JULY 25 
508 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
f or ll}e Doittt 0 . 
ATTENTION! 
Prizes Offered to the Members of the 
Youths’ Horticultural Club, 
HEN sending out pack¬ 
ages of beaus to the 
Cousins in April, we 
promised prizes to those 
who should accomplish 
the best results. Though 
somewhat delayed, we 
hope the list which is 
here presented will meet 
your approval. 
1 .—To the boy or girl 
who grows the largest 
number from one bean, 
we will send a pair of 
club skates. To the 
Cousin who raises the next largest number 
from one bean, we will send a folding pocket 
microscope. 2.—To the Cousin who raises the 
largest number from 15 beans, we will send 
either of Miss Alcott’s two popular books, 
“Little Men” or “Little Women.” To the 
Cousin who raises the next largest number 
from 15 beans, we will send a folding pocket 
microscope. 3.—To the Cousin who grows 
the largest number of pods containing seven 
beans, we will send a box of very excellent 
water color paints. To the Cousin who grows 
the next largest number of pods containing 
seven beans, we will send a folding pocket 
microscope. 4.—To the Cousin who grows 
the largest number of pods containing six 
beans, we will send a beautiful autograph 
album. To the Cousin who grows the next 
largest number of pods containing six beans, 
we will send a folding pocket microscope. 5. 
—To the Cousin who grows the largest num¬ 
ber of pods on one vine, we will send a hand¬ 
some knife, either a boy’s or a girl’s knife as 
desired. And to the Cousin who grows the 
next largest number of pods on one vine, we 
will send a folding microscope. 
It will be necessary to keep a careful account 
with your bean vines, in order to know just 
where you stand when the season is over. To 
learn the largest number of beans from one, 
gather and put away in a box or bag especial¬ 
ly for the purpose, every beau as it ripens on 
the viue chosen for this test. The same must 
be done, choosing 15 vines to save from, for 
the second prizes. Only oue prize mil be sent 
to each successful contestant, so each one 
must decide which of the five offers will give 
him the best chance of a prize. A report may 
be sent iu, however, of all the results. 
We ask you to send us, when the beans are 
all harvested, a written statement of the re¬ 
sults. This statement to be signed by your 
parents or guardians, after they have assured 
themselves that you have made no mistakes 
in saving and counting the beans. 
KEEPING RECORDS. 
I am very much interested in the young 
folks of the Rural and like to read their de¬ 
partment. Many times I can get new ideas. 
I would like to suggest a few thoughts to 
them about keeping records, which I have 
practiced somewhat for a number of years. 
This practice teaches auyone to be more ob¬ 
serving. He can select something that he is 
interested in to keep a record of. The mater¬ 
ial for the record is a blank book, which can 
be made out of any white paper, or can be 
purchased at a book-store for a few cents, aud 
kept for records of any particular work. 
There are a number of things a record may 
profitably be kept of, such as the occupation 
of the day, the important events that tran¬ 
spire from time to time, such as the burning 
of valuable buildings, or the building of new 
ones; the marriages of friends, or the celebra¬ 
tion of ani versaries. It is a good plan to keep 
a record of the weather, as it will give some¬ 
thing for each day and can be done in a few 
minutes. If persisted in for awhile, it will 
become a habit. In taking the observation of 
the weather, select some hour when you will 
be most likely to be at the same place each 
day; say at six or seven o'clock in the morn¬ 
ing; have a thermometer hung out doors in 
the shade, and observe where the mercury 
stands; observe at the same time which way 
the wind is, if any, also observe whether it is 
pleasant or not. A good rule to go by on the 
last is, to call the weather pleasant if the sky 
is less than one-third clouded; if it is more 
than one-third clouded and less than two- 
thirds clouded, it is fair; if the sky is more 
than two-thirds clouded over, it is cloudy. 
To keep the record, rule lines down the page 
in the blank book, making columns, over the 
first column write the day of the month, over 
the second temperature, over the third wind, 
over the fourth weather, e.y. 
June. 
Temp, 
Wind 
Weather. 
12 
54 
N. W. 
Pleasant. 
13 
64 
8. 
Fair. 
14 
66 
S. 
Cloudy. 
15 
57 
O. 
Pleasant. 
Then one day can be compared with another 
or one month with another. The main point 
is to take the observation at the same bour 
each day. If you are studying botaDy or are 
interested in that study, it will be quite help¬ 
ful to keep a record of the time when the trees 
first show the leaves in the Spring, and when 
they are in bloom; and when first certain 
plants are found in bloom: when the fruit 
ripens, etc. You will find something to re¬ 
cord almost every day through the Summer. 
For keeping such a record, a diary which has 
a place for each day is good. If you are in¬ 
terested in poultry, keep an account of the 
number of eggs that are laid ; how many 
chickens are raised; how much the feed cost 
for the hens; bow much it cost to raise the 
chickens, etc. When they begin to lay, ex¬ 
periment with some, and see if you cannot 
feed them so as to make them lay more than 
those fed in the old way, and thus make more 
out of a given number of heus. To make a 
sure thing of it. keep a strict account on both 
sides. 
There are numerous other things to keep 
records of, that I know the young folks of the 
Rural are bright enough to think of, without 
naming them over. But I would caution them 
not to undertake too much at first, for they 
may get discouraged, as I found that to be one 
fault of mine. It will be quite an inducement 
to keep a record,to join the Chautauqua** Town 
and Country Club,” which the Chautauqua 
University has added to its work. It is for 
the purpose of studying agriculture. It costs 
25 cents to join the club. If any one wishes 
to join apply to Miss K. F Kimball, Plainfield, 
N. J., for application blank and circular. You 
will then have a special object iu keeping the 
records of things as that is w T hat they require 
and if you fulfil their requirements, which 
most anyone can do, you will receive a diplo¬ 
ma from the university. And you will also 
learn different ways of doing work as they 
tell bow to perform the work. When you 
finish oue work or observation lay the book 
away where it will be safe, as you will enjoy 
looking it over again in after years and com¬ 
paring it with the records that you are keep¬ 
ing. I think you will be apt to see quite an 
improvement in your work. agricola. 
LETTERS FROM THE COUSINS. 
Dear Uncle Mark: —I received the beans 
the 29th of May that you were so kind as to 
send me. Many* thanks. I hope I will have 
good luck with them. The Garden Treasures 
you sent us did not do very well on account of 
dry weather. I am very foud of flowers, but 
I have been sick this Summer, and could not 
attend to them very good. We have school a 
mile from our place; my sister and brother 
go to school. I have a little sister five years 
old, just learning to walk; her name is Nora 
Mable. Our wild blackberries are gettiug 
ripe. We have gathered about three gallons 
this year. My father is building a new house 
this Summer. I will write to you next Fall, 
and send you the report of my beans. I will 
close for fear you will get tired of me. Your 
niece, hattie l marsh. 
Douglas Co., Oregon. 
[Uncle Mark does uot get tired of his nephews 
and nieces, and he likes to receive long letters 
from them. We will want reports from all 
bean-raisers iu the Fall.— uncle mark.] 
Uncle Mark: —1 would like to be a mem¬ 
ber of the Y. H. C. I have written once, but 
my letter was not printed. We received the 
Rural seeds. There was a hole torn in the 
end of the paper, and the Garden Treasures 
spilt. The corn is growing nicely; three stalks 
are coming out m tassel. The Flageolet beans 
are growing nicely. The Lima Beaus are 
about two feet high; only 14 beans grew; the 
rest rotted. We have about 150 chickens, 14 
turkeys, and 17 geese, william j. brunk. 
Ohio Co., W. Va. 
Dear Uncle Mark:—W e thauk you for 
the Lima Beans. They were plautod on the 
7th of May; on the 13th they were up, began 
to run June 1, when they were supplied with 
sticks. June 17 first bloom opened. We have 
some pretty white pop-corn; It and the Rural 
corns were planted May L On the 13th of 
Jane the first tassel and two silks were seen 
on Rural Corn; June 20th first tassel seen on 
pop-corn, but our pop com is three times as 
large in stalk as the Rural Corn. Oh, the 
beautiful flowers! thank you for them; they 
were planted May 5th, but are beginning to 
bloom; a flood washed a great many seed 
away. We have about 25 varieties left, of 
which we know 20 kinds. Pa has given all 
the chickens to us girls for pin money. We 
started with eight hens in February. We 
now have 51 young chickens, from those just 
hatched to those nearly grown. We have lost 
nearly 25, besides having all the eggs we want¬ 
ed to eat. This is the first year we have tried 
hard to raise fowls. We hope to do better as 
we learn more about the business. Tour 
friend and niece, mary herron. 
Burleson Co., Texas. 
Bless the dear old Rural. It would do 
your hearts good, dear editors, if you could 
see how eagerly the children search through 
old numbers for means to push forward those 
beans aud raise fine fowls. Respectfully 
yours. P H HERRON, M.D. 
[It does our hearts good to hear of it, doc¬ 
tor, and we wish your children all the success 
possible in their garden and poultry ventures. 
We will want reports of the results, Mary.— 
UNCLE MARK.] 
Dear Uncle Mark: — Thanks for the 
beans. I planted them all, planting one in 
each hill,but only 10 came up I do not know 
the reason why, and now only six are alive, 
but they are growing very nicely. They 
seem to be eaten by something, but we could 
not find any thing: do yon know what it was? 
We have about 50 chickens, aud my brother 
and sister and 1 have 25 besides for our own 
use. We also have some onions and potatoes 
for our own. Pa|« and mamma think it is 
good exercise for us to be out of doors work¬ 
ing, and I like to take care of chickens and 
hunt for eggs. Our Garden Treasures are up 
and some came up from last year’s sowing. 
Among them there are sun flowers, poppies, 
marigolds, larkspurs, balsams aud a great 
many others that I do not know the names of. 
This morning I collected over 40 poppies in 
bloom; there was one very pretty double pink 
one. We have quite a few other flowers, and 
I have a lovely bed of pansies. I suppose 
there are so many Cousins that the youth’s 
department is full all of the time; but theu I 
think my letter will be welcome anyhow. If 
we didn’t write often 1 guess the waste basket 
would get hungry, and the youth’s depart¬ 
ment would be a blank. But I have forgotten 
myself. If 1 am not careful my letter will 
make a good supper for the waste basket, so I 
will close. Your affectionate niece, 
Niagara Co,, N. Y. sadie e. wright. 
[Your beaus were probably taken by cut¬ 
worms.— uncle mark.] 
Dear Uncle Mark:—I nclosen find a 
share of our Fourth of July fun. It won’t be 
half so nice on paper as it was freshly found 
in the woods, but will give you some idea of 
what it was like. We planned nothing for 
the day until it was fairly upon us, even then 
I think we girls would have let other things 
crowd out auy celebration of the Fourth hail 
it not been for our younger brothers. With 
two boys, each supplied with two packages of 
shooting crackers, it was Impossible to move 
on just the same os if it were any other day of 
the year, for just about the time we heroically 
attacked some task, a fire cracker would ex¬ 
plode very near, and cause us to go on an ex¬ 
ploring expedition toward the ceiling. When 
we reached the floor agaiu, there was usually 
a scattering of two small boys. 
At that rate our patriotism rose, and we de¬ 
termined to have a picnic in honor of the day. 
We started out after dinner, jost our two 
brothers, two young cousins, my sister and I. 
with a liberal basket of lunch. Straight for 
the creek we traveled, and there at the w ater’s 
edge under a great willow tree, we deposited 
our luggage and began immediately to enjoy 
our surroundings. While the children waded 
about in the water, ray sister and 1 found 
plenty to amuse us iu the bugs and flowers. 
Later, each of us composed a beautiful poem 
(?) about the day's events, but l cannot think 
of sending you even one verse, for the pro¬ 
ductions are too profound for ordinary read¬ 
ers. 
We kept tea and cream almost ice cold by 
burying the one in damp earth and sinking 
the other in a tiny pool of spring water. I 
never ate such good bread and raspberries in 
my life as we had for our picnic supper, and 
the basket of luucli disappeared in the most 
marvellous manner. There were evidently 
some appetites camping uuder that willow 
tree before we got there. 
After supper we explored up the creek for 
more than half a-mile, and found wild rasp¬ 
berries, clematis, hydrangea grape-vines, and 
many other plants aud vines growing in a 
perfect tangle on the steep bank. We gather¬ 
ed beautiful flowers here, and afterwards add¬ 
ing fire pinks and wild roses to our hydran¬ 
gea and elder, we carried home bouquets 
which every oue admired. Time passes rapid¬ 
ly iu the woods, and it seemed alt too soon 
when we saw the sun sinking behind the hills, 
and hail to take np our homeward march. I 
cannot begin to tell of all the curious things 
we saw, or put the spirit of the day in a letter. 
An afternoon of such perfect freedom iu the 
woods seemed to us the very best way to cele¬ 
brate our National Independence. 
Butler Co., Ohio, bertha knowlton. 
Pdjscellatijeausi ^duertising. 
OF. 
“Liberty Enlightening the World” 
The Committee In charge of the construction of 
the base ami pedestal for the reception of this great 
work, iu order to raise (uuiln for It* cmnplo* 
lion, have prepared n miniature Statuette mw inches 
in height. - the Statue Bronsed: Pedestal. Nletel-sll- 
vered,—which they are dow delivering to subscrib¬ 
ers throughout the United States at Oue Dollar 
*Tuii-’attractive souvenir anil Mantel or Desk orna¬ 
ment Isa perfect facsimile of the model furnished 
i'V thr artist. 
The statuette in same metal, twelve inches high, at 
Five Dollar* Each, delivered. ... 
The designs or Statue and Pedestal are protected 
by U. S. Patents, and the models can only be fur¬ 
nished by this Committee, Address with remittance 
RICH Alt D BUTLER, Secretary. 
American Committee of the Statue of l.iberty, 
33 Mercer Street, lew 5 ork. 
EPPS’S 
GRATEFUL-COMFORTING. 
COCOA 
LE PAGE’S 
LIQUID GLUE. 
UNEQUALLED FOR CEMENTINO 
WOOD. GLASS. CHINA. PAPER, LEATHER, SC- 
AWARDED COLD MEDAL, LONDON 1S8& 
Tiled by Masor, A Homlni 1 Irgsii y V.ana Co.,liil!inao 
Pulses'Our Co.An. Mfd onlv by the RUSSIA 
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Old U»new«rd. 
Send for chroUrv E. J. KNOWLTON. Ann Arbor. Mich. 
CURE f t°h r eDEAF 
Peck's Patent Improved Artificial E.r Drums 
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timonial free. Addicts, IIlsCOX. Broad¬ 
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PD UNIFORMS 
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NOVELTY MIOi CO., Wsllwgfor.l, Conn. 
General Advertising Rates of 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
The following rates are invariable. All are there¬ 
fore respectfully informed that any correspondence 
with a view to obtaining different terms will prove 
futile . 
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One thousand lines or more.wl' bln oue year 
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agate space . .... 33 " 
Preferred positions .*» per cent, extra. 
Reading Nolleen, ending with “Adv.,“ per 
line, minion leaded.73 cents. 
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