many crosses which were effected 
at the R. G. last year, was one which thiB 
season gives three remarkable plants. The 
mother was Prinee of Wales, the father 
Pois min vert de St. Michael , a new variety 
sent to us by Vilmorin of France. The 
plants are 18 inches tall, and the three 
together have 19 main stems, each stem 
supplied with many laterals. We found 
that upon one plant there are 95 pods of 
medium size, well filled with large seeds. 
There may be a greater or less number 
upon the others. Should the quality 
prove good, we shall select the seeds of 
the best pods for propagation, with a 
view to distributing the variety among 
our readers as soon as a sufficient stock 
can be grown. 
BIRDS OR BREAD? 
From every quarter of the land comes 
the complaint of insect depredations. 
Never before were their attacks so uni¬ 
versal or so severe. New and before un¬ 
noticed insects are preying here upon the 
fruits, there upon the grains, and every¬ 
where upon tbe vegetables. It seems as 
though this country was to be scourged 
as was Egypt of old, and the inquiry 
everywhere is for the cause and a remedy. 
When seeking for a cause, is it not fair to 
suppose that the wanton slaughter of the 
insects’ natural destroyers, the birds, to 
supply the demands of a wicked fashion, 
has had much to do with this alarming 
prevalence? We think so; and it is not 
the first time man has been scourged by 
his enemies, because of his destruction of 
his friends. As a remedy, we urge every 
lover of good living, even if he has not a 
spark of kindness or of love for the beau¬ 
tiful birds, to insist that this cruel slaugh¬ 
ter shall cease, and that the birds shall 
he allowed to again become plentiful. It 
issimply a question of.No rirds,no bread ! 
Let us have plenty of both! 
TURNIPS FOR STOCK. 
There is nothing that can be yet put in¬ 
to the ground, that will “work in”to great¬ 
er advantage to both roan and stock, 
next Winter, than a lot of English tur¬ 
nips, and of these the Purple-Top-St rap- 
Leaf is among the best. 
Turn over a piece of rich land—a clo¬ 
ver sod after mowing will do—apply a 
liberal dressing of fine manure and wood 
ashes, if handy; or a couple of hundred 
pounds of superphosphate; cultivate till 
of fine tilth, and the manure is worked 
well into the ground surface,and sow one 
pound of seed per acre broad-cast, or, 
better still, in drills 14 inches apart. 
When the leaves are an inch-and-a-half 
in diameter, if too thick, rtin the harrow 
over^them, Jjoth ways if broadcast, and 
crosswise if in drills. This will leave 
them usually about right and kill the ma¬ 
jority of weeds. One who has never 
tried this plan will be surprised at the 
loads and loads of fine food that can 
be so easily raised on an acre; and how 
grateful the stock will be and how much 
better they will do for having this succu¬ 
lent food as a condiment to the dry ra¬ 
tions. Try it, and now is the proper time 
to put them in! 
<» ♦- 
ARE STRIKES ADVISABLE? 
From city after city come the reports of 
strikes in this or that business, and the 
stoppage of large works and the throwing 
of hundreds and thousands out of em- 
iloyment. While we believe that every 
aborer and every body of laborers have 
the right to demand as much wages as 
may seem fit, aud if that demand is not 
conceded, have the right to quit work 
and lie idle as long as they may choose; 
we do not believe that they have the 
right to use force in compelling their fel¬ 
lows, who may desire to work, to “knock 
off,” nor have they the right to use force 
to prevent others from engaging in their 
places. Nor do we believe that strikes 
ever result in permanent good to the 
laborer; they may sometimes be success¬ 
ful in compelling employers to concede to 
the demands of the strikers; hut even in 
those cases, we believe the loss of wages 
during the period of idleness, added to 
the old rate of pay, will more than bal¬ 
ance any advance that may be secured, to 
say nothing of the hundreds who are 
always ruined by vicious habits contract¬ 
ed during the time when they have 
nothing to do. Labor and capital are 
mutually dependent upon each other, and 
one cannot suffer without some loss to the 
other, consequently it is mere suicide 
for the strikers to engage in the wanton 
destruction of property as they sometimes 
do. No; strikes are bad things, and 
happy will be the day when some means 
are devised whereby labor and capital can 
adjust their difficulties without recourse 
to strikes. 
THE CATTLE TRAIL WAR. 
WniDE the cattle kings and syndicates 
of the Southwest, by their illegal fencing 
and leasing of the Indian Territory, arc- 
causing imminent danger of an outbreak 
of the red men to the great discomfort, 
peril and loss of the neighboring settlers, 
they are alBo causing a world of trouble 
to the Government by their mutual alter¬ 
cations, amounting almost to open hostil¬ 
ities. The trouble lies between the men 
who are driving Texas cattle north, and 
those who, occupying ranges along the 
route, insist that the Texas cattle shall 
not pass, lest they spread Texas fever 
along their course. The Texas cattle be¬ 
long chiefly to citizens of Texas seeking 
a market for them farther north, or to 
inhabitants of Colorado, Kansas,Missouri, 
Nebraska and other States, who wish 
either to market them at once or to “fin¬ 
ish them off” on the Northern ranges. 
Both sides are strong in numbers and 
heavily armed, and on both are men ac¬ 
customed to bloodshed with little or no 
scruple and on very slight provocation. 
The preservation of peace has hitherto 
been due chiefly to the fact that the 
lease-holders, who deny the drovers’ 
right of way across the parts of the Terri¬ 
tory they claim to have rented, are the 
stronger party, aud hesitate to resort to 
violence because their leases of Indian 
lands are in direct violation of the law 
and are Held by sheer sufferance of the 
Department of the Interior, whose dis¬ 
favor they cannot afford to incur. 
Tbe trouble has been brewing since tbe 
first droves of Texas cattle approached 
the Pan-haDdle and the Cherokee Strip 
early in Spring, and it is now estimated 
that altogether 250,000 head have 
been stopped on their way north. Eight 
days ago five herds, aggregating 41,000 
head, belonging to citizens of Colorado, 
Missouri, Kansas, and Texas, were de¬ 
tained, and it is reported that over 100,- 
000 cattle have been checked and ac¬ 
cumulated at points south of the Cana¬ 
dian River and Fort Supply. 
This check upou the cattle trade of 
Texas has considerably depreciated the 
value of cattle in that State, aud greatly 
exasperated the owners and all connected 
with the business. The drovers assert 
that their cattle were stopped “on the 
common trail," over which herds have 
passed for years without hindrance; while 
the lessees maintain that, the cattle were 
about to cross certain leased lands, which 
were never a public trail. Again, the 
drovers declare their cnttle are unusually 
healthy this year; while the lease-holders 
protest that they come fromjnfeetcd dis¬ 
tricts, and that it is notorious that, how¬ 
ever sound Texas cattle may be, so far 
as the most critical examination can dis¬ 
close, yet they communicate disease to 
other cattle, and on the ground over 
which they pass, leave the Reeds of dis¬ 
ease and death for other herds that, may 
graze on it after them. 
Both parties have appealed to the 
Federal authorities, and iD doing so the 
lease-holders base their action on the 
drovers’ violation of the Animal Industry 
Act; but this does not raise the issue of 
trails or leases. A9 pointed out by the 
Secretary of the Interior, “the Act only 
prohibits tbe driving from one State or 
Territory to another” of cattle, “by any 
person knowing them to be affected with 
any contagious, infectious, or communi¬ 
cable disease.” Secretary Lamar, writing 
to the lease-holders, continues: 
•'The owners whose herds nre forcibly stopped In the 
Indtnn Territory, declare their cnttle ore not so af¬ 
fected. The people of Texas, Colorado, Missouri, and 
other State* have equul, If not greater, right to drive 
their live stock not Infected with the prohibited dis¬ 
eases. through and nvpr the trails of the Indian Ter¬ 
ritory and the neutrnl strip, as yon hnve to occupy 
those land8 with ur without your lease from Indian 
tribes. Au Inspector has been sent to open and keep 
open the trulls for passage of cattle, ir tbe people 
who are occupying those lands, with their herds, 
continue their forcible obstruction of trails, measures 
wlU be taken to remove them and their herds at 
once.” 
The contest between the drovers and 
their opponents is likely to be fiercest, 
however, when the herds Teach the Kan¬ 
sas and Colorado line. Both these States 
have stringent laws against the introduc¬ 
tion of cattle capable of communicating 
disease to the local herds; the farmers 
and stockmen in both States are bitterly 
opposed to the Texan “drives,” and it is 
doubttul whether the Federal authorities 
have any right to interfere with State 
action in the matter. The days of the 
Texas cattle drive appear numbered. 
Land is sufficiently cheap in the Lone 
Star State to enable the cattle owners to 
ship their stock by rail or boat and still 
compete with others. Anyhoiv, one man’s 
rights begin only where those of. another 
end, and the stockmen of Kansas and 
Colorado can hardly be expected to sub¬ 
mit quietly to loss for the benefit of the 
stockmen of Texas. 
B8UVITIE8. 
Who has tried the Christine Raspberry? 
Prfs. Marshall P. Wilder writes us 
that, the Stratagem Pea is right in every re¬ 
spect. 
Clydksdalf. Oats, sent, out bv onr respect¬ 
ed neighbors, Peter Henderson & Co., are. wo 
fear, another case of history repeating itself. 
They closely resemble the White Australian. 
C'ovkt not your neighbor’s property, nor 
envy bis success. This would be wicked. But 
it is perfectly legitimate to emulate his good 
example, or try to beat him out of sight in 
raising good crops. 
Kerosene the chicken houses freely and 
often. Don’t forget tbe bottom ot tbo perches 
where lice most, do congregate. Give fresh 
water; keep it in tbo shade. Give plenty of 
greeu food—pnrslane, so plentiful now, is 
good. Remove the droppings at least once a 
week. 
If ever Mr. E. P. Roe were enthusiastic 
over any sraall fruit, be was so in regard to 
tbe Bid well Strawberry. We tested it beside 
roanv other kiuds. but it did not do well at 
the Rural Grounds. Mr. Roe now says that 
“there was a time when lie thought the Bid- 
well the best of its kind for him and others to 
grow, but, time and more experience have 
forced him to abandon the belief." 
Chicago deserves all of her grand progress, 
if only for her liberality in supplying ample 
park room for her population, and within 
reach of the poor as well as the rich. Tbe 
sight of the crowds which expand through 
these breathing places of the great city on 
Sabbath days is finer than can be seen in any 
walled bathed ml—more promising, both for 
humanity and religion. 
The country about, the Rural Grounds was 
blessed with h fine rain last Tuesday, which 
“went through." It will not help early pota¬ 
toes planted in the usual wav much, as they 
were severely checked; but it will help the 
trenched and mulched potatoes, which, though 
backward before, will now continue growth 
without interruption. The season has been, 
at the Rural Grounds, ns in many other 
places, one that will severely test the efficacy 
of the Rural’s system of potato culture. 
It {r true that the greatest difficulty about 
plum-growing, in some soils, is their invet¬ 
erate proneness to rot just, as they ure ripen¬ 
ing. and after having received a great deal of 
vain,laborious care. It is true,too, apparently 
everywhere,that the Lombard,Gage and Rich¬ 
land Damson are tbe surest producers among 
the old domestic sorts, but they, too, ure lost 
by rot. Ou the other hand, reports scarcely 
do justice to the Obickasaws, Their juiciness 
see ins to drown the cureulio larv.-p. When they 
bear satisfactorily—the Miner especially— 
they ure very handsome; they carry and keep 
well; they make a superior marmalade, aud 
they seem as hardy as the native wild plum, 
while much neater and cleaner in growth and 
foliage, especially some new sorts. Although 
eaten from Hie tree with approval by most 
people, they are inferior as dessert fruit to tbe 
luscious and fine- textured[Gages. 
