THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
i 
RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
PUBLISHED EVERY SATURDAY. 
CONDUCTED BY 
ELBERT S. CARMAN. 
Address 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER, 
78 Duane Street, Now York City. 
SATURDAY. NOV. 1, 1879. 
Our Annual Premium List and Posters 
ARE NOW HBADT. TlIEY WILL BE MAILED. 
WITHOUT CHARGE. TO ALL WHO APFLT. 
■-- 
WHY DESPOND 1 
Though the spirit of speculation is not 
so rife as it was a few years ago, it is cer¬ 
tain that there is still an unwarrantable 
eagerness to make large and quick profits 
—a making haste to be rich. This spirit 
is very unfavorable to those important 
pursuits which demand patient toil and 
waiting for the rewards they promise. 
Crops must have time to grow, and when 
one crop fails, a long time must elapse 
before the next effort can bring relief. 
While this eagerness for rapid accumula¬ 
tion turns many from the safe and hon¬ 
orable callings of plain industry, it also 
exerts a potent influence on many who 
are devoted to different branches of agri¬ 
culture. They are too much affected by 
the restlessness of the speculative tem- 
{ >er. If they fail to meet the rewards of 
abor, which they anticipated, they are 
tempted to abandon their occupation or 
sink into a very unpleasant and hurtful 
despondency. 
As the old crops are about finished and 
preparations for the new are under way, 
it is au appropriate time to call upon 
the heroes who have struggled in the 
peaceful conflicts of the farm to summon 
their calm judgment and moral manhood, 
as they face the prospects of another year. 
Especially do we appeal to tirose who, 
from any unforeseen cause, have encoun¬ 
tered bitter disappointment. They are in 
danger of rash conclusions or unmanly 
down-heartedness. Let them consider 
that if they have been faithful, they are 
as worthy and as free from blame as if 
they had succeeded. Happy is that man 
who is without cause of self-censure in 
the day of trouble ! Let them remember 
that failures are. seldom as disastrous as 
they at first appear. Evils of many kinds 
often threaten to overwhelm the men they 
attack, and then with astonishing rapid¬ 
ity diminish their threatening, if they 
do not entirely vanish. Who has not 
been in straits that were fearful, which 
were passed in a very short time, to de¬ 
liverance ? 
Let the disappointed look around and 
see if there are not good w r ays to meet the 
demands of the emergency. Such cases 
have often revealed unsuspected advan¬ 
tages and capabilities. Failures have 
frequently led men to success and fortune 
which would otherwise never have been 
realized. One reason is that failures call 
up the slumbering powers and develop 
resources that were before undiscovered. 
Another natural idea is that the worst 
failures seldom go farther than to necessi¬ 
tate a cheaper style of living. Any one 
would be surprised to know how r many 
things he cau spare without any great 
loss of comfort or well-being. While 
most of our wants are artificial, few are 
really indispensable. It is, then, a sheer 
want of manliness for one to yield to 
losses and go moping about under disap¬ 
pointments. It is childish. Tme man¬ 
hood is always ready to bear self-denial, 
not only when it is necessary, but even 
when it contributes to a good cause. Fail¬ 
ures require self-denial, and self-denial 
makes men nobler, stronger, and, often, 
happier. Failures may necessitate un¬ 
wonted economy ; but the habit of that 
economy may be the certain guide to 
greater success in the early future. Cow¬ 
ards feed the ranks of despair and sui¬ 
cide. They want courage to “bear the 
ills ” they have. Let the unfortunate 
cheer up ! Let them try harder aud hope 
fondly for better results of labor next 
time.' Let them see if there have been 
no mistakes which may be avoided in fu¬ 
ture. Let them remember the story of 
Bruce and the spider. Let them mark 
the example of many in every generation 
of the past. Above all, let them trust iu 
Him who is “good when He gives—no 
less when He denies.” Farmers dealing, as 
they must, so directly and constantly with 
nature, need a quiet, abiding reliance 
on a beneficent Providence. 
--- 
TME CORN PREMIUMS. 
Judging from the many inquiries we 
receive concerning the corn premiums, 
the mode, of reporting, etc., it seems ne¬ 
cessary that we should make another 
statement in regard to this matter. All 
who registered their names in this office 
before August 1st as competitors for the 
premiums, and who have otherwise com¬ 
plied with the rules as announced in the 
Rubai, of April 26, are entitled to partake 
in such competition. In previous an¬ 
nouncements we have not definitely stated 
when the corn should be weighed, only 
stipulating that it should be dry, thus, of 
course, giving considerable scope for the 
competitors to exercise their own judg¬ 
ment ; but this seems to be a trouble¬ 
some point and some desire a more defin¬ 
ite statement. 
In view of this, aud to avoid misunder¬ 
standing, we have decided that both corn 
and stalkR shall be weighed four weeks 
from the date of harvesting, or, if this time 
should already have expired, then it 
should be done immediately on receipt of 
this announcement. The premiums will 
be awarded accordiug to the greatest 
weight, of shelled corn from the number 
of kernels planted; thus the one who has 
the greatest weight will receive 1st prize, 
the next iu order 2d prize, etc. But for 
purposes of information and comparison 
we also desire to know' the number of 
bushels of shelled corn, the weight of 
stalks, the average number of ears to the 
stalk, the length of growing season, the 
kind of soil, the kind of manure, if any 
were applied, and also the mode of cul¬ 
ture. To be explicit in this report, it 
should be put in some tabular form thus: 
1 st. Pate of planting. 
2d. ** ot Harvesting. 
ad. “ of weighing. 
4t h. Weight or shelled corn In pounds. 
5th. Measure of shelled com in bushels. 
tith. Weight of stalks. 
7T.li, Average number of ears per stalk. 
sth. character of soil. 
9th. Manure; 
loth. Cultivation, including distance apart, 
whether the suckers were pulled, etc. 
Any remarks that the cultivator desires 
to make, cau then be added. 
The book premiums offered by the 
Farmers’ Publishing Co. constitute a 
different senes, and will be awarded to 
the heaviest weights of shelled corn re¬ 
spectively, the corn to be weighed three 
months 'after date, and for which, of 
course, a second report must be given. 
A PROBABLE CHANGE IN OUR “FREE 
SEED DISTRIBUTION.” 
We learn tlrrough Mr. Robert Douglas, 
of Waukegan, Ills., that Professor Bar- 
gent, of the Arboretum of Harvard Uni¬ 
versity, is of the opinion that AbieB Sib- 
irica (seeds of which we have offered as 
one of the ten kinds of our next “Distrib¬ 
ution”) will fail except at (he yorth. 
Mr. Douglas himself writes us that he 
was not aware that this tree would not 
stand farther Bouth than New York, but 
that he now recalls that during his recent 
trip East he did not see any specimens 
about Washington or Baltimore, that were 
in good condition. It will be better, 
therefore, that we should send seeds of 
this tree only to our subscribers living 
north of the latitude of New York City. 
For those living south of it we shall sub¬ 
stitute either plants or seeds which we 
were reserving for a supplementary dis¬ 
tribution. We shall not begin to dis¬ 
tribute our collection until after the first 
of January, before which time other 
changes may suggest themselves -which 
shall enable us to make it of more value 
to our readers, and that is the very thing 
we earnestly desire to do. 
In this connection, we beg to state that 
already many of our subscribers have, in 
making their applications, failed to com¬ 
ply with our directions. Some have for¬ 
gotten to sign their names; others to 
give the town or State; still others so in¬ 
corporate their application iu the middle 
of letters that they are liable to be over¬ 
looked. No doubt such of our friends 
will think they have occasion to censure 
us if, through neoessity, their applications 
are disregarded. 
-»♦ » ■ — 
A LULL IN THE EXPORTATION OF BEEVES. 
Although the freightage on that class 
of goods has lately been reduced about 
one-third, yet exports of American live 
cattle have been greatly falling off of 
late, until now some of the heaviest ship¬ 
pers have suspended that branch of the 
business, while continuing to send across 
a diminished, but still a goodly supply of 
dressed beef. The causes of this lull in 
the trade are mainly two:—First, it is 
deemed safer to ship beef than beeves in 
winter time ; but the second is the chief 
cause, and that is the low price of meat 
in Great Britain at present. The root 
and hay crops have been so poor this 
year in Eugland that farmers and graziers 
are throwing an unusually large quantity 
of their meat stock upon the market rather 
than incur the high expense of wintering 
them in face of the poor outlook for profit 
next year, owing to the close competition 
from ‘this country. This unusually large 
supply has depressed prices, espe¬ 
cially owing to the prostrated con¬ 
dition of various industries and the con¬ 
sequent impoverishment of those depend¬ 
ent upon them for a livelihood. Next 
year, however, it is nearly certain that the 
trade will be much brisker than ever 
before, owing to the diminished home 
supply in Great Britain and, it is hoped, 
to the better condition of business there. 
■-♦ » » 
DWARF PEARS. 
Dwarf Pears have many friends and 
many enemies. It is not surprising at 
all. The Dwarf Pear requires peculiar 
treatment to bring out its good qualities. 
Those who give it such treatment can 
never become its enemies, if they never 
become its friends. We know of one 
person who, ten years ago, ordered a 
goodly number without knowiDg either 
-what Pears would thrive in his section or 
what Pears would thrive upon quince 
stock. They were planted so that the 
juncture between the Pear and Quince 
was above ground and in small holes dug 
out in sod ground. Even the circles 
about the stems were uot kept free of 
weeds or grass. Several died years ago, 
and those that remain were better dead. 
The owner is an enemy of Dwarf Pears! 
We know of another place where Dwarfs 
have been growing for 15 years. They 
were set in cultivated soil and the ground 
is cultivated every year. They were set 
so that the j auction of the stock and cion 
was three or four inches below the sur¬ 
face. The main stem is washed every 
spring with lime and potash. The vari¬ 
eties are Seekel, Dutchess, Louise Bonne 
and Howell. The trees aro iu perfect 
health and bear well. The owner is a 
friend of Dwarf Pears! Who’s to blame ? 
A REAL THANKSGIVING DAY. 
The year is drawing to its close—grow¬ 
ing thin, so to speak. One can almost 
look through it and see the shadow of 
1880. After a long period of depression, 
everything again looks bright for our fav¬ 
ored land—favored as few other lands are 
favored upon the face of the earth. In¬ 
dividuals, as heretofore, and as must 
ever be, have liad their sorrows and suf¬ 
ferings to bear; but the nation has never 
in its history been placed under a heavier 
load of obligations to Him who directs the 
sunshine and the rain—the germinating 
plants and their maturing fruits. It is 
with a saddened feeling that one sees in 
some of our home journals an ill-dis¬ 
guised satisfaction tnat we must be the 
gainers for the depression in other coun¬ 
tries. We have enough to be thankful 
for without the heaping measure which 
the sufferings of others may for a time 
secure us. The National Day of Thanks¬ 
giving draws nigh. If we would have it 
a day of real thanksgiving, let us, while 
we rejoice over our own abundance, 
heartily sympathize with those who, from 
no apparent indiscretions or faults of 
their own, are deprived of their daily 
bread. 
-♦ 
WHEAT AND OATS. 
A number of agricultural journals have 
advocated sowiug oats and wheat together. 
The leaves of the oats are supposed to 
keep the snow from blowing away; to 
prevent the sun from thawing the frozon 
ground and. to make a good top-dressing 
for the growing wheat, iu the spring. But 
it seems plain that if wheat make a fair 
growth iu the fall, its own leaves will 
arrest the snow as well as oat leaves, while 
they would serve just as well to arrest the 
action of the sun upon the frozen ground. 
Asa “top-dressing” we do not believe 
the wheat crop would be appreciably 
benefited. Not until the leaves were 
plowed under aud rotted in the grouud, 
could auy benefit be derived from them as 
a manure. Bo far as we cau see, there¬ 
fore, the oats, instead of benefitiug the 
wheat, would simply exhaust the soil of 
nutriment and moisture. 
-*-<-♦- 
ROLLING AFTER SOWING WHEAT-FIELDS. 
The objection to rolling wheat fields 
after being bowu, has been made that the 
snow will blow off or collect in drifts here 
and there. But if wheat is sown early, 
the leaves should cover the entire surface 
before winter, aud we should suppose 
would hold the snow as well as a rough 
Boil-surface. Whether this supposition 
is well founded or not, we have this fall 
rolled five fields after the seed had been 
drilled in or sown broadcast, and another 
season will probably enable us to test the 
question, 
BREVITIES. 
See that the poultry are not obliged, to roost 
in a draft. 
Thus far, tea culture in California is quite 
unsatisfactory. 
Mr. Roe is propagating a new variety ot 
Grape—a sport of the Concord. 
Don’t store celery too early. Don’t cover 
strawberry beds until after the ground is 
frozen an inch in depth. 
Thomas Hogg, the White-flowering Hy¬ 
drangea of late introduction, has bloomed with 
us during the entire summer. 
Golden Russet. Northern Spy. Roxburv 
Russet are among the most profitable kinds of 
Apples for tbo State of New York. 
Competitors for our corn premiums need 
not hurry themselves. The premiums will not 
be awarded uutil all have had time to inalo 
mature reports. 
The prettiest green in the world is that of a 
well-sown, well-manured wheat-field at this 
time, if sown before September 35. There is 
much about wheat to justify the present wheat 
mania. 
Mu. Woodward writes us, date Oct. 20: “I 
wish you could drop down in Loekport and 
see the vines (Niagara) the foliage yet dark 
and vigorous and looking as if freshly var¬ 
nished.” 
The California Horticulturist has a neighbor 
who has tried Prickly Comfrey for chickens, 
pigs and cows with the result of their unani¬ 
mous refusal to do more than look at it. The 
editor thinks the name of *' Forage” plant a 
misnomer. 
Col. Curtis says, in the N. Y. Tribune, that 
“ Another folly is the importing mania. It is 
time this senseless practice was stopped. 
What we waut is to improve the herds we 
have now, by mixing the blood of animals 
whose value is known by actual test and 
record.” 
The heuvy importation of food into England, 
from all parts of the world, hut. especially from 
this country, will hardly surprise any oue on 
reflection that a country not so large as New 
York and Pennsylvania, has to support a pop¬ 
ulation nearly as large as that of the United 
States. 
Wn regret to learn that with the present 
number of the New England Farmer, the con¬ 
nection of RuBsell P. Eaton, who has been ils 
Editor and Publisher for over twenty years, 
comes to a elose. Mr. Eaton through this 
long term of labor has made many friends 
among the farmers of New England to whom 
he has rendered signal service. 
It is reported (“ by an Italian,” that is alrtvm 
know about It) that grapes nmy be kept in fine 
condition until March if buried in pits under 
ground. The branches and fruit are cut off in 
the fall and hung in the pits which are made 
two or three feet deep in high, dry ground. 
Then boards arc laid across to hold the earth 
above. The pits are uot opened uutil the 
grapes are needed for use. 
Let’s make sheep dogs a feature of our 
agricultural fairs, following Lord Beetive’s ac¬ 
tion. Give prizes for the best, bred aud best 
trained. Judging other farm districts by our 
own, two-thirds of the farmers owu dogs nnd 
a majority of them are “tow-rows” or yelp¬ 
ing, mischievous, worthless curs. Collies are 
useful dogs and cost no more to feed and take 
care of than the others. 
An International Dairy Fair has just closed 
in London. England, and despite the agricul¬ 
tural depression among our trans-Atlantic 
cousins, it is reported to have proved very 
successful. Unlike the late show of the Royal 
Agricultural Society at FQlburu. this exhi¬ 
bition had a fine display of American dairy 
products and machinery, and both classes of 
goods are said to have made a very favorable 
impression on English dairymen and the gen¬ 
eral public. The exhibits from this country 
were, in charge of our correspondent. Professor 
J. P. Sheldon, and of Mr. Oliver. A fine dis¬ 
play of dairy stock formed a marked feature 
of the 8how. and among them was a large 
number of Holsteins entered for competition 
for premiums for the best inilk yield. 
The Purple, dissected-leaf Japan Maple. 
—The picture of Acer pal mate m var. dissectum 
atropurpureum, presented this week upon our 
first page, is an exact copy of a sprig from a 
plant growing on the Rural Grounds. We 
believe it to*be one of the best, if not tbo very 
best, of the Japan Maples. Besides what Mr. 
Hogg says in his accompanying article, it 
needs only to be added that it lias proven 
hardy with us. The leaves are of a dark pur¬ 
ple color during spring, fuding during summer 
to a deep green, not unlike the color of the 
leaves id the Purple Beech at the sume lime of 
year. Thu habit of this fern-like tree is pen¬ 
dulous. The growth is slow, never attaining 
a liight greater that) that of what we usually 
term shrubs. The Rural New-Yorker lias 
had much to do with the introduction of the 
Japan Maples, and they .-lill seem to us 
among (lie most desirable of the many beau¬ 
tiful plants for whieh wo are iudebted to 
Japan. 
On Wednesday. Oct., 22, a uumbor of gen¬ 
tlemen. connected in oue way or another, with 
agricultural interests, met together iu this 
city aL the room of the Farmers' Club, in 
Cooper Institute for the purpose of organizing 
a National Agricultural Society, ou some¬ 
what the same plan as that of the Royal Ag¬ 
ricultural Society of Eugluml. After the de¬ 
livery of an address by J. 11. Ueall, chief or¬ 
ganizer of the Dairy Fair held here last win¬ 
ter, and the reading of u uumbor of letters 
sympathizing iu the ohJ< et, a committee of 
thirteen was appointed by the chairman to 
issue a call aud make preparations for a meet¬ 
ing here, at a date to he h.eUlod OU hereafter, 
for the purpose of organizing the projected 
Society. The following gentlemen were 
appointed as such committee: J. H. lteall. of 
New York : Colonel William Crozier, Prof. 
H. E. Alvord, Lawson Valentine, ex-Governor 
Hyde. Colonel J. B. Mead, Dr. A. 8. Heath, 
L. 8. Hardin, James Neilsou, Ezra Whitman, 
T, 8. Gold, aud Victor C. Ploletio, 
