THE 
RURAL NEW-YORKER, 
A National Journal for Country and Suburban Homes. 
Conducted by 
E. S. CARMAN, 
Editor. 
J. S. WOODWARD, • 
Associate. 
Address 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER, 
No. 34 Park Row, New York. 
SATURDAY, MARCH 13, 188(5. 
If the number ou your address label is 
1885, your subscription expires with this 
number; if 1886, next week; 1887, in two 
weeks, etc. 
The next (second) Potato Special of 
the R. N.-Y. will be dated March 27th. 
In reply to several requests that we 
give instructions about hot-beds and cold- 
frames, we would respectfully direct at¬ 
tention to the catalogues which we have 
been at pains to announce in these 
columns. Many of them give very full 
instructions, and it seems a waste of space 
that we should repeat them from year to 
year. ___ 
When we talk of the value of muck, what 
do we mean? Some muck may contain 
only onc-half of one percent, of ammonia; 
other sorts may contain as high as four 
per cent. There is muck and muck— 
one may be worthless, another of great 
value. We had better find out by analy¬ 
sis how T much ammonia muck contains 
before w r e conclude to draw it a long 
distance. _ _ _ 
A man in Michigan is selling lots of 
Prickly Comfrey to certain farmers. Do 
Rural reader.' need to be informed that 
though the plant is hardy; though it 
will yield heavily, and may be cut twice 
in good soil; though according to analy¬ 
ses it is nutritious-stock will not 
eat it unless starved? We have raised 
Comfrey for ten years and have yet to 
find an animal that cares for it. 
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The volume of the American Pomolog- 
ical Society, session of 1885, has been re¬ 
ceived. We never look at these invalu¬ 
able works without a feeling that every 
American citizen should feel a sense of in¬ 
debtedness to the good men who have 
made the Society what it is. We wish it 
might he in the hands of all our readers, 
and we shall endeavor to quote from it 
freely for their benefit. 
Pres. T. T. Lyon writes us that he 
planted a couple of trees of the Japan 
Chestnut, one year from the bud, one of 
which died outright during the succeed¬ 
ing Summer, and the other made a mod¬ 
erate growth hut died back to the stock 
during the second Summer, leaving him 
in doubt whether to charge the loss to 
injury in handling and transportation or 
to inability to withstand the Michigan 
Winter. _ _ 
The power of the “boycott” is ac¬ 
knowledged. To “boycott” a thing is to 
let it entirely alone—to simply ignore it. 
The world would be much better off if 
fanners would apply this principle more 
judiciously. Poor tools, poor seeds, scrub 
stock and scrub methods of fanning 
should be boycotted. In making up the 
list don’t forget the representative who 
votes to help cover your bread with 
“bogus” butter. 
The best way to secure a continuous 
supply of sweet com until frost is, ac¬ 
cording to our experience, to plant early, 
medium and late kinds all at once—say 
in early May. Select, for instance, the 
Cory, Pee and Kay, Moore’s Concord, 
StowelPsEvergreen.and, finally, the Black 
Mexican and Egyptian. These will keep 
up the succession until mid-August . For 
a supply after this, we prefer to plant 
the Evergreen, Egyptian or Spanish 
about the 1st of June, rather than the 
earliest kinds later. After eating these 
late varieties, it is hard to return to the 
earliest, which are always of inferior 
quality. _ _ _ 
We are opposed to the cheap pack¬ 
ages of seeds which many seedsmen are 
now offering. These collections are ad¬ 
vertised as $2.50 or $2.00 worth of seeds 
for $1.00, etc. So long as purchasers will 
buy sucli seeds, just so long they will 
offer inducements to seedsmen to sell an 
inferior article. A well-known seedsman 
said to the writer a few days ago that it 
was a matter of sincere regret to him and 
to all seedsmen who value theirreputation, 
that there is a growing tendency to en¬ 
snare the purchaser by these “taking” 
offers. Seedsmen must live, and this 
cheap competition must be met. And 
the only way to meet it is by putting up 
seeds of inferior quality. There is no 
trusty seedsman who can afford to sell 
two dollars’ worth of seeds for 50 cents. 
It is hard to understand why the Liquid - 
ambar is not more of a favorite as an orna¬ 
mental tree. It grows wild in most parts 
of our country, and though seemiug to 
prefer swampy places, it thrives fully ns 
well in dry, upland situations. It is a lit¬ 
tle difficult to transplant and should he 
severely cut back when removed. It as¬ 
sumes a pyramidal form of beautiful sym¬ 
metry, and its star-like, deep green leaves 
colored more richly than those of any 
other tree in the Autumn. This feature 
should insure it a place upon the lawn 
even to the neglect of the best of the 
maples. Its corrugated bark giving the 
oddest appearance to the stems which are 
furrowed with it in the most irregular 
manner, is itself an interesting feature 
of the Liquidambar. 
- « » ♦- 
Let us suggest to our many lady read¬ 
ers who have raised the older kinds of 
geraniums for years and years, that they 
go over the lists in some of our catalogues 
that make such plants specialties, and 
select a dozen of what, by description, 
seem to be the newest and best of the 
pelargoniums (as they should be called) 
of the present day. The improvement in 
this flower, as beautiful for the garden as 
for the window or greenhouse, is really 
remarkable. A stock thus procured 
could he multiplied indefinitely for the 
benefit of oue's poorer neighbors. Or— 
what would prove a fascinating employ¬ 
ment—the flowers could be crossed in the 
house next Winter, and in this way cross¬ 
bred seedlings could be raised. It is very 
easy to cross pelargoniums, because the 
anthers and pistils are rarely, if ever, 
mature at the same time. 
Last Tuesday, the House Committee 
on Post Offices and Post Roads, which 
has before it a hill similar to that intro¬ 
duced by Senator Wilson, of Iowa, to in¬ 
crease the rate of postage upon fourth- 
class matter from one to two cents per 
ounce, voted unanimously to recommend 
the rejection of the hill, “as such an in¬ 
crease of postage would be manifestly in 
the interest of express companies, and in 
conflict with the interests of the people.” 
“Level-headed” committee that! Even if 
the Senate should pass Wilson’s “monop- 
ly bill,” it could not now pass the House, 
as that body seldom, if ever, passes a meas¬ 
ure unanimously opposed by the commit¬ 
tee in charge of such legislation. No 
harm in making “assurance doubly sure,” 
however, by- letting Congressmen know, 
through the mail, the opinions of their 
constituents on the matter. 
What may be called the emigration 
season is rapidly drawing near. Thous¬ 
ands of young men have doubtless made 
up their miutls to leave the old home and 
seek their fortunes in some newer eouutry. 
Pride, poverty and love of adventure all 
tend to push them away from home and 
friends. Don’t he in too much of a hurry 
to go, young man! The change you pro¬ 
pose is'a serious thing. Don’t think all 
the good places will be taken up if you 
do not rush away at once. There are 
plenty of places left where good solid 
happiness can he obtained. The supply 
of such places is inexhaustible. We be¬ 
lieve there is such a place right on the 
old farm that seems to you so poor and 
mean. See what you can do at home be¬ 
fore you give it up. Some spots of this 
country are more productive than others, 
hut, counting in health, markets, old 
associations and independence, there will 
be little difference in happiness to those 
who live upon them. 
F. S. Phcenix, of Bloomington, 111., 
writes us that he has two-year-old seed¬ 
ling Japan Chestnuts, also some older 
trees some of which were grown by bud¬ 
ding upon the American Chestnut. The 
nuts planted grew readily. He finds 
that the trees do not prove hardy. “They 
kill back,” be says, “annually, and five 
and seven-year-old trees are mere shrubs.” 
He thinks, however, that the care be¬ 
stowed on such trees by amateurs would 
insure bearing trees even in his climate. 
To his taste the nuts arc quite as good 
as the American Chestnuts. 
Is the climate of Bloomington, Ill., 
more severe than that of Painesville, Ohio, 
or Rochester, N. Y.? Mr. Phcenix adds 
that he was greatly disappointed to see 
the beautiful Prunus Pissardii—strong 
three-year trees—killed to the ground last 
(1885) Winter. He mentions this as it 
contradicts repeated assertions m the R. 
N.-Y. We are right sorry to hear it, 
and hope Mr, P.’s case is exceptional. 
Although the estimates of the value of 
various fertilizers in the reports of the 
different Experiment Stations which an¬ 
alyze fertilizers sold in their respective 
States, are liable to be misleading; still 
there is no doubt whatever that such 
checks upon unscrupulous manufacturers 
are of no small benefit to the farming 
community. Iu the Cotton States the 
improvement in fertilizers due to this 
agency has long been acknowledged, and 
iu the Nothern States where such Stations 
have been established, such as Massachu¬ 
setts, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsyl¬ 
vania and Ohio, the results have been 
highly advantageous. Mr. Wallace Tap- 
pan has introduced in the New York 
Legislature a lull for the establishment 
of a similar Station in this State. It is 
based on the law's of Massachusetts, Con¬ 
necticut, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, 
with such improvements as are suggested 
by experience iu other States. Such a 
Station under the direction of an energet¬ 
ic, thoroughly competent director would 
save to the farmers of the Empire State, 
many times its cost every year, and the 
hill establishing it should be passed. 
SPECIAL. 
Those who, having applied for the 
Rural’s present seed distribution prior 
to March 1, have not yet received it (Can¬ 
ada subscribers excepted), will kindly 
notify us by postal. 
- ‘BOYCOTTING’ COTTON,” 
“Boycott Cotton” was the general 
sentiment ut the Inter-State Agricultural 
Convention held the other day at .Mem¬ 
phis, Tennessee. Last Saturday (Feb. 
27), cotton in the New York market 
was cents, a lower figure than at 
any time since 1852. This extreme de¬ 
pression is attributed chiefly to the 
manipulation of speculators. These have 
already fixed, so far as they can, 
the price for the next crop before the 
seed is in the ground or the plows have 
started. Cotton futures for December 
1886 and January 1887 are now quoted 
in this market at from 8.90 cents to 8.75 
cents. This means not more than 8"i cents 
a pound iu New York, and 8U cents in 
the principal Southern shipping ports, 
and not over 7U cents for the planter, who 
must pay freight, insurance and commis¬ 
sion charges, which generally average 
from three-fourths of a cent to a cent 
per pound. A planter can not possibly 
make a bare living by selling cotton at. 
this figure. Instead of getting out of 
debt to his commission merchant, he 
must sink deeper and deeper into his 
power, until, like so many other South¬ 
ern plantations, his place passes, before 
long, into the possession of his creditor. 
The only remedy lies in diversified hus¬ 
bandry, and this the Convention earnestly 
urged upon the people of the “cotton 
belt,” “Plant less cotton, and more 
grain and grasses. Raise hogs and hom¬ 
iny: let cotton be a surplus crop,” is ex¬ 
cellent advice. Instead of producing 
6,500,000 bales of cotton, make only 
4,500,000, and thus get long prices for 
the staple and be independent of specu¬ 
lating sharks who keep their victims in 
debt and misery. Every planter sees 
the wisdom of such a course, and wishes 
that his neighbors would follow it; hut 
although it has been adopted to soiue 
extent of late years in many parts of the 
South, the movement has been slow and 
tentative. If the present great depression 
in cotton shall hasten and extend it, it 
will prove a “blessing in disguise.” More 
economical methods in growing and 
handling cotton should also be employed. 
In all other lines of production the great¬ 
est economies are being introduced; 
why should cotton he* an exception? An 
appeal w r us made by the convention for 
legislation against speculation in the 
staple; but although much has justly been 
said against buying and sellingfor future 
delivery, dealing iu “futures” lias certain¬ 
ly checked extreme fluctuations in the 
prices of cotton. The ups and downs 
now in the cottou market are trifling 
compared with those before the introduc¬ 
tion of the telegraph and “futures.” 
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BREVITIES. 
A very expensive mode of riding—ou u 
hobby. 
Regarding the Rural’s advice as to the 
Champion Quince, Mr. Kerr, of Maryland, 
will have a qualifying word to say in next 
week’s R. N.-Y. 
The Rural’s Fertilizer Number is worth 
more t.hau a year’s subscription to any pro¬ 
gressive fanner. J. D. miller. 
Elmira. N. Y. 
If the dairymen of the country ask the State 
aud National Legislatures for nothing in par¬ 
ticular, as Professor Morrow advises else¬ 
where iu this issue, they are pretty sure to get 
It. 
Senator Wilson’s bill raising the postage 
on fourth-class matter meets with an over¬ 
whelming opposition from all classes that sell 
or buy seeds or plants. 
The idea of measuring the milk product of 
a cow iu pounds and ounces instead of in 
quarts and gallons is good. When we can 
quote eggs by the pound we shall feel our¬ 
selves two steps in advance. 
You promised yourself last Summer, when 
the fried pork began to taste so flat, that you 
would never let another Summer go without 
plenty of fruit. What is your promise worth? 
We are watching you t.< > find out. 
Senator Wilson thinks it may be advis¬ 
able to make an exception in favor of seeds, 
plants, etc., in the bill which proposes to in¬ 
crease the postage on fourth-class matter. He 
solicits any suggestions from seedsmen and 
nurserymen. 
The R. N.-Y., having tried about every 
other breed, proposes this Spring to make a 
start with Langshmw. Our experience with 
the Plymouth Rock, and later with the Wyan¬ 
dotte, has eertoiulv lmd its due effect in pop¬ 
ularising those tine breeds. 
A good Canadian friend writes as follows 
about the present Postal law of Canada, which 
places the rate of (mstage on fourth-class mat¬ 
ter at four cents a pound: “It is a grand law 
for the people, and about the only grumbling 
we hear is from the dear express companies! ’ 
A NEIGHBORING farmer has two wells, one 
close to the barnyard, the other close to the 
dwelling, 200 yards away. The latter is used 
by the family, except diming long periods of 
dry weather, when the other is freely used. 
A number of eases of dysentery ha ve occurred 
in the family. 
The best way we have found to start celery 
seeds is to sow them iu mellow, rich soil. 
Cover the drills with planks (hemlock), raising 
them above the soil an inch. These planks 
serve to retain the moisture so that watering 
is unnecessary. As soon as the seeds sprout, 
gradually remove the planks. 
Bills prohibiting the sale or gift of cigar¬ 
ettes to boys under 18 years of age have again 
been brought, before various State legisla¬ 
tures. It is surprising what, .strength is devel¬ 
oped in favor of Mich measures: almost any 
man, though la* be a confirmed smoker him¬ 
self, would gladly have the “weed ’ kept away 
from his son. 
Last year Congress tried to get on the soft 
side of editors by reducing the postage on news¬ 
papers to one cent a pound, besides carrying 
them free in the counties in which they are pub¬ 
lished. To can*y newspapers for the publish¬ 
ers for one cent a pound and demand two 
cents an ounce for Hiuall parcels carried for 
the people— what an exhibition of consistency! 
I enjoy the critical notes in the R. N.-Y. 
very much. Bv-the-way, the Rural is the 
ltest agricultural paper 1 get, all things con¬ 
sidered. The one point that raises it in ray 
favor is its independence in regal'd to new 
things. I detest a newspaper that will “slab¬ 
ber” for raouey. CHas. w. garfield. 
Grand Rapid, Mich. 
WHY is it that the average yield of wheat 
on the long-used soil of the United Kingdom 
last year amounted tool bushels pera< re; while 
the average yield on the comparatively now 
soil of this country was ouly 10’; bushels? If 
prices, as seems likely, are to be lower Imre in 
future, won’t it be necessary to force the soil 
to yield larger crops, or to abandon wheat 
raising altogether, as a source of loss instead 
of profit? 
New England farmers, are talking up the 
creamery system of dairying. We think they 
will favor it. Good creamery butter is uni¬ 
form in quality aud can be sold to ltest advan¬ 
tage. An organization of farmers will be far 
more powerful and conduct business better than 
a large number of single butter-makers. “Bo- 
us” butter has Listened itself upon our mar 
eta. It will do no good to deny it. To tlgth 
it successfully, the butter trade must be 
revolutionized, The great, mass of intelligent 
people who provide the butter market will 
never come to look ujkiu oleomargarine with 
favor. They will simply change their meth 
ods of buying and go w here care and honesty 
can Ik* assured them. A good creamery with 
a retail city branch, will bo t he ideal butter 
establishment, of the future. The new* system 
can l>e made a great success in New England. 
With respect to distance to be traveled, simi¬ 
larity of pasturage and feed ami good roads, 
that section will have greatly the advantage 
of the West, where* the new system has lteen 
remarkably successful. 
SAMPLES. 
Ouu advertisement in a late Rural New- 
Yorker has paid us the best, of any advertise¬ 
ment we ever seut out. CHAS. a. green. 
Clifton, N. Y. 
We are receiving a large number of replies 
to our advertisement, in the Rural —many 
more than we have ever received before. U e 
are selling a large number of planters, some 
days the orders amount to over 100. We re¬ 
ceived an order from one man m Kentucky, 
who bought one on the strength of a remark In* 
saw in the Rural New-Yorker. He was 
very much pleased with the implement, and 
thought the Rural the best pui>er ill the 
country. About right. 
Grand Isle, Vt. s. m. macombeu & co. 
