4886 
THE RURAL HEW-YORKIR. 
the temptation of seeing this beautiful valley 
in the green of the year, and so paid a second 
visit to Monterey and its environs. Of course, 
everything looked at its best. The road lay 
through unbroken stretches of wild flowers. 
The Coast Range on one side and the Santa 
Cruz Mountains on the other rose like undu¬ 
lating ramparts of amethyst ou either hand, 
while the beautiful Bay of Monterey, flecked 
with pleasure and fishing boats, never looked 
lovelier. We went first to the Hotel del Monte 
with its 1:20 acres of lawn—a stretch of un¬ 
paralleled beauty, whero it is more Summer 
in December than in July, and where the 
world seems to bloom unceasingly—pelargoni¬ 
ums trained up like trees, a single stalk six to 
ten feet high; great Live Oaks bent iu most 
picturesque forms, often the top of the tree as 
near to the ground as the first branch—a place 
where there is more beauty, comfort, elegance 
and cleanliness than can be had elsewhere in the 
world in the same length of time and for the 
same money. I think no one can recall this 
incomparable place without a feeliug of en¬ 
thusiasm that borders on daftness! 
We spent four days there and saw many 
things that escaped us on our previous visit. 
The old town of Monterey abounds in curious 
interest, and is still intensely Spanish—an in¬ 
dolent race and largely intermarried with 
Indians. Wo drove one day through the town 
with great difficulty, because of the ditches 
and gulches in the streets, which kept our 
horse in constant fear. There are rows of old 
adobe houses, long and low, with curious tile 
roofs, most picturesque with vines and 
flowers, but probably dark and unwholesome 
to live in. I went into the old graveyard, 
where the wooden inclosures were painted 
black and white aud the stones bore Spanish 
inscriptions, past the old Mission church, with 
its pretty pale-yellow front and bell tower at 
one side, the priest’s house with an arch of 
whalebones over the gate and the walk up to 
the door paved with whales’vertebra*! Near a 
bridge on one side of the town is a high wooden 
cross, marking the spot where the old priest' 
Juniper Berra, who founded so mauy missions 
in California, lauded June 3d, 1770. Very 
near are the remains of Fremont’s Fort and 
the whale fishery—two whales having very 
receutly been caught—and numbers of groat 
casks about to hold the oil. 
One day, immediately after breakfast, we 
started out for a tramp of seven or eight miles, 
coming back loaded with wild flowers—uew 
to us—and sea mosses .and shells. Two miles 
or more ol' the way lay through a wood, with 
blue iris blooming in the greatest profusion. On 
the beach and banks the eschscholtzia shone, 
and in the sand sprawled pink and yellow 
abrouia; but the llowere were legion and in 
great variety. We were beyond the bay, and 
the sea rolled in ou the large water-worn 
rocks superbly, a sight one never tires of. 
Sea lions sported in the waves. Ou stretches 
of sandy beaches between were washed up 
mosses, spouges and brilliant shells in furrows. 
The laddie took off his shoes aud stockings, 
waded iu the water, aud poked his toes iu the 
saud as line and white as driven snow, to his 
heart's content. All in all, it was the finest, 
delightfidlest day I ever had ou the seashore 
anywhere. But I got so tired upon our return 
in crossing a space of sand dunes, where we 
sank into the saud to the tops of our shoes, 
that I gave out completely and lay down on a 
bed of sand for a half hour’s nap iu which I 
recruited—and a most comfortable bed it was, 
with the warm sunshine for a covering. 
On another day wo wont on what is called 
“The Drive,” a beautifully made road along 
the beach, and through woods and meadows; 
the greatest interest iu this drive is centered 
iu the cypress trees—the only surviving rem¬ 
nants! of an almost lost race—unhappy with 
many youthful descendants planted all over 
California now. But these old trees, blown 
aud beaten, may bo for centuries, by the sea 
storms, are the most frantic, wierd and ghost¬ 
ly tree forms |>ossiblo to imagine, aud have 
made the Monterey cypress famous iu the 
aunals of tourists. 
Of the mauy beautiful flowers which we 
collected in this drive, none delighted me 
more than a species of gooseberry growing in 
the woods—one solitary shrub—Ribas speei- 
osus 1 think. The leaves were cunningly ar¬ 
ranged along the top of the twigs and branch¬ 
es, while from the lower side depended long, 
brilliant red flowers, like a fringe of glowing 
fuchsias. 
While all the country about Monterey is 
very beautiful, it Ls not especially valuable for 
its productiveness. Ill the valleys, how over, 
the soil is excellent, and in a state of high 
cultivation—a great wheat aud fruit region. 
But unless the Ban Jose scald cau be speedily 
disposed of, the fruit grower iu California 
will not line his pockets with gold. I have 
heard of a “lady bug” which is being intro¬ 
duced with some hope of exterminating the 
pest, as it feeds upon it. 
Aueut malaria, I must modify a statement 
made in the Rural, that no .chills and fever 
exist iu California within a hundred miles 
from the’ sea coast. There is malaria every¬ 
where in the State where there is irrigation; 
iu the towns where the sewerage is defective, 
and in manyiplaces within but a few miles of 
the sea coast. There is malaria—chills and 
fever—in certain quarters of 8au Francisco 
and Oakland, both of which are immediately 
on the salt water. None of the valleys are 
good for consumptives or “rheumatics”—the 
former should take to the mountains, but I 
haven’t the smallest idea where the latter 
should go. I found the winter climate charm¬ 
ing—none better could be desired ; but the 
long, rainless Sunuuers which seem to suit the 
exigencies of farming where water for irri¬ 
gation cau be had, seem to me intolerable. 
The most important question before Califor¬ 
nia farmers is that of irrigation—of riparian 
rights, which breed endless trouble and which 
can only be settled by State interference and 
control. Upon the water supply depends the 
future development of the. State—the possi¬ 
bilities of small farms aud small farmers. 
-»■♦-*- 
RURAL SPECIAL REPORTS. 
Alabama. 
Mobile Co., September 16.—Our early 
Spring was unfavorable to all early crops, very 
cold and backward. On April 6 ami 7 we had 
frost, something I have never seen before in a 
residence of It) years. Since then the season 
has been fine for all crops. Corn crop heavy; 
sweet potatoes began to come in about a month 
ago, supply now abundant and cheap. The 
past two weeks have been fine bay weather.and 
farmers generally have saved most of the early 
crop, but late cornfield clover remains yet to 
be cut. Sugar eaue promises to be an abundant 
crop, being now eight to ten feet high aud 
heavy on our piney woods laud, where well 
manured. Sorghum cane is now ripe and 
ready for grinding. I And this cane has some 
advantages over the tropical cane, as the cane 
worm does not trouble it, the fodder is good 
feed, aud more seed cau be made to the acre 
thau of corn, and I And it good food for all 
stock and chickens,and it can be got out of the 
way before potato digging time. Turnip fields 
and cabbage beds are growing tiuely. 
c. c. w. 
Illinois. 
Chicago, Cook Co., September 30.—I have 
passed over in daylight the country from 
Buffalo to Clevelan l and from Cleveland to 
Chicago, and all along the line of that route I 
could see the marks which the dry weather 
had left. First, the pastures were very short; 
und,secondly, the usual amount of fall plowing 
had not been done, But as I drew near 
Chicago the conditions were more favorable. 
The ground had been plowed, and the newly- 
sown winter wheat was just begiuniug to come 
up. Extending my travels 1.50 miles south of 
Chicago, the same state of thiugs existed, but 
only in a more exaggerated form. The pas¬ 
tures were shorter, the effects of the drought 
more visible, aud scarcely any plowing was 
done at all. Iu fact, hardly a furrow has been 
turned in the last 14 days in Illinois. Missouri 
or Kansas, but very fortunately, however, 
after a drought extending over 57 days, this 
state of thiugs has come to an t-ud, and wo 
have now had during the last 00 hours, with 
the exception of Missouri aud Kansas, all the 
ram we need to start up full pastures, and 
givo us feed until frost aud put the ground 
iuto couditiou for plowing. We are doing so 
much better farming now, uot only iu the 
spring wheat, but also iu the corn belt, that 
fall plowing has become absolutely necessary 
to successful farming, and when farmers iu 
the Fall of the year in this part of the world 
are uot able to prepare the ground, the out¬ 
look for spring crops, both as to acreage, 
quality uud yield, Is by no means reassuring. 
The seeding of winter wheat is somewhat 
backward. The only State which has had 
enough rain for fall seeding so far has been 
Michigan, and there seeding has for the last 10 
days boon more or less delayed ou account of 
the ground being too wot. Wo had a slight 
frost iu Illinois last night , but there have been 
no killing frosts. At least, three-fourths of 
the coni crop of the entire country is now out 
of the way of a killing frost. From what I 
have seen and heard during the last few days, 
I think now that wlieu farmers get iuto their 
crop of com aud begin to gather it the re¬ 
ports as they come to me will be that the crop 
is fully as poor in quantity and poorer in 
quality thau has been reported. r. m. 
Iowa. 
Mentor, Bremer Co., Sept. 14.—A good 
corn'erop. Oa unfair. WheatNioavy. Pota¬ 
toes a failure. Flax uud hay fair crops. A 
very dry Summer. Cattle have to bo fed. 
Recent rains make the pastures look a little 
groan. Com is nearly all ripe. k. e. k. 
Michigan, 
Sears, Osceola Co., Sept. 14.—This has been 
tt very dry segsqu—from May 10 till August 
21 we have had very little rain. Since that 
time we have had plenty. All spring crops 
were injured more or less. Hay half a crop. 
Potatoes about the same. Oats and barley 
light. G. w. D. 
Montana. 
Fridley. Gallatin Co., Sept. 14.—We have 
had only one frost yet, and that did uot hurt 
tomatoes on the vines—merely nipped the top 
of the vines, and saved cutting back to ripen 
the fruit. I presume I have now 20 bushels of 
tomatoes iu the garden, and quite a number 
of them ripe. I have picked ripe ones for 
nearly two weeks for table use. I am satisfied 
our Yellowstone Valley will eventually be pro¬ 
ducing plenty of corn. All it requires is to 
plant and attend to it. B. p. vaun. 
Texas. 
Sherman, Grayson Co., Sept. 13.—All 
through Western Texas the long spell of dry 
weather—over aj'ear in some places—has done 
a world of mischief. Thousands of head of 
stock have perished, and others have been 
nearly famished and had t o be sold at a ruin¬ 
ous price. Cattle are now selling at $5 to 
-3.5.50 per head, and the best beef stock at two 
cents per pound. Other stock bring only pro¬ 
portionate figures. Those who depended ou 
crops couldn't raise enough to support life. 
Whenever I go to towu ou business I see 
plenty of covered wagons winding their way 
to some place where work can be found to 
support life. At the time when I made my 
crop report, corn looked fine, but the drought 
has made it fearfully short. The best pieces 
will make scarcely 15 bushels to the acre; 
while thousands of Helds will not make as 
much good corn per acre as was planted last 
Spring, and propably the crop is better in this 
county thau in any other in the State. 
J. H. MC. G. 
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
fEvery query tnust tie accompanied by the name 
and address of the writer to Insure attention. Before 
asking a question, please see If It Is not answered in 
our advertising columns. Ask only a few questions at 
one time. Put questions on a separate piece of paper. 1 
QUARTERS FOR CHICKS. 
G. T., W. Alexandria, O .—What is a good 
brooder, and how large should a building be 
to accommodate 700 chicks? 
answered by h. hales. 
In raising chicks iu brooders it is very essen¬ 
tial not to crowd too many in one com¬ 
partment, however large. They do not thrive 
as well as when smaller numbers are kept in 
small compartments; 75 chicks in a space 6x14 
feet will do well till four weeks old, when they 
require double tbe space; or, better, separate 
them into two compartments of the same size, 
35 or 50 to each 6x14 feet, with a run outside. 
The runs should be partitioned off to prevent 
crowding t he same as the inside compartments. 
In these last accommodations they may be 
reared till two or three mouths old, when they 
are large enough for broilers. The size of the 
building will depend upou whether it will be 
one or two stories, or double tiers of coops, as 
many breeders keep the little chicks on a sec- 
oud story or upper tier till four weeks old, and 
then bring them to the grouud floor to the 
pens with outside runs attached. The ratio of 
34 feet for 75 chicks, or for -40 when over four 
weeks old, should be maintained, whatever the 
size of the building. With proper brooders 
the interior fixtures are few—a drinking foun¬ 
tain, a food trough with wire guards to pre- 
veut the chicks from getting in to foul them¬ 
selves and the food, and plenty of dust on the 
floor, are ull that is required for each pen. If 
the floors are not covered heavily with dust or 
dry earth, u low* dusting tray placed where it 
can raceive'tha sunshine’ may.be substituted. 
It is difficult to name the’ best brooder, as 
there’ure many ou the’market ol“nearly equal 
merits, especially of the latest designs. The 
best is cheapest. 
tannery ashes. 
G- B., Coatesville, Pa. —Dr.’Kodzie’gives 
the value of an average speeiiuenjof tauuerv 
ashes as $4. 50 per tou. This is A fair’estimate, 
yet uo man can give the value of.auy sam¬ 
ple uutil ho can *eo and examine it. It 
makes a great difference whether the ashes 
have been left exposed to.the’raitQor,whether 
they have been sheltered. Such uskes would 
be valuable as addressing ] for.land .^occupied 
by peach trees or small fruits, butjwo could 
uot say without seeing them whether., it 
would pay„to haul them three miles or not. 
Uncertainly would not pay to givo much fpy j 
them if the roads are bad or if other work 
can be had for the,teams. 
cyclamen culture. 
W. F. Y., Shelborn, Chit., Can .—Cyclamens 
should be re-potted at this season. Shake 
all the old soil off entirely; pot in a light, 
rich soil, such as you would give gerani ums 
Do not entirely cover the bulb with soil, but 
leave the crown bare. Water whenever dry, 
but do not let the soil become sour and 
waterlogged, and do not let the pot stand 
in water. They should flower readily and 
profusely under this treatment. 
Miscellaneous. 
B. B., Farmingdale, III.— 1. The American 
Chestnut fails to fill well in the West; does 
the JapanTchestnut fill properly here! 2. Is 
the Primus Simouii (Simon’s Plum) free from 
attacks of curcuiio, as some claim i 3. Are 
cions from a dwarf pear as good as those 
from a standard for propagating purposes? 
4. Is the original Mount Vernon Pear tree 
still living, and who owns it? 
Ans. —l._We^caunot answer this question. 
2. We cannot raise plums at the Rural 
Grounds except by jarring the trees. Our 
only specimen of Simon’s bore one plum which 
was not injured. Further we can not say. 3. 
There is no difference; one is as good as the 
other/ 4. It was a ehauce seedling on the 
grounds of Samuel Walker, at Roxbury, 
Mass. We don’t know whether the tree still 
survives. 
H. H. L., Bni abridge. A". Y. —I got a num¬ 
ber of settings of White Wyandotte eggs from 
a poultryman whom I have hitherto always re¬ 
garded as honest. At least two-thirds of the 
chickens are colored. Some seem certainly 
mongrels, while others look like Laced Wyan- 
dottes. Have the chicks “harked back,” or 
was I swindled? 
Ans.— Our impression is that there is not 
yet any strain of White Wyandottes that will 
breed true. We should be glad to hear from 
o there. 
B. L. M,, Clinton, B. C. —The grass sent 
for name is Setaria glauca—Bottle Grass. It 
is nutritious, but not very productive. The 
wheat is a very poor specimen of the Seven¬ 
headed or Egyptian. It yields well in many 
pi aces as a Spring U heat and we once carried 
a few plauts through the Winter. 
F.A.H., Beattie , Kans. —Gardening For 
Profit by Peter Henderson will give you the de¬ 
sired information. Sold by Peter Henderson 
& Co., New York. Price, .$1.35. 
“.4 Sub.,' Shelby , O .—We do not know the 
character of the land about which you in¬ 
quire. 
A. Hatherly , Lapeer, Mich., wishes the ad¬ 
dress of breeders of pure-bred Suffolk swine. 
DISCUSSION. 
W. B. B., Menominee, Mich.— In the Rur¬ 
al of September 4th, O. H. B., of Hutchinson, 
Ky., asks what causes his tomatoes to rot upon 
the vines before maturing. My experience 
goes to prove that the soil is too rich. For the 
last few years I have put my tomatoes on the 
poorest soil I have had where there was uo 
mauure, and have had no trouble with rot. A 
tomato worm is something I have never seen 
here. Some of my neighbors whose tomatoes 
are on heavily manured ground have hardly a 
sound tomato. 
I’OMMCMCATKINS RECEIVED KOBt THE WEEK ENDING 
September 25, i<s«, 
W. b. Whitney, many varieties of potatoes so resem¬ 
ble each other that It Is not safe to name them.—E. P , 
thanks.—F. a. B.-H, H. A.—C. H. s.-H. J. C.-H. H.- 
E-—J- W. 0.—0. M. C.—P, J. B.. fruit received, 
thanks. - T. w, o -w. h. r-r. p. v. h.-g. w. p. j.- 
J. H.—E. A. P.^r M. O.—J. H. & S.—A. L. J.—C, A. G. 
“ w - A- T.-J. G.—A. L» J.—J. G. G.—E. L. T.—D. 
s. M.— C. A. a.—B. B.— A. J. c.—C. H. B., pear aud 
plums received.—II. J. C.-C. A. G.-J. S. T.-W. H. P. 
E. A. N.—H, R-G. W. D.-R. D. B—A. J. M.-H. p. L.— 
S. C. W.-H. H. L.—<». P. & S. 
^U,sccUancou,$ ^ri rmteing. 
J. M. THORBURN &CGL 
15 JOHN STREET, 
NEW YORK, 
Beg to announce that their descriptive priced 
CATALOGUE 
OF 
BULBS 
a v* -kv i a Man n/auj ior_mauiug.tO ap- 
plieauts. 
LILY OF THE YALLEY PIPS 
FOK FLORISTS, A SPECIALTY. 
Black 
is 
CARMAN This NEW Extra Ear It 
UHiimnn (up is now offered for Sale, and 
RASPRTDDV likely to work a REVOLl TlON lu 
11 »• 9krtH I a* market KrowtuK. Vicky Pro 
tWCTivK. I'rurt of lariffst size. Jet Black, aud 
the mrlieM ^ ail to ripen. Sells at !>M,e*t price. 
Best tuaUty for family use. Also EA It HART 
S 1L * r ’ i,?o\ 11 , l , u ^ H?„' l iU veU - v Prints from June to Nov. 
Pot M HAW 81 RlUEs and all best varieties Small 
*ruln> ffjr Vail placUng. Cheap for choice stock. Cir- 
tulUr* tut. Late bits.. SviuUiulaslonbury, Cmny 
