^Ktouici for % |omtg. 
WHAT SHALL THE YOUNG FARMER 
STUDY1 
REV. A. W. MAN GUM 
This question lias been propounded by a sub¬ 
scriber of the Rural. To answer it satisfactorily 
Is difficult. If not impossible, as so much depends 
on the peculiarities of each case— on the extent of 
one's education and what he has already acquired. 
Still, some general directions may be given, which 
may prove of value. 
First, for immediate use and current advan¬ 
tage, it Is important to take several first-class 
periodicals: one on industrial Interests (asT ub 
Rural New-Yorker); one giving that part of the 
history of the (lay. on reputable and useful sub¬ 
jects, worthy of being published and read; and 
a religious Journal of the church with which one 
Is most nearly connected. The cheapest litera¬ 
ture lh the world is, perhaps, a well-edited news¬ 
paper. If the papers arc llled, the young reader 
should note number, page, etc., or every article 
that appears of special value or Interest, so that 
he may refer to It at once. A bound volume of a 
paper like the Run At., with Its welbiirratgod ta¬ 
ble or contents, is a rich, miscellaneous library, 
in itself, if the papers arc not kepi on tile or 
bound, the pieces that are prized should be cut 
out, at once, and pasted In a scrap-book; the Index 
being made as the articles are put in. A respecta¬ 
ble scrap-book can be made of any old statistics l 
work such as most families may have received 
from some of the departments at Washington. 
When such Is used, at least every second leaf should 
be cut out, so that the book will be properly shaped 
when closed. Rut, lor several reasons, the news¬ 
paper Is not sufficient. Its articles are too short 
to give full connected instruction on any subject. 
It contains such grout variety that the reader Is 
not so apt to carefully digest and appropriate any 
part. Hence, the young man should seek books on 
the special subjects In Which he is most interested. 
These, as to various kinds of Industrial work, may 
be obtained through the publishers ot leading ag¬ 
ricultural journals, or through a trustworthy book¬ 
seller. Some time ago the Rural New-Yorker 
contained a list of valuable works on various 
practical subjects. Re sure to get a go 1 1 work 
on Political Economy, Wayland’s or Walker’s is 
very good. As to general lulornmlion, beyond 
one's particular work, the Held Is broad—bound¬ 
less. A general history ought to be read, in chron¬ 
ological arrangement, some universal history, 
like Tyner's is suitable. For lbs size, Freeman’s 
Outlines gives the most valuable sketch of that 
part of history with which our civilization Is con¬ 
nected. Home good history ol the fatted .Slates 
and (If there be one) of one's own state, should be 
studied, beyond this, special histories can be 
read according to taste, means, and oppommlty. 
At least a brief work on ecclesiastical history Is 
Important. In general literature, it, Is easier to 
tell what not to read. Shun alt trashy story-papers, 
dime novels, sensational vvor^s of notion of large 
size. Much novel reading wastes time, corrupts 
the tastes, makes one sopertieial, destroys the 
relish for more valuable works, denaturalizes the 
character, and often leads to still more serious 
evils. Read books that will pay for the reading. 
A hand-book on English and American Litera¬ 
ture will give much knowledge of authors and 
their works. Chambers’ Cyclopaedia of English 
Literature can now be obtained for a small sum 
For its size, I know no book on American litera¬ 
ture that will suit a young farmer better than 
Hart’s larger edition. Various departments of 
Science are now popularized so as to be enter¬ 
taining and profitable to t he common reader. 
A periodical like the EelccLlc Magazine will keep 
one, in some degree, advised of the progress and 
tendency of modern Thought.. 
Everyone who can afford to buy it, ought to 
get Appleton’s American Cyclopedia, or some simi¬ 
lar work. The comprehensiveness, variety, trust¬ 
worthiness, and convenience of a set ol’ such 
volumes render them of Incalculable value. 
Those who cannot get the new edition (and the 
many cannot) will do well to purchase even a 
second-hand copy of the older editions. Either 
Appleton’s. Jobuson’s, or Chambers's may be es¬ 
teemed a treasure in this age when knowledge is 
so vast and tone so precious. 
Any minister cn-other religiousIriend of educa¬ 
tional attainments can give directions as to a 
course of reading iu religious literature. 
Last of all, yet most emphatically of all, I com¬ 
mend to the young fanner the study of the great¬ 
est of all hooks. J need not name It I n other words. 
It teaches every one how to he hesl and to do 
best for himself and others. The wonderful Book 
of Proverbs Is at least one of the best treatises on 
private and political economy that, has ever 
been wrltteu. The whole Bible ought to be studied 
In youth, while the character is forming. In riper 
years, while duty makes its ceaseless demands. 
It teaches the direct way to godliness; and "god¬ 
liness is prolitable unto all things, having the 
promise of the life that now is and of that which 
Is to come.” 
-- 
CHILDRENS’ GARDENS. 
ANNIE L, JACK. 
The timely remarks of Rural Editor, regarding 
the new Horticultural Club, ha ve interested me 
very much, all the more I suppose because It Is 
one of our little home peculiarities that 1 should 
be glad to see adopted In other families, in toe 
Interest of the club, with Undo Mark’s permission, 
I will tell you what for the last eighteen years has 
been our plan: When our babies are too young 
to know what It means, their tree loving papa has 
planted for each a fruit tree—cherry, apple, or 
pear, and the spot around It is called the garden 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER, 
14 
of the baby to whom the tree belongs. It Is a 
treasured spot In their eyes, and at the age of two, 
I have seen the little ones out with a lew peas, 
or seed of morning glory, or anything else 
that was at hand to plant In "mine gardy.” As 
they grow older, tills becomes a sort of experi¬ 
mental ground, cuttings are planted, roses set 
out and each strives to outvie the other, it was 
my own custom In autumn to plant a bulb or two, 
hyacinth, crocus or snowdrops, without any re¬ 
mark, and the wondering eyes that have met mine 
when the ilrst spring days came, are still in memo¬ 
ry, while the little one would whisper or shout, 
according to the several disposition, There’s 
something coming up in my garden already.” 
Older sisters and brothers coming home from the 
woods with treasures, shale them with baby in 
the latest garden, and tiiere you are sure to rind 
the earliest liepatlea and violets. The children 
have learned the names of flowers In this way, and 
highly amuse my visitors by asking r.hem w go and 
see their porteflocea, or some other name equally 
long. The trees thrive and grow with the digging 
around aud care the flowers receive, and some of 
Uie elder children now harvest a barrel of choice 
apples, which Is sold, and the money or course 
becomes their own pocket property, it is an im¬ 
portant point. In this mutter for parents to respect 
the garden of each child as they would that or a 
neighbor—not to appropriate a single plant or 
fruit with the careless remark, »• oil! Joe has 
some fine melons, let us taste them,” this will be 
quite enough to discourage the little gardener, who 
would be proud to make mamma a present ol the 
same. When my little girls La ve sown their seed 
too thickly and have a surplus of anything l can 
use, I make a point of buying or exchanging with 
them, this Is encouragement and an assertion of 
their individuality. Yes, plant Mowers, fruit, 
vegetables or anything you fancy, children, and 
learn their nature and habits, as they grow, for¬ 
does not your own beloved Whittier say : 
" Who sows a Hold, or trains a flower. 
Or plants a tree, is more than all.” 
FROM A PARENT, 
Dear Uncle .Mark:— The little ones are very 
anxious to join the Club. Each one has selected 
some flowers and vegetables to nurse. 1 will get 
them to take notes and put them In shape for you. 
Home have selected wild flowers, the names ol 
which they wish to know ; can you help them to 
names ? I will write again when the grass-killing 
fever subsides. 1 Inclose the list of names; only 
six. Truly yours, 
Caldwell, 'Texas. n. v. u. 
[I shall be glad to assist the members in naming 
their plants. Send the plants, or, It these are too 
large, f ome flowers mid a branch with leaves of each. 
In sending specimens so long a distance there Is 
danger that they may be crushed, or dry out and 
spoil, unless well done up. Rack fresh specimens 
In damp moss in a Uu can ur a light wooden box; 
paste-boanl boxes are orten crushed In the transit, 
and if their contents are damp, may meet with 
some opposition from the R. o. officials. 
Uncle Mark.] 
LETTERS FROM BOYS AND GIRLS. 
Dear Unule True: —As the cousins are all 
■writing to Uncle Mark, I thought you might feel 
slighted, so i will write to you. In a recent paper 
1 noticed a letter from Bertie Park, In which he 
told how many onions he raised from half an acre, 
I would like to tell how many we boys raised from 
one-fouri ti if an acre. We first manured the 
ground heavily, and then plowed It, smoothed it, 
and sowed the seed in rows fourteen Inches apart. 
The weeds came up In due time, but these we kept 
down with a cultivator made for the purpose. 
(Bertie’s mule would have had to be pretty sober 
to have walked between those rows). We would 
then get down on our knees with a knife and cut 
the weeds from around the roots. This operat ion 
had to be repeated four or live times, but we were 
well repaid, for In toe fall we harvested 19S (one 
hundred and ninety-eight) bushels of onions. Be¬ 
sides these, there was ten or twelve bushels of 
scullions that were unlit for sale. We received 60 
and (55 cents per bushel in the town of La Crosse, 
12 miles away. Tell Uncle Mark I would like to 
join ills Horticultural Club, though I have enough 
farm work to occupy most of my time. Our Swiss 
cousin has had such delightful experience with a 
skunk, that I think he had better get the picture 
of one, standing on a sugar bucket, taken, and 
nang It around his neck. As you printed my last 
letter signed Relic Seeker, I feel encouraged to 
write again. Your nephew, 
Robert Harrison. 
Dear Uncle Mark: I have been longing to Join 
your club for some time, so 1 thought that 1 would 
write a letter to you and to the cousins. J sup¬ 
pose a great many ot the boys and girls who be¬ 
long to the Horticultural Club live In the country; 
but I do not, I live in New York. We have a nice 
yard In which are some grape-vines and some 
roses. Rapa Is going to set out some flowers of 
different kinds, and I am to have a bed of flow- 
ers all to myself. I am a constant reader of 
toe boys’ and girls’ letters who belong to the club, 
and would like to hear how Lizzie Hay’s flowers 
are getting along. Rlease put my name on your 
fist. Your niece, Lizzie E. Blair. 
New York City. 
Dear Uncle Mark : I have been very much in¬ 
terested In reading the letters In the Rural New- 
Yorker, from the girls and boys, and have 
thought many Limes I would tiy and write, but 
did not have courage. Now, as I was reading .of 
toe way to make farmers, In the Rural of May 
3d, and of toe Youth’s Horticultural Club, 1 will 
send In my name for a member of your club, if you 
will accept It. I have been very busy since the 
warm weather preparing my flower beds and sow¬ 
ing the seeds we received from the Rural seed 
distribution and others, and hope to send you a 
favorable account of the product of my labors In 
due time. Very truly .yours. Viotkt M. V. 
Carthage, Jeff. Co., N. Y. 
Dear Uncle and Cousins As this is my first 
letter, I present myself with toe wish to be one of 
the cousins. My father has taken Uie “ Dear Ru¬ 
ral” ever since l was big enough to read It. I 
have no pets, but I will tell about my quilts. I 
have pieced two quilts and have commenced an¬ 
other. l have three sisters and one brother, but I 
am the oldest oi them all. We take great pleasure 
in reading all the letters. I like those from John 
Sehwyn, anil hope lo hear from him again. The 
“ Beauty of Hebron " potato and the seeds were re¬ 
ceived lo our satisfaction. My letter Is getting 
pretty long, i am afraid it will go Into the waste 
basket. If not I will write again. Susie N. S. 
Erie Co., N. Y. 
Dear Uncle Mark:— I have read your letters 
regularly every week, and J would like to Join your 
Horticultural club, as I am a great lover of flow¬ 
ers and or gardening. Our garden Is about In the 
middle of the town, and we have not very much 
land but. still enough for a little garden. I gener¬ 
ally go out every year into the woods and get a col¬ 
lection of wild flowers and transplant them Into 
the garden and most of them are In bloom now. l 
am going to work this year and make some rustic 
flower-stands, banging-boskets, etc., from which I 
hope 1 shall make a lit tle spending money. I like 
the Idea of having hollow logs for flowers, and I 
think I shall try and get a few. 
Georgetown, Out. Frank II. Starr. 
Dear Uncle Mark: I am not quite 14 years 
old, and I have a pretty large garden to tend tills 
summer, a great deal larger than a hoop. I have 
planted onions, lettuce, peas, radishes, cabbage, 
beaus, cucumbers, beets, tomatoes and parsnips, 
they all look thrifty. I am not raising them to 
sell, as we have market lor them at home. I have 
four brothers, and each of them have two sisters; 
now, cousins, how many of you can tell how many 
there are In the family ? As this Is my first, attempt 
to write, 1 hope you will not criticise me too much. 
Rlease place my name on toe Usl for your Horti¬ 
cultural Club. S. p. Shull. 
BEHEAD AND CURTAIL. 
1. Behead and curtail a firelock, and find em¬ 
ployment. 
2. One who makes gloves, and find to regard 
with affection. 
3. A cutting Instrument, and And to perceive by 
toe ear. 
4. A narrow passage, and find a weapon for a 
bow. 
5. A grasp, and find to tear. 
6. The seat of love, and And a spike of corn. 
T. Perfume, and find to act. 
8. To collect, and find an Instrument to row a 
boat. 
9. Gay, and find to wander. 
li). A turner’s instrument, and find a spy. 
11. Pure and find to strike. 
12 . Watery, and find a kind of tree. 
£3?“ Answer In two weeks. M. Smith. 
- M l 
HIDDEN INSECTS. 
14. Oh, Lou, see there ? 
15. Bow big Nathan has grown. 
16. Tell me If lye Is made from ashes. 
17. 1 ask a trifle at your hands. 
18. What a butt Eryfln (our ram) gave him. 
19. Must Remus quit on Saturday. 
20. How tumid George’s hand is. 
21. Seta ran Tula’s race for her. 
22. Do be easy. 
23. Last night in bed Bu gave a scream. 
24. Was Peter victorious. 
25. 1 bought my license. 
ITy Answer In two weeks. O. 
TRANSPOSITION. 
W’ast eth ginth ferobe Clthrsams, newh lal ’orth 
net shouse, 
Ton a carerute saw rttegrln—ont. veen a smoue; 
Teh kotcsglns rewe gunli yb ehtmlchyen with race 
N1 shope natt Ts Nolchsianoos lowdu eb beret. 
S3?” Answer In two weeks. Little One. 
DIAMOND PUZZLE. 
My first Ls ft consonant; my second Is a utensil; 
my third Is a town in New .South Wales; my fourth 
Is a lady’s name; my fifth is a continent; my sixth 
Is the answer: my seventh Is a fruit; my eighth 
Is a man’s name; my ninth Is an animal; my tenth 
is part of a play; my eleventh Is a vowel. My 
whole read horizontally and vertically will give 
the name of a celebrated Scottish king. 
Ui?"Answer in two weeks. 
ANAGRAMS OF CAPES. 
l, Great Lo; 2, Swtlons; 3, Goalliue; 4, I or a 
man; 5, Hug a sal; 6, Sail Gain; 7, Ram sty; 8, 
Part In stove; 9, Sap on her; 10, T fry tall; li, Pars 
let; 12 , Rolen hen; 13, Our Ted; 14, Skin a durn; 
15, Tls slew; l«, Fir load; n, Ace sent on; 18, Full 
to can mire; 19, l blaze the; 20 , Herbert G; 21, Our 
man a; 22, so can; 23, As I crag; 2-1, Three stop In. 
isr Answer In two weeks. M. S. 
-- 
PUZZLER ANSWERS.-May 17. 
Hidden Insects.— 1, Hornet; 2, Roach; 3, Pismire; 
4. Centipede; 5, Ant; 6, Spider; 7, Yellow Jacket; 8, 
Beetle: 9, Chinch; 10, Chafer; 11. Mite; 12, Moth; 13, 
Caterpillar. 
lUi&reHattfDuia. 
HORSFORDS 
Bread 
Preparation 
UNSURPASSED FOR MAKING 
LIGHT BKHAJD, 
Biscuit, Rolls, Cake and Pastry. 
It is Better and Healthier than ordinary Bakin.' 
Powder. Cream Tartar or Yeast. 
The cost of raising Bread, Biscuit, &c„ with It Is 
only about halt as much as by ordinary Baking Pow- 
der. and toe result 1 b much better. 
It restores tho nutritious elements which are taken 
from the flour In bolting. No ordinary Baking Pow¬ 
der or anything else used for raising bread does this. 
Universally used and recommended by prominent 
Physicians. 
If you cannot get It of vour Grocer send a three- 
cent stamp to the manufacturers for a sample. 
Manufactured according to the directions of Prof 
E. N. Hereford, by the Rumford Chemical Works 
Providence R. t 
JOHNSON'S NEW METHOD 
OF HARMONY, 
By A. N. Johhron. ($1.00,) Just Published. 
This new book is bo simple and clear iu its explana¬ 
tions that any music teacher or amateur can get an 
excellent idea of the science, by simply reading it 
through. At the same time a most thorough course is 
marked out for those who wish to be composers, in¬ 
cluding work for many months, without, or still bet- 
ter. with a teacher. Thousands can now learn that 
have not hitherto Veen able to do so. 
THE GOSPEL OF JOY the greatest favor 
by all who have examined it, and is, in itself, already 
a great success. Send for it. Use it in Conventions, 
Sabbath School Gatherings, and “ Congresses,” Camp, 
Praise and Prayemieetings. (SB ets.) 
GOOD NEWS. By J. M. McIntosh. (35 eta.) 
SHINING RIVEH. By II,8, & W. O. Perkins. (35cts) 
RIVER OF LIFE By Perkins & Bentley. (35cts.) 
LIVING WATERS. By D. F. Hodges. (35 cts.) 
CHORAL PR AISE. By J. II. Watekbuhy. (25 cts ) 
Five .Sunday School Song Book* that it is hard to 
beat, and which contain a great deal of fine music to 
be fuUud nowhere else. 
Any book mailed, post-free, for retail price. 
OLIVER DITSON & CO., Boston. 
C. H. Dilson & Co., J. K. Ditson A Co.. 
843 Broadway, New York- 922 CbeRtnnt St., Phila. 
YOUNG MEN WANTED! For Business Men, Farmers, 
KSSKf't *££?' KSX 
ENCYCLOPEDIA srarim 
Daw and Forms, times cost. Selling fast. Low 
price. Great success. One agent sold 152 copies flrBt 
36 days. Send for circular and terms. 
P. YV. ZIEGLER & CO., tWO Arch St., Philadelphia, Pa. 
Afi£felTQWAIITEn New Devotional Work. 
AlaEniavVAlY I t II By President Champlin. 
f Christian family. Cir- 
Will be bought by almost every uimetian family 
culars free. Address Am. Pub. Co., Hartford, Conn. 
1 Q ELEGANT New Style Ghrorno Cards with name, 
_l O 10c. postpaid. Geo. I. Reed & Co.. Nassau, N. Y. 
EA Perfumed. Snowflake, Chromo, Motto Cards, name 
in gold ana jet, ltic. G. A- Spring, E. Wallingford.Ct 
fill Cards—20 Chromo, 10 Motto, 30 Ocean Shells, Snow 
u V flake, Ac. Name on, 10c. Clinton Bros. Clintonvifle,Ct 
ana faulty. 
IMPROVED 
Small Yorkshire Pigs, 
FROM IMPORTED STOCK, 8IO. 
BERKSHIRES, *5 to *10. 
Splendid Berkshire Boar 
EIGHT MONTHS OLD, @20. 
BAGG’S HOTEL. FARM, 
XJtloa, N. Y. 
HIGH-CLASS POULTRY. 
Send for New Practical, Valuable Circular. 
GEO. 8. JOSSKLYN, Fredonia.N. V. 
THOROUGHBRED Cattle, Shoe,.. Hog*, Poul- 
trv ami Itags. New Illustrated Catalogue 
Fkek. W ATLEE BURPEE !l CO., 
P. O. Box 189* 1.221 Church St., Philada., Pa- 
Jlcul (Sstatr. 
FA ,??i s oo*o ! 00 JOIN OUR COLON ! 
Maps and pamphletsfree. J. F. Mancha, Claremont, a. 
Improved Farms for*Sale 
m CENTRAL ILLINOIS. 
Parties desiring to Becure bargains in improved 
farms should write to Hurnliam, Treveif A Mat- 
tig, Cbumpaigii, Ills., before investing elsewhere. 
[MINNESOTA 
DAKOTA. 
HOMES 
OVER 1,000,000 ACRES OF 
FINE FARMING LANDS 
IN MINNESOTA AND DAKOTA, 
For sale by the WINONA Si 8T. PETER B.R.CO., 
At tie m #2 u> $6 per Aero, andoo liberal tertni. 
TbM« land, lie Id tbe groat about b. I t or the North 
West, and are equally Wdll erUptml to the growth o 
other rrs in, vegetable*, eta. The ollmeU u uneur 
potted tor healthfutneee. 
They are Free from f ncnmbraiice. 
Guide Book, Jfapt, etc., containing full information 
tent free. 
CHAS. E. SIMMONS. Loud CommUrioner 
Geu’l Offices C. N.W. IVy Co.,CHICAGO,Il4» 
Mention this paper in writing 
