THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
RES 6 
THE 
RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
A National Journal for Couutry aud Suburban . .<> ales 
Conducted by 
K. 8. CABMAN, 
Editoi. 
j. s. woodward, 
Assoclata. 
Address 
THE RUKAL NEW-YOKKKU, 
No. 34 Park Row. New York. 
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5 1S85 
Subscribers of the Rural need never tale 
the trouble to write us 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. 
Ouu Blackberry Special will be dated 
December 19th.'The illustrations from 
nature, will be those of Early Harvest, 
Taylor’s Prolific and Wilson Jr. Illustra¬ 
tions of all the other leading varieties, 
have appeared in this Journal from time 
to time. 
Next week we propose to place before 
our readers carefully prepared portraits 
of a croBs-bred pea, originating at the 
Rural Grounds. And we propose also to 
tell our readers how easy it is to cross 
peas if one does but kuow bow. though, 
previously it may have seemed impossible. 
The Rural New-Yorker for Years has, 
among farm journals, stood alone in its 
advocacy of seedling cultivation for 
farmers and gardeners. But this advo¬ 
cacy is now bearing fruit, as hundreds, 
not to say thousands, of our readers are 
raising potatoes from seed, and grapes, 
currants, raspberries and larger fruits. 
Crossing flowers a few years ago was 
deemed something beyond the average 
farmer, but its simplicity is now becom¬ 
ing known. The advantage of selecting 
the parents of fruits is just exactly as 
important as selecting the parents of farm 
animals. Is it not ? 
It is gratifying to be able to record so 
many instances of lively progress in 
Southern agriculture. The Forestry Con¬ 
gress to be held on the 10th, 17th, and 
18th of next month, at Funiak Springs, 
Fla., is a pleasing indication of increased 
interest in forestry preservation in that 
section. Already*a great deal of wauton 
injury has been done to Southern forests; 
but there still remain there splendid 
tracts of timber, the proper management 
of which will be of inestimable value to 
the increasing population. At the ap¬ 
proaching Congress many gentlemen in¬ 
terested in the science of forestry will be 
present from the North, besides a number 
of delegates specially appointed to attend 
by the Forestry Congress lately in session 
at Boston. The subject of forestry is of 
vast interest to the ent ire couutry, and to no 
other class is it of greater importance than 
to our farmers. 
The Republic of Uruguay proposes a 
law to prevent newspapers from publish¬ 
ing the details of suicides, under severe 
penalties -$250 fine for the first offense, 
and $500, with four months 1 imprisonment 
for the second. Evidence amply p roves 
that the publication of details of suicides 
acts as a stimulus and furnishes a motive for 
other suicides, and the object of the law is 
to prevent this evil. But why should the 
conscientious law-makers of Uruguay stop 
at suicides when so much other criminal 
news is permitted to be published, which 
must be equally suggestive? What a 
dearth of “news” in our newspapers, if 
all the foul, prurient, contaminating de¬ 
tails of crimes, scandals, and atrocities 
were prohibited! But would not the 
morals of the people, and consequently 
their chances of happiness here and here¬ 
after be thereby vastly improved? 
FOR NEW SUBSCRIBERS. 
We have placed it within the means of 
every one of our subscribers to obtain the 
following new varieties of small fruits, all 
of which have been tested, or are being 
tested at the Rural Grounds : 
For one new subscriber, eight Jewell 
Strawberry plants from the originator ; 
or one Poughkeepsie Red or Ulster Co., 
Prolific, or six plants of the new Golden 
Queen Raspberry, or one dozen of the 
Marlboro Raspberry, or three plants of 
the Earkart Ever-bearing Raspberry, or 
one dozen of the Itnucocas. For TWO new 
Subscribers we will send one strong, two 
year-old-vine of the Niagara Grape—all 
from'tbo originators. 
CALL THINGS BY THEIR NAMES. 
That was a good idea advanced by 
Father Cleary at the Temperance meeting 
in Philadelphia. He said people should 
use a new term in speaking of the right 
to sell liquor. He proposed “penalty” 
as being a much better word than “license” 
In this way the liquor dealer is placed in 
the position of one who pays a fine for com¬ 
mitting a crime. With the other definition, 
his business is rendered legitimate, which 
is what temperance people seek to avoid. 
It. pays to call things by their right names, 
and to say what we mean. People are 
often bewildered by a collection of big 
words. We are all familiar with the story 
of the country doctor who recommended a 
sudorific febrifuge for bis patient. The 
sick man was a Tittle frightened at the 
name for a time. When themedteine was 
brought he examined it carefully. At the 
first taste he exclaimed—“ ’T’aint nuthin’ 
but lemonade with gum-arabic in 
it.” At a Farmers’ Institute in a Western 
State, an excellent article on stock feed¬ 
ing was read. The writer was criticised for 
not taking the value of the manure into 
account. He said it had been omitted 
because he considered it no subject to 
bring before such a meeting. Let us have 
done with such false modesty. 
Personal. 
Several new advertising patrons 
have asked us for a sworn statement that 
we issue over 250,000 copies of the Rural 
New-Yorker of November 14, since the 
rates for advertising are but ten cents per 
line more than the usual rates. 
The Rural New-Yorker has no occa¬ 
sion to misrepresent its circulation. Our 
books, and paper and printers’ bills are 
open to the examination of all interested 
persons. Here is the sworn statement as 
to the November 14 edition: 
‘City and Countu of New York: 
“'This is to certify that the number of copies print¬ 
ed and mailed of the RURAL Nkw-Yorkkb of Novem¬ 
ber 14, 1885, Is over 290.000. 
"E. S. Cabman, 
"J. S. Woodward.” 
“Subscribed and sworn to before me this 25th day 
of November, 1885. 
“W. E. Carpenter. Notary Public, 
"New York County.” 
The circulation of the Rural New- 
Yorker until June 1st, 1886, will prob¬ 
ably be far greater than that of any other 
weekly farm journal in America. We 
respectfully solicit any of our contempor¬ 
aries, who are so inclined, to invalidate 
this claim—they to examine our bills, we 
to examine theirs, and the result to be 
conspicuously published in both papers. 
What our circulation will be after the 1st 
of June is, of course, problematical. We 
are certainly striving in every fair-minded, 
liberal way to increase it as compared with 
the present year, during which it has been 
larger than during any other year of the 
Rural New-Yorker’s existence. 
We respectfully ask all our friends to 
aid in this good work, if, indeed, they so 
consider it. 
- * * » - - - 
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 arc 
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 bam, 
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, aud 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. 
- »» «- 
RAILROAD WRECKING. 
The bonds of the New York and New 
England Railroad, held by the State of 
Massachusetts were offered for sale the 
other day. The New York capitalists 
Cyrus W. Field, Russell Sage and others 
equally wealthy. W. H. Vanderbilt 
among them, made the highest bid; but 
the bonds were sold to a Boston syndicate 
at a lower figure. The New Yorkers at 
once protested. Governor Robinson of 
Massachusetts, after meeting his Council, 
wrote a letter in explanation, in which he 
declares that the extensive inti rests of the 
Commonwealth in large tracts of laud 
along the line, and the highest interests of 
the people demanded the utmost caution 
that the bonds should not pass into the 
“ownership of speculators who would act 
more for their own private enrichment 
than for the advantage and security of the 
State and her people.” 
Field and Sage had been for some 
years directors of the road, and 
both had advocated the “freezing out” 
of the unsecured creditors. They wanted 
the road to lose money, so that the mort¬ 
gage bondholders, failing to get the inter¬ 
est on their investment, could foreclose, 
wipe out all other debts and interests, re- 
•organize, and have “an opportunity to 
make money.” With much justice the 
Governor says: “The State would surely 
and properly condemn the action of the 
officials who should knowingly connive 
at a pecuniary advantage to her treasury 
at the price o’f the wreck and and ruin of 
the stockholders and creditors of the road.” 
What can be thought of the character of 
the nabobs who, from the most selfish 
motives, would plot the ruin of so many 
inuoeent persons! Yet such railroad 
wrecking is a common and legitimate 
practice of capitalists all over the country, 
and some of the most successful wreckers 
have been honored with high public 
offices and all of them are foremost among 
the capitalists of the land! 
A CHANCE FOR FARMERS. 
For a long time the papers of the 
Country have been boasting of the great 
political power of the farmers. Most of 
them have treated the subject iu a some¬ 
what abstract manner. This power has 
been pointed out, but few points have 
been disclosed where it could be used 
with effect. We believe the time has 
come when farmers can make their influ¬ 
ence felt in a piactical manner. If the 
manufacture and sale of oleomargarine are 
ever to be prohibited or regulated, it 
must be done at once. The proceedings 
of the recent Butter Cheese and Egg Con¬ 
vention Clearly defined the position of 
the supporters and enemies of “bogus 
butter.” A few mauufactureis are grow¬ 
ing immensely rich at t he business, and 
eveiy cent of their profit is taken direct ¬ 
ly out of the pocket of the farmer. Not 
only is the production of legitimate butter 
seriously interfered with, but there is a 
tendency to cheapen the manufacture of 
the bogus article, and introduce the most 
disgusting and positively unhealthy in¬ 
gredients. The oleomargarine men have 
become so bold that they even dare to 
enter a dairy convention and argue in 
favor of their stuff. It is time now . to 
strike a decisive blow. This is a question 
for farmers to settle. No one will fight 
their battles for them. Let strong and 
vigorous petitions commanding represen¬ 
tatives to wovk for a law that shall pro¬ 
tect pure butter, be circulated iu every 
farming community. Let every Grange, 
every Farmers’.Club, every man who owns a 
cow sec to it that these, petitions are signed. 
Congress will never uare to refuse the 
petitions of 7,000,000 farmers. A law can 
be formulated that will protect the dairy¬ 
man. Bring millions of voters against the 
greasy dollars of oleomargarine. A ma¬ 
jority of the nu mbers of our national con¬ 
gress arc elected from districts ^where 
farmers have a majority. Two thirds of 
our State Legislatures are controlled by the 
votes of farmers. They have a chance to 
perform practical work in politics. Will 
they improve it ? 
THE CLOSING OF THE CANALS. 
TnE Superintendent of Public Works, 
of this State, has ordered that all the State 
canals shall close on December 1 at mid¬ 
night. About 200,000 bushels of grain 
remain to be forwarded from Oswego by 
canal, however, and Superintendent Stra- 
hau has been urgently requested not to 
close the canals officially until December 
7. The canals of New York State are of 
vast importance as a check on railroad 
extortion. The chief beneficiaries, how¬ 
ever, arc not the fanners and merchants 
of the interior of this State, as the great 
majority of these are too far from the 
canals to be benefited by them; but 
the merchants of this city, and the form¬ 
ers and merchants of the West, and espe¬ 
cially of the Northwest. For about 
eight months out of the twelve, the rates 
of freight by “lake and canal,” between 
the lake ports and this city, are always 
low enough to prevent excessive charges 
on competing railroad lines, and all the 
great trunk lines are cornpetitors. Just 
as soon as the canals arc closed, the rail¬ 
roads shoot up their freight rates and 
charge “all the traffic will bear”—an ex¬ 
tortioner’s phrase. The farmers are the 
chief sufferers from this policy. On ac¬ 
count of the rise in freights, the great 
flour mills of Minneapolis have just shut 
down, “knocking the stuffing” tempora¬ 
rily out of the wheat markets in the 
Northwest. Even the prospect of the 
closing of the canals of this State causes 
a shrinkage in prices in far-away Dakota! 
The enlargement of the Erie Canal, the 
great water route between the seaboard 
and the lakes, is to be discussed before 
the next Legislature. The Republican 
State Convention declared in favor of ask¬ 
ing the National Government to assist in 
the work. Unless such assistance is ren¬ 
dered, it is hardly likely that the farmers 
of this State will favor any large appro¬ 
priations for a work which benefits chief¬ 
ly their Western competitors. 
THE DUTY OF WEALTH. 
The articles by Henry George, which 
are appearing in inine of the leading 
newspapers, occasion considerable discus¬ 
sion. The author is comparatively little 
known. Ilis books have had a small sale 
in this country, though in England they 
have been remarkably successful. He 
seems to be generally regarded here, by 
those who have not studied bis writings, 
as a “crank,” or a man who deliberately 
seeks to stir up a disturbance between la¬ 
bor and capital, without hope for success. 
The subject calls for a more serious treat¬ 
ment. The arguments of Mr. George are 
undoubtedly founded on a wrong pre¬ 
sumption, but. it must be admitted that 
they please the ear and enlist the sympa¬ 
thies of a very large class of unreasoning 
citizens. It will not answer to simply 
call such men “cranks,” and then 
conisder the matter settled. So¬ 
ciety is rapidly dividing into three 
classes, the very rich, the very poor, and 
the people of moderate circumstances. 
Our farmers constitute the majority of the 
third class, while the rich and the poor 
meet in the gruat cities. The gulf be¬ 
tween them grows wider and wider. On 
one side there is contempt, on the other 
bitterness. In a contest between them, 
the poor would have nothing to lose, and 
everything to gain. Poverty is deaf to 
argumeut; hunger cannot respect law. It 
serious trouble iu the future is to be pie- 
vented. steps must be taken to dose up 
the gulf between labor aud capital. 
Practical advances in this direction must 
come from the rich. Millions given as 
charity will not accomplish the desired 
object. We do uot desire to make our 
country a nation of beggars. The rich 
must s*et the poor examples of manhood, 
honor and common sense. When they do 
this the “socialist” leader will disappear. 
Wealth imposes a duty to cue’s country, 
that cannot be shirked. Wealth must 
cease to be a svnomyn for idleness and 
dissipation, and contempt for manual la¬ 
bor, be I ore labor aud capital can be 
brought together. 
» ♦« 
BREVITIES. 
The rose that bears the finest foliage, ami 
foliage that insects don’t trouble, is the Ra- 
manas Rose—Rosa rugosa. 
We have been eating the White Plutue 
Celery for two weeks. Whatever may be 
said of its value for earliness and beauty, it is 
certainly neither bo tender nor so rich (nutty, 
sweet) os several other kinds, 
A kkw Sundays ago the pulpit of one of 
the churches of Brooklvu was embellished 
with a bouquet made of the stems and leaves 
of the White Plume Celery. 
Thk Rural New Yorker never sells auy 
of the Premium* offered for subscribers. We 
sell the Rural New Yorker— that ia nil. 
We offer premiums ns pnv for those who will 
interest themselves In Increasing the circula¬ 
tion and influence of a journal that has the 
good of the farmer at heart and earnestly de 
sires to!promote his interests in every way. 
