THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
THE 
RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
PUBLISHED EVERY SATURDAY. 
Address * 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER, 
78 Duane Street, New York City. 
SATURDAY, AUG. 16, 1879. 
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN. 
Instead of 50.000 extra numbers of the 
Rural New-Yorker, as heretofore stated, we 
now guarantee an extra issue of 60,000 for our 
Fair number. It will be made up of 28 pages, 
including the cover. Many original engrav¬ 
ings and articles from the following writers 
are either received or promised: Dr. J. B. 
Lawes, of Rothamsted, Eng.; Professor J. P. 
Sheldon, of Cirencester, Eng.: Professors I. P. 
Roberts and G. C. Caldwell, James Taplin, 
Henry Stewart, Pres. T. T. Lyon, M. B. Bato- 
ham, M. B. Prince, M. C. Weld, Professor L. 
B. Arnold, W. I. Chamberlaiu, J. B. Arm¬ 
strong, William Falconer, J. T. Lovett, Col. 
F. D. Curtis, S. Parsons and others. 
We may also state that our next Free 
Seed Distribution will be fully and definitely 
announced, lu reply to many inquiries, it 
may be said that our rates for advertising in 
the Fair Number will be the same as in any 
other number. Advertising eorv must be 
received prior to the 25th Inst. 
We again invite agents, secretaries and our 
readers to send for as many copies as they 
may be willing to distribute or to hand to 
their friends. They will be promptly for¬ 
warded free of charge. 
POTATO PROSPECTS IN ENGLAND-THE 
POTATO BEETLE. 
The probabilities of our crop returns, 
(Rural New-Yorker, June 21st,) which 
so far as we know -wore the most volumin¬ 
ous of any ever before gathered together 
in this country, are fast becoming cer¬ 
tainties. The truth of our summaries as 
regards wheat, rye, oats, grass, etc., has 
already been attested. We predicted that 
“Potatoes will be clienp ”—and that pre¬ 
diction seems very likely of realization 
too. At all events, it is probable that the 
crop will be an abundant one, and if the 
price should rule high, it will be because 
the potato crop in other countries will 
prove insufficient for home use. There 
seems to be no longer a question that this 
will prove to be. the oase in Great Britain. 
The London Garden of latest date has the 
following: 
“The Potato Disease— This sad visi¬ 
tation is now affecting early sorts of 
potatoes generally, and a continuance of 
the present weather can but lead to its 
wholesale appearance amongst all kinds, 
and in all parts of the kingdom. * * * It, 
seems useless to hope for better weather, as 
summer is passing away so last, that even 
should it come, it will be too late to benelit 
many things. The disease would appear 
to have struck potatoes on the Continent 
even before it has appeared here, and if 
the crops are as largely affected there as 
has been stated in the daily papers, there 
will be but few foreign potatoes to import. 
This fact should induce importers to look 
to America where they have had some hot 
weather, and whence, perchance, may be 
found a fairly healthy crop.” Pears are 
then expressed, that the “regulations 
regarding the Colorado Potato Beetle may 
interfere with our imports from that quar¬ 
ter.” “Should prices reach the high 
figure during the winter that is anticipat¬ 
ed, there will be a great outcry if it is 
found that the American crop is practically 
excluded from our markets.” 
It is time that European people gave 
themselves some rest as regards the potato 
beetle. Years ago, its depredations were 
great enough to justify the gravest fears. 
But that is past, and the potato beetle has 
in truth become one of the most harmless 
of all our common insects injurious to 
vegetation—because so easily control¬ 
lable. We have no doubt that the prevent¬ 
ive measures adopted by foreign countries 
will cost them more than the potato beetle, 
even should it obtain a foothold upon 
their soilB. 
-- 
COST OF FIRE INSURANCE. 
In the Rural for August 2d, we printed 
an article from L. A. R., relative to the 
cost of insurance, arguing that the expen¬ 
ses of conducting the business of fire 
insurance in New York, were much greater 
than they should be. 
We hare before us a table showing an 
abstract of the report of the joint stock 
fire and marine insurance companies of 
the State of New York doing business in 
this city. From this we learn there are 
83 such companies with a total capital of 
$21,107,020, and a net surplus of $16,676- 
767.26, making a total of nearly 41 millions 
of dollars. The total income of these 
companies, including premiums for insur¬ 
ance in trust or capital invested, &c,, was 
$10,029,118.86—and the cost of manag¬ 
ing the business was $4,071,783,02. Thus 
it will be seen that of every dollar 
the companies have received, more than 
forty cents have been spent in getting and 
managing it. 
Now, we believe that the insurance 
business in New l r ork can be done for 
less than 25 per cent, of the receipts, and 
still pay good dividends to stockholders, 
bv reducing the number of companies and 
increasing the capital of the remainder, 
employing only such official and clerical 
help as is needed, cutting off sinecures 
and breaking tip rings, whether made up 
of families or friends; in a word, managing 
the business in a business way—the same 
as a good merchant or manufacturer 
manages. 
Do you point us to lists of directors 
and note the names among them of some 
of the most intelligent and prosperous 
business men in the country ? We reply 
that not one in fifty of them attends the 
meetings of the board at all,and when they 
do, they know little more of the business 
of the company than the stockholders at 
home. The directors, as a rule, do not 
direct at all, except perhaps two or three 
who,with the President and Secretary, run 
the concern. Shall we give an idea of 
these Board meetings ? 
Called to order by the President—Roll 
call—Payment for attendance—Minutes of 
last meeting read—Statement of business 
since the last meeting,—Adjournment— 
all occupying, we venture to say, not 
more than half an hour. This, we think, 
will be a full average of time spent in the 
boards of all the companies in New York. 
Perhaps the average amount of salaries 
paid to officers is not too great, although, 
we think, in many caseB more and better 
service could lie obtained for the money 
paid. We have iu mind one instance in 
which a large sum is paid to a President, 
who could not, if the company should be 
discontinued, get a clerk’s position else¬ 
where on account of age and infirmities. 
He has been with the company any 
years, and has outgrown his usefulness. 
But the Board of Directors of that com¬ 
pany is made up of his relatives aud 
friends—one of the board told us that any 
member who should move a reduction of 
salary would be left oft' the list at the next 
election. We hold the laborer is worthy 
of his hire, and one who has learned the 
insurance business after years of experi¬ 
ence, should be well paid, but the barnac¬ 
les and other obstructions to the ship's 
motion, should be cleared off. The fire 
insurance business needs overhauling. 
•-- 
HARDINESS OF THE JAPAN PERSIMMON. 
“At a late meeting of horticulturists at 
Cleveland, Ohio, tlie Japan Persimmon was 
alluded to as of * doubtful hardiness,’ which, 
perhaps, was a safe expression, considering 
our present know ledge of this fruit. But oue 
of our contemporaries, published iu this city, 
iu noticing toe above expression of opinion, 
says-. ‘There need be no doubt about it. It is 
not hardy or any approach to it." This is what 
we call a deckled aud positive opinion, given 
without positive know ledge, for there are trees 
of the Japan Persimmon grow ing near this city 
which withstood the severe cold of last winter 
without the least protection, and are now 
healthy and making a vigorous growth. We 
call tliis at least an ‘approach' to hardiuess, 
aud it is quite possible as well as probable that 
among the scores of varieties of the Japan 
Persimmon there are some as burdy as our 
native species. It w r ould certainly be well to at 
least give them a trial before asserting that 
they are worthless.” 
The above is from the agricultural ed¬ 
itor of the N. Y. Sun, and the Rural 
New-Yorker is the criticised journal. Di- 
ospyros Kaki was advertised in our col¬ 
umns by one of our first nursery firms, 
viz., The Parsons A Sons’ Co., of Flush¬ 
ing, L. I. It was, therefore, to our 
interest to say all the good that could 
be truthfully said of it. It was at first 
supposed that it would prove hardy. It 
has since been so injured in Flushing, as 
we learn from the Messrs. P. themselves, 
as to make it very apparent that it can 
never be trusted to mature fruit in this 
latitude — or, rather, in this climate. 
Hence we say it is not hardy. The 
opinion was “ decided aud positive,” and 
we hope it has guarded our Northern 
readers agaiust spending their money for 
fruit trees which, if cultivated without 
protection, will never yield them fruit. 
There maybe varieties of the Japan Per¬ 
simmon that will prove hardy here. We 
do not know anything about that. There 
may be varieties of figs that will stand 
our winters without protection. As soon 
as “positive knowledge” exists to that 
effect, we shall naturally hasten to pub¬ 
lish it. We are under the impression 
that Mr. James Hogg told us that Ivaki 
had endured several winters iu his gar¬ 
den, which is in the suburbs of New York 
city. Perhaps it fruited there. We could 
mention instances, however, where many 
plants were injured and many killed out¬ 
right by the vicissitudes of last winter, 
which were not remarkably trying vicis¬ 
situdes, either. 
-- 
A SOFT ANSWER. 
W—was a well-to-do merchant in the 
village, and owned a large but good- 
natured cow. C—was a farmer living 
near town, who, with the aid of his chil¬ 
dren had raised a fine crop of corn to the 
stage to bo tempting to mischievous 
stock. C—was very poor and quick¬ 
tempered. Seeing W—’s fine cow, with 
many others, grazing near his fence, he 
imagined that she would some day break 
iu and destroy his chance for bread. He 
hastened to W. and excitedly said : “Have 
you a large, white-spotted cow?” “Yes,” 
answered W. “Well, you must put her 
up\” “Why?” asked W. “Because, if 
she gets into my corn field and turns 
other cows in, I'll hill her," said G. 
angrily. “Very well,” said W., “if she 
gets in, kill her. ” “1 will kill her if she 
gets in,” said O. still more angrily. “All 
right,” said W. “ I have nowhere to put 
her, and do you kill her if she gets in. 
But what are you so mad about ?” “ Be¬ 
cause you tell me to kill the cow,” said C. 
Then W. told him to sit down and hear 
him a moment, and said: “ Mr. C., though 
I’m not rich, the loss of my cow will not 
be very serious to me. I can get another, 
and my Avife and children Avould not go to 
bed hungry on account of such a loss ; 
but you depend on your corn for bread 
and you can't afford to lose it. So, if my 
cow breaks in, kill her; let me know so 
that I may save the hide, aud I’ll never 
say a word about it." “Is that what you 
meant ?” asked G. * ‘l r es. 5 ' C. was touched 
and humbled ; and he said that he would 
not hurt that, cow for anything ; but that, 
if she should break in, they would try to 
hobble her, or in some way keep her out 
without injury. Verily “ a soft answer 
turneth aAvay wrath.” 
MR. CHARLES DOWNING. 
The life of this venerable gentleman 
has been an uneventful one. lie has never 
startled the world by any great discover¬ 
ies,inventions or even by his writings. Aud 
yet there are few Avho, by their persever¬ 
ance, industry and study, have added 
more to the world's knowledge hi any 
branch of information than Mr. Downing 
has added to our knowledge of fruits. 
And this he has accomplished in a man¬ 
ner so unobtrusive of self ; so destitute of 
the vanity that, marks the career of many 
men Avho aspire to fame’s proud bights, 
that all who know him, or ltnoAV of him, en¬ 
tertain an unqualified respect for his 
character as Avell as an appreciation of his 
good AvorkB. The portrait upon our first 
page is drawn from a recent photograph, 
which Mr. Downing presented to the 
writer. “ Will you give us permission to 
publish it,” Ave asked. “No,” was Mr. 
Downing’s prompt and emphatic, reply. 
Aud, yet, Ave have presented it to our 
readers. We do not believe that any man 
Avho has striven to render so much service 
to mankind, is altogether justifiable in 
shrinking from the natural cariosity as to 
his personality, Avliieh his life's work has 
created. 
•- - 
Destroying Plantain.—It is worthy 
of remark, that the common Plantain— 
Plantngo major—may at this season of the 
year be easily pulled up, and lawns may 
be rid of it with comparative ease. Its 
roots suffer by drought, so that by this 
time they form a compact bundle, but an 
inch or so in length, Take all of the 
leaves and Bower spikes in the hand and 
with as low a hold as possible, and the 
roots Avill offer but little resistance. This 
method, if adopted now, will be found 
far more efficacious than cutting them out. 
or applying sulphuric or any other acid 
to the leaves or “heart.” This last measure 
is, iu practice, one of the vagaries of the 
horticultural mind. One day last week 
Ave pulled up not less than 200 plants in 
an hour or less. 
. - - 
England’s Crop Prospects.—Dr. 
J. B. Lawes, of Rothamsted, iu a private 
letter to one of the editors, makes the 
following statement: 
“ We have had a season so unusual that 
no records can be found to compare with 
it. Since April 1st, a period of 111 days, 
we have measured rani on every day ex¬ 
cept seven. The consequences are becom¬ 
ing very serious in regard to the harvest.” 
-- 
BREVITIES. 
A neighbor tells us the best crop of Ruta¬ 
bagas be ever harvested Avas sown August 14.] 
The Gardeners' Monthly notes that au insect 
similar in its effects to the phylloxera upon 
grape-vine roots, causes many Clematises to 
'• dwindle away.” 
There is a great deal of dissatisfaction ex¬ 
pressed that Anchor instead of Telemachus 9th 
did not take the Champiou prize among Short¬ 
horn bulls of Kilburu. 
We hope some of the Rural readers will 
Avin the $150 silver cup offered by the Mas¬ 
sachusetts Horticultural Society for the best 
t wenty-four hybrid perpetual Roses. 
A Britishek, with whose prosperity the 
sale of American products had specially in¬ 
terfered, Avas wicked enough to express his 
regrets to -John Bl ight that “ the cursed coun¬ 
try had ever been discovered." 
Ouh occasional contributor, L. S. Hardin, 
tells the Loudon Agricultural Gazette that he 
has met many successful farmers Avho believed 
in the moon, but has yet to meet the successful 
dairyman who buys his cows by the escutcheon. 
The transposition of a single letter or figure 
sometimes makes an appalling difference. 
We stated last Aveek that the Prince of Wales 
Avas married iu 1836, which Avas about, four 
years before he was born. Instead of 36, it 
ought to have been 03. 
We learn that. Professor (J. L. Ingcrsoll of 
Michigan State Agricultural College^ A\bo for 
three years past bus most efficiently filled the 
important cualr of Professor of Agriculture in 
that institution, bus resigned that position 
and accepted a similar chair in Purdue Uni¬ 
versity' at La Fayette, Indiana, the change to 
take place September 1st, 1879. 
Or lute avu have seen a great many' boxes of 
flowers in the windows of stores aud dwell¬ 
ings. After a while wc deetected a striking re¬ 
semblance both iu the boxes aud the plants 
with which they Avere filled. Finally we read 
upon these boxes in red and blue letters a soap 
advertisement. Surely this is a novel and ex¬ 
cellent, though costly method of advertising. 
We call attention to the reports of our sub¬ 
scribers Avho are testing our Blunt’s corn. Up 
to within a week or so, all have spoken of its 
surprising hight, and vigor. Now many report 
that each stalk is setting several cars. We need 
not anticipate by any guesses or by the ex¬ 
pression of sanguine hopes. A few Aveeks Avill 
determine just Avhat Blunt’s White Prolific 
Com is. 
Mr. Williams, of Moutelair, brought us 
half-a-dozen each of the Beauty of Hebron 
and Early Ohio potatoes, all of large size. He 
requested that wo should cook aud eat each 
kind separately aud report which we liked 
better. By mistake all were cooked together. 
They wore eaten by six persons, not ono of 
whom could detect any difference in the qual¬ 
ity or flavor. 
Rev. A. J. Hough, Mn a poem read at Wood- 
stock, Conn., upon the Fourth of July, thus 
nominates a farmer for President: 
By right of service duly paid : 
By right of worth, if justly weielied ; 
By rinht of numbers, fairly tola ; 
By rikbt ot fltuosB, writ, and irold ; 
A funner, blunt, outspoken, shrewd, 
Ambition;; for his country’*good, 
The belli; with ringing real* present 
As candidate for President! 
We could mention a score of names that con¬ 
tribute to the Rukal’8 columns that we should 
vote for if nominated. Let’s kaA'e a farmer for 
our next President! But shall he be a practical 
or scientific farmer? Here is Avhere the party 
might split. Wc should only ask that he be a 
good farmer and au educated man. 
We may uoav promise positively that the 
announcement of our next Free Seed Distri- 
hution will be published In our Fair number 
to be Issued in about three Aveeks. We handed 
the list to one of our prominent seedsmen with 
(lie request that he would estimate its value to 
those who desire the plants und seeds euum- 
merated. His reply was: “They are nearly 
all novelties and Avould cost the purchaser at 
retail—if they could be. purchased at all—not 
less thau $2 50," 
A great deal has been said about Mr. Meeti 
and liis Tiptree-Hall farm. It is Avell known 
that it was a poor farm when he bought it in 
1841. It has been thought that Mr. Meehi’s 
system of agriculture lias much Increased it in 
a’uIuo. But Mr. Clare Sewell Rend, M. P., says 
that he was told by a local agent that if the 
laud were sold to-morrow, it would not realize 
above $25 au acre more than what Mr. Mechi 
calls the unimproved farms of the neighbor¬ 
hood. notwithstanding the small fortune that 
has been spent upon it. “Is high ^farming a 
remedy for Ioav prices ? ” 
The New York Herald copies, Avith compli¬ 
mentary comments, au article from the Rural 
aud gives credit to the Lancaster Farmer, 
upon the subject of hide-bound trees. The 
article in question appeared on this pa^e iu 
our issue ol Dec. 1 st, 1877, page S58, ana the 
credit Is therefore due to us. The Herald, iu 
its farm department, at least, is careful—so far 
as Ave kuoAv —to give due credit wherever it 
has occasion to “copy from other journals. 
Our reproach is agaiust the Lancaster Farmer. 
The Herald says that the Lancaster Farmer's 
" suggestions on agricultural topics arc always 
valuable.” Very likely! 
II. F. II. Lexington, Ky.. makes the foIloAv- 
ing statement in the Gardeners’ Monthly re¬ 
specting Japan Bcreiinmous : “They are cer- 
ttiiuly u failure. Trees planted here last fall 
are dead mostly, winter-killed root and branch. 
The sooner the public are awaro ol the uu- 
hardy character of the tree, the better. Agents 
Avill sell at least, one thousand dollars’ worth ol 
the stock in this country Ibis season, from 
which unadvised purchasers are not likely ever 
to realize aught but disappointment.” If any¬ 
body has counter evidence as to the hardiuess 
of the Japan Per6immon3, we shall be glad to 
place it before our readers. 
