THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
423 
GOOD SEED VS. POOR. 
Seed may germinate and yet be very poor. 
Out-door tests are consequently of much more 
practical value to the farmer tbau those made 
under cover. Seed, to be good, must uot ouly 
germinate, but must produce strong, healthy 
plants. My attention was called to this more 
particularly this spring than ever before. I 
procured melon seeds from two dilferent firms 
aud planted them in the same field. Of that 
from one firm, 45 per cent, germinated; of 
that from the other. 70 per cent. The second 
lot of seed, though planted two days later 
than the first, came up as quickly and pro¬ 
duced stronger, healthier and faster-growing 
plants than the first lot. This difference in the 
growth of the plauts will be seen throughout 
the summer. A great deal of the future value 
of the plant depends upon the start it receives. 
It does uot pay to plant poor seed, and at¬ 
tempt to make up by quantity what it lacks iu 
quality. V. J. Emery. 
Henry Co., Ohio. 
<$anu 
NOTES FROM THE RURAL FARM. 
June 19.—Three of us have been to work 
planting a lot 114x245 feet, or about two- 
thirds of an acre for the past three days. It 
might have been planted in half the time. The 
older we grow, the more we are convinced of 
the wisdom of that good old adage : '’ What is 
worth doing at all is worth doing well.” Such 
sayings which are repeated daily, though con¬ 
veying solid chuneks of wisdom, lose their 
force from familiarity and, like logarithms pr 
interest tables, the cost of formulation is rarely 
considered. The cost of disregarding its 
teaching is nowhere better exemplified than 
iu some portions of this farm. We have no 
orchard worthy of the name. If, 13 years ago, 
when the farm was purchased, suitable fruit 
trees had been selected and properly planted, 
we should now harvest plenty of apples, pears, 
peaches and even plums and cherries in favor¬ 
able seasons. Instead, however, fruit trees 
were ordered of traveling agents or of careless 
uurserymeu, and when received, were plautcd 
rather as if to ascertain how soon they could 
be disposed of than With any consideration of 
their future welfare or of the objects of plant¬ 
ing them at all. The consequence is that there 
is not one healthy, c.redikible fruit tree upon the 
place. The ouly remedy is to dig up and burn 
every one aud begin anew, in Which case, it is 
doubtful if the present proprietors would live 
to see their second orchard in profitable hear¬ 
ing. We say to our friends in all sincerity— 
“Do not plant orchards, or grape-vines, or 
small fruits unless you arc willing to provide 
iu every way for their health aud longevity ; 
lor, otherwise, they will never prove a paying 
investment and must always prove a source of 
annoyance and regret. Better, by far, concen¬ 
trate your energies upon those farm crops 
which you have learnl by experience must re¬ 
ceive due care in order to yield a profitable 
harvest.” 
We have said our plot of two-thirds of an 
acre might have been planted in a day and a 
half, iustead of three days. But the question 
to be answered was this: The cost of employ¬ 
ing three men three days was nine dollars—for 
a day and a-lialf, it would have been half that 
amount: would the increase of crops com¬ 
pensate for the greater time and cost of labor ? 
As there is a limit to the profitableness of ma- * 
nuriug the laud, so there is a limit to the time 
we can afford to give to the preparation of the 
land aud the cultivation of the crops raised. 
But there are certain rules which are as plain¬ 
ly defined us those which guide us iu any oilier 
work, and we cannot disregard theta without 
paying for the neglect more than their observ¬ 
ance would have cost us. In one corner of 
this little field, a plot 33x33 teet was sowu to 
Cat-tail (“ Pearl”) Millet. The drills were 
three l'eet apart, the seed sown thickly in the 
drill to be thinned out to three feet apart. Ad¬ 
joining was another plot of the same area 
planted to Blunt’s corn—one kernel three feet 
apart either way. Running lengthwise of the 
field were, first, two and a half rows of the new 
potato Saranac (Bliss)—potatoes cut to single 
eyes and two pieces iu a hill—tho hills two feet 
apart. Next were Late Suowflakes (Bliss) 
planted in the same way. Next were a row 
and a half of Warden Orange Globe Mangel- 
Wurzel (Thorburn). Next, a single row of 
Peabody Sweet Potato plants—130 in number. 
These were planted on a ridge about nine inch¬ 
es high, aud nearly two feet apart. A line, in 
this ease as iu every other, was extended 
lengthwise of the entire field, and by it the 
holes were marie in which to plant them. These 
holes were filled with water by one man, while 
another set the plants. All were afterwards 
covered with dry soil for the purpose of re¬ 
taining the moisture. Planted in this way, 
sweet potato plauts will not wilt iu the least, 
aud their roots will at ouce establish them¬ 
selves in the moist soil. Next came three rows 
of True Jersey Navet Turnips (Thorburn); 
next, three rows of Yellow Malta Turnips; 
next, the same number of rows each of Green 
Barrel, Red-top and New Yellow Finland Tur¬ 
nips all sowed in drills three feet apart; next, 
one row of Extra Early Forcing Carrots—then 
one of Fern-leaved Parsley; White Hospital 
Radish ; New Thick-leaved Dandelion ; another 
of Extra Early Forcing Carrot; then one of 
New Extra-long White Spine Cucumber. The 
last were planted six feet from the Carrots and 
six feet from the next and last row, which was 
one of Premium Flat Dutch Cabbage plants. 
In order to judge by comparison of the more 
desirable methods, a part of the plants were 
deprived of their leaves—a part not. 
C|c ^jriarian. 
ANOTHER GOOD BEE-HIVE. 
The accompanying cuts represent a hive that 
is perhaps simpler in its construction than the 
one figured and described in the Rural of May 
31, though otherwise no better. It is a two- 
story Langstroth hive, adapted to the size of the 
Gallup frame. Figure 1 shows the lower story 
with the partially filled brood-nest, and Fig. 2 
the upper story, which contains the sections for 
surplus honey. Each story of the hive is eighteen 
inches long by twelve inches wide by twelve 
iuehes high, inside measures. The cover, a, is 
hinged to the upper story and represented as 
turned back. To make the hive substantial 
and lasting, it should be made of good inch 
lumber, free from kuots aud other defects. A 
shoulder, on which to hang the frames, must 
be formed on the inside upper edge of the 
side-boards of each story. This can easily be 
done by the buzz-saw (which, by the way, is au 
almost iudispensable machine lor bee-keepers 
who are their owu mechanics), by cutting out 
a strip half the thickness of the board by five- 
eighths of an iucb deep. To prevent the bees 
from gluiug the frames fast, a strip of tin 
should be tacked on the inside, so that the 
edge projects a little above the shoulder, thus 
presenting a sharp edge ou which the frames 
can rest, leaviug the bees no chance to glue 
them fast. This construction is the same for 
all hives with hanging frames, no matter what 
their other dimensions may be. To prevent 
flic rain from oozing iu, and that the hive may 
he tight iu every respect, the outside upper 
edges of each story are beveled and a narrow 
shoulder made on which the story above can 
rest, this having a corresponding beveling iu 
the bottom. 
The bottom board, d, is not fastened to tl»e 
hive, and the entrance is a groove in the bot¬ 
tom board made iu the form of an acute angle, 
so that by drawing the hive back, the entrance 
can be contracted at pleasure. The alighting 
hoard is marked e ; it can he either loose or be 
joined to tbe bottom board, as desired. On the 
whole, it is a convenient hive that is used 
somewhat extensively by successful bee-keep¬ 
ers throughout the country. 
The above cuts, together with those that 
appeared under the Apiarian iu the Rural of 
June 7th aud 14th, are from Cook’s Manual of 
the Apiary, Professor Cook having kindly per¬ 
mitted ns to use them. 
--- 
HOW TO MAKE NUCLEI AND ARTIFICIAL 
SWARMS. 
Mr. G. M. Doolittle, the well-known success¬ 
ful bee-keeper of Borodino, N. Y., writes us 
the following as being the best method of 
forming a nucleus and making artificial 
swarms. “To best form a nucleus, go to a pop¬ 
ulous colony and select a frame of brood that 
has plenty of young bees coming out of the 
cells, and take it, with adhering bees (don’t 
get the queen), to an empty hive and place it 
therein. If this frame does not have pleuty of 
honey, get a frame of honev with adhering 
bees aud place this next to it. ContAct the hive 
by means of a division board to tbe wants of 
the one or two combs, aud confine tbe bees to 
the hive for forty-eight hours, when the hive 
entrance should be opened near sundown. Tbe 
next morning, after the bees are released, a 
queen cell, reared in a populous colony and 
which is nearly ready to hatch, should be given 
them. 
The best plan for making artificial swarms, 
as considered by some of onr best bee-keep¬ 
ers, and one which is especially adapted 
to securing large yields of honey, Is as fol¬ 
lows : About twelve days before your main 
honey harvest go to a hive, which I will call 
No. 1, aud shake all the bees and the queen 
from their combs into a new hive, filled 
with empty frames aud provided with star¬ 
ters of foundation, or, still better, if you 
have them, empty combs. Place the new hive 
where No. 1 stood, aud put the boxes from No. 
1 on the colony thus made. Thus you have 
a very strong swarm, containing all the bees 
aud queen from a populous colony and the 
partly filled boxes from No. 1, the bees being 
ready to take advantage of the honey harvest 
when it comes. Now take the combs of 
brood taken from No. 1 aud set them on No. 
2 stand, having previously removed No. 2 to 
a new stand a rod or two away. Go to 
your nucleus (all apiarists should have nu¬ 
clei with laying queens on baud at this sea- 
sou of tho year) and get the comb the queen 
is on, aud take it, bees and all, and shake 
them off in front of the hive formed of 
the combs from No. 1, and let them run 
iu; next put on boxes, aud the work is 
done. Swarms should not be made at any 
time when the bees are not flying briskly, as 
wc depend upon the bees returning from the 
the fields to make up the swarm. Thus you 
have two colonies, one composed of a full 
hive of combs and brood, a good young queen, 
ami workers to protect her, and all the work¬ 
ing force from No. 2, making a big, strong 
stock, which will produce a large quantity of 
honey. The other, No. 2, has a hive of combs 
aud brood, their old queen, and boxes partly 
filled, but have lost their working force. In 
from eight to twelve days they are stocked up 
with workers again, aud are also in fine shape 
for the harvest.’ 
®jjf f)oultrg garir. 
HOW MANY EGGS CAN A HEN LAY ? 
An estimate upon the subject by Goyclin, 
and indorsed by Prof. Miles, was published in 
the Rural of January lltli, 1373. which if 
correct, would lend to discourage poultry¬ 
keeping. I have a few facts aud figures that 
may be of some service to readers of the Ru¬ 
ral. On the 1st of November last, my flock 
of poultry consisted of 47 pullets, hatched 
from the middle of May to the first of July of 
last year, and 13 hens hatched the previous 
year, besides cooks. The total number of eggs 
laid from November 1st. 1878, to May 31st, 
1879—seven mouths—was 4452. Now, Geyelin 
says that hens, the second year, will lay from 
100 to 120 eggs each. Allowiug his highest 
estimate to he correct, my two-year-olds should 
have laid 1200 eggs iu the seven months, leav¬ 
ing 3192 eggs to be credited to the one-year- 
olds ; or nearly 08 eggs each. Supposing that 
the 18 old oues had laid, in seven months, tbe 
highest number Geyelin allows in a year, it 
wonld still leave nearly 50 each for the others, 
or about twice and oue-half more than his 
highest estimate. By this ex cess is where the 
profit comes in. Six of the liens died in the 
winter, which lessened the number of eggs ; 
but such accidents must be expected, so in my 
figuring 1 consider them as all living. 
My hen6 have also hatched out 170 chickens, 
while eight more hens are nearly ready to 
come off. My hens are a mixture of Brahmas, 
Houdaus, Buff Chochius and White Leghorns, 
etc., the latter largely predominating. The cost 
of feed—which has all been purchased—in the 
seven months, has been .$3? 78. At Geyelin’s 
estimate, it would have been a losing business, 
but as the facts are, there is a fair, though not 
a large margin of profit, besides a considerable 
amount of first-class manure, which, iu my 
opinion, is of consequence. 
Nelson Ritter. 
-»•»♦ - 
A HOME-MADE ARTIFICIAL MOTHER. 
Noticing several inquiries of late in this 
paper for artificial mothers and incubators, I 
6cnd the present desigu of a home-made one, 
which can be constructed at very slight ex¬ 
pense. The entire design is showu in seetiou 
(except the chicks) in the sketch below. It 
consists of the wooden box A—a good soap or 
candle box will aus-wer tbe purpose well—in 
tbe top of which a ronud hole is made of just 
the right size to set therein a common milk 
pau B, partly filled with water. Over the pan 
put a sheet of tin or iron; or a piece of old. 
zinc can sometimes be found, which lias served 
its mission under the kitchen stove and can 
— 
now he utilized for this purpose. On this place 
several thicknesses of cotton or woo], on which 
place the chicks. Arouml this, on top of the 
first box, place another shallow one without 
top or bottom, to confine the little fledglings. 
Over this throw a blanket etc. Iu the lower 
box and under the pan of water, plaee a 
small kerosene lamp which should he so 
regulated as only to warm the water to a 
comfortable temperature for the little inuooeuts 
above. When the water is once warm, the 
smallest nursery lamp will suffice. Holes 
should be made in the top and the bottom of 
the box to supply air. 
This arrangement, if properly attended to, 
will make a very good incubator. A few boles 
punched in the metal plate over the pan, would 
supply moisture—a great desideratum. A 
thermometer placed in the incubating chamber 
should be kept at from 105 to 109 degrees Fah. 
Ontario Co., N. Y. Wm. Kobt. Brooks. 
-- 
THE BEST FOWL FOR THE BOSTON 
MARKET. 
The perusal of Mr. E. P. Powell’s article en¬ 
titled “The Best Fowls,” and published iu the 
Rural of May 31, leads me to send a few words 
on the same topic from this quarter. 
In settling tho question as to which breed is 
tbe best, he enumerates certain poiuls which 
should be taken into consideration, the first of 
which is, “Eggs, their weight aud number.” 
As filliug this condition, he mentions as among 
the best, the White Leghorn, Plymouth Rock, 
Brahma and Houdau, in this order. Now I 
maintain that tbe Light Brahma is ahead of 
both the Plymouth Rock and Leghorn in the 
size and number of eggs, laying, as she does, 
nearly throughout the whole year. 
His third poiut is, “Quality of fowls for 
table use.” aud in this connection he gives the 
first place to the Plymouth Rock, placing the 
Bralima second. The Light Brahma, however, 
is certainly the best fowl for the Boston mar¬ 
ket. To obtain the best price there, the bird 
must be yellow-legged, white-feathered aud 
fat—white, because the pin feathers necessarily 
left in dressing are less conspicuous. The 
youug roosters should not be inclined to couple 
with the hens at an early age—a great fault 
with the Leghorns and Plymouth Rocks, and 
one that seriously injures their market quali¬ 
ties. Boston market has, I think, a weakness 
for fat meats; I certainly never saw uny poul¬ 
try meat there so fat as to injure its sale, and 
I have dressed a great mauy fowls for that 
market. That the chicks should be yellow¬ 
legged, good-sized, fat and smooth, are the 
only recommendations they need for the Bos¬ 
ton market. There area few English residents 
who would pay the highest price for five-toed, 
or Dorking chicks, hot the demand for them is 
Fig. 2. Upper Story. 
