THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
THE 
RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
A National Journal for Country and Suburban Home- 
Conducted by 
e. s. carman, 
Editoi. 
J. 8. WOODWARD, 
Associate 
Address 
THE RURAL, NEW-YORKER, 
No. S4 Park Row, New York. 
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 28 1885 
Subscribers of the Rural need never take 
the trouble to icrite us to u stoji” the paper. 
Tt, is invariably discontinued at the ex¬ 
piration of the subscription term, except by 
oversight, in which case it is our loss. 
The Rural New-Yorker will be sent 
from now until January 1st, 1887, for the 
regular yearly price, $2.00. 
Our Regular Premium list, published 
as a supplement to this number, is avail¬ 
able to all who choose to act as agents, 
whether they are subscribers or not. 
Touching the question as to whether 
anything is gained by selecting seed pota¬ 
toes from the most productive bills, atten¬ 
tion is called to the Notes from the Rural 
Grounds on page S04, The matter seems 
to us worthy of careful consideration. 
During the past season, so unfavorable 
to large potato yields, the State of Maine 
was less affected - by the drought at the 
Rural Grounds than most other kinds, 
and yielded handsomely. It is a potato 
well worthy of trial in every way, though 
the quality is not the best. 
NOTICE. 
The pages of the November 14th Spec¬ 
ial edition should run from 755 to 786 
inclusive. If any mistakes in binding or 
insetting have occurred, please notify us, 
that we may send complete copies. 
THE RURAL’S RISING TIDE. 
We mail this week 
35,000 
in excess of our regular issue. Adver¬ 
tising rates 80 cents per line. No devi¬ 
ation under .any circumstances, except for 
yearly advertisements or for contracts of 
1,000 lines orover, in which case the price 
is 25 cents per line. 
Eiiitors Rural New-Yorker: 
We cannot refrain from paying our tribute 
to your paper as a valuable advertising me¬ 
dium. We bave ever known it to be of the best, 
but this season it seems to be doiogr more ef¬ 
fective work than ever before. For instance: 
in response to our little “ad” appearing in 
issue of November 14tb.« we bave received, 
yesterday and to day, applications for our 
catalogues and price lists that aston¬ 
ish us. Had we received this number two 
weeks hence it would bave been good work 
well done; and we are pleased to confess that 
we are heartily glad that our hesitancy in re¬ 
gard to the expediency of placing an “ad” 
thus early was overcome, and we were in¬ 
duced to make the trial. We shall continue 
throughout the season and feel that the outlay 
has been well made. Very truly yours, 
Rochester, N. Y. Hiram Sibley & Co. 
THE REGULAR 
PREMIU M LIST 
ANT> POSTERS 
OF 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
ARE NOW READY. 
We will gladly send them to all appli¬ 
cants. 
Remember that every pound of hay, 
fodder or grain that can be turned into 
meat, wool or butter on the farm, at such 
a rate as to pay its market price, leaves at 
least three-fourths of its mammal value 
in a shape that may be returned to the 
land to assist in producing other crops, 
and this alone would give a good profit. 
It is wise economy to market all crops at 
home, when it can be done without loss. 
The fashionable flower now a-days is 
unquestionably the Chrysanthemum or 
Artemesia, as it was called of old. The 
improvements made by seedling cultiva¬ 
tion are really remarkable, and there need 
be little wonder that tbe Chrysanthemum 
shows are well attended. Our friends 
may not know that these plants are very 
easily raised from seeds. Sow them now, 
if so desired, or as late as February, in 
boxes or pots placed in anv sunny win¬ 
dow. The seed will sprout in a few days 
and the plants, removed to the garden in 
the SpriDg, will bloom in'theFall. Seeds 
may be secured of any seedman. 
-*-•-#- 
One of the best and most useful articles 
the Rural has ever offered for sub¬ 
scribers is the Ideal Fountain Pen, and 
we wish our readers to know that, having 
used it almost constantly for six weeks, we 
guarantee it in every way as represented. 
We have used many other makes of foun¬ 
tain pens, but have sooner or later thrown 
them aside as faulty in one way or an¬ 
other. The supply of ink is regulated by 
the act of writing. No shading is ever re¬ 
quired. There is nothing to he regulated 
or adjusted. When the cap is removed 
one has simply to write as long as he 
chooses, and then to replace the cap and 
slip it in his pocket as if it were a pen¬ 
cil. The size which we offer may be used 
continuously for at least 12 hours with 
one filling. The manufacturer’s price is 
four dollars, and we offer it for four sub¬ 
scribers. 
■ ■■ ■# » » - 
Our little plots of cross bred wheats, 
and wheat and rye hybrids, are even now 
an interesting study. All have made a 
vigorous growth. Of tbe rye-wheat hy¬ 
brids we have 13 plots, which represent 
the second vear’s attempt to separate and 
fix the different varieties. It is plain, 
however, from the diverse habits of many 
plants in the same plots, that a further 
separation will be needed. Many grow 
upright—others “ hug the ground.” The 
same may be said of the pure wheat 
crosses. There is little else in our busy 
life that we look forward to with more 
interest than watching the growth and 
maturity of these new grains another 
Spring and Summer. They will be open 
to the inspection of any of our friends 
who may choose to visit the Rural 
Grounds for that purpose. 
By request we have thi sday (Nov. 10), 
mailed the cuttings of the true Victoria 
Grape to the following addresses: James 
Merchant.Waukegan, Ills.; W. H. Moore, 
Corning, lows; Morris, Stone & "Welling¬ 
ton, Ont.; J. B. Rogers, Milburn, N. J.; 
Tbeo. Smith, Colfax, Wash. Ter.; J. W. 
Flemming, Titusville, N. J. ;G. M. High, 
Middle Bass, O.; Mrs. Murray, Brooklyn 
N. Y.; G. S. Smith, Haverhill, Mass.; 
Gustavos Schoenfeld, Westfield, N. Y.; 
W. J. Owsley M. D., Crawfordsville, 
Ind.; Jos. Bailey, Marlboro, N. Y.; T. A. 
Peffer, South Bend, Ind, We have no 
more cuttings. Our object in distributing 
these cuttings is that what, we know to he 
the true Victoria may be tried in various 
parts of the country. Tbe vine was pre¬ 
sented to the Rural by Mr. T. B. Miner, 
about a year before his death. 
We learn from our reports of the Chi¬ 
cago Fat Stock Show, which arrived too 
late for this issue, that the Hereford cat¬ 
tle were remarkably successful. In the 
great contest on grades and cross breds, 
where 25 magnificent animals competed, 
the “ White-Faces” made a clean sweep, 
capturing all three premiums. The first 
prize was won by the steer Reeulus, 
weighing 2,345 pounds. He is one-balf 
Hereford, one-quarter Short-horn, and 
one-quarter “scrub.” This victory will 
be credited to tbe Hereford, though the 
Short-horn and “scrub” may claim a 
share. At Kansas City the sweepstakes 
premium for a dressed carcaes was won by 
the grade Hereford steer Fred, while the 
second premium went to a grade Gallo¬ 
way. This class, where the animals are 
slaughtered and each part iB carefully 
weighed, is the final test of superiority. 
A judge may err in scaling a live animal, 
but there is no chance for error where the 
carcass is cut up and exhibited. 
Again we have specimens of theKieffer 
Pear sent to us, and for the tenth time we 
may again express our opinion of it. This 
time the pears come from Mr. J. B. Rogers, 
to whom they were sent by Mr. Milton 
Hansell, of Rancocas, N. J. Tbe better of 
two pears weighed 18)^ ounces. The yel¬ 
low skin with a dull red cheek, and its 
large, showy keg-like distinctiveness of 
appearance would certainly have secured 
it'a ready sale in any market where'it was 
not known. The flesh was hard,’not in 
the least melting, and of low flavor. It 
was cut in five pieces and given to as 
many persons not one of whom cared to 
eat it after the first taste. 
The Rural was censured as the first 
paper to speak slightingly of this showy 
pear—showy where it succeeds. We now 
add that it is a matter of surprise to us 
that such men as Mr. Collins and Mr. 
Pan-y, in spite of general and well merited 
condemnation from all sides, will still 
persist in speaking favorably of it. A few 
days ago we cut down our only specimen 
of this tree, which had fruited two seasons. 
WHO ARE ENTITLED TO PREMIUMS. 
Some new subscribers to the Rural 
seem to think that our premiums go to 
those who subscribe for the Rural. This 
is a mistake. Tbe paper alone is worth 
all we ask for it, and we give nothing 
with it but the seeds to such as apply. Tbe 
gifts, or premiums, are to pay those of our 
subscribers who interest themselves in 
iudueing others to subscribe. Any one 
not a subscriber, or who has just become 
one can obtain these presents, or premiums, 
by sending with his own subscription or 
subsequently, one or more other subscrip¬ 
tions. Is this plain? 
TEN DOLLARS 
tor the largest Bird Cantaloupe from the 
Seed of the Rural’s present Free Seed 
Distribution. 
TEN DOLLARS 
for the largest Watermelon. 
TEN DOLLARS 
for the longest ear of the Angel of Mid¬ 
night Corn containing the greatest num¬ 
ber of kernels. 
TEN DOLLARS 
for 10 of the heaviest pods from the Alaska 
Pea. 
The prizes will be awarded October 
1st, 1886. All competitors, will be re¬ 
quired to advise us as to the weight or 
size of their peas, melon or corn by postal 
card. Those who take the prizes will 
then be required to send the peas, corn or 
melons by express at the Rur al’s expense. 
FOR 1886. 
Judging from our experience of last 
year, our presents to subscribers this y< ar. 
amounting to over $3,000, will pay them 
amply for any efforts they may see fit to 
make in behalf of the Rural in increasing 
its circulation. Last year, we offered 
$2,800 worth of presents, which were 
awarded for very small clubs. Still, last 
year was one of depression, while the out¬ 
look is far brighter for 1886. We are 
very tiiankful to the many friends of the 
Rural, who, without thought of any 
compensation, are pleased to send sub¬ 
scriptions. Nevertheless, it is but just 
that we should offer compensation for 
such services, and, appreciative of the 
fact that nur circulation and advertising 
patronage have been greater this year than 
ever before, we have endeavored to offer 
articles in greater variety and of greater 
value than in any previous year. As a 
matter of truth, we doubt if so valuable 
a list of pre9cuts was ever before offered 
by any trustworthy farm journal. But our 
friends will judge for themselves. Our 
regular premium-list, which appears 
in a supplement this week, will he avail¬ 
able to them as to professional agents, if 
they prefer to direct their efforts towards 
securing any particular article therein 
described. 
A THREATENING DANGER.—CAN WE 
AVERT IT? 
There never was a day when 
American liberty and free institutions 
wire in greater peril than at the present 
time. It is not any foreign power or 
combinations that we bave need to fear; 
as, with the aid of modern inventions, we 
could bid defiance to almost the com¬ 
bined nations of the world. It is not 
any outside influence whatever, or over¬ 
production, or want of consumptive de¬ 
mand or labor strikes, or the money 
question; all these will, sooner or later, 
be adjusted by the inexorable law of sup¬ 
ply and demand. The enemy we bave to 
fear is more powerful and dangerous than 
all these, because of the insidiousness of 
its work and its influence in corrupting 
the morals of the people and their con¬ 
fidence in the fairness of our ’elections. 
We"allude to the use of money injthe'pur- 
chase of votes. 
to 
It is no secret that unscrupulous politi¬ 
cians optnly and unblusbingly offer and 
pay money to control men’s votes, and 
plenty of so cal’ed men, we are sorry to 
say, are everywhere found who have such 
loose ideas of their responsibility to God 
and their country, and such a low ap¬ 
preciation of the privilege of suffrage as 
to sell themselves like cattle, thus making 
merchandise of the elective franchise. Men¬ 
tal ability,unpurchasable honesty, boldness 
in standing by the right, fitness for the 
position, once regarded as essential qualifi¬ 
cations in a candidate, are no longer ot 
account and are matters seldom consider¬ 
ed in connection with an aspirant. 
It is now a question of how much money 
he has or can command with which to 
purchase votes or buy whisky. The 
choice of any particular candidate is no 
longer a matter of brains and integrity, 
but of how much cash he can “put up.” 
This abuse has, for years, bien growing 
worse and worse, but never before was 
money so openly and defiantly used as by 
both parties at the late elections. Men 
were “horse-sheded,” paid the money, 
given ballots and marched to the polls in 
rows, like unthinking beasts (that they 
were), and voted to thwart the will of 
honest men. Nor was the sale of votes 
confined, by any means, to men so poor 
as to Dlead their necessities as excuses for 
this disgraceful barter, "but men in com¬ 
fortable CHomustanc s, who should have 
crimsoned at their meanness, made mer¬ 
chandise of their franchise. 
The direct result of such a state of affairs 
is that honpst worth is neglected and the 
offices and legislative halls are filled with 
wealthy knaves and dishonest scamps, who 
legislate, notin the interests of tbe people 
and of honest laws, but for any greedy 
monopoly or dishonest set of schemers 
who will pay the most money. The sta¬ 
bility of cur institutions, the safety of our 
liberties are wholly dependent upon the 
sacredness of the elective franchise and 
the incorruptibility of the ballot-box, and 
cannot long endure their pollution; and 
when men me so oblivious of duty as to 
barter their honor, tbe power of their 
ballot, for a drink of whisky or a few dol¬ 
lars, there is ureat danger to be appre¬ 
hended to our free institutions. No nation 
can long endure the conuption of its 
franchise and the pernicious influence ot 
money in deciding its elections. 
Many of the 8tates now have quite 
stringent laws on this subject; but these 
do not seem to reach the root of the mat¬ 
ter, and no time should be lost in devis¬ 
ing some means to cure the growing evil. 
It is not a question of politics, for it is 
over and above all partisan considerations 
and should command the immediate at¬ 
tention of tbe good men of all parties. 
Let us have laws disfranchising both h m 
who offers and him who accepts a bribe. 
This may be severe, but we firmly believe 
that the man who will seek by money to 
influence a man's vote, is a more danger¬ 
ous rascal than he who would rob our 
houses or steal our nurses, and those guilty 
of these crimes are disfranchised, and the 
man who thinks so little of his right to 
the ballot that he is willing, for any con¬ 
sideration, to use it otherwise than as his 
judgment dictates, is utterly unworthy 
of being an American citizen, and the 
quicker both are disfranchised and made 
powerless the better for the couutry. Of 
all things we must keep our ballots un¬ 
stained. 
BREVITIES. 
What is the best and cheapest way to pre¬ 
serve shingles for roofs? 
Our poultry department will receive more 
attention than usual during 1886. 
We will gladly send our new regular Pre¬ 
mium list and posters to all who apply for 
them. 
T:ie Golden Pine'is now beautiful with its 
brieM. golden ueedles. This color is retained 
all Winter. 
We do not care to assume the responsibility 
of advising farmers to hold t>eir potatoes for 
bieber prices. We merely state that they are 
still rotting l>adly in many parts ot the 
country. 
Dr Voet.ukkr has lately said that his 
father found that as much as two thirds of 
the value of manure is often washed out when 
permitted to remain In heaps on the land. 
The loss is by washing, not by evaporation. 
The R. N.-Y. ba« been censured for stating 
ite doubts as to whether tbe Meecb’s Prolific 
QuiDce is a new variety, Several years ago 
Mr. Meecb. while calling at this office, was 
aefepd whether he knew it to be a seedling. 
As we remember, bis reply was that he did 
not. 
It might be well to prepare for storine ice; 
to collect all tbe fuel needed udMI next. Spring; 
to put the farm buildings in order: to get rid 
of inferior uuimals; to go over potatoes and 
all roots, as well as apples, and remove the 
decaying ones. Prune grape-vines and cut 
out tbe old canes of raspberries, currant?, 
etc. Provide the best quarters for poultry. 
