THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
THE 
RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
A National Journal for Country and Suburban Homes. 
Conducted by 
e. s. CARMAN, 
J. S. WOODWARD, 
Associate. 
Address 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER, 
No. 84 Park Row, New York. 
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1885. 
Subscribers of the Rural need, never take 
the trouble to write us to “stop” the paper, 
ft is invariably discontinued at the ex¬ 
piration of the subscription term, except by 
oversight , in which case it is our loss. 
-♦ » » ■ — 
The Regular Premium-list of the 
Rural New-Yorker will be sent to all 
who apply. 
The best varieties of the blackberry, 
with illustrations, will be our next fruit 
for special consideration. 
On page 756 will be found a partial 
list of the seeds, tubers, and plants, which 
the Rural New Yorker has distributed 
in past years. 
The Rural New-Yorker is for all 
who love Nature and who, either for 
pleasure or support, work in the soil which 
is the body of Nature. 
-♦ » • - 
We shall soon begin a series of articles 
that will give the A. B. C. of incubators, 
written in an eaBy, plain manner, by one 
who has operated nearly 400 different 
hatches. 
Seedsmen usually charge 25 cents per 
packet for new kinds of watermelons. In 
every packet of our present Free Seed 
Distribution will be found seeds of all the 
new kinds, and only those. 
- - » • ■— 
Our readers are aware that we crossed 
the Wyandoites and Plymouth Rocks. Of 
this cross there is a pullet of perfect 
form, heavily feathered, and in every re¬ 
spect as perfect a Plymouth Rock as we 
have ever seen. 
We look to all of our subscribers to 
make reports, whether favorable or other¬ 
wise, of the seeds we send them in the 
Rural’s Seed Distribution. In such re¬ 
ports we would thank them alai to state 
the prices which crops are bringing and 
uny other agricultural facts which may 
interest and instruct our readers. 
--»♦» - ' 
We are preparing for 20,000 appli¬ 
cations for the present Seed Distribu¬ 
tion Applicants will, please, apply on 
a SEPARATE slip of paper, and write 
their names and addresses distinctly 
and in full. Only regular subscribers 
need apply. 
---- 
We are in hopes to be able to send our 
lady friends a choicer selection of flower 
seeds, and a larger quantity than ever be¬ 
fore,in our present Free Seed Distribution. 
We sometimes think that these “Garden 
Treasures” are not fully appreciated, 
since our friends write us only of the 
more ordinary kinds which we have sent 
them. The more costly seeds are seldom 
spoken of. Is it that they are not planted 
and cared for properly? Since we cannot 
send a hundred or more different kinds 
separately, would it not be well if our 
subscribers would separate the seeds ac¬ 
cording to their size and appearance, and 
sow them in different pots or boxes? 
NOTICE. 
Though dated Nov. 14, as required by 
the postal laws, this special number of 
the Rural New-Yorker will be issued 
up to June 1st, 1886. Preserve it there¬ 
fore for reference. 
REGULAR 
numbers of the Rural will be sent to all 
applicants without charge. 
The Frederick Clapp is a new pear of 
great promise. Our owu specimen, plant¬ 
ed five yeais, has not borne yet, but fruit 
has been received from Ellwanger & Barry 
that enables us to judge of its quality. It 
reminds us of an improved Bartlett. Its 
best season is about the middle of Oc¬ 
tober. The skin is a bright yellow, the 
shape obovate, or less pear-shaped than 
the Bartlett. The flesh is juicy, spright¬ 
ly, very fine-grained, spicy, buttery and 
melting. Intensify all the good qualities 
of the Bartlett, and extend its season ( 
from late Summer to late Autumn, and 
you have a Frederick Clapp. We shall 
present an illustration of this fine pear in , 
a few weeks. 
The Rural New-Yorker’s advertis¬ 
ing rates are invariable, viz., 30 cents per j 
agate line, unless 1,000 lines are taken 
during the current year. Then the price 
is 25 cents per agate line. We would go 
without advertising patronage rather than 
deviate from these rates, even to the frac¬ 
tion of a cent. An average of over 
70,000 
copies of the Rural New-Yorker will 
be issued weekly, from now until May 1st, 
1886. Open subscription books, paper 
bills and press bills will be freely shown in 
proof. 
--- 
Subscribers who apply for the Free 
Seed-Distribution are requested to inclose 
a Btamp in their applications. The post¬ 
age alone on each packet will probably 
be five or six cents, which we shall pay, 
and we require that applicants should in¬ 
close the stamp, not to help defray the post¬ 
al expenses, but in order to protect us 
against those who would apply for the dis¬ 
tribution merely from curiosity. The Seed- 
Distribution costs a very large sum, and 
we can not afford to send, it to those who are 
not willing and anxious to give the seeds . 
good care. Of course, those who sub¬ 
scribe for the Rural in connection with 
other journals which offer the seeds in com¬ 
bination, need not send us any stamp or 
even apply. Such subscribers will receive 
the Seed-Distribution without application. 
The distribution of the seeds will be be¬ 
gun about the middle of February, 
. * ♦ ♦- 
ANGEL OF MIDNIGHT 
is a peculiar, not to say a ridiculous, name 
to give to corn. But the corn itself is 
very distinct, and, without any doubt, the 
earliest variety ever raised at the Rural 
Grounds, if judged from its time of ma¬ 
turity the past season The ears are very 
long and borne near the ground. The | 
plants grow only to the hight of six feet. I 
In richer soil they would, of course, grow 
somewhat better—though not much, we 
fancy. 
» • » — 
IMPORTANT TO STRANGERS. 
This number of the Rural New-Yor¬ 
ker doeB not represent the paper as it 
usually appears. It is devoted chiefly to 
an account of our Free Seed Distribution 
and of the many valuable presents we 
shall give to those of our subscribers who 
send us clubs. Owing to the great circu¬ 
lation of this special number, twice as 
many advertisements are presented as in 
ordinary issues. We will gladly send 
specimecs to all applicants, that they may 
see the Rural as it ordinarily appears. 
DEVON CATLE. 
The Devon cattle have never been 
“boomed’’and thrust into great promi¬ 
nence in the stock world. In the fever¬ 
ish rush for the much advertised milk 
and butter breeds the excellent qualities 
of the modest Devon, have been too 
frequently overlooked. It has become 
customary to speak of the “little Devon;” 
in fact, the majority of fanners seem to 
have the idea that the red cows are 
small creatures with a most undecided 
place id the animal economy. In Eng¬ 
land the Devon holds a high position, 
both as a dairy animal, and as a beef 
producer. While the prices for Short¬ 
horns and Herefords have declined of 
late, the Devons have held their own re¬ 
markably well. At a recent English 
Devon sale, several cows were sold at 
auction for over $160, the best one 
bringing $225. One pair of three year- 
old grazing steers were sold for $345. 
Cattle bringing such a price as this for beef 
purposes cannot bo very small. On 
many light hill-side farms, we doubt if 
the Devon can be surpassed as a general- 
purpose animal. After all, the “best cow” 
must be selected with an eye to local 
features, and to the particular kind of 
soil upon which one is located. Far¬ 
mers should study their own situation in 
connection with the figures of breeders, 
- » H-- 
PEANUTS IN THE NORTH. 
Why peanuts are not grown in the 
North, in a small way at least, we could 
never understand. The reason they are not 
grown for the market appears to be, not 
so much that they do not yield bounti¬ 
fully, as that the North cannot economic- . 
ally compete with the South in their j 
production. The reason usually assigned 
is that the northern season is too short. 
We have raised peanuts, in a small way, 
repeatedly and alwayB with entire success. 
The past season they were not planted 
until Mily 18, and yet the crop ripened 
fully. The average number of peanuts 
to a plant was ascertained to be 50, from 
actual count. It requires from 100 to 125 
to fill a quart measure. Our method is to 
plant them iu a rich, loamy soil, single 
peanuts (Shetland all), placed afoot apart 
—the rows two feet apart. 
The peanut (Arachis hypogcea), is 
really a kind of bean, the “nut” being a 
fruit, though developed underground, 
just a 3 much as if borne upon a pea or 
bean-vine. Its peculiarity of forcing its 
pistil into the ground where it enlarges 
and forms the peanut, gives rise to the 
notion that it grows like an Irish sweet 
pototo. In fact, if we consider the elon¬ 
gated pistil a stem, tubers and peanuts 
are not so widely separated after all. 
Still the one must be considered a true 
fruit with proper seeds; the other a mere 
thickened portion of a subterranean 
branch. 
The power of the pistil of a peanut to 
work itself into the soil, even though it 
be quite hard, is one of the most remark¬ 
able phenomena in vegetable nature. 
--- 
Tliree th.ou.sand dollars’ 
worth of sterling' presents 
to subscribers for clubs. See 
page 757. 
- »» » - 
NEW VARIETIES OF POTATOES AND 
WHEAT AT THE RURAL GROUNDS. 
- — • 
Every year for the past five years, we 
have raised potatoes from true seeds in 
greater or less quantity, and the earlier ones 
are now showing just what they are. Of 
the whole lot, two kinds are especially 
promising. One we have named the 
“Rural Calico,” from the fact that it is 
streaked or blotched with a bright pink 
upon a buff ground. The shape is bo 
distinctive that almost every tuber might 
easily be picked out if mixed up with 
50 different kinds. It is egg-shaped—the 
I eyes raised above the surface and never 
depressed. The quality, as grown at the 
R. G., is perfection, being dry, nutty, 
mealy, almost “melting,” as pomologists 
would say. The flesh is white. It ma¬ 
tures with Early Rose, and yields heavily 
for an early potato. We hope to dis¬ 
tribute it next. year. 
The other potato is late. The tubers 
average large, never grossly so; and the 
percentage of small ones is remarkably 
low. The skin is nearly white, eyes few 
and superficial. The shape is sym¬ 
metrical, inclining to wedge form. The 
quality is much like that of the Early 
Rose, though rather more pronounced as 
to what is termed “nuttiness.” This year 
it produced, in our garden test-plot, at 
the rate of over 700 bushels to the acre, 
and the season was very unfavorable. 
This we shallaiso propagate as fast as we 
can with a view of sending it to our sub¬ 
scribers. 
We are pleased that, atter years of 
pretty hard work, the time is fast ap¬ 
proaching when we may distribute among 
our friends some of the varieties of cross¬ 
bred and hybrid wheats and potatoes that 
have originated at the Rural Grounds. 
-♦♦♦--- 
INCREASE IN FRIENDSHIP AND SHIPS. 
i According to the law of 1817, all the 
coastwise trade of this country had to be 
carried on by American ships. Under the 
reciprocity treaty with our neighbors, 
however, Canadian ships were allowed to 
transport American products to Canadian 
ports in bond for re-importation to this 
country; but the abrogation of this treaty, 
in 1876, left the old law in lull force. 
Until quite recently, however, Canadian 
vessels continued to carry American goods 
from one American port on the Lakes to 
another, touching at some intermediate 
port in the Dominion. Secretary Man¬ 
ning’s late order prohibiting this practice 
has raised a great clamor on both sides of 
the line. Duluth, especially, is frantic, 
because there are large amounts of pro- 
I duce there ready to go forward through 
Canada; while ’Canada loudly protests 
against the curtailment of business for 
her ships and railroads. Canada can 
avoid all such annoyances and losses by 
| offering favorable terms for the renewal 
of the reciprocity treaty, or by hastening 
the ultimate union of the two countries; 
Duluth, the chief sufferer on this side of 
the line, should buy vessels of lier owu to 
transport her products, for surely her 
marvelous development amply justifies 
such an investment. Last year she handled 
over 15,000,000 bushels of wheat, and a cor¬ 
respondingly large amount of other agri¬ 
cultural products, in addition to 125,000,- 
000 feet of lumber. She has enormous iron 
deposits within 100 miles, and gets coal 
cheap as return cargoes from Cleveland. 
Sbe has also a splendid harbor and an as¬ 
surance of an immense commerce in grain, 
wool, cattle, lumber and all the other pro¬ 
ducts of the great Northwest. Let us 
have closer relations with our dear north¬ 
ern neighbors, and more ships flying 
the Stars and Stripes to keep at home the 
vast sums now annually paid to outsiders 
for transporting our multitudinous pro¬ 
ducts in foreign bottoms. 
— «> » — 
BREVITIES. 
Wake up. 
Don’t delay 
The work that 
Should be done to-day. 
Preserve this number for reference. 
Plant the nuts of the Japan Chestnut, if 
you can get them. 
Send for the Rural posters for 18S6 
They will be mailed to all applicants, together 
with our regular Premium Lists for agents. 
The price paid for the Bird Cantaloupe bv 
the R. N. Y. is three dollars per pound. We 
shall be able to send about 15 seeds in every 
envelope. 
W. H. Watson, of Wis., says—“We have re 
tired from farming, add taken the Rural, 
simply for what it may have tosav on home 
adornment. It needs no reforming.” 
A GOOD plan for protecting strawberries 
where they grow in rows, is this: Fill in be 
tween the rows with old farm manure. After 
December, cover the plants as well, though 
lightly. 
This is not intended to represent the regu¬ 
lar issues of the journal, Specimens of the 
Rural as it usually appears will be sent to 
all applicants ; as will, also, our regular 
premium list and posters. 
We trust the Alaska Pea will please our 
friends as the earliest and best of the smooth 
kinds. Only regular yearly subscribers need 
apply for our seed distributions. We are ob¬ 
liged to draw the line somewhere. 
Some of the peculiar merits of the Angel of 
Midnight Corn are that the stalks are short 
and small: the leaves aud ears are borne near 
the ground; the ears are long—from 10 to 15 
inches—and, best of all, the grain will mature, 
in favorable seasons, in SO days. 
Prof. J. M. McBride, President of the 
South Carolina College, says; 
“The management of your paper is beyond 
all praise—wise, progressive and liberal. As 
an agricultural weekly the Rural New- 
Yorker has no equal of its class in this 
country or Canada, 
Those who have never raised the sweet 
pea should do so It blooms during the en¬ 
tire Bummer aud Fall, and nothing is prettier 
than bouquets made up of the diff-rent 
colors. Those atnoDg the Garden Treasures 
of the Rural’s present Free Seed Distribu¬ 
tion am of the best kinds and of all colors. 
The Rural New-Yorker is $2 per year. 
There is no second or club price. No trust¬ 
worthy agent will accept subscriptions for 
less. Money or money ordprs mav be sent 
direct to the Rural New-Yorker, 34 Park 
Row. New York City. It is hordlv ever the 
ca«e that bills sent in letters do not reach us 
safely, but money so sent us is at the risk of 
the sender. 
Among the many advertised varieties of 
new oats few kinds are any better than those 
well known to every farmer. It would seem 
that t he White Australian Oftt (so-called! has 
been introduced under six or eivbt different 
names. If tbev ore not all exactly alike, they 
are so nearly alike that one kind answers for 
all. Among older oats the Schoenen is as good 
as any, aud the Probsteier next. 
Readers will look over the advertisements 
of this number with unusual interest. There 
has never been a higher class of advertise¬ 
ments collected together in auv one number 
of a rural journal. Our subscribers will 
confer a favor upon us by kindly mention¬ 
ing the R N. Y. iu any correspondence with 
our advertising patrons. Such mention 
should, iudeed, be advantageous to the three 
parties concerned. 
Marshall P. Wilder, says: “I am very 
much pleased with your eutorprise in ob¬ 
taining responses in regard to the most suc- 
cesrful varietiesof the grape, strawberry, etc., 
and from so ruauy quarters of our great 
country. Those are exceedingly valuable, 
and worth more than the paper costs for 
manyyears. I like your Impartiality and in¬ 
tegrity in describing'fruits, etc , as you find 
them bn the Rural Grounds, and from per¬ 
sonal examination, thus saving your readers 
much loss of money aud time as well as dis¬ 
appointment, which we have too often ex¬ 
perienced by the laudatory and money making 
advertising’ of new things.” 
As usual, nearly one hundred kinds of new 
potatoes, most of which are not yet offered 
for sale, have been tried at the Rural’s Ex¬ 
periment Grounds in the rich plot of 
soil which for years has been given 
to this purpose. Faithful portraits have 
been taken of the best, aDd reports 
of the yield, quality etc., will be con¬ 
tinued until Spring. It Is a notable fact that 
although this plot is infested with wire^ 
worms, which are the causo of on© bind or 
potato-scab, all of the varieties upon the seed- 
pieces, of which (o0 7ered first with two inches 
of soil), flowers of sulphur were sown, were 
smooth and perfect. 
