?284 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
PUBLISHED EVERY SATURDAY. 
AddreBB 
RURAL PUBLISHING CO., 
78 Duane Street, New York City. 
SATURDAY, MAY 3. 1879. 
THE WAY TO MAKE FARMERS. 
Journals “devoted to the interests of 
country homes " can do no better service 
than that of inspiring a love for plant 
life in the hearts of those upon whom 
the future of the farm depends, namely, 
the children. It has often seemed to us 
that children arc, in many instances, sick¬ 
ened of farm life because they are re¬ 
quired by their parents to do work in 
which they cannot interest themselves ; 
work which they dread to begin and are 
glad to end. It is not, indeed, in the 
nature of children to like work that has 
no attraction. It is to them synonymous 
with punishment to the extent that it 
conflicts with their inclinations. It is not 
in the nature of any living creature to be 
pleased with an arduous employment 
which brings with it no sort of compen¬ 
sation, not even the satisfaction which 
love for the work insures. Now, if we 
desire to educate a child, so as to inspire 
him with a fondness for a special pursuit, 
wc must show that its reward will amply 
compensate him for the study and labor 
which it involves. That there is a bright 
side to farm life none can dispute. That 
farming or horticulture, if rightly pur¬ 
sued, Avill—in this country at least.—se¬ 
cure to the fanner or horticulturist an 
ample reward, admits of no manner of 
doubt. Our object is so to present these 
occupations to farmers’ children m so 
true a light that they shall have before 
their eyes the bright side, the reward, 
instead of the forbidding impressions 
which naturally arise while performing 
the hard and dreary work which un- 
thiuking parents too often impose. 
It has occurred to us that the forma¬ 
tion of a •‘Youths’ Horticultural Club” 
might prove a step in the right direction. 
First, we would induce the children of 
our readers to arrange and plant a little 
garden of flowers, vegetables or small 
fruits. It matters not how small the be¬ 
ginning. This tirst garden need be no 
larger than a hoop. Success with a sin¬ 
gle strawberry or grape vine, with a sin¬ 
gle cabbage, tomato, or flower of any 
kind, would encourage another trial, 
while failure from attempting too much 
would, perhaps, discourage lrom further 
attempts. In ttiese first trials we seek, 
first, to amuse the child, and through 
the amusement to instruct in such a way 
that amusement and instruction shall 
fim.lly render all necessary work a labor 
of love. 
In the Youths’ Department, as con¬ 
ducted by Uncle Mars, we propose to 
offer simple, seasonable suggestions in 
gardening and elementary botanical teach¬ 
ings, in uie hope that with many of our 
young friends a desire to know something 
oi Uie structure Of plants, how they grow, 
and fiu w best to make them grow, shall 
manliest itself as the natural consequence. 
Every spring ami fall we receive hundreds 
ol plants, which are seat to be tested in 
the Experiment Ctrounds connected with 
this journal. Of course, as these grounds 
are already w eii filled, older plants must 
be removed to make room lor the new 
ones, biiould the Youths’ Horticultural 
Club meet witlj general approval, we 
shall be very happy to distribute these 
plants lrom time to time (without charge, 
of course,) among those of the members 
who seem the most enterprising and de¬ 
serving, and also to provide them with 
several varieties of choice seeds every 
spring. 
We now put the questions to parents : 
“ Do you approve of this plan ? Do you 
believe that it is calculated to prove of 
any real benefit to your children, either 
simply as an innocent pastime or as pos- 
siblj' influencing them to a higher and 
more intelligent appreciation of the or¬ 
chard, garden and farm?” If so, we should 
ask that you assist us in the carrying out 
of this plan. We should ask you to ex¬ 
plain it to your children ; to provide for 
them a little plat of ground and anything 
else they may need, such as a watering 
pot and a small spade and rake. We 
should hope, in short, that you would 
take an interest in their work, and even 
put yourselves out to encourage them in 
their efforts; assist them in writing to 
us of what they attempted, how they suc¬ 
ceeded or failed. 
Finally, all who write for the Rural 
might assist in rendering this instructive 
and entertaining to both old and young, 
by contributing any notes or suggestions 
which occur to them. All communica¬ 
tions on this subject should be addressed 
to Uncle Mark, and the names of would- 
be members should be Bent in nt once. 
He will superintend the registry of names, 
answer all letters that require answers, 
and promptly attend to the awarding of 
premiums. 
-- 
JAPANESE MAPLES. 
Novelties are the order of the day. 
Much of our lives is spent in seekiug 
them. For many of us, iudeed, novelty 
alone affords amusement. Time-worn 
objects and methods are looked upon 
with iudifferent eyes. As a result of this 
tendency of the age, we find horticulture 
also striving for variety of effect. The 
production of marvels and monstrosities 
of the propagiitor's art is of almost daily 
occurrence. The papers herald them, 
and chromos emblazon their charms for a 
presumably delighted world. Naturally, 
however, some of us become satiated by 
this embaras de ru:house and look some¬ 
what askance at all new plants. 
We know, indeed, how good some of 
the old ones are, and remember, more¬ 
over, sundry dire disappointments with 
the new. We confess, for instance, that 
on first having our attention drawn to 
Japanese Maples, two or three years ago, 
our appreciation of their beauty was 
modified by the consideration that it was 
not possible that such delicate forms and 
colors could stand the rigorous changes 
of American seasons. We fancied the 
summer alone would scorch their delicate 
leaves. However, we tried one or two, 
though the price was high, and soon 
learned to estimate more fairly their ex¬ 
cellent qualities. One, the Sauguineum, 
had the richest, red purple hues in sum¬ 
mer we had ever seen. Others were cut 
and divided into the most fantastic shreds 
of delicate tissue, rainbow-dyed in color. 
Again, specimens were shown us so dwarf, 
as to scarcely reach three feet in a score 
of years, while others, if well-established, 
would some seasons grow a foot or more. 
The leaves in one case were small, almost 
minute, in another broad and round, suf¬ 
fused with golden shadings in the most 
exquisite manner. Nature had outdone 
herself in creating what are technically 
called “ sports.” We also began to dis¬ 
cover that these seemingly delicate little 
plants were rugged and tough as au Oak—. 
tougher than some Oaks. Then they 
were not mere variations of well-known 
old forms of Roses, Geraniums, and the 
like. On the contrary, they bade fair to 
constitute a positively new feature for the 
lawn. They were not shrubs, but regu¬ 
lar dwarf trees with as much of the tree¬ 
like development as the Scarlet Maple, 
only in miniature fashion. This, with 
tho'ir wonderful hues and forms mingliug 
in diverse manner on every leaf, we began 
to realize, must in time win for them a 
veiy distinguished and unique character. 
On investigation we found there were 
a score or more varieties very many of 
them belonging to the polymorphum spe¬ 
cies, but others distinctand peculiar types 
in themselves. All of them, we learned, 
were very difficult to propagate for va¬ 
rious reasons, and some some, as far as 
we could hear, had not been reproduced 
out of Japan, except perhaps from seed. 
The method of propagating variegated¬ 
leaved plants by seed is not really satis¬ 
factory, as all experts know, 'on ac¬ 
count of the divergence from the origi¬ 
nal type that is ever apt to occur. Graft¬ 
ing is evidently the true method. We 
found, in fact, that Japan, in sending 
her Maples to us, has really much in¬ 
creased the obligations we already owed 
her for many valuable hardy plants. We 
felt that in Japanese Maples existed qual¬ 
ities to be developed by Combination of 
colors and otherwise, that might do much 
to disenthrall us from the overpowering 
and ubiquitous ribbon planting of the 
day. Fancy easily pictured beautiful 
effects of color varied to the utmost, and 
devoid of all crudity produced by taste¬ 
ful arrangement of these Maples on the 
lawn. 
It will be readily inferred from the 
above remarks that our conversion to a 
belief in horticultural novelties like Japa¬ 
nese Maples, was complete. We do not 
know but we were betrayed into the weak¬ 
ness of terming them “little beauties” in 
certain instances. Well, we intend to 
make up for tins laspe into excessive en¬ 
thusiasm for a new thing by renewed vigi¬ 
lance in recognizing weaknesses in other 
novelties. Or, rather, should we not 
say that while we hail with delight a 
really fine “ new plant,” the innumera¬ 
ble novelties having few distinctly valua¬ 
ble and differing qualties, must be rele¬ 
gated to the more or less obscure posi¬ 
tions where there they belong. 
GOOD HORSES-POOR ROADS. 
Now that we have got the country so 
well railroaded, is it not time to put some 
work, money and “gumption" into the 
building of our highways upon improved 
principles, so that we may have perma¬ 
nent, smooth level tracks upon which to 
draw our loads and drive our nice horses 
and carriages ? We are decidedly of the 
opinion that our farming towns will find 
smooth, dry roads, with moderate grades, 
worth as much to them in money, to say 
nothing of pleasure and comfort, as the 
railroad connections for which they have 
been so anxious, and for which many of 
them have been so profusely taxed. No 
couu try in the world has such good driv¬ 
ing horses ns ours, but, save in our vil¬ 
lage streets, no country in Christendom 
has so few places where they can be 
driven at a good pace with comfort and 
safety. And a village street is the 
“ wrongest ” place of all for rapid driv¬ 
ing. 
But, in order to have good roads, we 
must employ men to plan and super¬ 
intend them, who understand the busi¬ 
ness. This ought not to be extremely 
costly at this time. Our scientific schools 
and colleges have of late turned out a 
good many graduates in their civil en¬ 
gineering courses—far more than have 
been able to fine employment. They 
ought to be able ami M illing, aud doubt¬ 
less are, to show about home their skill 
in tlieir business at a moderate compen¬ 
sation. Give them a chance to do this, 
and it will encourage others to take up 
the study. There ought to be, and would 
be if they could find business, a compe¬ 
tent road builder upon scientific princi¬ 
ples in every town in the country. Aud 
they ought to be, and would be, content 
to serve their fellow-citizens at a price 
equivalent to what is paid a minister or 
a teacher in the same community. The 
work now expended to a poor advantage 
for want of skillful direction upon our 
highways, would, when properly ‘ ‘bossed, ” 
make them as good again. The saving in 
the wear and tear of vehicles and teams, 
the larger loads that could be carried and 
the quicker trips that could be made, 
would very much more than pay the cost 
of skilled direction. Let the farmers 
think of this. It is worth while. It will 
lead to the most needed and most profita¬ 
ble improvement that can be made for the 
pleasure, comfort and profit of country 
living. 
-♦ ♦ ♦ 
RURAL EDUCATION. 
There is a necessity now for a higher 
grade of education in rural schools. For 
a few years past there has been a won¬ 
derful increase in the number of local 
journals, as well as in the circulation of 
special journals published in the large 
central cities. For one newspaper pub¬ 
lished a dozen or twenty years ago there 
are now ten; and for every reader of 
newspapers or other journals of that time, 
there are now twenty, if not more. The 
result of this kind of popular education— 
and a most valuable kind of education it 
is —has been to largely increase the stock 
of information, and to give scope to an 
immense energy of thought. Where 
formerly the plainest and most matter- 
of-fact information only could be re¬ 
ceived, now matter suggestive of original 
thought is sought for, and the popular 
mind is able to entertain and discuss 
many heretofore unapproachable ques- 
tims. > 
It cannot be permitted that the educa¬ 
tion gained iu the school should be of a 
lower grade than that picked up in the 
family circle or from papers and books. 
The school Bhould lead in this respect, 
and should always be in advance of ev¬ 
ery other source of information. At no 
previous time in human history have sci¬ 
ence aud practical industry made such 
enormous progress. In that respect a 
thousand years of the past have been as 
but one clay now, and the probability is 
that the future will completely over¬ 
shadow the present. Under these cir¬ 
cumstances, the system of education needs 
to be of the most thorough kind. It is 
certainly true that the day has passed 
away forever when reading, writing and 
arithmetic should be thought sufficient 
knowledge for a farmer’s boy. The farm¬ 
er’s boy of this day needs a far higher 
education than that. 
- 
HARDINESS OF PLANTS. 
It is generally understood that “roll¬ 
ing off a log ” is one of the easiest things 
to do. But there is another thing just as 
easy. It is misjudging the hardiness of 
any plant. For instanoe : we have two 
Globe Arbor-vitas transplanted at the 
same time, growiug in the same soil and 
only ten feet apart. Both are exposed 
alike. One is half-killed by the past oold 
season—the other has not one leaf in¬ 
jured. If we had had only the former, 
we should have told our readers that 
“ this variety is not hardy with us.” If 
we had had only the latter, we should 
have said “ this variety is hardy with us.” 
It is the same with the common Hemlock. 
We have nut less than thirty trees in 
various parts of onr grounds. Some of 
them have not been harmed in the least. 
Others have been seriously harmed. In 
this case it is evident that those growing 
in moist soil have suffered the least— 
though of the others it is impossible to 
sec why some should have been injured a 
good deal more than others. We might 
multiply instances. The fact is the word 
hardy is too generic to be of much ser¬ 
vice to us in conveying trustworthy in¬ 
formation respecting the many influences 
which affect the vitality of plants during 
the wintry season. 
-»♦«. 
BREVITIES. 
Has anybody ever raised fine Clairgeau 
pears upon the quince ? 
Somebody has called the English sparrow 
“ a dissolute, unmusical rover.” 
Dr. Warder praises the Celestia apple 
highly, and Mr. M. B. Bateham says he is 
right. 
Professor Cyrus Thomas will not go to the 
Agricultural Department in place of Professor 
Riley, as the papers have reported. 
Pinus Ayacahuite has stood the winter with¬ 
out iujury. According to Messrs. Ellwauger 
<fe Barry this is not hardy iu Rochester. 
We are obliged to say to those still intending 
to send us novelties to be tested, that we have 
all we can give proper attention to the present 
season. 
“How to Bud in Summer" was the incorrect 
heading given to a question aud answer in last 
weeks issue. Summer ought to have been 
spring. 
At this busy season our “News” Department 
suffers once more from a press of other mat¬ 
ter. In future, however, we shall try to give 
ample space to it. 
We have received a copy of the Report of 
the Michigan State Pomuiogieal Society for 
1878. As usual it is brimming over with good 
things, to which we shall make a more extend¬ 
ed reference hereafter. 
Mr. Mannino. the Secretary, tells us that the 
meeting of the American Bornological Society 
will be held iu Rochester, this State, at the in¬ 
vitation of the Western New York Horticul¬ 
tural Society. The precise time, however, bos 
not yet been decided upon. 
A friend who has had occasion to complain 
that the present season's small-fruit trade has 
bceu entirely loo small, writes to us iu the fol¬ 
lowing affecting strain: 
uineoi wnacougmto,comes here I know 
There is h KGotl <ioal ofutKiiJjiinw-done— 
But where the buying in .lone deponent eatth not 
Mr. S. B. Parsons writes us: “Thanks for 
your complimentary remarks in Editorial 
Brevity of last issue. I fear 1 misunderstood 
your question. I thought you meant the two 
best hardy Roses. For Hybrid Perpetuals, my 
answer was not correct, as Mad Plan tier is a 
June Rose. Gen. Jacqueminot only is Hybrid 
Perpetual.” 
The new Maguoliu Halbatm (stellnla) is now 
blooming wiih us. It began to bloom the 21st 
of lust month. The flowers Dear about eighteen 
petals, white, with un occasional rose-tint an 
iuch and a half long and half an inch wide, and 
the fragrance is that oi the Tuberose. The 
species is dwan and bushy; blooms while but 
two or three years old. and is. at the “ Rural 
Grounds,” perfectly hardy. 
It's an easy matter for readers of our 
“ Everywhere ” to learn what farming opera¬ 
tions are underway in all parts of the country. 
Each reader lias iu this department greater 
advantages than if he hud iu each section 
friends who reported weekly to him on the 
subject nearest io his heart aud pocket; for in 
the latter case he would have to puzzle occa¬ 
sionally over cramped handwriting, and often 
to read a good deal of mlscollaneou* matter' 
before finding the scattered items about farm- 
y whereas uli the choicest Information is 
here culled from hundreds ot letters and placed 
plainly before him in lucid print. 
Corn Meetings of Farmers’ Clubs —The 
late corn number of this journal seems to have 
been widely suggestive iu more ways than ono. 
We find that quite a Uiimbcr of farmers’ clubs 
have set apart special meetings for discussing 
this topic, and there is certainly no subject 
more important, and no season of the year 
more timely. The Auier. Inst. Club of this 
city, at their last meeting, carried out the pro¬ 
gramme previously indicated, aud ventilated 
this many-sided question iu the presence of a 
numerous attendance. Pres. Heath, in his 
openiug remarks, brought together the main 
points of interest with a dearness and brevity 
showing great power of condensation. Col. 
Henry, of Tcun., aud other prominent agricul¬ 
tural men, took part in the debate, after which 
Mr. Conrad Wilson called attention to a 
method of field experiments more comprehen¬ 
sive and systematic tlmu usual, and which evi¬ 
dently excited much interest in the audieucc. 
Mr. Wilson has given special attention to this 
lioe of investigation for many years, and he 
now presents his conclusions in a practical 
form and invites the scrutiny of practical men. 
After briefly explaining some general princi¬ 
ples, aud illustrating them on the blackboard, 
be proposed to enter more fully into the sub¬ 
ject and to develop it more dearly at the next 
meeting. As the limit of time made it impos¬ 
sible then to go through and illustrate the 
chief points in the argument, this proposition 
was huiled with satisfaction. As we shall 
perhaps be able, lu the next issue, to give to 
our readers a clearer statement of the subject, 
we prefer to present it then entire rather than 
offer an installment now. 
