we literally “ cast our bread upon the waters,’ 
and it found at once a destination, a use, 
and a profitable market. Just now there is 
a need of draft animals all over Europe. 
Governments arc obliged to sustain costly 
stud farms and make requisitions upon their 
scanty home supplies to fill up the ranks 
of their armies. Those who live luxuriously, 
have had their attention drawn towards the ex¬ 
cellence of our stock, and are willing purchas¬ 
ers for the few animals we have to dispose of. 
At the same time our farm stock needs im¬ 
proving. Wu have a large number of horses 
that are defective in size, substance and con¬ 
stitutional vigor. Breeding farm horses re¬ 
ceives little consideration. The mares selected 
for this purpose are too often diseased, broken 
down and worthless for other purposes. No 
care is taken to select sires for the colts, and 
the pedigree ot the animals used is sufficient if 
it is truly or falsely said to run haek in a cloudy 
track to HatnLdetoniau, Morgan or some other 
horse that was popular in his day. There is 
no thought as to the purpose for which the colt 
is intended, and the consequence is that a care¬ 
ful purchaser who desires a horse for road 
work, or farm work, passes over a hundred 
where he chooses one. 
Our farm horses are too light, and our road 
horses are generally too email. The country 
is overrun with small ponies which can trot a 
mile or two at a rate of three minutes or even 
less to the mile in a single liglU. wagon with 
one occupant, but cannot draw a light family 
carriage with-four passengers. Nor can a pair 
of them draw a heavy coach on the best of 
roads. Desirable heavy farm horses are eo 
scarce that it is almost impossible to secure 
them, and good roadsters will command more 
than $1,000 the pair, if well mated. 
■There is a wonderful opening for turning 
some skill and opportunities to advantage in 
this way. A colt costs no more to raise than a 
calf, and at two years old it is worth as much 
as three cows, )f it is only a common one. One 
of the light kind would be worth half a dozen 
heifers, and the mure would cost no more to 
keep than a poor one. The choice of the mare 
is very important. Large, heavy farm marcs, 
served by a clean-limbed thoroughbred etal- 
liOn, will produce a coach horse, or, if a heavier 
well-bred horse is used, the produce will be 
such as is required for heavy draft in the large 
cities. The IrM well-bred Percheron, fiue- 
boned but Strong-limbed, and gracefully formed 
yet massive, still showing iu the fine small 
head and high-blooded characteristics his Ara¬ 
bian ancestry, is such a horse as may be used 
for either of these purposes, if a mare is prop¬ 
erly selected. The coarser Norman, broad¬ 
footed, wide-shanked, heavy-chested, large¬ 
headed and comparatively sluggish, and the 
admirable Clydesdale, almost as large and 
heavy, but with finer bones and better evidences 
of breeding than the Norman, are well suited 
for the work of the farmand the country roads. 
Of these we have many fine specimens already 
introduced, aud breeding animals can readily 
be procured. In truth, there is abundance of 
material, if the skill aud shrewdness to use it 
well are furnished. 
Just at the present, individual effort is out 
of the question. All the great successes of the 
world are secured by association. Iu the 
breeding of such farm animals as wc already 
have brought to a high degree of exeellence, 
association has been the chief agent o'f success. 
The Jersey Cattle Club; the Short-horn So¬ 
ciety; the Ayrshire Cattle Association, have 
brought, their favorite herds to the highest 
pitch of excellence, and we find on every hand 
conspicuous instances of similar effects. It is 
hardly to be expected that farmers can suc¬ 
ceed by their own single unaided efforts In car¬ 
rying out their ideas of what ought to be done 
in improving any breed of animals. But a 
score or two of them associated in a county 
may do wonders* A county horse breeders’ 
association of 20 persons might procure aud 
possess a desirable stallion for a sum no larger 
than they would have to pay, iu all. for a single 
service for each: $50 is a common price for 
the service of such a good horse as could be 
purchased for one or two thousand dollars. 
The money invested would be returned each 
year, and. iu most cases a profit could be made 
in addition; and besides, much benefit eould 
he done outside of the association. The asso¬ 
ciation eould procure suitable books and pa¬ 
pers, and could study, learn and discuss the 
important points inbreeding, which should be 
understood, and in that way could turn their , 
opportunities to the best advantage. Breeding 
is a fine art, and there are general principles 
upon which success depends, which need to be 
known and observed. Haphazard work will 
not do. There are some breeders who seem to 
have an instinct, au intuitive skill at mating 
animals; hut it is not true that they have any 
knowledge that “ has come by nature” or has 
been acquired without the closest observation 
and the study of cause and effect. The secret , 
is that they have given their minds to the busi¬ 
ness, and have made a special study of it to the 
exclusion of other matters. They have been 
inventors, and like others of that useful class, 
have pored over their ideas and worked them 
THE t URAL NEW-YORKER 
out to results while others have been sleeping. 
These are the men who succeed, aud a great 
many more of such men are needed in the nec¬ 
essary improvement of our horse stock. 
TURNING OUT AND RENOVATING HORSES. 
We kept a them in the stable a week and cut 
grass for them to get them used to au entire 
change of diet, mixing the grass with hay, and 
all this time wondering how we should manage, 
when we did turn them into the pasture, to 
keep them from running and injuring them¬ 
selves. We did not like to risk fetters on such 
lively animals, for fear they might get strained. 
We had an idea that if the}- were made very 
hungry beforehand, they would forget to run, 
preferring to eat. A neighbor helped us out. 
We tried his plau and there was uo trouble. 
A eureingle was buckled around the body be¬ 
hind the fore-legs, aud the halter passed 
through this aud fastened to a strap buckled 
tightly around one of the hind legs above the 
gambrel. The halters were buckled so tightly 
that the horses’ heads were kept down quite 
low. Turning horses out to grass has a reno¬ 
vating effect ou them, especially when they 
have been kept for auy length of time iu a city 
and driven on the pavements. In six months 
the hoofs of horses not worked or shod, will 
be renewed; sore-footed animals will have 
new feet. We know of instances where a New 
York city horse-dealer purchased a pair of such 
horses in the spring of a gentleman, and having 
sent them into the country for the summer, 
they became so improved that in the autumn 
he sold the same pair to their former ow-ner as 
a country team, and the former owuer did not 
know them. j?. d. c. 
REPORT OF THE LATE CLEVELAND CON¬ 
VENTION. 
Special Correspondence of the Rural New-Yorker con¬ 
densed.. 
Tue Fourth Annual Convention of the Amer¬ 
ican Association of Nurserymen, Florists,Seeds¬ 
men and kindred interests was held in the 
Probate Court Rooms of the new Court House, 
Cleveland, Ohio, commencing June 18, and 
continuing three days. 
The convention was quite well attended, 
members being present from very many of the 
States, and the proceedings wore of peculiar 
interest. The display of fruits and flowers? 
although uot large, w-as very tine, the Straw? 
berry "Glendale” aud the new seedling Gera¬ 
nium “Wm. Cullen Bryant” exciting great 
admiration. 
The morning of the first day was nearly con¬ 
sumed in members registering their uames, 
following which the Hon. Harvey Rice, in be¬ 
half of Cleveland, delivered a welcome address 
to the beautiful Forest City; to which, iu be- 
'^halt of the Association, the President, J. J. 
Harrison, replied in fitting words. 
A Committee on Business was then nomi¬ 
nated, which was composed of the following 
gentleiueu: H. B. Ellwanger, Rochester, N. 
Y.; Peter Henderson, New York City; Capt. 
E. H. Pratt, Duusville, N. Y.; N. H. Albaugb, 
Ohio; Robert Douglas, Illinois; Wm. Smith, 
Geneva, N. Y.; T. S. Hubbard. Fredonia, N. 
Y.; A. B. French, Clyde, O.; H. E. Hooker, 
Rochester, N. Y.; VV. C. Strong, Boston; S. B. 
Parsons, Long Islaud. 
Arrangement of Questions. 
On a call for questions from the members, to 
be placed in the hands of the Committee on 
Business to assist them in making out the 
order of business, the following gentlemen 
were nominated as a committee to arrange the 
questions: E. Moody, Locltport, N. Y.; H. C. 
Graves, Sandwich, Ill.: W. C. Barry, Roches¬ 
ter, N. Y.: 8. D. Bear, Ohio; S. H. Sweet, 
Dansville, N. Y.; Leo Weltz, Wilmington, O.; 
Franklin Davis, Richmond, Ya. The meeting 
then adjourned till 2 P. M. 
Upon reassembling in the afternoon the Chair 
appointed Committees on Exhibits of Fruits 
and Flowers. 
The programme lor the convention was re¬ 
ported as follows aud adopted: 
Wednesday, 2.30 P. M.—Address ou methods 
of disposing ot nursery stock, by D. M. Dewey. 
Discussion on above question. Paper on new 
fruits, by W. C. Barry. 
Wednesday, 7.30 P. M.—Address by George 
W. Campbell, Delaware, O.; subject, “Grape 
Culture and its Probable Future in the United 
States.” Essay, "The use of the Feet in Sow¬ 
ing and Planting," Peter Henderson. Address, 
•■New Plants, and the Planting of Trees iu 
Landscape Style," 8. B. Parsons. Flushing, 
N. Y. 
Thursday, 9 A. M.—Report of Committee on 
Election of Officers. Reports on amount and 
condition of stock. The best way to stimulate 
a taste and desire for choice ornamental trees, 
shrubs and flowers, S. B. Parsons to lead iu 
the discussion. Suitable stocks ou which to 
work. 
Thursday, 2.30 P. M.—Miscellaneous busi¬ 
ness and discussion. 
Thursday, 7.30 P. M.—Addresses, etc. The 
address of D. M. Dewey on the best methods of 
disposing of nursery stock was then delivered. 
He regards the question of the greatest im¬ 
portance to the country at large as well as to 
the trade. He had teamed that the matter was 
being considered by the Ohio Legislature, 
which had a bill before it designed to restrict 
the sale of nursery products. He thought no 
such bill could pass, as it was almost impossi¬ 
ble to frame a bill which would be equitable to 
all parties concerned. He deprecated all spe¬ 
cial legislation on ,lie subject, and thought the 
length of a hoe handle or the curl of a pig’s 
tail could as well be regulated by law as the 
sale of our products. He suggested that the 
convention issue certificates of agency, .signed 
by their officers, to be used by its members for 
their agents, aDd to caution buyers from pur¬ 
chasing of those who could uot produce such 
certificates. 
Some discussion then ensued concerning the 
bill before the Ohio Legislature, and upon mo¬ 
tion of Mr. Albaugb, a committee of five was 
appointed by the president, to whom further 
consideration of the subject was referred. 
With regard to 
The Russian Apples. 
Mr. Barry thought they deserved serious con¬ 
sideration ou account of the many incorrect aud 
exaggerated reports spread about them during 
several years. Anticipating their value for the 
colder regions of this country, his firm planted 
in their experimental grounds some obtained 
from St. Petersburg, and others from the De¬ 
partment of Agriculture at Washington. In 
the summer of 187G several trees bore fruit for 
the first time. The following year several 
others came into bearing, aud iu 1878 nearly 
all fruited, enabling them to give the diflerent 
varieties a fair test. But their expectations 
of fiuding umoug them some valuable acquisi¬ 
tions were not fully realized. L T nder new 
uames they found several of the well-known 
Duchess of Oldenburgh, aud most of them 
seemed to be of that type, resembling that 
variety in appearance and size and of about 
the same quality. One of the uumber, Titouka. 
or Titus, is quite promising. The fruit is large 
and handsome, resembling that of the Twenty 
Ounce, and ripens iu September. This he re¬ 
gards as beyond a doubt the most valuable iu 
the collection. Another, the Groskoe Selenka 
Gruner, is of medium size, roundish, conical 
form; smooth skin, color of Sweet Bough ; 
npens early in August. The tree Is a good 
grower and bears abundantly. Repka is a 
handsome fruit, of medium size, resembling 
the Lady Apple, but larger. The tree is a free 
grower and very prolific. A few of the Rus¬ 
sian Apples lie eousiders worthy of propaga¬ 
tion iu those parts of the country where our 
choice varieties do not succeed owing to the 
severity of the climate; but at the East he 
thinks they will be of little or no value. 
Other Apples. 
From California there lias been sent a 
remarkable seedling of the Yellow Bellflower. 
The apple is large, roundish, inclining to coni¬ 
cal ; stalk long aud slender in a deep cavity; 
skin of a beautiful golden yellow color, smooth 
and fair: flesh firm, juicy, sub-acid, rich, aud 
excellent. It is said to keep as well as the 
Newtown Pippin, and is one of the most promis¬ 
ing new fruits that be hag seen. * Highland 
Beauty is a seedling which the Rev- E. P. Roe 
has introduced to public notice. It is of small 
or medium size, roundish, iuelining to conical; 
skin light-yellow; flesh tender and pleasing to 
the taste. It remains in good order till March, 
aud will probably be esteemed as a table fruit. 
An Ohio apple called the Oustine Greening, is 
of the Greening type, about the same size aud 
shape; flesh solid and of fair quality, aud it 
has been said to keep in good eating condition 
till September. This variety should be included 
iu a list which eould be recommended for ship¬ 
ment abroad. 
Pears. 
A very important accession has been made 
to the list of Pears in the Messrs. Clapps’ 
new seedling, called the Frederick Clapp. 
This is undoubtedly the best American pear 
yet introduced. The acquisition of a pear 
pronounced by competent authorities superior 
to Beurre Superfin marks an important epoch 
iu the history of American pomology. The 
tree is a good grower, and nurserymen can 
afford to propagate it. One of the new pears 
which deserve to be better kuowu is the Petite 
Marguerite, raised by Andre LeRoy iu 1802 
and called Marguerite Appert. It ripens about 
ten days before the Bartlett. Andre Desportes 
was raised by Andre LeRoy from seed, and 
has the delicious flavor of the Bartlett without 
its muskiness. It may he regarded as oue of 
the best fruits of the season. Ripens in Au¬ 
gust, aud he considers it is one of the best 
pears ripening iu that month. 
CiicrricH, Peaches, Grnpes. 
Of Cherries af recent introduction, Mont¬ 
morency Ordinaire is becoming more and more, 
popular wherever growu. It has just acidity 
enough to be pleasant, and one can cat his fill 
without any discomfort afterward. Ripening 
as it docn, ten clays after the Richmond, it is 
valuable on that account, not to speak of the 
*8ee Rural, April 19, for first illustration of Hub 
apple. 
wonderfully prolific qualities which the tree 
exhibits. The year 1878 has been rendered 
memorable by the large number of new seed¬ 
ling Peaches which fruited in all parts of the 
country. If the same progress he made in ’79, 
we shall be soon able to boast of ripe peaches 
in June iu New York State. 
T. B. Miuer’s seedling Grapes, twelve in num¬ 
ber, seven of which are white, will be watched 
with considerable interest. Pringle’s hybrid 
grapes, three in number, two of which are 
white, are now being distributed ; so are Mr. 
George Haskell’s, about forty varieties, ob¬ 
tained by hybridization. Souip of the best of 
Rickett’s seedlings are now in the market, and 
in another year this interesting collection will 
have been tested to some extent. Rockland 
Favorite is a new grape, said to he a seedling 
of the Concord, earlier, better, and hardier 
than its parent, ami a great, bearer. In New 
Yoik State there are four uew white Grapes 
which may prove valuable: the Prentiss, 
owned by Mr. Hubbard, is very promising ; the 
Pocklington, raised in Washington county, is 
large and haudsoine, but seems to ripen a little 
late ; Niagara, raised at Lockport and Duchess, 
at Union Springs, are also highly spoken of 
by those who ought to know what constitutes 
u good grape, None of the four is in the 
market. Some of the newer sorts of Strawber¬ 
ries are getting hanl knocks. The Sharpless, 
however, is highly commended. 
The Japau Persimmon would be a valuable 
addition to our list of fruits were it hardy, but 
this he thinks is doubtful, but he has uot, tried 
it. Mr. Albaugb reported that the Wild Goose 
Plum in his locality (70 miles north of Cincin¬ 
nati), was exceedingly profitable. It is of 
handsome color aud good shape—ripens July 
4th to 15th. It is flue for dessert, fully as large 
as the Lombard, but not of good cooking qual¬ 
ity. T. W. Mauning, of Mass., was very favor¬ 
ably impressed with the Moore’s Early Grape. 
It was ripe with Mr. Moore when the Concord 
is green. Peter Hendcrsou, of New York, 
placed the Forest Rose Strawberry ahead of 
Sharpless—then Seth Boydeu, Monarch, Chaa. 
Downing, Capt. Jack, Great American. He 
had no robins, but the children preferred the 
Forest Rose. S. B. Parsons, of Long Islaud, 
thought highly of the Miles’s Grape, which, 
though not new, was very early and good. 
At the evening session, Peter Henderson 
made a valuable address on 
The Cue of the Feet In Plontlng and Sowing 
Seed*. 
He said that although engaged iu gardening 
operations for over a quarter of a century, it 
has only been lately that he fully realized how 
indispensable is the use of the feet iu sowing 
and planting. In the sowing of seeds he thinks 
millions are lost annually through neglect 
of “firming” the ground around the seeds. 
During the past dry season, enormous losses 
were incurred by market gardeners aud other 
cultivators of cabbages, cauliflowers, celery, 
etc., mainly because they persisted iu sowing 
the seeds without taking the precaution to firm 
the soil by rolling. His own practice is, after 
plowing, harrowing and leveling the land 
smoothly, to draw liues by the “ marker.” 
which makes a furrow about tw r o inches deep 
and a foot apart; after tbe man who sows the 
6eed follows another who with the ball of the 
right foot presses dowu his full weight on every 
iuch of soil in the drill where the seed has been 
sown. Tbe rows are then lightly leveled lon¬ 
gitudinally with the rake, a light roller is then 
passed over them and the operation is done. By 
this method his cabbage and celery crops have 
never once failed, and what is true of these seeds 
is equally true of all seeds requiring to be sowu 
during the late spring or summer months. On 
July 2d, 1874, as au experiment, he sowed 
twelve rows of sweet corn and twelve rows ol 
beets, treading in after sowiug every alternate 
row of each. Iubolli cases, those trod iu came 
up iu four days, while those uuttruied re¬ 
mained twelve days before starting, and would 
not then have gurminated had rain uot fallen, 
for the soil was as ilry as dust when plauted. The 
result was that the seeds that had been trodden 
in, grew freely from the start, and matured 
their crops to a marketable condition by fall, 
while the rows uufirrnod did not mature, as 
they were uot only eight days later iu germi¬ 
nating. but the plants were also to some extent 
enfeebled by being partially dried iu the loose 
dry soil. 
The same season in August he treated seeds 
of turnips and spinach in the same way. Those 
trod in germinated at once and made au ex¬ 
cellent crop, while those unfirmed germinated 
feebly aud were eventually nearly all burned 
out by a continuance of dry, hot air penetrat¬ 
ing through the loose soil to the tender rootlets. 
A large proportion of the blame often laid at 
the doors of nurserymen ou account of selling 
dead trees, he attributes to the neglect of grow¬ 
ers to compact the soil about the roots. 
M. B. Baleham, of Ohio, obtains the same 
results by using a whcel-barrow half loaded. 
R. Douglas, of Illinois, uses a pounder for 
packing earth arouud trees. W. C. Strong, of 
Mass., deprecates the use of water when plant¬ 
ing. He thinks it does more damage than 
good, especially on evergreens. Mr. Spaulding, 
