JULY 25 
504 fHE RURAL «£W-Y0JWE*t o 
■fttiscdlcmeousL 
King & Company, Oswego, N. Y.—Illus¬ 
trated catalogue of custom and hand-made 
harness, showing the various styles of har¬ 
ness which they have been so successfully 
making. If you need a harness send for this 
circular and read it. We believe this house 
thoroughly reliable, and that they will give 
just such goods as they advertise. 
Annual Catalogue op Michigan Agri¬ 
cultural College for 1881-6, containing a 
full list of students and other information con¬ 
cerning that excellent school. All interested 
should send for it to R. G. Baird, Secretary, 
Lansing, Mich. 
Transactions of the Massachusetts 
Horticultural (society for the year 1884, 
Fart II., Rooert Manning, Secretary, Boston, 
Mass.—This is a full report of all the meet¬ 
ings and shows held during the year, and of 
the prizes awarded. 
The Eleventh Annual Register of 
Furduk University, Lafayette, Ind.—This 
school should be overrun with Indiana’s smart 
boys and girls. Hend to Richard M. Swan, | 
Register, for a copy, and give it careful con- J 
sideralion. 
Catalogue of the State Agricultural 
College of Kansas, for 1884-5, in which 
will be found full particulars of this young but 
vigorous school. Success to it! Send to Geo. 
T. Fairchild, President, Manhattan, Kansas, 
for a copy. 
THE FIRST GUN. 
Allow me to indorse thB method of po¬ 
tato culture by the trench-mulch system re¬ 
commended in the Rural of April 11th. I 
was induced to try the sj stem, and the result 
has been a complete surprise to myself and 
neighbors. I planted tbe Beauty of Hebron 
aud Early Rose and dug the first mess from 
tbe former ou the 12th of June—three weeks 
earlier than 1 have ever had potatoes from 
my garden before, and averaging in size 
nearly as large as tieu's eggs. I have had a 
bountiful supply every day since, aud at the 
end of June there were no small ones to feed 
to the cows - , but all were fit for the table and 
in fine condition. I shall not think of plantirg 
potatoes in any other way hereafter. 
Trenton, N. J. william hewitt. 
I used to think while they were small 
And running out to play. 
How two would be, in manhood’s prime, 
Afar some future day; 
And other two, as women, grown 
So noble, good and fair, 
And hoped their paths, unlike my own, 
would be more free front care. 
My plans for them—air castles all— 
Theu seemed so wise so grand; 
My eldest hoy I thought would rise 
And, maybe, rule the land. 
My daughters, fitly trained, might grace 
Homes In palatial halls, 
Where not a storm could blight their life 
Within those sheltered walls. 
My youngest, born an orator. 
Wltli.tougue so free and clear. 
Would spellbound hold the listening throngs 
That came Ills words to hear. 
Perhaps the glorious temperance cause 
Might tlnd In him a friend. 
And have the wrongs It sought to cure 
Brought to a speedy end. 
Time glides away, and now I look 
Back o'er the fleeting years. 
On some rest clouds, as scenes appear 
To eyes when dimmed with tears. 
And humbled now, I sec In ull 
The leadings of God's hand. 
Perhaps 'ttvas better as it Is, 
Thao Just the way I planned. 
Our first born (dear, ambitious boy) 
Was early called to God; 
Alt, sadly then, our lips wc pressed 
To kiss the chastening rod. 
It came so sudden, like a bolt 
From nut, a summer sky; 
Our prayers all theu seemed spent on air, 
Too sad to bear reply. 
And then one sister's steps grew slow, 
Though vain we tried to save. 
But e’er the snow a new-fllled mound 
Was near her brother's made. 
Aud as we left them to their rest 
Fatih whispered o'er and o’er, 
“Rejolcel rejoice! life's crushing ills 
Will never blight them more.” 
The mlsslon-fleld In India called 
Another to its ranks- 
She helps Ihe Word of Life to bring 
To some, uear Ganges' banks. 
Hard were our pleadings, vain we strove 
Her wish to turn aside; 
“Let her depart," God seemed to speak, 
“l will her footsteps guide.” 
Our youngest-born is 'Death our roof, 
With others at his side; 
No daughter could be more to us 
Than his unselfish bride. 
Our homo, a most Inviting spot, 
By him Is made more fair. 
And Heaven seems nearer when Ids voice 
Leads us in dBily prayer. 
SOPHIA C. GARR5TT. 
SKETCHES OF GERMAN LIFE. 
BERTHA A. ZEDI WINKLER. 
THE NOBILITY AS IT WAS. 
So much do the cbivalric ages figure in 
poetry, fiction and folk-lore, that it is hard to 
find a person not interested in the still visible 
remnants of those heroic times — ruined cas¬ 
tles and a decayed nobility. The former, in 
their hoary condition aud impregnable situa¬ 
tion, preserves an appearance of grandeur 
which the latter, with their high sounding 
titles and low-ebbed state, affect in vain. 
History tells us all about feudal wars, and 
feudal oppression which extended over kings 
and peasants, gradual^ leading to revolts 
from the latter and the dismemberiueut of the 
empire by foreign invasions. But there is 
room for a chapter upon their internal affairs, 
their relations with each other and their peas¬ 
ant subjects, before we dwell in another ar¬ 
ticle upou their present fallen condition. 
A German landed noble— and there were 
few that were not landed in those times—rep¬ 
resented something of the Scriptural patri¬ 
archs, the oppressive landlord, the chief of a 
Scottish clan. He, as Bole chief and judge of 
his domiuiou, was a mixture of arbitrariness 
and maguanimity. Lawless, he governed with 
an iron will. Himself an imperious vassal of 
the king, he required obedient vassalage from 
all his owu subjects. Exacting serfdom, he 
fought and harangued for liberty. Incon¬ 
sistent, yet withal brave, generous, and enthu¬ 
siastically pious; possessing all the vices of 
unrestrained power, with all tbe virtues of 
inherent nobility. As the chief figure of a 
social state still in its infant civilization, still 
unswathed with tbe finer harmonies of social 
order, he may be said to represent a noble 
barbarian trying to look at home in a new 
situation. Laws were required, and he made 
them, still with his weapons. Civilization de¬ 
manded a stationary habitation,aud heerected 
a fortress. Religion preached the refinement 
of barbaric virtues, and be left the war-gods 
of the forest for the wars of the Crusades. 
Objects only were changed, means were still 
the same, As a result, peace was nowhere 
long. He commanded everywhere, and so 
exacted everywhere. His cities grew in 
strength and revolted successfully; his pea¬ 
santry were put under heavier tribute to 
cover the loss, and revolted likewise, but with 
less success because less organized. 
These peasant revolts furnish the best proof 
of the nobility’s tyranny and exaction, for 
there is no more peaceful and loDgsuffering 
individual than a German, born and raised to 
husbandry. Few ever left their villages, 
those got no further than the nearest town for 
trade. News of the discordant, warring world 
seldom reached them, and the pressure brought 
to bear upon them must have l>een great, 
indeed, to impel such desperate uprisings. 
Every military assistance he brought to his 
kiug; every new adventure in the field of 
couquest meant fresh taxes and levies upon 
his peasantry. On the other hand, the noble 
had nothing in common with his people, or 
they with him. The glory of bis military ex¬ 
ploits was exclusively his, the labor of supply¬ 
ing the most important means thereto—food 
aud brawn, was solely theirs. He could live 
in his castle behind trenches aud drawbridges, 
with his own private chapel for worship, and 
his noble retinue for society, while his people 
were scattered over his broad acres seeing so 
little of their master and high life, as to make 
a holiday of that rare event. To most of 
them, he represented the power and majesty 
of their king, and the abuse of their rights 
must have been great, indeed, to raise the 
spirit of revolt in breasts inured to reverence. 
Some isolated instances of true patriarchal 
government are ou record, however. Aud 
these fathers of the people have long been 
deservedly canuonized in the hearts of the 
people. Beautiful traditions and legends clus¬ 
ter around their memory and the ruins of 
their castles, just as tragic tales aud ghost stories 
suggest themselves at the mention of a tyran¬ 
nical noble; and the peasant doffs his cap 
reverentially before the one, while he passes 
tbe abode of the other in .hurried fear and 
disgust. One of these beautiful legends is 
embodied in a popular ballad of a certain 
countof W ur term berg. At a banquet, to which 
all the dukes, counts, anti barons of Germany 
were invited, each naturally fell to praising 
his own domains, and held forth its particular 
riches or advantages. One boasted of hold¬ 
ing his rich towns still lu subjection; another 
exulted in broad acres and golden harvests: 
a third held aloft the decanter and boasted 
that they were all dependent upon his rich 
weinbergs for tbe precious juice; a fourth felt 
CATALOGUES. ETC., RECEIVED. 
Report of the Fruit Growers’ Asso¬ 
ciation of Ontario for the year 1884 
D. W. Beadle, Secretary.—This book of 
nearly 300 pages, contains the essavs and ad¬ 
dresses at the meetings of the society for the 
year, and. what is much better, the verbatim 
reports of tbe talks and discussions called out 
by these papers. However good an essay may 
be, it nearly always calls out some practical 
remarks from workers in that line, that con¬ 
Fig. 340. (See page 503.) 
tain a truth well to be remembered. This 
society is fully alive to the necessities of more 
knowledge among its members, and this vol¬ 
ume is just fitted to give tbe needed assistance. 
It is sent free to every member by addressing 
the Secretary. 
Architectural Studies, Part I.—Twelve 
designs for low cost houses, shown on a large 
scale, with very full details, with which are 
given specifications, bills of material and esti¬ 
mates of cost — a book that will meet the 
wants of many contemplating the erection of 
a house. Sent by mail, post-paid, for $1 00, 
by the Publisher, Wm. T. Comstock, No. 6 
Astor Place, N. Y. 
Jerome Potter, Tiverton Four Corners, 
R. I.—Circular of the Willson spring whiffle- 
tree for all purposes, showing how it is made 
and used. We have been using these on the 
Western New York Rural Farm, and find 
them very strong, and they entirely relieve 
the shoulders of the team from all shocks and 
jars. Altogether we like them very much. 
WAGES IN WASHINGTON TERRITORY. 
I think Mary Wager-Fisher made a mistake 
in one of her late letters about mill hands 
haviug such high wages In Washington Terri¬ 
tory. They have $35 a month. The mills 
have been running only three quarters time 
for the last 18 months. I think you like to 
have correct ioforniation, and as I live close 
to a saw-mill 1 know. At the above rate the 
men get very little wages per month. The 
account of the wages of other classes was cor¬ 
rect. Cracking this country 
up so high, produces a flow 
of immigration, and the poor 
fellows come here and growl 
like bears with sore heads. 
J. R. s. 
GOOD SENSE. 
A CORRESPONDENT writing 
from Missouri, says: “We 
are using a ham that weigh¬ 
ed 50 pounds, closely trim¬ 
med, tender and fine, from a 
Berkshire pig 18 months old 
—rather heavy for a small 
Berkshire!” Yes, too heavy. 
I should have preferred to 
shorten that pig’s life by 
about half, thereby saving 
one Winter’s feed and keep, 
and having the hams, when 
cured, of less size and at less 
expense. 
A small stream of water 
affording a wallowing place 
for tbe hogs is recommended as a requisite in 
a model hog pasture. This may do well 
enough where swine plague has never been 
known, but wherever it has appeared, these 
small streams are among the surest means 
of its continuance aud spread. Beware of 
sluggish streams and pools of standing wa¬ 
ter, particularly toward the latter part of the 
Summer and in the Fall. Keep the hogs 
away from all such places, and see that they 
are supplied daily with good water. 
Sangamon Co., Ill. Phil. Thrifton. 
Remedy for Quack Grass. If those who 
are troubled with Quack Grass will give their 
hogs a chance at the pest, they will clear the 
ground of every root. p. m. 
fur U^omra. 
CONDUCTED BY MISC RAY CLARK. 
WHEN THE CHILDREN HAVE GROWN UP. 
proud in mines of silver and other valuable 
ore; a fifth thought himself the most envied 
in bis land full of rich couveuts and rich sub¬ 
jects. Mean while the Count of Wiiriemberg sip¬ 
ped his wine thoughtfully and said not a word- 
When they had exhausted tbeir stock of self- 
congratulations, he arose and, acknowledging 
that he could lay claim to ueitber of these 
things in bis beloved Wurtemberg, being but 
chiefly composed of the great Black Forest 
aud poor tracts of laud, yet it contained a 
treasure he would not exchange for all then- 
summed up wealth. It was that he could lay 
himself down in perfect confidence of safety 
and reverence uuder the roof of 1-la poorest 
subject. There was sileDce for a time. Then 
the goblets were raised all along the festive 
board, aud Germany’s dukes, and counts, and 
barons proclaimed the Count of Wiirtemberg 
the richest of them all. 
Beautiful and beneficent as such relations 
between lord and subject may be, the feudal 
system, on the whole, resulted in general op¬ 
pressions ami national weakness. Old time 
romances have tbeir charm in tournaments, 
and gauntlets, and draw-bridges, and battle¬ 
ments; love sick youths and maidens still 
dream of cavaliers and ladies; but sensible 
people are glad of these more prosy times and 
general equality. The nobility has lost much 
of its glittering uselessuess, while the common 
people have gained their rightful share in the 
affairs of the world. 
THE WORTH OF A COLLEGE EDU¬ 
CATION. 
The season of college commencements has 
just closed, and a vast army of strong young 
men and womea are turning to search for 
tbeir life work. Or course they will find that 
life is a school, full of problems and inflexible 
axioms which must lie met, but there is no 
better introduction than a practical college 
education. Our institutions are growing more 
and more practical each year. The parent 
wbo does not encourage and open the way for 
a child to obtain an education, has deprived 
him of a heritage which fortune can never 
buy. A poor woman of my acquaintance who 
has five children, says she is determined to 
give each one of them one term at least in 
some good college, and that will probably in¬ 
spire them to work their way through. , 
Study a year, and teach a year, is an excel¬ 
lent way to obtain a practical drill. One 
does not have to be rich to complete a valu¬ 
able course of study. Less money is required 
PteffUaufouss 
To preserve the 
richness of color or 
delicacy of tint of 
your summer dresses, 
make suds of hot wa¬ 
ter and Ivory Soap, 
allow to cool until 
lukewarm, then wash 
your dresses in the 
solution. Ordinary 
soaps contain too 
much alkali, which in 
a short time bleaches 
the color and destroys 
its beauty. Prof- Silli- 
man, of Vale College, 
says,“The Ivory Soap 
“can not injure the 
“most delicate labric.” 
Free of charge. A full size cuke of Ivory Soap 
will be sent to any one who cun not get ii of tbeir 
grocer, ff six two-eeutstamps, to pay postage, arc 
sent to Procter & Gamble, Cincinnati. I’lcusu 
mention this paper. 
