THE mWiL #SEW-YORRfcH 
cJUWE 6 
386 
THE 
RURAL NEW-YORKER, 
A National Journal lor Country and Suburban iio.uos 
Conducted by 
K. S. CARMAN, 
J . S . WOODWARD, 
Editor. 
Associate. 
Address 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER, 
No. 34 Park Row, New York. 
SATURDAY, JUNE 6. 1885 
Which grasses and clovers are the most 
valuable for hay? When should the seed 
be sown? How much per acre? At 
what period in its growth should it be 
cut? How cured? Should it be sown 
separately or with sonic other crop? Etc., 
etc. All these topics will be treated in a 
Rural Special Number next week. 
Sixty pieces of potatoes were, cut and 
rolled in plaster one. week before planting. 
The same number of pieces were cut, 
rolled in plaster and planted the same day. 
The latter lot sprouted about two days 
before the others. 
- . —^- 
May 26. Among our newer strawber¬ 
ries Amateur (pistillate), Hathaway’s No. 
8 (pistillate) and Bonanza (perfect) are the 
most vigorous in foliage. Jewel (pistil¬ 
late), Hathaway’s No. 9 (pistillate), Daniel 
Boone (pistillate) and Prince of Berries 
(perfect) are next. Parry (perfect) is not 
making a strong foliage growth. Iron¬ 
clad (perfect) is bearing the most blos¬ 
soms, and Parry next. Henderson (per¬ 
fect) is making a fair growth. It blooms 
late. 
Reports from various parts of the 
country announce the appearance of the 
17-year locusts in great numbers. In 
many places they have already made their 
way to the surface; iu others they are 
being turned up by the plow and the spade 
in their upward progress. A great, deal of 
alarm is expressed in many quarters with 
regard to their threatened depredations on 
growing crops; but Professor C. V. Riley 
says they will do no harm to these, and 
that they will do no injury except to the 
twigs of forest and fruit trees. Wher¬ 
ever young orchards have been planted 
on land which has been cleared during 
the past 17 years, the trees are likely to 
suffer somewhat; but he thinks it prob¬ 
able that the use of kerosene, emulsion 
sprayed upon them, will be a protection, 
In using kerosene emulsion on plants, 
for the destruction of insects, too much 
care can not he taken to see that, it be 
thoroughly emulsified 60 that the water 
will not evaporate, leaving kerosene free 
and uncombined upon the plant. Kero¬ 
sene, in its pure form, is very destructive 
to all forms of vegetable life; and even 
in minute quantities it is quite injurious; 
hence when used Avitli water or milk in a 
mere mechanical mixture, however finely 
it may be divided, it is left, by the 
evaporation of the liquid with which it 
is combined, in its free form upon the 
foliage, and this sometimes causes great 
injury or death to the plants to which it, 
ha9 been applied. For these reasons the 
best emulsifier with which to mix it, is 
the soap mixture, and it should by all 
means be churned or otherwise agitated 
long enough so that it, becomes thoroughly 
united; then it. readily dissolves in the 
water and is entirely harmless. 
We are glad to see that in many sec¬ 
tions of the West increased attention is 
being giving to the growing of hemp. 
We use annually large quantities, mostly im¬ 
ported at an annual outgo of much money; 
and the universal substitution of machin¬ 
ery for the cutting and binding of small 
grains, requiring millions of pounds of 
twine, will greatly increase the demand. 
Every pound of any commodity needed 
among our people, that can be produced 
in thiscountry, even though affording hut 
a small profit, if grown here,adds so much 
to our national Avtulth, and,more than this, 
it diverts the labor necessary to care for 
its growth and saving at maturity, from the 
production of some other crop, and thus 
prevents an over-production and depres¬ 
sion in the price of that product. Though 
the area planted to hemp is not as yet 
very large, we hope to see its production 
so profitable that it will be greatly extend¬ 
ed. What is wanted is that some intelli¬ 
gent inventor shall construct a machine 
that will supplant, manual labor iu the 
separation of the fiber from the stalks, 
and in its preparation for use. Certainly 
such a desirable thing is possible. 
-♦ ♦ » - 
The National Wool-Growers’ Conven¬ 
tion, held in St. Louis, May 27-8, elected 
J. P. Ray, of New York; E. Branson, of 
Texas, and C. Sims, of the same State, as 
Executive Committee. A resolution was 
unanimously reported demanding a res¬ 
toration of the tariff of 1867, and it Avas 
the generally expressed opinion that, if 
higher duties are not. imposed on foreign 
wools, the sheep husbandry of this 
country must be abandoned. Confedera¬ 
tion among sheep owners was strongly 
recommended and the Association ex¬ 
pressed its resolution to support only such 
men aud parties as favor protection. At 
the time the tariff on imported avooIs was 
reduced, the Rural A-igorously protested 
against a measure fraught with such 
disaster to the growing sheep-raising 
industry of this country, and predicted 
the sad consequences which have fol¬ 
lowed the change in the tariff. 
We do not, by any means, however, 
take the gloomy view of the present 
condition of sheep husbandry apparent¬ 
ly entertained by the Convention; for we 
believe that with greater care and a thor¬ 
ough weeding of the Hocks, loss can be 
avoided, even if a profit cannot be made, 
under the present tariff, and we know 
that by presenting a bold, determined 
and united front, the Bheep raisers of the 
country can compel our legislators to 
make an equitable alteration iu the tariff. 
■♦♦♦- 
Referring to a note from the intelli¬ 
gent, T. Y. Munson of Texas, in another 
column of this impression, let us say that 
the word “sport,” as signifying “an effect 
without a cause.” should never he used. 
If it is intended to mean an effect the 
cause of which we do not. understand, it 
may be used without objection. There is 
no such thiDg in nature as an effect with¬ 
out any cause. A change (and a “sport” 
is a change) without any inducement or 
influence is impossible. The words, “bud 
variation” are now often used instead of 
“sport” to designate those variations in 
the leaves and flowers of plants, which 
often occur, aud which occur now far 
oftener than in years past, because, no 
doubt, our cultivated plants arc oftener 
the results of crossing. 
Years ago, as our older friends are 
aware, we crossed about 1,200 pelargo¬ 
niums, using as parents the best of the va¬ 
rieties then knoAvn. Among them were 
several hundred of the variegated-leaved 
kinds, which were crossed Avitli varieties 
hearing green leaves. Most of the off¬ 
spring boro solid green leaves, but hero 
and there a shoot would appear hearing 
variegated leaves. Had these been sent 
to friends who knew nothing of tbeir 
origin, they would doubtless have been 
considered euriouB “sports.” But to the 
writer, who had spent a good part of two 
Winters iu producing these crosses, they 
wire the cropping out of variegated 
blood in plants in which the green-leaved 
principle was prepotent but not omnipo¬ 
tent. Were you to ask. kind reader, 
how the first variegated shoot was pro¬ 
duced, we should answer that we do not. 
know any morethan we know what, induced 
the first single flower to change one. of its 
pistils or stamens into a petal—the first 
step toAvards what we call a “double” 
flower—or hundreds of others of nature’s 
wonderful ways. 
OLEOMARGARINE. 
Pennsylvania has just joined the 
States which have passed laws against the 
sale of oleomargarine and allied concoc¬ 
tions under the guise of genuine dairy 
products. Illinois is likely soon to follow 
the connneudable example, as the Sen¬ 
ate has just passed a stringent nnti-oleo 
laAv. Commissioner Column has repeated¬ 
ly expressed his determination to do nil 
in his power to check the manufacture 
uud limit the sale of these concoctions, 
and to recommend to Congress legisla¬ 
tion in this direction. One of the great¬ 
est obstacles hitherto everywhere met 
with in enforcing anti-oleomargarine Iuavs, 
has been the difficulty of distinguish¬ 
ing the genuine from imitation butter. 
The tests hitherto proposed by scien¬ 
tists have been too uncertain and difficult 
for ordinary use; and many a law-breaker 
in this city and other places has escaped 
punishment, through the inability of the 
prosecutor to prove that, what nil knew to 
he oleomargarine, was really that product. 
A discovery lately made by Dr. Taylor, 
Microscopist of the Department of Agri¬ 
culture, which he made public last Thurs¬ 
day, is likely to obviate this trouble. He 
finds,according to a telegram just received 
from Washington, that, “crystals of pure 
batter, when fresh, have a globular or 
ellipsoidal form, and that Avitli a certain 
adjustment of the polarizer each globule, 
or ellipse, discloses a well defined St. 
Andrew’s cross, Avhieh revolveB as the 
polarizer is turned. The crystals of but- 
terine, oleomargarine,and of beef or swine 
fats are of a stellar form. They do not 
revolve with the polarizer; nor do they 
show the St. Andrew’s cross. The crys¬ 
tals of butter Avhieh is not fresh or is of 
inferior quality, present a roseate form, 
generally four-lobed, and revolve with the 
turniugof the polarizer.” As a prelimin¬ 
ary to the tests, the samples must be boiled 
for the purpose of crystallizing their fatty 
acids. This discovery, it is believed,will 
furnish certain, means of readily detecting 
the difference between butter and any imi¬ 
tation or adulterated compound. 
-♦ ♦ ♦- 
“SPRAYING” APPARATUS. 
In answer to many inquiries, we may 
say that the Woodason Spraying Bellows 
(now r sold by most seedsmen) are appar¬ 
ently just the thing needed if only a few 
plants are to be. sprayed with pyrethrum, 
Paris green or hellebore solutions or the 
kerosene emulsion. But where many 
plants are to be treated, the work becomes 
very laborious. For such extended w ork 
there is nothing we have found equal to 
the Aquapult Pump, to which may he at¬ 
tached any desired length of hose wired to 
an iron tube,in the other end of wriiich the 
Cyclone nozzle is screAved. The pump is 
easily operated and moved from place to 
place, as needed. The spray issuing from 
this nozzle is a fine rain—almost a vapor— 
and is projected from six to ten feet in 
any direction as desired—up, doAvn or 
laterally. The bottom of the pump rests 
in a pail or other vessel holding the liquid, 
and is held there by an adjustable iron 
arm passing over the side of the pail and 
down to the ground, there terminating in 
a plate broad enough for the foot to rest 
upon,holding it firmly in place. 
The whole outfit is rather costly just 
now —about $10—but, we are told with a 
considerable demand, can be sold for much 
less. We are prepared to give it a further 
and thorough trial as soon as insects be¬ 
come troublesome, and shall not fail to 
report the results to Rural readers. For 
spraying orchards or large vineyards, the 
Field force-pump is probably the best im¬ 
plement. This can be brougt for about $5. 
—— - • - - 
DON’T DO IT. 
In a recent trip into the interior we 
were surprised and pained to learn that 
in many sections fanners had, as it Avere, 
become seized with a panic to be rid of 
their sheep and Avere selling goad flocks 
of store sheep at one dollar per head, or 
less; in fact, in some places so determined 
are they to sell that no substantial offer 
is refused. Wc have several times be¬ 
fore within our recollection seen sheep 
sold at merely nominal prices, and slaugh¬ 
tered by the thousands for their hides 
and tallow, the meat being fed to hogs; 
but in every case the very people so 
anxious to lie rid of their flocks Avere, 
within a couple of years, buying other 
sheep at prices which, added to what the 
wool and lambs would have brought dur¬ 
ing the years of low prices, would have 
made their keeping reasonably profitable 
for the whole period. Our earnest ad¬ 
vice to our readers is, don’t do such a 
foolish thing. Sort out aud weed out the 
Hocks. If you can’t sell the surplus at 
lair prices, use the mutton much more 
freely in your own families; it, vs much 
better aud more healthful than so much 
greasy pork. Don’t sacrifice the flocks; 
‘it may be that, for a year or two lliu prices 
of wool, sheep and mutton will below; 
but remember, before you can grow 
another flock, times and things will 
change; the prices will be much higher 
than now, and you can’t help losing 
money in the transaction. Think a long 
time (at least two years) before you de¬ 
cide to nearly give away the sheep 1 
-- - 
CLOSE OF AN UNPROFITABLE EN¬ 
TERPRISE. 
tions, as remunerative enterprises, is ever. 
Mankind have ceased to take a keen inter¬ 
est. in them. They are no longer in fash¬ 
ion, and how, therefore, can they succeed? 
The course of the managers has not been 
Avise or altogether frank. Had Congress 
been asked at first to make appropriations 
to support the Show, it Avould have 
promptly refused; but it was merely re¬ 
quested to ask foreign nations to take 
part in the Fair. A year later it Avas 
asked for a loan of $1,000,000 on the 
ground that it had previously assumed 
responsibility by authorizing such official 
invitations to foreign countries. The 
loan avus granted on the solemn assurance 
that there were already $750,000 in the 
treasury, and that $500,000 more were 
pledged in subscriptions, These state¬ 
ments, it has since been discovered, Avere 
delusive. 
Ill fortune,due to bad Aveathcr and bad 
management, led to another appeal to 
Congress, which has invested a total of 
$1,650,000 in the enterprise, every cent 
of which was to be returned. Probably 
about $500,000 more were furnished by 
Mexico and other foreign exhibiting coun¬ 
tries and by our own States and Terri¬ 
tories, for the display of their products 
and manufactures. The Exposition, how¬ 
ever, is unable to pay expenses, much less 
its debts, and even the exhibitors will, 
most likely, have to go without the pre¬ 
miums they have won at the cost of much 
trouble, annoyance and expense. 
In spite of failure, however, it is pro 
posed to re-open the Show next Fall. It 
is said that moat of the Commissioners 
from the several States and a majority 
of the exhibitors favor the project, and 
that $250,000 of the $370,000 needed for 
the extension have been subscribed on 
condition that the Government’s exhibits 
shall remain as a nucleus for the new Ex¬ 
position. A telegram from Washington, 
however, announces that the Government 
has refused its consent; while another 
from New Orleans tells us a committee 
of citizens has started to induce the 
President and Cabinet, to alter their deter¬ 
mination. This effort, to prolong the life 
of the enterprise is ill-advised. The ex¬ 
periences of those who have already 
visited the Crescent City have not, as a 
rule, been of a nature to induce others to 
follow their example; it would be impos¬ 
sible to induce many of the private exhibi¬ 
tors to allow their goods to remain; and 
since the Fair did not pay even expenses, 
when every possible attraction allured vis¬ 
itors, what possible hope can there be, in 
the future, except from the National 
Treasury? 
While the Exposition has failed to ac¬ 
complish all that was hoped from it, it has 
undoubtedly done some good. It has 
had a tendency to rouse the South to the 
importance of manufacturing industries; 
it has led to the investment of a good deal 
of outside capital in the development of 
the great resources of that section; it has 
brought the people of all parts of the 
country more closely together and devel¬ 
oped more kindly feelings and relations; 
it has been an instructive object lesson, 
not only to visitors, but, through the 
press, to the entire country; and. last hut 
not least, it. has proved that the era of 
“national” or “world’s” fairs has lapsed, 
and that no more appropriations should 
be made from the National Treasury to 
start,carry on or prolong such enterprises. 
BREVITIES. 
The great International Exposition 
from which the citizens of New Orleans 
expected so much, closes finally this even¬ 
ing. Financially it has not been a suc¬ 
cess. Indeed a financial success was hard¬ 
ly to be expected. The geographical 
disadvantages of the Crescent City; the 
sparse population of the surrounding re¬ 
gion; and the necessarily heavy expenses 
of visitors from a distance foretold fail¬ 
ure, Moreover, the day of such exhibi- 
Our old contributor Samuel Parsons Jr., 
has just been elected Superintendent of Central 
Park, this city—salary $3,000 a year. Mr. 
Parsons was formerly Superintendent of 
planting; blit some time ago the office was 
abolished. Ho is the son of Samuel Parsons, 
the well known nurseryman of Flushing, L. I. 
and is about 42 years old. The appointment 
is an excellent one.nnd we look for some notable 
aud needed improvements in the Park under 
tbe new administration. 
Thk date for holding the convention of ag¬ 
ricultural colleges and experiment stations at 
Washington, under the direction of Commiss¬ 
ioner Column, has boon deferred from June 24 
to July fl. as many who wished to attend, have 
expressed a decided preference for the latter 
date. This will not only not conflict with the 
commencement exercises of many of the col¬ 
leges: but it will also offer to those desiring to 
attend the convention of the National Educa¬ 
tional Association at Saratoga, N. Y, on July 
14, bu opportunity tn attend both conventions 
without much loss of time. 
Wk have received from Mr. W. S. Moore 
the following note which explains itself: 
“Saying that yours of May lttth containing 
the announcement that my subscription list 
entitled me to the self-binding reaper was 
gladly received, hardly expresses my feel¬ 
ings." When 1 read the reaper was mine, my 
hat went up 50 feet nod aloud hurrah attract¬ 
ed the attention of n«arly every on* within a 
half mile. When I explained the cause of my 
emotion, they nil agreed that such an unprece¬ 
dented demonstration on my part was en¬ 
tirely excusable. Please accept my most sin¬ 
cere thanks for such a mognificient premium.” 
