JUNE 28 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
There are several rules which have been 
practiced, but the exceptions attending their 
observance are almost, if not quite, equal to 
the successes; so that we arc of the opinion that 
there is no infallible rule or system of breed¬ 
ing which will control the sexes. The latest 
theory is the so-called Stuyvesant, which is 
based upon the idea that every heat in cows is 
different, and that if the young is a male, at 
the next heat a female would be born if copu¬ 
lation should take place, and that at each heat 
there is an alteration of sexe6. This system 
is too full of exceptions to be relied upon. 
Copulation at the beginning of the heat is said 
to produce more males, and at the moving off, 
more females. When the male is fed high and 
is in a lethargic condition, it is claimed that 
he will beget more female than male offsprings. 
Old bulls are preferred by eoiuc, for the same 
reason. Some cows will produce all heifer 
calves, and others all bulls, and some will 
alternate; 60 that it seems that the rule still 
holds good which tells us that “male and fe¬ 
male created He them.” Jersey cattle are more 
precocious than other breeds, and heifers often 
have young when less than two years old. 
They also have a larger proportion of males. 
Colors can be regulated, on the principle 
adopted by Laban, who produced cattle 
“ ringed, streaked and speckled,” by the 
streaked sticks set before them, A noted 
Jersey breeder, William Crozier, almost uni¬ 
formly breeds cattle of solid color by placing 
a cow of this kind before the one to be copu¬ 
lated, and at the time of copulation. 
The fact that females are worth twice a6 
much as males, makes the subject of breeding 
for sex important to breeders of thoroughbred 
cattle, and the mystery connected with it 
makes it an interesting Btudy. It seems as 
though there must be some general law, but it 
is as yet undiscovered. 
Catalpa Trees. 
Our catalpa seedlings were dead at the tops 
where the wood was soft and immature, but 
the main portions of the stems were healthy, 
and already they have grown a foot. As we are 
one degree north of where this tree is said to 
live and do well, we are watching our seedlings 
wit h a great deal of interest. Robert Douglas, 
the well known and successful tree man of the 
West, has sent, us some of his Catalpas to test 
in our latitude (43 degrees). Mr. Douglas 
wants to test their hardiness before recom¬ 
mending them for general cultivation. 
Poultry Care that P»yi. 
Our hens never did so well as during this 
season, and they never got such good care. 
With half the farmerp their fowls cost them 
more than they get from them. They feed them 
ust enough to keep them alive and to enable 
them to lay an egg now and then. When a dry 
time comes, very likely they do not have any 
water, and hens wlthont water do not do well. 
They should have plenty of clean water always 
acceasihle. It ia the extra feed 
an animal gets over and above 
what is required to sustain 
life, which makes the profit. 
With poultry it will make 
eggs in the season, and with 
all animals flesh, which is 
gain, aud the gain is the profit. 
Culling Orchard-U raw. 
To-day, Juno tOth, we have 
been cutting orchard-grass— 
Dactylis glomerata. It is just 
right now for excellent hay, 
but if left until timothy and 
other grasses arc fit to cut, it 
would be spoiled. This is the 
principal reason why this 
grass is not liked by many. 
They are not ready to harvest 
it at the proper time, as they 
are unused to its prompt na¬ 
ture. In a week there will 
be a good bite of aftermath 
where we have cut the or¬ 
chard-grass, aud as often as it 
is eaten off there will be a re¬ 
newal. In a dense shade it 
6tood three feet high. It is 
the best grass for shaded 
places; heucc the common 
name. Orchard-grass. 
Keeping Qualities of Sorghum. 
Esquire Davidson has proved 
the keeping qualities of sor¬ 
ghum syrup. Twenty years 
ago he put some sj r rup iu a 
bottle and set it away. It 
was forgotten until now, 
■when it was opened and found 
to be as sweet and good as 
when first made. 
and students. It contains a full explanation 
of the various courses and the aims of the 
institution. 
Mr. J. E. Crow, Secretary of the Marion Co. 
(O.) Agl. Society, notifies us that there will be 
a public field trial of mowers and reapers this 
season under the auspices of bis society. Par¬ 
ticulars may be had by writing to him at Ma¬ 
rion, 0. 
manufacturers h»ve, in some instances, im¬ 
proved their farm engines by adding traction 
attachments, and this week we give an ex¬ 
ample in the illustration of Russell & Co.’s 
farm engine, with such an attachment. 
As originally planned, the attachment was 
expected to propel the engine only, but in 
practice it proves that the common plan is to 
couple the tank wagon to the boiler and the 
thrasher to this, and move all together. The 
speed attained on ordinary roads is about four 
miles per hour, increasing to six where roads 
are excellent. The horses having almost noth¬ 
ing to do, are always fresh, and come out at the 
end of the season in better condition, than 
when they began. The farmer has his thrash¬ 
ing done by steam power, yet has but one pair 
of horses to feed. In hilly countries the trac¬ 
tion attachment has proved a great success, 
having a propelling power equal to more than 
four good horses. 
The arrangement of this propelling device is 
very simple. Bevel wheels on the main shaft 
of engine, and on the inclined shaft of the at¬ 
tachment, transmit the power of the engine to 
the larger bevel wheel, this wheel moves a 
shaft which extends across the boiler. Spur 
pinions at each extremity engage in spur 
wheels which turn on the axle of truck. By 
suitable pawls aud ratchets the power is trans¬ 
mitted to the truck wheels. 
The gearing is so adjusted that the whole 
can be drawn by the horses, when the engine 
is not running, or propelled by the engine 
when in motion, without any change or shift¬ 
ing of gearing. A feather key with steel set¬ 
screw, permits of the traction gear being en¬ 
gaged or disengaged at pleasure. 
The question will arise how is it possible to 
protect the crown sheet in descending long 
hills ? In descending hills the damper is closed, 
steam shut off. and the brake and horses to¬ 
gether are used in holding back. The agitation 
of the water iu the boiler has been found to 
furnish ample protection to the crown sheet. 
In stopping, however, the boiler should al¬ 
ways be placed so nearly level that the crown 
sheet shall be covered. On long hills occa¬ 
sional stoppages should be made. 
The throttle-valve may be controlled from 
the driver's seat as shown in the illustration. 
The engine made by this house is constructed 
with great care, and only the most excellent 
material used. Several minor improvements 
lookiug to the development of its power by the 
least expenditure of fuel will commend them¬ 
selves to thrashermen. The firm write that 
orders have already been received for a large 
number of these engines. Circulars descrip¬ 
tive of both engine and attachment may be 3iad 
on application to the firm at Massillon, Ohio. 
A SMALL GRAIN DRILL 
A good one-horse grain drill will find a wel¬ 
come on hundreds of farms. We have had any 
number of inquiries concerning such an imple¬ 
ment, and wo, ourselves, were inconvenienced 
this season by the lack of such a help. We have 
lately seen one made by Mr. Ewald Over, of 
Indianapolis. Ind., which he calls the •• Victor,” 
and which seems to meet all requirements in 
this class of machines. We present an illustra¬ 
tion. 
The driving wheel connects by means of in¬ 
terchangeable pinions, which enable onetosow 
ONE-HORSE GRAIN DRILL. 
either one, one and a quarter, or one and a half 
bushel of wheat to the acre, aud a straight 
}-inch square shaft iuto a nest of gears. These 
gears communicate the power to two other 
i-inch square shafts, which convey the power 
to ihe force feed wheels, under the wooden 
feed box. The feed box is divided up iuto 
three compartments, one for each feed cup. se¬ 
curing a regular discharge of seed alike from 
all the cups, whether the ground be even or 
not. The left feed hole is provided with a cut¬ 
off, stopping the sowing of grain the second 
time of passing between the standing corn 
when it is wished to sow five drills between 
each row. A lever is placed under the feed 
box, by means of which the feed wheels can be 
thrown out of gear and thus stop sowing, 
whether the drive wheel moves or not. 
The drill complete weighs only 86 to 90 
pounds. It is simple in construction and very 
durable, and can be used for sowing wheat, 
CATALOGUES, &c., RECEIVED 
Plant Catalogue from B. 8. Williams of 
Victoria and Paradise Nurseries, Upper Hallo¬ 
way, London. England. This is a pamphlet of 
128 pages, containing several fine wood cuts 
aud a comprehensive list of Orchids, Ferns, 
PalmB and general stove and greenhouse plants, 
and of new plants for 1879. Mr. Williams is a 
We have been using with good results at the 
Rural farm a sprinkler sent 
us for trial by the Troy Stamp¬ 
ing Works, of Troy, N. Y. It 
is a tin cylinder with perfor¬ 
ations aud a hole covered by a 
cap at one end, into which 
water and Paris-green are 
poured. The handle slides 
up and down the sides of the 
can in grooves at will. Car¬ 
rying the can to the vines 
when filled, the perforated 
side is held uppermost. To 
operate, the can is turned over 
and the handle slipped along 
to the other end. By the op¬ 
eration of a well-known law, 
the contents of the can will 
not run out when held over 
the vines, except by a quick 
jerk up and down, when f 
with eacli motion, the plant 
is showered, and the oper¬ 
ator steps to the next hill 
without wasting material be¬ 
tween spaces. The constant 
agitation holds the poison in 
suspension, which secures 
even distribution. It is simple, 
cheap, effective and a very 
safe way of handling the poi¬ 
son. 
The Separator made by the 
Upton Mfg. Co., Battle Creek, 
Mich., is claimed to be a com¬ 
bination of the best features 
of the apron machines in con¬ 
nection with the leading fea¬ 
tures of the vibrating device, 
which arc fully covered by nai- 
- ~ cuts granted to Mr. J. S Up¬ 
ton, The machine is marked 
by great simplicity, compaei- 
ness and lightuess of weight. 
Care has been taken to supply every labor- 
saving device that has been approved by prac¬ 
tical tests in the^field. and the construction has 
been planned with a view to maklug the Sepa¬ 
rator withstand the hardest service with the 
minimum of break'ige. It is said to handle the 
grain very economically and to yield most 
satisfactory returns to both farmer and 
thrasherman. Now is the time to examine 
claims of such a character and our readers 
who are thrashermen by trade, should send for 
circulars, and go over the points more fully 
than we can in a newspaper mention. 
FARM ENGINE WITH TRACTION ATTACHMENT, 
well-known author of several works on green¬ 
house plants, and their culture. He makes a 
specialty of choice plauts, and brings every year 
numerous new and valuable plants to the no¬ 
tice of the public. The catalogue contains 
particularly a large and choice list of Orchids, 
Ferns and Lycopodiums, a class of plants that 
is sadly neglected in this country. 
Illinois Industrial University, Urbana, 
Ill., sends the University catalogue of faculty 
rye, barley, small beans aud oats (if not too 
bearded). Owing to its small dimensions and 
lightness, it is adapted to the most uneven 
ground. Circulars may be had on application. 
CONNECTICUT AGRICULTURAL EXPERT 
MENT 8TATI0N. 
Bulletin 29.—June 13, 1879. 
Fertilizer Analyses. 
274. Stockbridge Tobacco Fertilizer. Sam¬ 
pled and sent by Charles Sanford, Roxbury, 
Ct., from a quantity purchased of agent and 
A FARM ENGINE WITH TRACTION AT 
TACHMENT. 
In England traction engines are held in great 
esteem, and do much of the farm work rele¬ 
gated to horses in this country. Recently our 
