ject of farm labor were brought out at a late 
meeting of the Farmers’ Club. Here are a 
few of them. You can’t keep a really good 
man long. A man with vim and sense soon 
owns or rents a farm for himself. Wages are 
higher than they were 20 years ago, but we 
get a better return from it. dollar for dollar. 
Improved tools lighten work and quicken it. 
Farm hands have loss reason to complain than 
they think they have. Wages are higher, 
work lighter, and hours less. Unfortunately 
a larger proportion of wages goes for cigars 
and beer than in the “good old days.' - 
Auburn, N. Y. d. p. h. 
Remedy for Scab. —I tried an experiment 
with scab in potatoes. After covering the 
potatoes lightly, I sprinkled a good handful 
of a mixture of ashes and plaster—with sul¬ 
phur added at the rate of 10 pounds to the 100 
—around each hill. Among those so treated 
there were no scabs or wire-worms. Other 
portions of the land were badly infested. In 
my culture, I plant throe or four inches deep, 
hoe twice, and plow four times, never letting 
weeds grow, and make a flat, byoad hill two 
or three indies high. j. w. baker. 
Bureau Co., Ills. 
Profit in Late Varieties.— There is far 
more profit with us in raising late varieties 
than in trying to get ahead of the South—an 
impossibility. By the time our early potatoes 
are ready, those from the South have taken 
the best price oil the market. It is the same 
way with early pears and apples. With late 
varieties, we can hold until spring, and iu 
most eases got a fair price. Late pears offer a 
good chance to those who are willing to hand¬ 
le them. H- 
St. Louis Co., Mo. 
while if it were dry, some of the early white- 
panicled oats would give the best crop. We 
have also found that the strength of straw 
varies greatly with the season. Again, varie¬ 
ties may well be selected according to the 
richness of the soil upon which they are to be 
sown. The heaviest yield of oats ever raised 
at the Rural Farm was of the White Austra¬ 
lian, now known as Welcome and by various 
other names. The next heaviest was from 
the Black Tartarian (Mold’s Ennobled)—the 
largest in bulk, though weighing but 27 
pounds to the bushel. Last, year rtvo acres of 
Clydesdale were sown. They yielded well, the 
oats were plump and heavy, hut the stems 
were weak. In a trial plot where 19 so-called 
varieties grew side by side, the Clydesdale 
aud Welcome could not be distinguished 
from one e nother except by the labels. The 
Badger Queen is now advertised as a new 
variety; as “possessing more points of supe¬ 
riority than any other oat grown.’’ This was 
grown in one of the plots alluded to above. 
It was not essentially different from the 
Welcome and we doubt if it is not the 
same. The new oats ‘ ‘American Bauner” were 
not quite so tall as Welcome aud were a trifle 
later in ripening. No other difference was 
noted. Another “new” oat called “Race 
Horse” seems to be the same as Welcome. 
The variety sold by some seedsmen as White 
Belgian appeared to be in our plots the same 
as Welcome. The “new' 1 oat Dakota Chief¬ 
tain is likewise the same as Welcome. The 
older variety “Challenge” grows somewhat 
taller, but does not differ materially. The 
Yankee Prolific is the White Russian. The 
White Russian is a side oat of medium weight 
that thrives finely in many places and poorly 
penetrate the more compact soil beyond and 
below the trenches. 
Morning Star, from James C. Robinson 
Belcher, Washington Co., N. Y., who writes: 
“It is a seedling of the Late Beauty of He¬ 
bron, raised in 1881. It yields better, is less 
liable to disease. Pure white; form oval to 
oblong, seldom knobby. Eyes even with the 
surface, delicate, floury texture; a few days 
later than Late B. of H,” Here the vines were 
dead Aug. 15. The yield was at the rate of 
78(1.50 bushels to the acre. Best five weighed 
three pounds Oj.j ounces. Buff skm, eyes not 
deep. The shape is objectionably long. 
Eaten Dec. IS. White flesh, mealy and good. 
Pootatvtok, from R. W. Curtis, box 166, 
Stratford, Conn., who says “it is a seedling 
of Wall’s Orange crossed, perhaps, with White 
Elephaut. It is quite as early and productive 
and as good in quality as any variety I know 
of.” Vines dead July SI—rather before those 
of Early Rose. Average of potatoes small. 
Skin rosy; rather long and narrow in shape. 
Eyes not sunken; clean surface. The yield of 
four pieces was 10 pounds, or at the rate of 
605 bushels to the acre. There were 56 pota¬ 
toes—half of marketable size. Best five 
weighed 1% pound. Eaten Oct. 28; flesh 
white and of excellent quality. 
New Zealand, received from W, W. Ben- 
inger, Walnutport, Northampton Co., Pa., 
who writes: “It originated on the Island of 
New Zealand and was introduced into Wash. 
Ter. in 18S2 whence it was brought to N. Y. 
and the entire lot purchased by me. It is 10 
days earlier than Early Rose: a fine keeper.” 
Vines dead July 81. Four pieces yielded 9% 
pounds. Or at the rate of 574.75 bushels to the 
Get a Partner. —Every man who does 
business needs a partner to consult with and 
advise. A farmer needs one just as much as 
any other business man. The best partner he 
can ever get is a faithful, loving wife. The 
man who neglects to talk over his plans and 
hopes for business with his wife loses more 
than he can reckon. A good and true wo¬ 
man, one who is read}' to bear her share of the 
heat and the burden of life’s weary day, is a 
safe adviser and a wise friend. p. r. e. 
Hillsdale Co., Mich. 
The Hot 1\ atkr Arrangement on page 
21) is a good one, aud ought to be found iu 
many farm kitchens. The Rural should 
have stated that no lire should be built in the 
stove while the water in the pipes is frozen. 
1 he ice iu the part of the pipe which is in the 
stove will melt, find no outlet, turn to steam 
and make bad work. Those who keep fires all 
night will have no trouble, but those who let 
the pines freeze will he lucky to get off with a 
broken stove. B. Charles. 
Ionia Co., Mich. 
More Than One “Bear Crick.”—I live in 
NEW ZEALAND POTATO. From Nature. Fig. 60. 
“Bear Crick” township, too. The name is 
from a creek running through the county. It 
flows into the south fork of the Sangamon 
and that into Illinois River. Still I can say 
with some pride that we are not. itt that State 
of intellectual desuetude depicted by “ V Col¬ 
lege Boy’s Diary.” The little village of Pal¬ 
mer has a large, two-story school building 
with three departments. 
Palmer, IU. j. P> s . 
Good Husking. —Chas. Mungham wants 
to hear from the buskers of the Rural fami¬ 
ly. J am not much of a busker myself, but 
my sou, 19 years old, can handle 60 to 7(1 
bushels of ears per day. Ho uses an iron husk- 
iug peg to tear the husk apart. 
Ottoo Co., Neb. d. e. s. 
I never could raise potatoes enough for my 
own use until I began to plaut them accord- 
iug to the Rural's method. I had grand suc¬ 
cess with the White Elephant and Blush Po¬ 
tatoes and have made all my relatives happy 
by supplying them. 
Carrol Co. Iowa. r. e. crylie. 
Crops, 
experiment Grounds’ of the ituval 
llrui-ilorkrv, 
OATS. 
A Correspondent, referring to the fact, 
that nearly every kind of oats has been tried 
at the Rural Grounds, asks which we prefer. 
It is not an easy question to answer, since wo 
ate ourselves undecided. Our experience is 
that if any farmer were to raise on the same 
Held year after year five of the most popular 
varieties known to-day, he would find that 
their general merits varied with the season. 
It, for example, the season were Wet, late black 
side oats would perhaps ’give the heaviest yield; 
in others. The Schcenen is a few days later 
than the Welcome; the stems are not quite so 
tall: the grain is longer and not so thick or 
plump. We have raised this variety several 
seasons and it has never lodged. These oats 
in the sandy loam of the Rural Farm will, 
we are inclined to think, yield as well, taken 
one year with another, as any of the many 
kinds raised there during the past 15 years. 
* * * 
NEW POTATOES. 
It is well that it should lie explained to new 
readers that these results of testing new pota¬ 
toes have boon continued for 10 years, as a 
reference to the indexes will show. Very few 
of the introductions during that time and not 
one of those now popular, has been overlooked. 
The large yields often reported will no doubt 
try the credulity of our later friends. But they 
must consider that our test land is as rich as 
we know how to make it, and that though 
well drained, it rarely, if ever, seriously suf¬ 
fers from drought. The land is a loam, rather 
more inclining to clay than that known as a 
“sandy loam,” and leas inclining to clay than 
that known as a “clayey loam.” It has been 
enriched m the main by successive applica¬ 
tions of special potato fertilizer as well as of 
lcaiuit, bone, blood, nitrate of soda and sul¬ 
phate of ammonia. Those who have never 
tried potato raising on similar laud, giving 
all needed cultivation know little of the pos¬ 
sibilities of the crops of potatoes which may 
be raised. Trenches six inches deep and 12 
wide are dug three feet uport. A little soil is 
thrown back to form a mellow bed, and the 
potato pieces are placed about four inches 
deep and OUO foot apart. These arc covered 
and the fertilizer evenly strewn, wheu the soil 
is returned as loosely as may be. We believe 
from years of experimenting that the potato 
is fond of a mellow soil. The tubers have in 
their growth less resistance to overcome and 
are therefore more shapely, while the roots 
which support the tubers, may, if they prefer 
acre. It is a few days earlier than Early 
Rose. Whole number of potatoes 26, of which 
22 weie of marketable size. It is a fine-look¬ 
ing potato; skin rosy; shape oblong, one-third 
longer than wide; not flattened; eyes little 
sunken, average large. Eaten August 2; 
flesh white, meal}', and of good quality. See 
Fig. 60. 
Brownell’s Extra Early Yankee, from 
E. S. Brownell, Essex Junction, Vermont, 
who writes: “It is extra early, a seedling of 
Peaehblow aud Early Snowflake.” Vines 
were dead July 30. The yield of four pieces 
was 10 pounds, or at the rate of 605 bushels 
per acre. Best five, two pounds 14)4 ounces— 
•‘>4 tubers iu all, of which 31 were marketable. 
It is of the Peaehblow shape, though the eyes 
uro not deep for one of this class. Shape 
roundish, truncate or flattened at the ends. 
Skin pink or purplish. A handsome potato 
of its kind. Eaten Nov. 2; flesh nearly white, 
quality fair, though by no means as good as 
Brownell's No. 500, from thesamegrower. 
This is “a cross of White Peaehblow aud 
White Star and is earlier than the Beauty of 
Hebron.” The yield of four pieces was also 
10 pounds, or at the rate of (305 bushels per 
acre. Best five, two pounds. Buff-white skin, 
few eyes, oblong, slightly flattened, eyes on 
surface. Whole number 60, and 39 market¬ 
able. None large. Eaten Nov. 1st. We have 
never eaten a better potato. Mr. Brownell 
hesitates to introduce this variety on account 
of rot. 
All of the above were plauted April 12. 
The Mammoth Red Etampes Pumpkin is 
excellent for pies—superior I think to the best 
of the ordinary field pumpkins. It grows to a 
very largo size, bat in doing so does not be¬ 
come coarse and stringy. It appears to be a 
good keeper as samples in my cellar, are still 
(Januury 1) sound, aud in excellent condition 
for use. Though usually called a pumpkin the 
Red Etampes has the fleshy stem ami the 
salmon-colored skin and flesh of the Turban 
squash, k. s, g. 
THE GOVERNMENT SEED STORE. 
A personal experience; “buggy” and weedy 
seeds gratiutausly distributed; Congres¬ 
sional patronage; seeds as bribes to con¬ 
stituents; exorbitant, overcharges for seeds 
of inferior quality; the Commissioners and 
the seed humbug; need of united agricul¬ 
tural action. 
Three years ago I was connected with the 
Department of Agriculture, and can indorse 
the Rcp.al’s war on the Government seed 
shop. I have known peas to be purchased and 
sent out swarming with “bugs.” Various 
seeds infested with insects innumerable have 
been distributed under the protest of “Bug 
Department,” which urged a system of des¬ 
troying the iaseets before sending out the 
seeds. 
I have seen all manner of weed seeds in lots 
of seeds, yet no efforts were made to separate 
them. Thus, noxious weeds were distributed 
broadcast over the land without any charge 
to the recipients. 
The seed shop is recognized as a graveyard 
for Congressional party friends, and numer¬ 
ous Congressmen were constant in their efforts 
to have some new appointment made, and, of 
course, there was a continual war between the 
“ins” who have positions to keep them, and 
the “outs 'to slip in by crowding out some 
clerk or laborer. 
One Congressman (Seney, of Ohio) once 
requested me to see the Chief Clerk (General 
Carmanl anil have him increase his list of 
seeds, as his district was very close and he 
must have a larger number of packages to sap 
his country constituents with. He got about 
four mail sacks extra. 
This is the way it goes—You have to kill off 
about half the Congressmen before you can 
break up the practice, as one is as " Deep in 
the mud as the other in the mire”—all want 
“more seeds” to send to their country friends; 
also more worthless books, published at a ccot 
of $10.00 each and sold by mail-bag-ful to old 
book-stores at 10 cents each. Many large 
seedsmen supplied vast quantities of 
seeds, which were purchased at very high 
prices and were only the common old sorts 
that could be bought at any country store for 
a nickel a paper. I did not know of half a 
dozen good sorts purchased while I was there, 
and frequently I searched diligently for some 
new or valuable sort for trial, 
A large force of men and women is employed 
putting up papers and packages of the seeds, 
making bags, etc., and each paper of seeds 
costs the Govemmeut fully ten times as much 
as they could be bought for of reliable seed- 
men. Government pays the postage and thus 
enters into competition with business men, 
while the value of the seeds is far less than 
that of those sent out by Vick, Gregory and 
Thor hum or a host of regular seedmen. 
There is no systematic effort to test the 
vitality or value or cleanliness of the seeds dis¬ 
tributed. One© in a while the Superintendent of 
the Gronmls plants a few; but in an irregular 
way, and the seeds are sent out to the public 
at the same time when these insignificant trials 
are made on the very limited grounds. 
Grass is of tar more value in these grounds 
than are experimental gardens, and so three- 
quarters of the grounds ure in lawn and a 
small portion of the remainder is assigned 
to au old dilapidated orchard, and to such 
plants as cau be distributed as Congressional 
favors. The only Commissioner i Le Due) who 
made any effort to oppose (buck against) Con¬ 
gressional interference, was kicked out by 
Blaine before he had an opportunity to prune 
anything. Loring followed, but as an ex- 
Congresstnan he knew the ropes, and did not 
interfere so long as he could draw his salary, 
lecture to literary audiences and use his rail¬ 
road passes. Gen. Carman had fall control 
and well he managed to keep ou good terms 
with Congressmen of both parties by free gifts 
of “extra numbers” of seeds. It is. well known 
that the present Commissioner does not desire 
(i Eds.) or intend to make an v change. 
If the farmers in their might would make a 
vigorous protest; refuse to'accept these little 
sops and demand a cessation of this whole seed 
business, ii might be accomplished just as the 
Oleomargarine Law was forced through Con¬ 
gress by their strong effort—although against 
Congressional desires in the matter. 
J. P, BROWN. 
£arm Cconoimj. 
ARTIFICIAL FERTILIZERS—THE BEST 
AND CHEAPEST. 
T. H. HOSKINS. 
[SECOND ARTICLE.] 
Almost without exception the first plant 
food that runs short ou a light soil is potash; 
on clay soil, phosphoric acid. But the rea‘ 
