THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
THE 
RURAL NLW'YORKER, 
A National Journal for Country anvl Suburban Homes 
Conducted by 
E. 8. CABMAN, 
J. 8. WOODWARD, 
Editoi, 
Associate. 
Address 
THE RURAL, NEW-YORKER, 
No. 84 Park Row, New York. 
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21 1885. 
Subscribers of the Rural need never tale 
the trouble to write ns to “stop ” the paper. 
It is invariably discontinued at the ex¬ 
piration of the subscription term, except by 
oversight , in which case it is our loss. 
As we were not prepared and, indeed, 
did not wish to issue more than 32 pages 
in last week’s Special, we were obliged to 
omit many advertisements which we 
would otherwise have been very pleased 
to insert. Our advertising patrons, whose 
announcements were thus omitted, must 
accept our apologies. 
THE RURAL’S RISING TIDE. 
where in any language, and we propose 
to continue them, taking up, one by one, 
the whole lines of our feeding operations, 
and we hope to make them worth, to our 
readers, many times the price of the year’s 
subscription. We gladly welcome any 
suggestion, or will answer any question. 
♦ - ■ 
From the signs, it may be judged that 
there will be an unusual scramble for sub¬ 
scribers to farm journals this season. 
Well, we hope that the most deserving 
will win. Many publishers have put down 
the price, which is always a bad sign. 
Putting dow'n the price means that a poor¬ 
er journal is to be furnished, and it can 
mean nothing else, since periodical litera¬ 
ture of all kinds is as low as it can be 
published with a living profit, if the qual¬ 
ity is to be improved or even maintained. 
We desire that all who propose to change 
their papers or to subscribe for others, 
will do the Rural the justice to examine 
it thoroughly before arriving at any de¬ 
cision. We feel assured that in point of 
mechanical excellence, originality, the 
number and standing of its contributors, 
the experience and devotion otits editors, 
the fidelity of its original illustrations, 
there is no other weekly country journal 
that can equal the Rural New-Yorker. 
There is no other journal either that is 
more rigid in excluding a low or ftaudu- 
dulent class of advertisements. 
We mail this week 
30,000 
copies of the Rural New-Yorker 
beyond our regular issues. Next week 
we shall increase the extra copies and the 
increase will continue, as announced. 
Advertising rates 30 cents per line. Posi¬ 
tively no deviation except for 1,000 lines 
taken within a year, when the price is 25 
cents per line. 
It is the hight of farm wisdom to mar¬ 
ket all crops at home, when you can do so 
without loss. Remember that every pound 
of fodder, hay or grain, that can be turn¬ 
ed into meat or butter, or wool, at such a 
rate as to pay its market price, leaves at 
least three-fourth? of its manurial value in 
a shape that may be returned to the fields 
to increase their productiveness, and this 
alone gives a good profit. There’s “aheap 
of things” yet to be learned before we 
know all about successful farming. 
- »♦ < - 
T he series of articles, one of which ap¬ 
pears this week, from the pen of Prof. J. 
W. Sanborn, of Missouri, on the subject 
of stock feeding in the open air, is 
worthy of the attention of our readers, 
especially of those of the Far West. 
While the Professor does not believe in 
the desirability of allowing steck to run 
about the fields, exposed to the cold and 
storms, he, m compliance with the request 
of some of our readers, will show how 
those who persist in such a way of feed¬ 
ing can make the most gain and greatest, 
profit. 
-♦» » 
In a late Rural we mentioned that our 
only plant of the past season, which was 
the result of using rye pollen upon a head 
of hybrid half-wheat-and-balf-rye, pro¬ 
duced three shriveled grains, only one of 
which looked as if it could germinate. 
We mentioned that these were carefully 
planted but failed to grow. To our sur¬ 
prise, however, we find that after remain¬ 
ing in the soil two weeks, they have all 
sprouted and, let us hope, will’ winter in 
safety. According to parentage, they 
will be three quarters rye. We have also 
a dozen three-quarter rye plants, which 
look well, from last season’s crossing. 
- » » ♦ 
A shrub which, at any time, but more 
especially at this time, we feel like recom¬ 
mending to our friends, is the Oak-leaved 
Hydrangea, botanically, H. querci-folia. 
While most trees and shrubs are now 
(Nov. 10) as naked as in mid-winter, this 
Hydrangea is more attractive than at any 
other time. All its leaves are retained and 
they are of every shade of bronze, red and 
yellow. The leaves much resemble oak 
leaves, being large, five-lobed and serrate. 
The plant is not quite hardy at the Rural 
Grounds, but the roots are never injured, 
so that its spring growth suffices to form 
a shapely bush. The flowers, of a green¬ 
ish-white color, are borne in oblong pan- 
nicies. It is a native of Florida and the 
Southwest. 
OUR REGULAR 
PREMIUM LIST 
WILL APPEAR NEXT WEEK 
IN AN 
EIGHT-PAGE SUPPLEMENT 
WE WANT 
a large number of sketches for 1886 from 
our readers, for which we propose to pay 
our regular price for such matter, as the 
illustrations appear in these columns. It 
matters not bow rudely the sketches are 
drawn, if only our artist can understand 
them and the descriptions which ac¬ 
company them. The sketches desired are 
those of any contrivances whatever which 
will save labor or promote economy or 
comfort, whether for man or beast. For 
the farm, garden, orchard ; for the barn, 
stable, shed, corn-crib, carriage house, 
tool-house, granary; for the pig pen, 
poultry yard, poultry house, chicken coop ; 
for the sheep, cattle, swine; for the house, 
kitchen, laundry; for wells, pumps, well- 
houses, ice-houses, we want sketches for 
illustrations. We want sketches and plans 
of farm houses, dairy houses, and all sorts 
of farm buildings; of every sort of tool or 
implement used in country life; of any¬ 
thing, in short, which may help in any 
way the farmer, the farmer’s wife or 
children, and all who work the soil either 
for pleasure or profit. Go to your neigh¬ 
bors and see if they can not help you ; see 
if they have nothing upon their premises 
which you would like, and which you 
think would be worthy of being illustrated 
in the Rural New-Yorker. We do not 
ask or expect artistic sketches or good 
writing. We only ask for legible writing 
and for sketches which may readily be 
understood. Photographs of any of the 
above will be acceptable. 
WHY NOT ACCEPT IT? 
It is gratifying that “Notes from the 
Rural’s W. N. Y. Farm” are so well re¬ 
ceived. It is intended to give, in them, 
nothing theoretical; but to make them a 
plain history of what we are doing every 
year, and so full that every one may fol 
low to success. We do not think tba 
such full, plain, practical directions fo 
winter lambj raising canj'be found ^else 
It is a lamentable fact that not one 
farmer in fifty grows any kind of small 
fruit, and not one in a hundred has a full 
supply for bis family’s use. Even among 
the readers of the Rural New-Yorker 
(and we know these to be the most enter¬ 
prising faimers of any country), there are 
thousands -whose tables are never bright¬ 
ened by the presence of the delicious, 
health-giving small fruits. Many go 
without through thoughtlessness, or on 
account of the press of other duties at 
planting time; and others because they 
are not within handy reach of nurseries 
where they may obtain plants; a few be¬ 
cause of the expense attending the pur¬ 
chase and transportation of plants; hut 
the great many because of the uncertainty 
of receiving just what is ordered. Every 
family, no matter if they have but "a 
garden spot, should provide for plenty of 
this wholesome food. Wc believe we can 
do our friends no greater favor, or one 
that will confer more lasting benefit than 
to place within their reach plunts of the 
most desirable kiuds, and on such terms 
that even the wife or childien may obtain 
them. While we bave nothing to sell but 
the Rural; and believe that, so richly 
worth its subscription price that we give 
no premiums to induce any one to sub¬ 
scribe, we are glad to reward every friend 
for his efforts in our behalf, and for that 
purpose we have arranged with those hav¬ 
ing the original stock of each variety, to 
send plants direct, free of cost, and guar¬ 
anteed to be genuine, and on such liberal 
terms that we offer them to our subscrib¬ 
ers in such a way that every one may ob¬ 
tain a start with each of the best varieties 
by a very few hours’ work for the Rural. 
And in so doing our friends will greatly 
benefit three parties:—Themselves and 
families by securing, what few would ever 
take time or money to procure, and which 
once obtained and planted will live on for 
years, adding to their health and comfort; 
the one induced to subscribe will be great¬ 
ly benefited by having placed in his 
hands and in his family a reaPy live, 
pure, progressive paper, one that cannot 
fail to give him new ideas of faming; 
and, lastly, they will benefit us by extend¬ 
ing our circulation and giviDg us the 
means for making many improvements in 
the Rural. Kind friends, is it not worth 
the trial? Will you not commence at 
once and secure the whole list of plants 
offered? 
GIVE THE FARMERS A HAND. 
Statesmen and politicians seem to feel 
that they ought to have a monopoly in the 
study of political economy. They pro¬ 
pose to settle the future of the country in 
their own way. The “will of the people” 
is to be carefully directed. The tendency 
is to make politics a regular business. 
Already w-e hear men recommended for 
office because they have money and can 
thus affoTd to give up all regular work 
and devote themselves entirely to the 
study of political economy. Such men 
would undoubtedly be pure and honor¬ 
able legislators, but the great trouble 
would be that they would want to experi¬ 
ment too much and -would not fully realize 
the fact that the great masses of the people 
do not feel as they do. There is much 
truth in the recent conversation described 
in Punch between the farm laborer and 
the politician. The farmer is puzzled 
about a new’ law; “What good will it do 
met" he asks. The other answers: 
“That’s merely a detail, vote for the 
measure and Pll attend to that.” Politi¬ 
cians would find it to their advantage 
toknow more about the wishes and ideas 
of their farmer constituents. The men 
who feed our nation know what they 
w r ant and could give their representatives 
many a practical idea. In England, at 
the present time, a great question as to 
the future of English laborers is being 
discussed. There are many who advo¬ 
cate “small holdings” or, in other words, 
see prosperity for the poor in dividing up 
the great estates into gmall farms where¬ 
on the laborers may support themselves. 
Many wise statesmen have settled the 
question to their own complete satisfac¬ 
tion. They have given the number of un¬ 
occupied acres in Great Britain, the 
number of laborers to be benefited, and 
by a simple process of division, shown 
that there are homes for all. But Sir J. 
B. Lawes, a practical agiiculturist, puts 
an entirely different face on the matter. 
He shows that much of the land is unfitted, 
by reason of climate, poor soil or other 
natural conditions, to support a large agri¬ 
cultural population. These facts had 
been entirely overlooked by others who 
seemed to think that “land is land” and 
that it is not a crime to experiment with 
the happiness of their fellow men. The 
day is surely coming when politicians will 
be the" servants of the farmer and not his 
teachers. 
THE FARMERS SPEAK. 
The Patrons of Husbandry held a well 
attended national convention at Boston 
early in the week. Among the resolutions 
passed, one of the most important de¬ 
mands, “a class of schools und a system of 
instructions which shall bring the means 
of practical instruction to the wants of 
every condition of life.” The system de¬ 
manded must include “manual labor in 
conjunction with intellectual culture; de¬ 
velop strong bodies, active intellects, u 
love for work and a contempt for idle¬ 
ness.” Frcm the universities to the com¬ 
mon schools of the country, the demand 
for more practical instruction is every¬ 
where extending, and if the farmers, by 
far the most numerous and important in¬ 
dustrial class in the nation, unite in the 
demand, it must ere long be conceded. 
Another important reformation demanded 
was such an amendment of the patent 
laws as will relieve innocent buyers and 
users of patented articles from the extor¬ 
tion of patent “sharps,” making the manu¬ 
facturers and venders alone responsible. 
This measure has been frequently advo¬ 
cated by the Rural, and its defeat by the 
United States Senate last year, after its 
passage by the House, led us to express a 
doubt of the expediency of permitting 
that body to hold its present extensive 
powers, in view of the fact that it is com¬ 
posed, in the main, either of enormously 
wealthy capitalists, some of whom, 
unless greatly belied, have purchased their 
seats in the chamber; or of lawyers in the 
pay of wealthy corporations, who are 
therefore more likely to consult the inter¬ 
ests of such organizations than those of 
the public. On account of the defeat of 
the above measure and of the bill making 
the Commissioner of Agriculture a Cab¬ 
inet officer, the Convention also formally 
questioned the wisdom of the Senate’s con¬ 
tinuing in possession of its present power, 
when it is considered that it is “so far 
removed from the suffrages of the people.” 
Let the farmers through their various or¬ 
ganizations and their representative papers 
give bold utterance to their wishes in 
matters of State and National legislation, 
and back up their declarations with their 
votes, aud their own condition and that 
of the country at large will soon be greatly 
improved. 
BOGUS BUTTER OUT OF PLACE. 
The Illinois State Board of Agricul¬ 
ture, under whose auspices the Chicago 
Fat Stock Show is annuallv held, has for 
some time been widely advertising agrand 
display of dairy products to beheld in con¬ 
nection with the show. Owing to its per¬ 
suasions and the inducements held out to 
exhibitors, a very fine collection of dairy 
products has been made. Yesterday af¬ 
ternoon great excitement and indignation 
prevailed among the exhibitors at the 
action of thelStareBoard in deciding to al¬ 
low butterine and oleomargarine manufac¬ 
turers space for their exhibits in the build¬ 
ing. The butter men denounced the action 
vehemently, and did all they could to have 
the order rescinded, but without avail. 
As soon as the permission of the Board had 
been obtained, the makers of the bogus 
dairy products secured a space near the 
grand entrance to the Hall, and before 
night bad so far completed arrangements 
as to make their exhibit promise vastly 
to outshine that of the dairymen. 
Four years ago a clique of self-appointed 
representatives of the agricultural interests 
of the country got up a “Grand Internation¬ 
al Dairy Show” in this city, and in spite 
of the protests of the exhibitors of genuine 
dairy products, allowed the manufacturers 
of imitation concoctions to make a fine 
display of their goods. We denounced 
this action as an outrage. We prophesied 
that honest dairymen would never again 
allow themselves to be pulled in the same 
way. The same clique tried several times 
since then to get up another grand dairy 
show; but from that time to this to dairy 
show of any sort has been held here. 
On the previous day (Thursday), the 
National Butter, Cheese and Fgg Conven¬ 
tion, at its annual session in Chicago, 
passed resolu ions asking Congress to tax 
oleomargarine, butterine and all adulter¬ 
ations of butter, 10 cents per pound. 
Among others. Commissioner Column 
spoke very forcibly iu favor of the meas¬ 
ure. The action of the Illinois State 
Board of Agriculture, in encouraging the 
manufacture and sale of bogus dairy pro¬ 
ducts, does not compare favorably with 
that of the other body, and we have uo 
hesitation whatever in saying that, while 
we cannot commend the action of the for¬ 
mer, that of the latter meets our unquali¬ 
fied approval, as it will that of every per¬ 
son iu the country anxious for honest 
dealing and for the welfaro of our vast 
dairy interests. 
BREVITIES. 
Exposure to cold causes suffering. 
Suffering is at the expense of the vital 
forces, and wastes flesh. 
Flesh iH wholly put on and maintained by 
the consumption of food, and anything that 
waste* flesh wastes food. 
Food, whetbergrwn or purchased, repre¬ 
sents the products of the farm, and on its 
proper consumption depends the profits of 
farming. 
The farmer, therefore, who compels his 
stock to run ont of-doors and endure the cold, 
does not understand the first principles of ani¬ 
mal life, or of the conversion of food into 
valuable products, and must not expect to be 
a succetsful, or money-making man. 
A man with so little sense had beRt abandon 
farming und go into some other calling. Con¬ 
sider this matter now that zero weather is fast 
approaching. 
It muy he well for our tree-loving friends 
to note that the Weeping Beech and Golden 
Oak hold their foliage as long as aDy other 
deciduous trees. 
Rues T, T. Lyon quite settles the contro¬ 
versy as to whether the new Bummer pear 
should be colled Lawson or Comet or Lawson- 
Cornet. He suggests in the Mich. Farmer the 
name of “Humbug” which besides being new 
and short is not very far from appropriate, 
considering the amount of unmerited puffing 
and talk it hoa_received. 
