JULY 28 
504 THt «U8AL NEW-YORKER. 
£ox t\)t Jijoimg. 
TALKS BY UNCLE MARK. 
Just a word more about politics. One of 
our friends writes as follows: “In politics I 
could wish the non-partizan paper to be just 
and fair. Was “Uncle Mark” so when he 
said the Democrats being in power had the 
responsibility? With the President and House 
only Democratic, and with the Vice Presi¬ 
dent, Senate and Supreme Court, Republi¬ 
can, can the Democrats be justly said to be in 
power and be held responsible?” I atn glad to 
moke this note because, as I said, I want to be 
just as fair as I can be. It is true that the 
Democrats have not been able to carry out 
some of their plans because of the Republican 
Senate. They are responsible for the general 
conduct of the business of ^he Government, 
but doubtless the Senate has prevented the 
passage of a good many measures which the 
Democrats would gladly have pushed through. 
So we must say that the Democrats have not 
had an entirely fair chance to prove exactly 
what they can do, though they have come 
pretty near it. 
Another friend who is taking a course at a 
summer Normal School says the following 
rules for letter writing were given by a 
lecturer: 
I. Know definitely what you are going to 
say. 
II. Say it. 
III. Don’t think of a grammatical rule 
while you say it. 
V. Polish up afterwards. 
V. Put your pen through every other word, 
or in other words, boil it down, or condense it. 
I think these rules are very sensible. It will 
pay to study them. Our letters betray our 
characters pretty well. It is very important 
that we know what we are going to say before 
we begin. The only way to make sure of this 
is to think the matter all out before we write 
a word. Then with the points all in mind we 
can go ahead and write to the point. I get 
letters sometimes that ramble about, touching 
first one thing and then another, so that when 
1 have read them through I cannot tell what 
it is all about. The last rule suits me very 
well. People generally use too many words 
to express an idea. It pays to talk straight 
at the mark. Most people have little time to 
listen to unimportant things. If we can get 
into the habit of writing and talking in a 
business way, we shall find ourselves growing 
into business men and women. 
A few weeks ago we were in trouble be¬ 
cause the rain was so constant that we 
couldn’t do our work. Now we are con¬ 
cerned about the dry weather. It is getting 
dry enough. I got those potatoes 1 told you 
about in all right, and now they are growing 
ahead of all the surrounding potatoes because 
the ground is full of water. We will get 
through the dry weather the best we can and 
keep good-natured as possible. 
. •>»» i 
LETTERS FROM THE COUSINS. 
Dear Uncle Mark: I now take the pleas¬ 
ure of writing to you once again. I had for¬ 
gotten you entirely. 1 .hope this letter will 
not get into the waste basket. We have one 
little Maltese kitten, and I am going to name 
her Rubie. Don’t you think that is a pretty 
name? We are having a good crop this year. 
We have some flower-beds which are very 
nice, because there are no hens to scratch 
them up. We are having our holidays now. 
1 have six nephews and one niece. I have no 
more to say at present. Your little friend, 
Dundas, Ontario. ida may mitchell. 
1 guess you must have been very busy to 
forget me so readily. That’s a pretty name 
for the cat. There is a horse witti tliat name 
on the Rural Grounds. You have a good 
supply of nephews—fully enough to go 
around. u. m. 
Dear Uncle Mark: I was reading a sweet 
little letter by Honor Bright, in one of the 
Rurals to-day. I would love her, I know, if 
I was acquainted with her. She writes such 
a friendly letter. I say, Cousins, why can’t 
we exchange, books papers, etc. ? 
I have one brother, older than myself. I am 
10, so you see I am very happy, as we have 
lots of fun and never quarrel. I am glad that 
he is older than I am, but he is a sad tease. 
Not tar from us lives a family consisting of 
15 children, father and mother, and I do think 
they make more noise than 50 common chil¬ 
dren ought to. Their father is a very peculiar 
man, and seems to have nerves, for whenever 
the children are particularly noisy he takes 
an agricultural book, finds some shady retreat, 
and dreams of “rural pleasures,” while his 
wife, poor suffering woman, spanks half of 
them, and sends the other half of them to bed, 
and then goes to some sympathizing neighbor’s 
and pours forth her tale of woe. 
Now,Uncle Mark,wouldn’t you hate to have 
such a large family? I am sure you wouldn’t 
live long if you had this one. 
If Mrs. Fisher could create as much of a 
stir writing about the Bright Side of Farm 
Life, as she did about the Dark Side, she 
would create quite a stir. In fact, every able- 
minded woman in the country would be think¬ 
ing and expressing her thoughts on paper. 
Chicago. hazel dell. 
[I like a reasonable amount of noise, but I 
can’t stand too much of it. I guess the 
mother of that family is doing most for the 
coming generation —u. M.] 
NOTES FROM HILLSIDE FARM. 
I wish th6 Rural artist would try again 
on the “Bright Side of Farming.” I think I 
could find lots of prettier pictures than a team 
running with a load of hay, cows fighting 
each other, and running into the wire fence. 
I would like to show you a picture of the val¬ 
ley and hills as we see it from our north door; 
or one from the top of the hill with myself 
on the rake, if you please. Look around! to 
the east are the woods close by for a back¬ 
ground; to the north, south and westare hills 
and valleys, woods and cultivated fields dot¬ 
ted with farm buildings. You can see for 
miles till the distant hills are a faint blue line. 
Again, go to the well; at the right is a grape¬ 
vine, at the left a stump covered with nas¬ 
turtiums, in front on each side of the path a 
bed of pansies looking you right in the face. 
Just beyond the buildings you catch a glimpse 
of the orchard. Turn around and you see 
pear and cherry trees, raspberries and cur¬ 
rants, (doesn’t your mouth water?) straw¬ 
berries, flowers, onions, cabbages, lettuce.etc., 
and if you go into the young orchard you will 
see beans, peas, corn, potatoes, etc. Isn’t 
that a pretty picture for a hungry man or 
any one else? Or another picture that I like 
is to go to the lot and call the cows, horses or 
sheep to me and let them eat out of my hand, 
and see how they will follow me around. 
These are some of the pictures that make farm- 
life bright to me. 
Some time ago Mrs. Jack spoke of its being 
pleasanter to cut potatoes for planting (I 
think it was) than to wash the clothes for the 
men. I agree with her. I would a great deal 
rather work out of doors tbau to wait on a 
hired man all summer and then see all the 
profits from the farm turned over to pay his 
wages. Not that I feel above waiting on 
hired men, and if we must have one, I want 
one good enough to eat at the same table with 
the family, but it is a relief all the same to do 
our own work. It is quite common around 
here for women to lend a hand in hurrying 
times, and if they use a little judgment and 
do not overwork, it is a good thing for 
the health to get out in the fresh air. 
Business is business everywhere, but the 
social relations of employer and employee are 
in a great measure determined by circum¬ 
stances and custom. Politeness is due to 
every one from every one. It would be absurd 
for a farmer with one hired man to make him 
wait and eat his meals alone after the family 
are through. If he has half a dozen or more 
it might be a great deal more to the comfort of 
all concerned to have a separate table, or per¬ 
haps a separate boarding-house. The mer¬ 
chant does not board his clerk. No, of course 
not, especially if he lives at some distance from 
his store. His clerk will get a boarding-place 
nearer, if possible. Sometimes, though, he 
employs his clerk to sleep in the store. The 
farmer usually wants his help near by so that 
he will not have to spend a great deal of time 
in coming and going, and boarding-houses do 
not seem to be an institution of the country. 
The merchant where I trade may or may not 
occupy the same social scale that I do. It is a 
matter of indifference both to him and me, 
and we are neither of us interested in the pri¬ 
vate affairs of the other, but if he was not po. 
lite and obliging to me, how long would 1 trade 
with him ? emma l. bliss. 
Ontario is so much like Sharpless that 
either will answer for the other. 
May King has done very well. It should 
supersede the Crescent. 
Jessie is probably a little earlier than 
Sharpless, otherwise they are both much the 
same. 
Belmont does pretty well. 
Sharpless is the standard for a medium 
crop or season. 
Mammoth will give some fine berries, but 
it is unhealthy aud not worth growing. 
Monmouth is meOiuin early and holds on 
to the last. If there were not better berries, 
this would be fairly good. 
Sunapee is high-flavored, moderately 
productive, medium in season and not pro¬ 
fitable 
Gandy may possibly pay to grow for mar¬ 
ket. It is indispensable for the late private 
garden where the best is wanted. 
Cohanzieh must go the way so many have 
gone before. It has no merits in particular. 
May King, Sharpless and Gandy are suffi¬ 
cient variety. Where more are wanted, Cum¬ 
berland, Charles Downing, Jessie, Belmont 
and Bid well might be added. 
New Jersey. ira j. blackwell. 
KOHL RABI CULTURE. 
The kohl rabi, or turnip-rooted cabbage, is 
a vegetable that bears more of a resemblance 
to a ruta baga than to a cabbage, although 
it is more generally included in the latter 
class. Of late, however, it appears to be at¬ 
tracting considerable attention, and this is as 
it should be, for it is an excellent vegetable 
and should be found in every amateur’s gar¬ 
den. It is one of those vegetables whose char¬ 
acter depends essentially on the manner in 
which they have been grown. Grown slowly 
and in poor soil, the roots will be utterly unfit 
for use, while if the conditions are reversed it 
will prove to be an excellent vegetable, de¬ 
serving of all that can be said in its praise. It 
is used mostly in the fall, and is in its best 
condition when the root is about three inches 
in diameter. If used younger it will partake 
too much of the taste of the cabbage, and if 
older it is dry, tough and utterly unfit for 
food. 
In order to have it at its best, it should be 
grown as rapidly as possible, and to effect this 
it should be given a deep, well-enriched soil, 
one that has been given a good dressing of 
well-decayed stable manure, and has had it 
deeply and thoroughly incorporated with the 
soil by means of the plow. A thorough har¬ 
rowing should then be given so as to level it 
off as smoothly as possible, when it should be 
marked off in drills about an inch in depth 
and two feet apart. The seed should be sown 
about the first week in July. Sow thinly, 
covering to the depth of half an inch, and if 
the ground is at all dry at the time of sowing, 
firm it well around the seeds in order to ensure 
a quick germination. As soon as the young 
plants are large enough to handle they should 
be thinned out so that they will stand about 
eight inches apart. In the event of wet wea¬ 
ther, the thinnings can be transplanted into 
rows similar to those into which the seeds 
were sown. This is considered rather difficult, 
but I never had the least trouble, care being 
taken to perform the operation just previous 
to or after rain, and in planting to firm the 
soil well around the roots of the plants. 
The growing crop should be well cultivated 
and freely hoed so as to secure a rapid growth 
from the start as well as to keep it clean and 
free from weeds. 
If it is desired to obtain kohl rabi early in 
the season, the first sowing should be made 
early in May, and additional sowings made 
in June aud July in order to obtain a constant 
succession. 
The varieties most generally grown are the 
Early White and Early Purple Vienna. The 
former is greenish white on the outside while 
the flesh is white and tender. It is the best 
market sort. The latter is almost identical 
with the former except in its outside color 
which is greenish purple. 
Queens, N. Y. Charles e. parnell. 
Ultral &opic$. 
if 
COMMON GROUND FOR FARMERS 
AND ARTISANS. 
MORRISON 1. SWIFT. 
City operatives awakening, studying and 
combining: farmers should do Likewise ; 
instructors will come as needed : common 
grounds for a union of farmers and opera¬ 
tives '.; inevitable evils ahead for farmers 
unless they take action. ' 
Laboring men of cities and towns have 
learned that it is necessary for them to unite 
in order to preserve themselves from the en¬ 
croachments of employers. They have also 
discovered that they must understand the 
principles of industrial life, if they are to 
succeed in their efforts aud not waste energy 
in blunders. Therefore they have begun to 
encourage systematic study. 
The same industrial development that is 
reducing the wage-worker to a state of abject 
dependence, is bringing the farmer to mort¬ 
gages and poverty. He need uot expect help 
if he will not help himself. His only hope is 
to combine and study industrial conditions 
aud devise means of self-protection. 
The labor unions are looking with growing 
favor upon the idea of lecturers who shall 
treat of special branches of the labor question, 
besides broadening their outlook by addresses 
upon selected historic periods, historic men 
and the movements they inaugurated or sus¬ 
tained — ethics, education, and sanitation. 
Something of this the farmer has also under¬ 
taken in bis way. But this work of education 
should now be organized with a seriousness 
and resolution befitting the extremity to 
which the rural population has already come. 
The center of this work may be the district 
school-house, or it maybe the home, in which 
neighbors can gather of an evening for dis¬ 
cussion and organization. It is important to 
exclude from control of these gatherings all 
aspirants for political office. Every one is 
acquainted with persons who are fond of tak¬ 
ing a prominent part in farmers’ institutes 
for the sake of some advantage to themselves, 
and such persons are dangerous leaders. It 
may be confidently predicted that a class of 
proficient lecturers aud teachers will come 
forward to assist in this work, and to study 
existing conditions for the purpose of improv¬ 
ing them. 
The question that will ultimately arise is 
why the agriculturists and operatives do not 
find such common ground as exists and mass 
their forces against tendencies that are daily 
becoming more oppressive to both. These two 
classes are the greatest sufferers from the ty¬ 
ranny of monopolists and great corpora¬ 
tions: w hy should they not work together to 
cut the claws of their common enemies? The 
difficulty is that each—the farmer and the 
wage-worker—thinks the interests of the oth¬ 
er opposed to his own. But, then, why do 
they think so? Certainly not from judicious 
study of the question; probably because po¬ 
litical demagogues have persistently rehears¬ 
ed the idea for purposes of their own. One 
object of the investigation above urged is to 
discover the truth in fundamental issues of 
this kind, to emancipate the hard-working 
classes, whether on farm or in factory, from 
the demagogue. 
A project is now being discussed which will 
bring specialists in economic and other studies 
before the manual workers in cities. Under 
the name of University Extension work of 
this nature has already attained great impor¬ 
tance in Great Britain. It will soon take form 
here and it is but a further step to bring 
these lectures and conferences within the 
reach of the farmers. Here we find common 
standing ground for all classes, operative, ag¬ 
riculturist, inventor, manager, capitalist. It 
is the ground of inquiry. /Tired of controversy 
the best of all types say, let us set in motion 
machinery for impartial investigation and for 
disseminating the results. There will be 
money enough for this enterprise because it 
casts no partisan shadow. Will it meet with 
a warm response from those whom it is to ben¬ 
efit most ? Let intelligent farmers take up the 
worK of neighborhood organization; let them 
give a little time to reading on industrial 
questions; let them invite the fairest and most 
intelligent men whom they know to give them 
informal talks. Then the undertaking will 
grow of itself. 
The more enlightened the farmer and the 
working man become the more may we pre¬ 
dict that a plan of co-operation will be devel¬ 
oped through which they will at length be 
enabled to secure the returns for their indus¬ 
try to which they are entitled. The artisan is 
already partially aroused, but the farmer sits 
at home and is preyed upon by those who are 
more skillful than he to lay traps. At length 
he mortgages his farm; later it becomes the 
property of a money-lender. Where will this 
f process end if the land-worker remains docile 
and spiritless? Simply in this, that we shall 
have no independent farming class. This 
means that the present independent owners 
must drop to the position of renters aud hired 
workers, an event deplorable enough for the 
farming population, but also fraught with 
evil to the whole social organism. The query 
^ is, “What will the farmer do about it ?” 
Scrofula 
Probably no form of disease is so generally dis 
tributed among our whole population as scrofula. 
Almost every individual has this latent poison 
coursing his veins. The terrible sufferings en¬ 
dured by those afflicted with scrofulous sores 
cannot bo understood by others, and their grati¬ 
tude on finding a remedy that cures them, aston¬ 
ishes a well person. The wonderful power of 
Hood’s Sarsaparilla 
in eradicating every form of Scrofula has been so 
clearly and fully demonstrated that it leaves no 
doubt that it is the greatest medical discovery of 
this generation. It is made by C. 1. HOOD & CO., 
Lowell, Mass., and is sold by all druggists. 
IOO Doses One Dollar 
