THE 
RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
(gimjjtobm. 
NORTH CAROLINA NOTES. 
Effects of cold icecither on crops and people,; 
ruta-bagas ; checking pear-decay ; labels; leg¬ 
islative economy ; the dog question ; no-fence 
law. 
The last days of the old year and the first of 
the new, will be long remembered as the cold¬ 
est. that our people have experienced for a 
great while. The lowest point reached was 
eight degrees above zero. Except Jimt rather 
protracted season, the winter has been mild. 
There has not been an inch of snow, this 
year. Tile extreme cold affected the wheat 
and oats somewhat, giving them the appear¬ 
ance of blight, but I think the rains and warm 
days have repaired the id j ary to a great ex¬ 
tent—the roots not being generally damaged. 
In different parts of the State, the people are 
suffering from a disease somewhat like the 
epizootic; though it is not so violent as that 
“ horse disease,” as it is called. The horses 
are not attacked this time. In this community 
it prevails as an epidemic, but is not generally, 
very severe. It is, most likely, attributable to 
the extraordinary cold, connected with the 
great and sudden changes in the weather. 
I have learned, this season, that the ruta¬ 
baga is much more hardy, uuder exposure to 
the cold, than other species. I sowed the seed 
the Rural kindly sent and others, in the same 
lot with excellent varieties of both white 
and red turnips. Both the latter froze (many 
of them) and decayed; while the ruta-bagas 
remained comparatively uninjured. A near 
neighbor considers the ruta-baga preferable to 
other kinds for the table. I fouud it so, long 
ago. It is milder and sweeter. 
Having an apparently vigorous but worth¬ 
less pear-tree in my garden, I grafted the lower 
limbs last year; and, in the budding season, I 
budded the parts above quite freely. Months 
ago I discovered that the upper portion of the 
tree was gradually dying; and recently I eaw 
that the decay had reached to within a few 
inches of the grafted limbs. Though regret¬ 
ting to lose my buds, I concluded (with a wise 
friend’s advice) to cut off the diseased portion. 
I ifftend to watch the effect and report. The 
saw betrayed no unsoundness at the point of 
separation, f knew no better way to prevent 
the blight from completely destroying the tree. 
My own experience teaches me that a word 
in regard to labels on young trees may not be 
unimportant. I once was surprised to find t he 
wires that attached the labels, rapidly destroy¬ 
ing the swiftly-growing little trees. I conclu¬ 
ded to be more cautious next time, and was, 
but in examining a fine young peach-tree re¬ 
cently, I discovered that the wire was hiding 
itself in the rapidly-forming bark, although 
the wire was loose and much larger than the 
part it surrounded. I visited the young orch¬ 
ard of one of the best farmers iu this section, 
lately, and I saw that he was in danger of 
losing his trees from the same neglect. 
Our Legislature, this winter, contains a large 
proportion of farmers and practical men. It 
scarcely has lawyers enough. One would ex¬ 
pect extraordinary legislation in the interest 
of the industrial departments and enterprises 
from such a body; but. the contrary is threat¬ 
ened. The cry of retrenchment, drowns almost, 
or quite, every other. The State Geologist is 
threatened with official decapitation, on the 
plea that he is a useless tax. His work is not 
understood, and therefore, cannot be appre¬ 
ciated. The Agricultural Department meets 
with much favor, it seems so far, and wili be 
continued. The analysis of fertilizers has (a 
committee of farmers say) already saved many 
thousands of dollars to the State, in shutting 
out worthless compounds. The intelligent 
farmers are pleased with the reports issued by 
the analyst, but there is a call for plain lan¬ 
guage in those reports—suited to the plain 
men for whom they are designed. The chemist 
has also published valuable formulas for the 
direction of those who wish to compound their 
own fertilizers. This may do good; but it is 
hazardous. It 16 too much of a ‘ • patent medi¬ 
cine" system ; just as the common use of com¬ 
mercial fertilizers. The doctor must know 
the disease and condition of the system of the 
patient, before he can prescribe safely. The 
farmer must know what his laud has and what 
it lacks, before he can add with certainty of 
success. To learn this, he must be an agricul¬ 
tural chemist—to some degree—and then ex¬ 
periment. with his crops, and observe. Right 
here lies the chief difficulty as to the improve¬ 
ment of land and profitable use of mauures. 
How can it best be met. ? 
The dog-question will probably be handled 
by the Legislature this year. At present the 
State sacrifices (he sheep to the curs. As most 
voters have dogs and but few have sheep, the 
barking is louder thau the bleating, and our 
law-makers are apt to yield to the howls of 
their constituents. 
The no-fence idea is gaining rapidly on the 
people. In Mecklenburg county the experi¬ 
ment has proved exceedingly gratifying. Some 
who opposed it most bitterly, are now its ear¬ 
nest advocates. Our Commissioner estimates 
ourfences(in theState) at fin,000,000. Making 
and repairing fences are fast destroying all 
our valuable timber, and on every farm con¬ 
suming the spare-days that ought to be devoted 
to composting and other profitable work. 
The recent convention of Northern settlers 
in the South, held in Charlotte. N. C., promises 
to accomplish good. They represented differ¬ 
ent political parties, but harmoniously declared 
that Northern men may safely come to live and 
labor in the South. Other meetings are to be 
held. Five States were represented, a. w. m. 
Chapel Hill, N. C. 
-- 
RURAL SPECIAL REPORTS. 
Kentucky, Sardis. Mason Co., March 10.— 
Our county. Mason, is the third in Kentucky 
in point of wealth, and is singularly favorable 
to the production of the cereals as well as for 
hemp, tobacco, fruit, vegetables, etc. In vine¬ 
yards and orchards, Mason is the peer of any 
couuty in the Ohio Valley The excellent qual¬ 
ity of t lie corn and of the abundant blue-grass, 
naturally forces this to be a leading 6tock 
county ; here are found the. best breeds of 
racing aud trotting horses, Short-horns and 
Jersey cattle, Poland China swine, South-down 
and Cotswold sheep, mules, etc. “ Old Bour¬ 
bon” is the only article we import from our 
6ister county, as a creature comfort, but we 
claim to make Crab Cider equal iu flavor to 
Tokay wine. Our chief city and county seat 
)6 Muysville, which has more business in pro¬ 
portion to population than any other town on 
the Ohio River. The fertility of our soil has 
been so little lessened by cultivation that no 
manure is necessary, except clover and rest, as 
a meaus of raising successfully any crop suited 
to this latitude. The present outlook of the 
farming community seems encouraging. To¬ 
bacco is very brisk, selling from 810 to $12 
per hundred. From 1,000 to 1,500 pounds are 
produced to the acre. Pork is advancing, and 
the wheat is not winter-killed. s. b. h. 
Missouri, BpriDgfield, March 10.—In the 
opinion of the “oldest inhabitant” we have 
had a “hard winter." It has been as cold here 
before, but it has been a long while since we 
knew it so cold for so long a time continuous¬ 
ly. From 18 to 20 deg. below zero is excessively 
cold for southwest Missouri, causing a swop of 
the peach crop for an abundant one of ice. 
The peach trees, also, are damaged in many 
orchards—the result cannot vot be fully seen. 
Canes of the Red Raspberries are killed; and 
so are Black Caps in the branches and part of 
the main eane. 
The Kittatiuuy Blaekerry is all right. Wheat, 
also, is uuinjured—the earth having been cov¬ 
ered with snow during the coldest weather. 
The prospect is good for a full crop of wheat. 
Cattle and other stock went well through the 
winter, where well fed; for though so very 
cold, it was dry. At tlii6 date the blue-grass is 
starting aud the sheep care less for hay. Man, 
beasts and birds rejoice at the approach of 
spring, after a long, cold winter. We welcome 
the robins now with us in large numbers—har- 
bringers of sunshiue aud flowers. h. 
New York. Fluvanua, March, 9.—Snow 
melting very fast. Ice on Chautauqua Lake, 
25 inches thick. A large harvest has been 
secured by the ice-men arid farmers. Both 
classes find ice a source of great luxury in our 
long hot summer days. In many places the 
roads are almost impassable from excess of 
sduw, the sun and south wind making them 
too soft for horses to travel on, thereby crowd¬ 
ing all the travel upon the ice in the Lake. 
Provisions of all kinds are cheap. Hay, 87; 
wheat, 81 per bushel; corn, 45e.; oats, 30c.; 
potatoes, 75c.; butter, 20c. per pouud. Cows 
are in good demand at $40(«>45. Dairymen arc 
now much struck with the idea of sending their 
milk to the creameries instead of manufactur¬ 
ing the butter at home. In N. Y. market 
creamery butter usually brings a better price. 
Money seems a little easier and business men 
seem hopeful for the coming season. Indeed 
the outlook is encouraging. Economy and 
perseverance will soon bring about better 
times. H. a. w. 
Michigan, Schoolcraft, Kalamazoo Co., 
March 8.—The winter lias been admirable for 
our wheat. I do not think it has been injured 
iu the least, and even the barley and oats are 
doing well. Still for success we shall require 
a favorable season from this time on, as the 
wheat plant is small, having been sown late. 
Wheat is now worth 81 a bushel; oats, 25c.; 
corn, 30c.; potatoes, 00c. to 70c.; barley, 81-75 
per cental; land, from 815 to 880 per acre. 
The first 30 years of my life were passed iu cen¬ 
tral New York and 13 years here, and although 
1 have traveled considerably in other parts of 
the country; yet, taking everything iuto con¬ 
sideration, I am decidedly of the opinion that 
southern Michigan conies the nearest to being 
the farmer's paradise of any part of the coun¬ 
try that I have seen. u. c. 
Utah, St. George, March 4.—Our spring is 
advancing, and Apricots, Almonds aud even 
Peaches are in bloom, and bees are having a gay 
time. Lucerne or Alfalfa is the great hay and 
fodder staplehere, and it may already be found 
six and eight inches high, giving the first crop 
in April, and yielding, in good ground when 
properly eared for, four to five crops of two 
tons each, aggregating from six to ten tons 
per acre auuually. This feed is one of the best 
milk producers; is greedily eaten by horses, 
cattle, sheep, goats, hogs and even cbickeus. 
and also affords fine bee pasturage. Were its 
value fully known, millions of acres would be 
planted yearly. Experience proves that work 
teams fed on this, without grain, will stand 
equal service with those fed on wild hay with 
grain. j. e. j. 
North Carolina. Warren Co., March 13.— 
We have had a severe winter, though our 
heaviest snow merely whitened the ground. 
The earth freezes too hard for plowing even 
now almost every uight. Fruit buds are still 
dormant. Land is in fine condition for plow¬ 
ing when not frozen, which is every afternoon. 
Northern men living iu the South, are holding 
conventions with the avowed object of correct¬ 
ing misrepresentations of northern papers, iu 
reference to the state of society etc. among us, 
aud also to try to draw the attention of emi¬ 
grants this way. There is room for mauy 
more farmers here; but it is a poor locality 
for the indigent or lazy—we have enough of 
such already. m. b. p. 
New Jersey, Harborton, Mercer Co., March 
6.—Wo have had quite steady and severe cold 
weather from the 24th of December up to 
March 1st, since which time it has been warmer, 
and the frost coming out of the ground, makes 
bad roads. The field mice have done a great 
deal of damage by girdling fruit trees. The 
wheat in the fields looks well. Stock of all 
kinds have stood the cold weather very well. 
Hay and grain are abundant and prices low. 
Wheat brings' from 81 to 81 08; corn. 38c.; 
oats, 23e. per bushel. d. j. b. 
Virginia. Newmarket, March 8th.—Farm¬ 
ers arc just beginning to plow here, it having 
been too wet, and the frost, not being out of 
the ground before this time. Wheat looks 
“ tolerably ” well here. Times are dull; prices 
for produce, low. and money rather scarce. 
Wheat sells lor 90@92e. per bushel; corn, 40(5> 
45c.; oats. 30c.; potatoes, 75c.; butter, 10c. per 
pound; eggs, 10c. per doz. Fanners generally 
are in good cheer. Wages for farm hands, $10 
to $12 per month. p. s. w. 
Indiana, La Porte, March 3.—Our soil is a 
rolling drift composed in the main of clay 
tinctured with red aud yellow oxidc6 of iron, 
mixed with sand containing minute particles 
of shell lime. All these ingredients are thor¬ 
oughly commingled. We use none but home¬ 
made mauures, and second-crop clover which 
we plow iu to return, root aud brauch, to the 
ground. j. s. b. 
Georgia. Herndon, March 7.—The weather 
is now very flue, and farmers are beginning to 
plow. Although this has been the most severe 
winter known for many years, we are antici¬ 
pating a good fruit year aud abundant crops. 
n. B. N. 
Iowa, Marshalltown, March 10.—The weath¬ 
er is pleasant now, but the last half of Feb¬ 
ruary was severe. Stock is looking well; 
farmers are getting ready for such spring 
work as plowing and getting in grain, n. l. c. 
New York, Seneca Falls, Seneeu Go., March 
10.—We have had a very severe winter here, 
snowing and blowing most of (he time. 
Wheat, as a general thing, went into winter- 
quarters looking poorly. E. d. b. 
Iowa, Belle Plaine, March 8.—March here 
has hitherto been warm. Sowing will begin 
soon. Prices for all farm products are steady, 
and slowly moving upwards. h. b. 
Ohio, Bucyrus, March 10.—The weather here 
is spring-like, and we are preparing to plant 
spring crops. Wheat looks well. d. l. 
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
Varieties of Grapes. 
IV. E. P., Fillmore, Allegany Go., N. l".,Usks, 
1, for a detailed description of the Rickett va¬ 
rieties of Grapes, and wliat do other vineyard- 
ists, who have tried them, think of their mer¬ 
its ; 2, whether we have tried the white and 
red Grapes said to have been sent out a couple 
of years ago by Mr. Sylvester of Lyons, N. Y., 
and if so, what is our candid opinion of them ; 
3, whut is our opinion of the Waller, Croton, 
Senaaqua Eumelan, Worden and Brighton 
Grapes; 4, whether we personally attended the 
late meeting of the N. Y. Stale 11 ort. Society, 
and if so, did we ourselves taste specimens of 
aDy new Grupe&, aud if so, whether their qual¬ 
ity was good; 5, do we personally know any¬ 
thing more of those new varieties boyond what 
is set forth in the report, aud if so, what; (5, 
names of some new sorts of Grapes that 
promise well. 
Ans.—1. Highland, vigorous, the leaves large 
and ‘thick ; hunch and berry, large, compact 
and shouldered, black ; flesh, juicy, sweet, 
slightly pulpy and vinous, very good; ripens 
between Concord and Catawba. It would oc¬ 
cupy too much space to describe the others; 
send for catalogue. Other vineyardlsts know 
but little about them. 2. No. 
3. The Walter is very like Delaware, a little 
earlier, more pulpy, fine where it succeeds, not 
as reliable as Delaware. Croton and Senasqua, 
both unreliable and subject to mildew. Eume- 
lan is one of the best of our most reliable class 
of Grapes, but is, unfortunately, malformed in 
its reproductive organs; the filament is Dearly, 
and sometimes wholly, aborted, and the pollen 
deficient, causiug the clusters to be emascu¬ 
lated; but, with age, the vine boars better. 
The fruit is fine and keeps well. The Worden 
is valuable, two weeks earlier than Concord, 
but it i6 not quite so heavy a bearer; vine, very 
similar; fruit, a little better than Concord. 
Brighton is a hybrid between a European vine 
and Concord ; fruit, good ; vine, vigorous, but 
subject to mildew in unfavorable years and 
locations. 
4. 5. No, we did not attend the Rochester 
meeting. 6. Lady, Whitehall, Martha, Worden, 
Eumelan, Champion, Elvira, Belvidere, Hum¬ 
boldt, Telegraph, Moore’s Early, To-Kalon. 
European varieties do not succeed upon the 
Atlantic sea-board, aud hybrids with our native 
yrnes are healthier only in so far as they hap¬ 
pen to carry into their make-up the healthier 
qualities of our native vines. No hocus-pocus 
of mixiug eradicates the weakening elements. 
This remark applies to any and all such hy¬ 
brids. Many of them succeed well, under favor¬ 
able conditions, but our most reliable Grapes 
have in the past come from improvements upon 
native vines. As the laws of nature are uni¬ 
form. we must probably look to this source for 
any hope in the future. Under present condi¬ 
tions, some of these amateur Grapes are desi¬ 
rable. The following is a partial list of new 
ones deemed the best: Highland, Amber Queen, 
Brighton, Adelaide, Autuchon, Cauada, Black 
Defiance, Black Eagle. Brant, Challenge, Con¬ 
cord Chasselas, Concord Muscat, Diana, Ham¬ 
burg. Dou Juan, Downing, Secretary, Tri¬ 
umph. 
Origin of Wheat and Corn, etc. 
Mrs. A. C. H., Roanoke, Ind., asks what 
plant was the parent of our wheat; 2. what of 
our corn ; 3, could small natural seedlings of 
American Arbor-vitfle be brought fiom Cana¬ 
dian woods aud made to grow on her place; 4, 
to whom shonld application be made for seeds 
furnished by the Government. 
Ans. -The origin of wheat is a subject of 
much speculation. It is not certainly known 
in a wild state. Some suppose it descended 
from extinct wild species; others, that it is the 
cultivated form of what are now regarded as 
distinct wild species. About 1855 a Mono. 
Fabre claimed to have developed wheat by 
careful cultivation during 12 years from oegi- 
lops ovata, a grass common to the south of Eu¬ 
rope, but the assertion lias been generally dis¬ 
credited. Wheat has been a cultivated plant 
since long before historical times; tbeuumberof 
varieties is very large, one Frenchman having 
cultivated as many as 322, aud mauy suppose 
there must have been three or four origiual 
species of the plant., hut the entire subject of 
its origin is mere conjecture. 2. Corn, accord¬ 
ing to Alphonse de Candolle and Darwin, is of 
American origin, and seems to have undergone 
no specific change since the earliest ages, Dar¬ 
win huviug found iu South America heads of 
maize embedded in a beack which had been 
raised at least 85 feet above the sea. 3. Yes, 
if lifted carefully and well protected during 
transportation with moss about the roots. 4. 
To the Commissioner of Agriculture, Washing¬ 
ton, D. C. 
Stabling Cattle. 
5. C. Bonsaoks, Roanoke Co., Va., asks the 
best method of stabling cattle iu winter, and 
whether it is better to keep them confined all 
winter, or to turn them out in fair weather. 
Ans.— It depends very much on the kind of 
cattle and the purpose for wffiich they are 
kept. Ordinary Btore cattle may be kept 
most cheaply and profitably in yards with 
open protected sheds attached, because the 
extra cost of providing expensive stabling and 
attention is not returned iu the saying of food. 
But milking cows and fattening cattle caunot 
be kept profitably in that cheap manner. For 
these cattle the most comfortable and warm¬ 
est stables (not neglecting light and ample 
ventilation) will be fouud the cheapest, be¬ 
cause tlie cost of using them aud the attention 
uoeded to maintain perfect comfort for the 
cattle, are repaid by the increased product. 
The writer has been testing the question the 
past winter aud finds the weight of milk from 
dairy cows falls aouut 10 per cent when they 
have the run of a good yard for four hours a day 
only ; ami that the milk-yield returns, when 
the cows arc stabled all the time. But the 
stable is airy, roomy, light, warm, clean, aud 
the cows are kept comfortably bedded with 
dry clean litter. There is also a considerable 
saving of fodder when the cows are kept up 
and they gain in eomlltlou at the same time. 
It is the sumo with fattening cattle which arc 
