720 
NOV. 8 
ears in every stalk. We have no doubt that 
there is more saccharine matter in one stalk of 
this sugar corn than in a half dozen of Pearl 
Millet. The amount of sugar contained in 
these plant* is the best measure of their value, 
and in this the corn always excels—hence we 
have superiority in quality, and superiority in 
bulk. It takes less labor to put in and cultivate 
a plot of corn than one of any kind of Millet. 
It is not any more exhausting to the soil and 
no more difficult to cure than Pearl Millet. 
For a hay crop, Hungarian grass would he 
preferable to cither, on account of the rapidity 
of its growth and front the fact that it tuay be 
sowed broadcast, requiring no extra tillage in 
order to get a full crop. Not so with Pearl 
Millet. A mistake is made by most farmers by 
sowing corn too thick in the drill. It should 
be thin enough so that the stalks will grow up 
and set for ears; when this is the case a full 
measure of sweetness is obtained. When too 
thick in the drill, the stalks are soft and washy, 
lacking sweetness and substance, and unsatis¬ 
factory in feeding value. This is the reason 
why there is so much controversy on the corn- 
fodder question. People who grow these soft 
and washy stalks, contend that corn fodder is 
worthless, and they are half right, while people 
who grow the mature stalks ou which nubbins 
are formed full of sweet juice and substance, 
contend that green corn stalks are valuable 
fodder, and they are wholly right. 
Care of Calves and Lambs. 
We have begun already to winter our calves 
and lambs. O ir experience teaches us that it 
does not pay to let these young things run 
down. The calves are brought in every night 
and fed a pint of shorts each, with some hay 
to pick at. In the morning they get another 
feeding of shorts, when they are allowed to go 
with the cows to the pasture, unless a cold 
storm should prevail, when they are kept in. 
In this way the calves grow all the time, and 
come to the barn in the winter strong and vig¬ 
orous, able to withstand the cold and the rig¬ 
ors of winter. The lambs are being weaned in 
a box stall where they arc fed oats, a gill apiece 
daily, with plenty of clover hay. Two or three 
old sheep put w ith them, will teach them to 
eat the oats and make them more contented, so 
that they will not get home-sick and lose their 
appetites. It is an important thing to handle 
youug animals or any auimul so that they will 
not get home-sick, lor u hen in this condition 
they will not thrive. Like members of the hu¬ 
man family, they want company. When alone 
they are restive, and pine away. 
Castrating. 
A Victoria boar eight years old, was castrated 
to-day and the wounds treated with crude coal 
tar. This will keep out the dies, aud cause the 
parts to heal rapidly. The spermatic cord was 
scraped apart instead of being cut square 
off. This causes it to bleed less, as the blood 
coagulates more quickly aud the flow is 
stopped. A square, clean cut does not allow' 
this. Twisting off with a pair of forceps is 
also a good w ay, and will also prevent bleeding. 
The coal tar keeps the air out UDd prevents 
the formation of ‘'proud flesh ” as it is anti¬ 
septic in its efftets. There is no more merci¬ 
ful or healing application after castration than 
crude coal tar. 
Gapes 
Yesterday a chicken was nearly dead with 
the gape6 and to day it is entirely well. An 
inhalation of tobacco smoke until it was etu- 
pified, cured it. 
Phosphate on Buckwheat. 
A dressing of phosphate last year gave us a 
superior crop of buckwheat ou a poor held. 
This year there has been uo dressing aud the 
buckwheat is a light crop. These feriilizeis 
must, be renewed every year to get any benefit 
from them. Would it not be better to expend 
the same money for a substantial basis of 
growth in the shape of barnyard, or stable 
manure which would Jast for more than one 
crop? If this form of manure cannot be ob¬ 
tained, then perhaps it is best to try tbe others; 
but we must all the time remember that they 
stand in the relation to the soil that bread and 
whiskey do to a hungry stomach—one is food, 
the other i6 stimulant. 
Beat Seed Corn. 
Mr. Wm. McConchie is a careful and pains¬ 
taking farmer. By selecting his seed corn 
from the earliest and best ears, and where 
there were two on a stalk, he has so improved 
his corn that it ripens in less than niucty days 
and yields a splendid crop. The selected ears 
are twiBtcd up and hung in the sun to dry. 
His seed always grows and he always has 
plenty of it, because it is his yearly practice to 
gather sufficient as soon as it is ripe enough. 
Most farmers wait till husking lime to secure 
their seed corn and sometimes do not save it 
at all, but depend ou their more thoughtful 
and careful neighbors to supply them. Their 
lamps are not trimmed aud burniug, and hence 
they are often pat to great trouble for seed, 
when, by spending a part of a day as Mr. Me- 
Conchiedoes, they might be ready and improve 
their crop. It is not loo late yet too save the 
seed corn, aud it should he done as soon 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
as possible. Corn can be improved by 
selection as well as anything else. Mr. Mc¬ 
Conchie has got his np to the thoroughbred 
standard, excellence and uniformity. Nearly 
every stalk lias two ears. The kind he has 
perfected is the sweet-white. This is an ex¬ 
cellent variety for early feeding, as it is softer 
than the yellow kinds and shells easier. Pigs 
can eat it on the cob when they cannot the 
others. 
-- 
CAUSING PLANTS TO FLOWEB OB FBUIT. 
There is a principle governing certain stages 
of a plant’s life, which ought to be more gen¬ 
erally known. It partakes In fact of the na¬ 
ture of an axiom:—“Anything done to a plant 
to check its growth or threaten its life, will 
throw it into flower or fruit.” Of course, this 
has reference to plants of a sufficient hardness 
of tissue to be able to prodnee fruit, but 
which obstinately refuse to do so. Expert 
gardeners and fruit growers employ this prin¬ 
ciple to much profit; in fact, so strong is its 
Influence that some plants may he thus forced 
prematurely. For instance, a fruit tree is of 
ample age, but does not bear. If we go around 
the tree with a sharp spade and insert it per¬ 
pendicularly down among the roots, about a 
foot to eighteen inches from the trunk, we 
6hall cut off all the small roots in the way, and 
the next season it will show fruit. If, in addi¬ 
tion, we dig a trench around the tree, say 
eighteen inches deep, and fill it in with good 
soil or some well rotted old manure, which must 
be made very fine, we shall check the tree aud 
fruit and also nourish it for succeeding crops, 
thus keeping up its newly-made vigor. Flow¬ 
ering bushes of most kinds may be similarly 
treated with good effect. In regard to flower- 
iug vines, the treatment is different. As loug 
as a vine can climb and fiud support, it will 
refuse to flower, and if the pole or strings are 
lorn", will reach the second-story window, with¬ 
out a bud ; but train low, or tie to short poles 
so that the vine has to hang down at the top, 
and, as if by magic, it flowers profusely. Many 
inodes of applying the principle will sug¬ 
gest themselves, but they must have one aim, 
that of thwarting the natural habit. Lima 
beans grown to four-feet poles will produce 
double the amount of those on eight feet poles. 
Dodge Co., Neb. S. Rdfos Mason. 
-- 
Poinciana. —A family relation of tbe Vir- 
gilia lutea or Yellow Wood is that pretty eight- 
foot shrub the Poinciana Gillcsii which has 
bloomed here as freely as an Oleander by usiog 
the same care with it, of lilting and storing it 
in a cellar. It is not evergreen, nor does it 
want a continuous soak of water. Its growth 
resembles that of the Honey-Locust, without 
thorns and on a smaller scale ; and one trial 
of buds set into a hedge shoot of this nearly 
related tree, seems to show that it will grow 
upon it by grafting. A few pods form here 
from the numerous, unique and very showy 
blossoms, but the seeds fail to ripen, even when 
growth is started early in March. It is said to 
be a native of the Argentine Republic, latitude 
of Buenos Ayres. The charmingly neat leaf¬ 
lets, of a peculiar bluish green, show to great 
advantage by contrast with the foliage of other 
shrubs arouud, and they fold like those of the 
Mimosa, when the plant goes to sleep at dusk. 
Central, Pa. w. 
WHAT OTHEBS BAY. 
A Potato Contest. —The New England Far¬ 
mer tells of a potato contest instigated by the 
members of the Franklin Farmers’ Club of 
Mass. . The contest was confined to one square 
rod of ground, and the competitor who should 
win was entitled to the product of all the other 
competing rods. Competitors were required 
to plant from the same lot of seed, the Early 
Rose being selected as the sort to be planted. 
Of the eleven competitors, Mr. A. W. Cheever, 
the agricultural editor of the good journal 
from which we make these notes, produced the 
largest yield. The land on which ho grew the 
trial lot, had been uuder cultivation several 
years, chiefly under forage crops. Soil, a 
heavy loam, quite moist early iu the season. 
It was plowed but once this year, a light coat¬ 
ing of stable manure being turned in about 
seven iuches deep. Rows were marked out 
about 18 iuches apart. Before planting, about 
800 pounds of guano and 400 pouuds of sul¬ 
phate of potash per acre, were spread broad¬ 
cast over the furrows. The seed was exposed 
several days to a strong light to start the 
sprouts into a short, healthy growth. When 
ready to plant, single eyes were cut from the 
potatoes, selecting only those which were 
well started and of good strong appearance. 
Most of the eyes were cut from the stem end or 
middle of the potato where a good bit of tbe 
potato could be taken out with each eye. Then 
they were laid in a basket with plaster dusted 
over them, to cover the eat surface and give 
protection to the sprouts while being handled. 
The pieces were dropped singly about 14 inches 
apart. The sets were covered not over an 
inch deep. When the shoots broke through, 
the plot was dusted over with guano at the 
rate of 200 pounds per sere, and raked into the 
soil with a garden rake, killing at the same 
time all the small weeds which had started. As 
the potatoes were so near the surface, and so 
thickly planted, it was fouud impracticable to 
bill them in the ordinary way, so the ground 
was mulched with chopped straw for a pro¬ 
tection, not only against weeds, but to keep the 
new potatoes from being sunburnt as they 
showed themselves above the surface. The 
mulch also, in a measure, secured a cool, moist 
soil during the hot, dry weather of midsummer. 
The straw was put on some three inches deep, 
but soon settled to one inch, and was then 
covered with a second coat of mulch which 
remained undisturbed till digging time. 
To keep the bugs in check, a sprinkling of 
dry plaster was used three or four times, with 
just enough Paris-green to shade the plaster, 
giving it a slight greenish tiDge. A very few 
weeds were pulled by hand during the season 
of growth, but it was the aim to travel over the 
patch just as little as possible, as the plants 
covered nearly the whole surface. The yield 
per rod was 183 pounds, equal to a yield of 488 
bushels per acre. The most important lesson 
which Mr. Cheever learned by the experiment 
is that potatoes must, have room to grow wider 
ground, or tbe yield will be diminished and the 
quality impaired. He would never plant 60 
near the surface again, and with an equally 
favorable Beasou should expect to do better 
another year. 
Early Amber Cane. —A correspondent of 
the New York Tribune says that this variety 
of cane it planted the 10th of May, is ready to 
work ordinarily by the middle of August. Re¬ 
cent experiments have satisfied him that one 
acre of this cane will supply the annual wants 
of most families, or, to be more explicit, with 
the rudest implements, such as a $65-mill to 
express the juice, two seventy-gallon pans of 
galvanized iron that will cost less than $10, 
and the common cider-mill or cheese press to 
express the sirnp from the sugar, one acre 
of average cane, drilled, will yield 500 pounds 
of bugar, and 700 pounds of fine sirup. This 
is based upon a yield of 140 gallons of molasses, 
weighing thirteen pounds per gallon, per acre. 
A recent experiment of his upon one-fourth of 
an acre, indicates more than this, although the 
object was molasses solely. In addition to 
what he has said of the Amber cane for the 
farmer, he is satisfied that if a neighborhood 
will organize a company with a capital of 
$1,000. the yield of sugar can he raised to seven 
pouuds per gallon, by the use of lime aud sul¬ 
phurous acid, and the process is within the 
capacity of the most ordinary farmer, but let 
ii be distinctly understood that the Amber cane 
will yield a fine sugar, in paying quantities, 
treated exactly as sugar or maple water is 
treated, save that it must be set aside in proper 
vessels to granulate. 
Profitable Farming.—* The lesson iBthis— 
let us grow only profitable crops. The truck 
farmers grow such crops as years of experieuce 
have shown them can be produced at a profit: 
there may he an occasional failure from local 
causes, but the general result is profitable. If 
a crop is produced at a loss, they look for the 
reason, aud if it is one which they cannot 
remedy, they cease to cultivate that crop. 
Now the same rule, modified somewhat, might 
be adopted by farmers with the best of results. 
I can point out scores of farms ou which it 16 a 
rare tiling that a profitable crop is grown, and 
by a profitabls crop I mean one that will pay a 
moderate rent for the land, and fair wages for 
the labor expended, and leave a surplus. Now, 
the remedy is to be found iu cultivating less 
laud and doing it better." So writes *• Waldo” 
iu the Ohio Practical Farmer. 
“ Agriculture has always been known as 
the basis of civilization with ail peoples. But 
it has rarely if ever happened in the world’s 
history that it has wrought out such marked 
and rapid changes iu the credit and prosperity 
of a Government as those which we now wit¬ 
ness in our land. It could never before bo 
said, with even a show of plausibility, as 1 now 
say, in full faith that American farmers, be- 
youd lifting up their Government from its 
low financial condition, beyond giving food to 
suffering classes in other lands, exert a potent 
influence in the political affairs of the civilized 
world .”—Horatio Seymour. 
A Curious Change.— 11 Formerly an apple 
tree on the farm of Deaeon Paige, Prescott 
Hill, Mass., bore the even year, but was split 
in two by a heavy wind some time ago, and 
the two parts were brought together again with 
an iron bolt, aud have now grown together to 
all appearances. But the strange thing of It 
is that this accident caused one of the parts to 
bear the odd year, while the other continues as 
was its wont.”—IN- E. Homestead. [It is pro¬ 
bable that the roots oi the tree so split were 
not equally divided or proportionate to the 
roots. Iu this view, one part for the first year 
after the accident would receive mor< nourish¬ 
ment than the other, which might account for 
the change in the bearing year. Eds ] 
Apples for Arkansas. —An Arkansas cor¬ 
respondent of the Rural World gives the fol¬ 
lowing list of Apples which have proved valu¬ 
able in that State: 
Summer—Early Harvest. Red Astrachan, 
Sweet Bough, Summer Queen, Julian and 
Horae. Astrachan sometimes rots on the tree. 
Autumn—Seek-No-Further, Fall Wine, Rome 
Beauty and Yellow Bellflower. Seek-No-Fur- 
ther Is best; Yellow Bellflower poorest. 
Winter—Wlnesap, Ben Davis, Limber-Twig, 
Shockley, Shanuon, Caroline, Winter Queen. 
Ben Davis rote badly; Shannon is excellent, 
hut a poor bearer. 
Where to begin Farming. —Mr. Goessman 
is credited by the Mobile Register with the sen¬ 
sible remark that “ farming operations should 
begin in the garden, and get out of it only 
when the household has ample provisions made 
for its own table. Tbe garden, too, is the best 
of schools, and it is rarely that the farmer 6teps 
from the garden to the poor farm.” 
PAMPHLETS AND CATALOGUES. 
Wattle Bark. —This pamphlet of 27 pages 
contains the Report of the Board of Inquiry 
appointed by the Government of the Province 
of Victoria. Australia, in January. 1878, to in¬ 
vestigate the subject of wattle conservation 
and the concomitant industry of UarU strip¬ 
ping. There are three species of Wattles in¬ 
digenous to Australia—Acacia pycnanthe, the 
Golden or Broad-leaved; A. cl ecu rrens, the 
Black or Feather-leaved, and A. dealbata, the 
8ilver Wattle—all of which grow very exten¬ 
sively in Victoria, affording in their bark the 
best kind of astringent for tanning purposes. 
It is from these the mimosa bark of commerce 
is derived, and the species are here mentioned 
in the order of the superior excellence of their 
bark product for this purpose. Although they 
grow spontaneously as readily as grass, yet, 
owing to the extensive and frequent forest 
fires, to the advancing area of cultivation, and 
especially to the inconsiderate greed of bark- 
strippers, who recklessly ruin large areas of 
Wattles in collecting the product for exporta¬ 
tion, there iB danger that the supply will soon 
prove insufficient for home demand. Owing 
to the proximity of this superior material for 
tanning, instead of exporting hides, Victoria 
has for years been manufacturing into leather 
not only her owu hides, but large importations 
from other countries, and it is the dread of 
losing this trade that led to the appointment 
of the Board of Inquiry whose report is here 
given. The work gives a full account of the 
above-named Wattles and their uses, together 
with a statement of the profit to he derived 
from their systematic cultivation, etc. Sold 
by Geo. Robertson, Little Collins St., Mel¬ 
bourne, Australia; price three pence—six 
cents. 
Dairy Farming, being the Theory, Practice 
and Methods of Dairying, by J. P. Sheldon, 
Assisted by leading Authorities in Various 
Countries. The publication of this work marks, 
it is to be hoped, the commencement of a new 
era in agricultural literature. Judging from 
the four uumbers already given to the public, 
there certainly has never been published, with¬ 
in our knowledge, a work relating to any de¬ 
partment of agriculture so thorough in its 
information, so lucid in its treatment, so ar¬ 
tistic in its illustrations, and so admirable in 
all its details. The high reputation of its 
author, until lately Professor of Agriculture at 
the Royal Agricultural College of Circucester, 
Eugland, with whom our readers are already 
acquainted through his contributious to these 
columns, is an ample guarantee of the care, 
caution and erudition employed in its compo¬ 
sition. The work is issued in monthly part6, 
and will be completed probably iu twenty-five 
numbers. It promises to be exhaustive in its 
treatment of every branch of dairy farming, 
and to be, iu short, a standard encyclopedia of 
information on dairy matters. As a frontis¬ 
piece to each number is a fine, full-page, col¬ 
ored illustration of some subject treated of iu 
the body of the work, while numerous smaller 
engravings embellish the other pages aud ex¬ 
emplify clearly to the eye the implement or 
other object described in the text. The type 
is large, the paper tinted aud of excellent qual¬ 
ity, aud when completed, the work will form a 
superb book of reference, which should be 
found in every farmhouse throughout the land. 
Each number costs only 40 cents, or the three 
first will be furnished as specimens for $1; 
yearly subscriptions in advance, $4.50. The 
high-standing of the publishers, Messrs. Cas¬ 
sell, Petter, Galpin & Co. of this city, renders it, 
of course, unnecessary to say anything to our 
readers as to the confidence with which they 
may forward their subscriptions. We shall, 
doubtless, in future issues have to refer fre¬ 
quently to the work, as each succeeding num¬ 
ber is published. 
How to Select Dairy Cows; or. The Gue¬ 
non System, simplified, explained and prac¬ 
tically applied, by Willis P. Hazard, with 
nearly 100 illustrations photographed from 
Guenon’s engravings. In 1878 the State of 
Pennsylvania appointed a Commissiou to test 
the above Bystem and report the results. Of 
this commission Mr. Hazard was appointed 
