bear an ear ; and further that the top ear bears 
the only true seed. 
In improving this variety I have gained sev¬ 
eral advantages. From 144 days I have re¬ 
duced its period of ripening to 110 days. From 
one and two 6-oz. ears on each stalk, 1 have 
increased it to from four to six good 8 to 10-oz. 
ears, besides nubbins. From a cob that some 
call large, I have decreased its size at least a 
fourth, and nearly an eighth in weight. I have 
also made the fodder finer, the stalks more 
handsome, &c, A. E. Blunt. 
The following are some of the reports to 
which Mr. Blunt refers in the above communi¬ 
cation : 
Virginia. —White Prolific, reported on favor¬ 
ably, giving three to four ears to the stalk, ma¬ 
tured well. Another: good, early, six ears on 
some stalks; corn from department yields con¬ 
siderably more than common varieties. 
North Carolina. —White Prolific yields 
well, two to three ears on a stalk ; mauy pre¬ 
fer the white corn. 
South Carolina. — One report: the corn 
from the department is a great acquisition 
here. Another: yields largely, three to five 
ears on a stalk ; the corn did very well consid¬ 
ering severity of the drought. 
Georgia.— White Prolific, ears large, cob 
small, kernels long. Auothor report makes 
“ two crops a year with the yellow Dentan¬ 
other, White Prolific, month earlier, and five 
large ears on a single stalk. 
MissrssiPrx.—Prolific white corn, from the 
department, planted March 10; glazed July l; 
too hard for table use; very prolific on rich 
land, three to five ears on a stalk. Another re¬ 
port, 10 feet high, two to four long ears on a 
stalk. 
Louisiana. —White Prolific has given good 
results, making seven and eight good ears to a 
single stalk, long and well filled; it is an acqui¬ 
sition, 
Texas. —White Prolific, yellow and other va¬ 
rieties, from the department, have proved valu¬ 
able. Reports: early, large yield, three to five 
ears on a stalk, at least one hundred fold. An¬ 
other : the corn from department is a great ac¬ 
quisition to this section of country. 
Kentucky. —The few reports received from 
this State show the White Prolific to be valu¬ 
able. 
Arkansas.- “The Prolific White is very pro¬ 
lific indeed, averaging three ears to the stalk ; 
shall plant it next season." 
Kansas. —Comptou grew well, yield large ; 
White Prolific grow finely, giving average of 
three ears to the stalk, and DO bushels to the 
acre. Good grain. 
Indian Territory.— Report from Chicka¬ 
saw Nation says: White Prolific, planted too 
late, 1,550 pouuds from eight pounds planted, 
four to six ears on a stalk; this is about 180 
fold for one planting. 
-- 
BLUNT’S WHITE PROLIFIC. 
A note from Mr. Mason saysI raised this 
last season but about four bushels of Blunt’s 
corn, and rejected all but a peek for seed, as 
the balance hud but eight and ten rows to the 
car. T saved all that had twelve rows which 
will, I ihluk, develop into a first rate variety 
by such treatment. With but common culture, 
it yielded me at the rate of 77 bushels per acre, 
not a nubbin in the whole of it. The cob is 
white, small unci short, but the heavy yield is 
made up by each stalk producing on an aver¬ 
age four ears, iu some cases as high as nine. 
I believe it was to this especial point that Mr. 
Blunt directed all his efforts. 
My article written for the Rural New- 
Yorker in January, gives all the particulars 
of my little plat, (I had but a half pint of seed) 
and is correct in all particulars except iu 
stating the year in which I grew it. I wrote 
1878, the types say 1875. S. Rufus Mason. 
Dodge Co., Neb. 
-»-»♦ 
CORN AS A CLEANSER. 
Corn is the best crop to act as a cleanser of 
the soil, when it becomes foul. When grown 
ior this purpose, it should be planted three 
feet apart each way. It should be cultivated 
once a week, until too large to admit a horse, 
when the corn will so occupy the ground that 
weeds will give little trouble after. What few 
do start must be cut out with a hoe, or pulled 
out by baud. Jl well done, the laud will be in 
hue condition the succeeding year and the 
corn will pay for the labor. This is the mau- 
"er m which 1 lit my ground for strawberries, 
it leaves no grubs to destroy the plants. I have 
Cleaned laud of Canada thistles iu this wav the 
lust season. Nelson Ritter. 
-- 
CORN NOTES. 
I'll l average weight of corn an earls about 
five ounces. 
Htakch is now largely manufactured from 
maize. A dilute solution of caustic soda is used 
to dissolve the albuminoid. The starch and 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
155 
bran remaining, are separated by diffusing both 
in water, when the bran settles, and the water 
being run off at the proper time deposits the 
pure starch, corn-starch of commerce. 
Nebraska, Dodge Co,, Jan. 20. 
Mr. Editor: I iuclose you a corn article. 
I don’t believe anybody wants to know how to 
grow corn, they all know too much already. It 
is very certain that as much as folks know on 
the subject, it is usoless knowledge, as long as 
they won’t apply it. 
If we cau make it a disgrace to a farmer to 
produce a poor crop of this grain, we shall 
just astonish the natives. 1 eouldgive you the 
whole process for this section, but it would 
read like an explanation of why twice one 
made two—everybody knows it, but won’t do 
it—that’s all. 8. r, m. 
Various Facts Resukcting Corn.- Hum¬ 
boldt says corn belougs to South America. 
The Chinese are said to have a book describing 
corn, Which dates buck to the sixteenth cen¬ 
tury. Columbus fouud it growing when he 
discovered this continent. There is a proof that 
it is a native of this continent. Corn nourishes 
from 40« tjouth latitude to 45° north. The best 
corn lands are probably found between 10 and 
45 degrees. The valuable elements in corn are 
starch, sugar, gluten and oil. Southern corn 
contains most starch. White corn contains 
about 70 per cent, of starch. Sugar corn has 
but little starch and this causes it to shrivel. 
It contaius a large amount of phosphate. Yel¬ 
low corn has the most oil, and a large per 
cent, of gluten. The hard or Hint varieties 
contain the ino6t gluten, and the soft, the most 
starch. Small varieties contain the. most oil, 
and next to these the yellow corns. In com¬ 
paring corn with wheat, oats and grasses, to 
see which is the most exhaustive, we find that 
the important elements exhausted by these 
crops are potash, phosphoric acid and nitro¬ 
gen. The following table shows the relative 
proportions: 
_ Potash. 
Corn, 50 bn. 77 Jos. 
0*1 s, 75 bu.•_() '• 
Wiieiit, at UU.24 “ 
Potatoes, 1(K) tm.34 *• 
Dios. acid. 
31 
ta 
20 
11 
NltroKon. 
04 
21 
41 
21 
These figures include grain aud straw. It is 
a discouraging fact that the general average of 
corn is not increasing, but this may be all the 
better for the enterprising farmers who are im¬ 
proving their methods of growing this crop.— 
Professor M. Fenland. 
-- 
CATALOGUES, &c., RECEIVED. 
Innisfallkn Green-houses, Springfield, 
Ohio. Catalogue of “ Roses, Geraniums, 
Fuchsias and Bedding plants. Free. 
Ellis Brothers, Keene, N. H. Catalogue 
of “ choice plants and seeds." Some new and 
very fine Pelargoniums are offered. Free. 
Vanderbilt Brothers, 23 Fulton St., New 
York. Catalogue of seeds, farm implements, 
Peruvian Guano, Superphosphate, &c., Ac. 
38 pages, free. 
Hovkv & Co., 16 South Market St.. Boston, 
Mass. Illustrated Guide aud Seed Catalogue. 
Along list of novelties—illustrated—88 pages 
free to applicants. 
The advertisement of the Farmers’ Publish¬ 
ing Co., announcing a series of Charts for 
farmers, will be found ou page 164 of this 
number, and deserves attention. 
Wm. K. BowditCii, 645 Warren St., Boston, 
Mass. Commercial florists as well as practical 
seedsmen. An illustrated, interesting cata¬ 
logue ol 70 pages, sent free of charge to appli¬ 
cants. 
of his apparatus for the artificial hatching of 
eggs—the incubator or Artificial Mother. We 
are not willing to speak either in favor of or 
against this or any other incubator, having 
had no experience in their nse whatever. The 
pamphlet gives copious extracts from the lead¬ 
ing journals of the country, including oue from 
Moore’s Rural New-Yorker of 1875, which 
is prior to the date of the present management. 
Our readers are advised to send for this pam¬ 
phlet, and to give the matter full inquiry before 
purchasing. 
Matt hews’s Seed-drill, that has become so 
thoroughly well known as an effective imple¬ 
ment has been improved iu detail this season 
by the addition of an indicator, with names of 
tin! various seeds thercou. attached to the side 
of the hopper. The dial is in plain sight, eas¬ 
ily got at, and by the merest twist of the wrist 
the gauge is immediately set for sowing any 
desired seed. The improvement is a conces¬ 
sion to lazy people, certainly, but at the same 
time it is a great convenience. The important 
features of the drill are unchanged—iu fact 
there is no reason why they should be modi¬ 
fied. 
R. II. Allen A Co., 189 and 191 Water St., 
New York. Descriptive catalogue of choice 
farm, garden and flower seeds, roots, plants 
and garden requisites. “ Location and soil 
for a gardenFrames and Hot-beds”— 
“Lawns”—about which wc reeoivc many in¬ 
quiries at this season of the year, are definitely 
treated. Webb's New Kinver Yellow Globe 
Mangel Wurzel, to which wc have already re¬ 
ferred—Pearl Millet—Doura or Guinea Corn, 
Indian Millet and Sorghum—Prickly Comfrey 
—Early Amber Sugar Cane—Cow Peas—aie 
all marked as specialties. The list of Corn, 
both field and garden, is likewise a leading 
oue of this catalogue which will be scut free to 
our friends. 
Parsons A Sons Co., Kissena Nurseries, 
Flushing. N. Y. Catalogue of New aud Rare 
Plants.—Hardy Plants may be considered a 
speciality with the Rural New-Yorker, and 
we therefore take pleasure in calling attention 
to this catalogue, which enumerates about 350 
which, with the exception of 36, arc by uo 
means well known among those who prize 
hardy ornamental plants for their lawns. Of 
the 350, about 100 have becu added this year, 
the. firm having been for several years past 
engaged iu testing tlieir hardiness. About 10 
of the list of 350 have been, in effect, introduced 
to tile trade by this enterprising firm, among 
them the Japanese Maples, which we ourselves 
have been foremost iu introducing to the pub¬ 
lic. The list will be sent to all who apply 
for it. 
Henry A. Dkeer, 714 Chestnut 8t., Phila¬ 
delphia. Garden Calendar for 1879; 138 pages 
finely illustrated. This is a valuable publica¬ 
tion, aud ouc that has been prepared with un¬ 
usual care. The “ Vegetable Garden”—“Re¬ 
marks ou the failure of seeds”—“Useful 
Tables "—and list of vegetable aud agricultural 
seeds, take 38 pages; 40 pages are given to 
flower seeds, l to novelties, among which we 
note the Pelargonium “ New Life,” which bears 
flowers, some of which ure striped rod ami 
white, while others arc not striped at all, and 
of a rose or salmou color ; also, the two much 
talked of Hydrangeas— Thos. Hogg (white) 
and The Climbing Hydrangea figured in Rural 
of Feb. 15. Then the plant department of 138 
pages finishes the interesting catalogue which 
we think Mr. Dreer will furnish our subscrib¬ 
ers without charge. 
Stair A Kendel— established 1889—115 On¬ 
tario St., Cleveland, O. Price-list of native 
and imported field, garden and flower seeds, 
agricultural implements, etc. Among varieties 
of sweet corn, Early Minnesota, Moore’s Early 
Concord, StOWeU's Evergreen aud Triumph (.an 
excellent variety) are offered. The price-list 
which will be scut on application specializes 
Cabbage aud Onion seeds. 
Storks, Harrison A Co., Paiuesville, Ohio. 
No. 3.—Spring catalogue of New aud Rare 
Plauts for 1879, including greenhouse aud bed- 
diug plants. 80 pages fully illustrated. No. 3.— 
Trade-list of fruit and oruameutal trees, small 
fruits, vines, evergreens, shrubs, Roses, etc., 
16 pages. No. 5.—Retail price-list of No. 4. 
No. 7.—Oue-dollar collections of roses and 
plauts sent free by mail. A trustworthy es¬ 
tablishment. and we commend the above cata¬ 
logues (which will be sent to applicants) to all 
of our readers. 
The Agricultural Insurance Co.’s Almanac 
and Guide to Safety. 1879. This little pamph¬ 
let has the usual almanac features, but is more 
especially valuable on account of its very plain 
exposition of the causes of most of the disas¬ 
trous fires that consume farm properly. Here 
is an insurance company that has paid over 
two and oue-lmlf millions for losses by fire 
during its twenty-five years’ experience, and 
as it is confined by law to accept only farm 
aud private residence risks, it becomes inter¬ 
esting to note that the majority of losses are 
almost invariably the result of carelessness. 
The almanac points out clearly uud forcibly 
how unthinkingly negligent most people are, 
and a glance at the record of fires from pre¬ 
ventable causes is calculated to instil precau¬ 
tion. The almauae is free to all who may ask 
for it, but it would be a cheap and desirable 
hand-book to safety, even if a price were de¬ 
manded for it. 
Robert Buist. Jr., 933 and 934 Market St., 
Philadelphia, Penn. One of the oldest estab¬ 
lishments in the country. This Is au Almanac 
aud Garden Manual for this year of nearly two 
hundred pages. It is designed to furnish “ con¬ 
cise hints to cottagers, farmers and planters" 
on the cultivation of vegetable and flower 
seeds and plants, it is well illustrated; gives 
hints for every month iu ttie year, and is alive 
with all sorts of information for those who are 
interested in plants or seeds. This hook, so 
far as we can find, will bo sent free to appli¬ 
cants, aud it is certainly worth applying for. 
Prof. A. Corbett, 7 Warren St, N. Y. A 
pamphlet of 33 pages, settiug forth the merits 
RURAL SPECIAL REPORTS. 
Pennsylvania, West Chester, Feb. 36.—Sun¬ 
shine, rain, hall and high winds iu succession. 
Water courses swollen and roads very muddy. 
We are looking for the “ Corn " number in 
pleasurable anticipation. This, you know, is 
a great corn county. k. 
Indiana. Roanoke, Feb. 30, 1879. We had a 
thaw, enough to remove the old snow, about 
three weeks ago; but the Iasi few days have 
again been very stormy, and wo liuve now six 
iuebes of snow. Corn, 80c.; potatoes, 80e.@ 
$1; eggs, 13@15c. A. c. n. 
Pennsylvania, Annville, Lebanon Co., Feb. 
18.—Weather since December has been unusu¬ 
ally cold, with almost continual sleighing. 
The ice harvest, is about over. The amount 
housed by our icemen is immense. Farm pro¬ 
ducts arc all low- Amber red wheat, 90 to 95c.; 
corn, 45c.; oats, 35e.; potatoes, 95c.; butter, 
10c.; eggs, 15c. j. A . 
Correction. In “ Notes From Kentucky’ 
Jan. 35th I am made to say “ lowest 30 
deg.” 1 wrote “—30 deg." which I under¬ 
stand to moan “twenty degrees below zero. 
In the same article the Editor inserts 
“(sic)” and '*(!)” after my “at the rate 
of three hundred barrels (of potatoes) per 
acre.’ If any doubt the correctness of my 
statement I will refer them to my neighbors, 
the Messrs Conways who will state that, with 
them the Peerless lias yielded at the rate of 
four hundred barrels per acre. 
Nil ton liy. s. E. Hampton. 
Kansas, Sedgwick Co., Feb 30.—The crops 
in our county the past year were good, wheat 
and corn being specials. At our county fair 
last fall were shown a greater variety of cereals, 
and fruit than I ever saw in the county fairs of 
much older 8tatcs. All kinds of fruit grow to 
perfection in the Arkansas valley. We have 
had a very cold winter with us. but it has let 
up at lust, and farmers have started the plow 
for oatDefiance wheat and Pearl millet. I 
shall try the Golden Rural and Beauty of Heb¬ 
ron as ray specials, from your valuable collec¬ 
tion. Our market is about as follows : Wheat, 
No. 3, 65c.; No. 3, 58 to 60e,; corn, 18 to 20c! 
per bushel; pork, live, $3.35 to $3.50 per cwt.; 
oats. 90c.; potatoes, 80c. to fl: apples, $1 to 
$1.50 per bushel; butter. 10 to 16c. per lb.; 
eggs, 10c. per doz., which we think very fair 
market for a ucw country. W. J. Brown. 
Michigan, Laingsburg, Feb. 35, 1879.—We 
have had an excellent winter for business. 
The roads have been good since before Thanks¬ 
giving. most of the time sleighing, and to-day 
sleighs run well and snow is fulling fact, with 
steady cold weather. Last winter we had very 
little sleighing; uud hauling wood, ties, lum¬ 
ber, logs, etc., was sadly behind hand, but 
business has now caught up, and all classes 
arc being benefited. Wheat did not promise 
highly last fall, but so far, the winter has been 
favorable. Many complain of hard times, but 
if most people are obliged to retrench a little, 
and learn how to do so, it will do no harm, for 
that is just what we must come to. People 
have lived beyond tbeir incomes, uud must cut 
down. Wheat, 88 to 91c. for white extra. Po¬ 
tatoes were short, aud bring 40 to 50c. People 
here are waking up somewhat to the Interests 
of agriculture—mostly through the influence 
of the Grange—and laruiers are beginning to 
think and act more intelligently than ever be¬ 
fore. May this state of things continue aud 
increase. o. M . K . 
Kentucky, Bowliug Green, Feb. 24, 1879.— 
Mauy thanks for the seeds received a few days 
since; I am very proud of them and will take 
“particular pains” iu planting them; us soon 
as the ground gets dry will plant the wheat 
ami potato. Wo have had a great deal of very 
wet weather, so much tiiat the fanners have 
done very little fariuiug, scarcely any plowing 
for corn. Prospects, to-day, are very good for 
good weather, and farmers are making prepa¬ 
rations for sowing oats, of which there will be 
above an average crop sown; there will also 
be a great deal of clover and orchard grass 
sown, more of the latter than ever before ; 
farmers have luiowu very little of ihe nature 
or value of orchard-grass until within the last 
two years ; aud now, as they know, it comes ou 
earlier aud lasts louger than any other grass. 
They sow' more of it ihau ever before; the seed 
are worth $1 75 per bushel. Clover, $4 50; 
wheat, 80c. to 81; eoru. 30c. to 35e.—some are 
hoidiug for 40e.; oats. 30c. to 50e. ; hogs. $2 50 
to 83 50 per 100 lbs. ; cattle, $2 to 84 per 100 
lbs. Our wheat is uot looking as well as it 
might, as it is uot quite thick enough—the 
seed wheat was very bad on account of dry 
weather when it was beginning to head. The 
peaches are killed by the cold went tier—a great 
mauy trees are dead. The apples aud small 
fruits are damaged so that I fear wc shall have 
a “ bad" fruit year. Joe D. Smith. 
Wide-awake farmers on the 83 a -38 -5 ' 
parallel are beginning to talk corn planting 
so hurry up your “ corn number.” 
Rust-proof oats arc in their beds aud the 
Gray oats are shelling off their outer gar¬ 
ments for tlu: same position. 
This is a second rate climate only fur fruits. 
Apples are planted, cared for, nursed and 
doled up only to die before beating. Peach 
trees live about six to uiue years, " alternating 
in off years.” Texas is always on extremes, 
either abundance or nothing at all; however, 
care and patience would obviate mauy of these 
failures. 
I hope much from pear culture us blight is 
not known in ibis section. It is also Kunerally 
acknowledged in Texas that this county (Col¬ 
lin) is the banner county for grain growing, 
stock feeding aud grain shipping enterprise. 
Pearl Millet advertised iu your columns grows 
well here. From 5000 seeds I obtained three- 
