Die 48 
THE 
cheese mites. It was found that as long as 
abundant food was supplied these mites flour¬ 
ished. When the supply decreased the very 
young and very old individuals died, while the 
others changed their forms, becoming smaller 
and of a different shape. The abdomen under 
the influence of the fast became concave in 
shape so that it will readily adhere to other 
bodies. When the fly carries one of these in¬ 
sects to a fresh piece of cheese or other agree¬ 
able food, it detaches itself and grows aud 
multiplies. Thus these supposed parasites are 
only tramps which “beat” their passage on 
the fly’s back. Instead of causing the fly 
trouble they only enable him to do more mis¬ 
chief than ever. 
A Butteiune Defense Association has 
been formed in England. Butterine is to be 
defended. Its makers do not want its name 
changed to oleomargarine. The stuff is, of 
course, praised as wholesome, good aud vastly 
superior to badly made butter. There is no 
reason why butter should be badly made. If 
the butterine people are so exceedingly anx¬ 
ious that the public should be held away from 
bad butter, there is a better way for them to 
go to work than to try and get butter prices 
for lard. 
t'kl'D Crops. 
The whole number of potatoes was 115, of 
which 91 were of marketable size. Shape, 
flattened, elliptical, as our engraving shows; 
buff skin, russeted; very fen- eyes and those 
even with the surface. A perfect potato as to 
shape, and we cannot speak too highly of its 
quality. The best five weighed two pouuds, 
six ounces. The average size is rather small, 
perhaps, for market popularity, but not for 
familv use. It is a potato that peels with 
little waste, there beiug no deep eyes to cut 
out (See Fig. 458, page 841). 
* * * 
Charter Oak, from Peter Henderson & 
Co., of New York. Planted April 12; vines 
died August 12. Four pieces yielded 18 pounds, 
or at the rate of 786,50 bushels per acre. Best 
five weighed two pounds. It is of the Peach- 
blow class. Roundish, often russeted, ej cs 
quite shallow, buff skin, eyes often pink. A 
shapely potato of its kind. Whole number 
58—40 marketable. Slightly yellow flesh, 
mealy, dry aud somewhat nutty. Eaten 
Oct. 26. * * * ^ 
Charter Oak, third trial from Rural 
stock. This potato was originally sent out by 
B. K. Bliss & Sons in 1884, It is a fine keeper. 
Planted April 20 —vines dead August 10. The 
yield of four pieces was 13’ 1 pouuds, or at the 
rate of 816.75 bushels per acre. Whole num¬ 
ber 67—marketable 40. Best five weighed two 
pounds 1ounce. (See illustration fi om na¬ 
ture, Fig. 459, page 841.) 
experiment Cvoumt# ot the plural 
Uero-^orker. 
NEW POTATOES. 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER POTATO NO. 2. 
Several references have been made to this 
new potato which originated at the Rural Ex 
perimeut Oromids several years ago. No rec¬ 
ord has ever been kept of the varieties from 
which seeds have been sown, since cross-breed¬ 
ing is practically impossible here, as seed-balls 
form rarely, aud we have never been able to 
find any pollen. Every year for many years 
a few seed-balls have been gathered and the 
seeds have.been sown in pots or boxes late in 
February. The thriftiest plants have been 
transplanted into thumb-pots in April and in 
late May set out in the garden. By this time 
the roots peuetrate the soil so that the plants 
are easily thumped out into the well-prepa-ed 
soil of the garden and they scarcely feel any 
change. 
We have met with little success in seedling 
potato culture, the No. 2 being the first that 
has been deemed worthy of introduction; but 
this bids fair to repay us for all our trouble, 
being one of those marked advances intbeim 
proveroent of varieties which seldom occur. 
Nevertheless a trial of this potato in different, 
parts of the country may show that it is not 
adapted to general cultivation. As it grows 
here, however, in our rich garden test soil it is, 
as has already been stated, the nearest to a 
perfect potato of any of tho 000 varieties which 
have been raised during the past 12 years. 
The entire crop was the product of 33 pieces 
planted in trenches three feet apart, the pieces 
one foot apart in the trenches. The weight of 
the crop was 126 25 pounds, which is at the 
rate of 881.88 bushels (of 60 pouuds each) to 
the acre. Mau y kinds of potatoes have yielded 
more in this rich, mellow soil; but for uni¬ 
formity of size and shape, for beauty of shape, 
smoothness of skin, fewness of eyes aud for the 
remarkably small number of under-sized pota¬ 
toes, this variety has never been equaled here. 
There were but 187 potatoes, and of these all 
were marketable and, indeed, of nearly the 
same size, except 22. In hundreds of the new 
kinds tested here, there is little to distinguish 
one variety from another. They might all be 
sold uuder the same name. But if these (No. 
2) were mixed up with 100 different kinds, we 
think that every one could be picked out, so 
marked arc its peculiarities. 
The engravings before us (front and side 
viewi, Figs. 456 and 457 (see page 839), were 
drawn from rather the poorest, than the best 
specimens chat might have been selected, and 
they show also the average size. Few were 
larger, few smaller, except the22 above noted, 
which were scarcely larger than big marbles. 
As has previously been stated, we propose to 
send a small tuber of this R. N.-Y. No. 2 tt> 
all applicant subscribers as soon as the supply 
shall enable us to do so. This will probably 
be in 1888. *** 
The Pecan Potato. Received from L. M. 
Macomber, of North Ferrisburgh, Vermont, 
who writes: “The seed was given me by C. G. 
Pringle, of Charlotte, Vt. it is a little latei 
than Snowflake. The seed was sent to mo by 
J T. Macomber, of Grand Isle, Vt. It is 
rather late-, keeps better and yields about the 
same as Snowflake.’ 
We plauted six pieces April 12. The vines 
were dead August 15. The yield was 21 
pounds, or at the rate of 847 bushels per acre. 
Garfield and Snowflake Potatoes are 
selling for the best prices for Boston market in 
this vicinity. These bring 50 cents per bushel. 
A choice lot of Garfields are being held by a 
party near here for 75 cents, as good ones ai e 
becoming scarce. Burbanks sell at 35 cents to 
40 cents, with same price for Late Hebrous. 
The Chas. Downing, a new potato, will be sure 
to take. O. H. ALEXANDER. 
Vermont. 
CORRESPONDENTS’ VIEWS. 
Farmers’ Clubs.— Our Farmers’ Club is 
about one year old. It has been very success¬ 
ful. In organizing it we tried to be as simple 
as possible. We have no such thing as a con¬ 
stitution. Perhaps we should be ashamed of 
our poverty, but such is the fact. We have a 
few rules, by-laws, if you would dignify them 
with the name—stating when the regular aud 
annual meetings are to be held and the mem¬ 
bership fee. Of course, we intend to conduct 
our business and discussions in a parliament¬ 
ary manner and Cushing’s Manual tells how t j 
do it. It was thought best not to hamper our¬ 
selves by a long constitution, and we have as 
yet had no reason to regret the decision. 1 o 
what do we owe om - success? To the in¬ 
terest, enthusiasm and work of our charter 
members. We started with only 12 men, 
but each of them resolved to do bis best to 
make the club a success. Soon we were aided 
by new members, until now we have a mem¬ 
bership of over 30 aud no effort is required to 
make each meeting interesting and profitable. 
The material of w hich the club is composed Is 
such that there is no danger of our becoming a 
mutual admiration society; on the contrary, 
scarcely a subject is discussed that does not 
elicit some pretty sharp opposition among the 
members. In this way the facts of tho case 
are generally reached. We have now just 
taken up the question, “Which is the most 
profitable cow for the farmer?” and have re¬ 
quested essays from auy und all prominent 
breeders. Smiths, Powell & Lamb have gi \ < u 
us an excellent one on the Holstem. The 
Devon aud Guernsey are equally well repre¬ 
sented by Rurasey Bros, aud Mr. Ledyard 
of Cazeuovia. The Jerseys, Hereford* and 
Short-horns are to be heard from. These pa¬ 
pers will be read aud published with oui i e- 
ports, aud then one meeting will be devoted 
to the discussion of the subject. 11 a word of 
advice to younger clubs is allowable, 1 would 
say: Be sure that your officers arc workers 
and men who will always be present. Let all 
things be done with dispatch, for rather a 
half hour meeting and a lively oue than one 
that drags out a tedious two hours. A live 
farmers’ club is a blessing to the community, 
but an inactive one is a curse. 
Auburn, N. Y. ». v. hardy. 
R. N.-Y.—The Cayuga County - Farmers’ 
Club is a success. We like the idea of making 
the organization as simple as possible. Mauy 
new clubs will l>e started this year. It is well 
to avoid a cumbersome constitution ii possi¬ 
ble. _ 
A Model Hired Man.—T here has been 
considerable talk in the Rural of late about 
the hired man. One woman recently urged 
all farmers’ wives to protest against boarding 
him, saying that the average hired man is the 
most provoking element the housewife has to 
contend with, that a home can’t be a home 
where he is, etc. Now I am a hired man and I 
don't like to .see myself put down so low as all 
that. I havo been working at my present 
place for the past four years, aud have boarded 
with my employers constantly. 4Y omen who 
have so much trouble with hired help must 
have been old maids before they became far¬ 
mers’ wives, or else they were brought up in 
the city. Either this or they have got about 
the poorest help in the world. I should he 
much surprised to hear my mistress say that 
my washing and ironing are a burden to lier. 
Instead of increasing her work I study to 
lighten it. I am usually up first in the morn¬ 
ing—always when the mistress wants to go to 
church—build what fires are needed, till the 
tea kettle, put water iu the potato kettle and 
get it over the fire. Then I do my chores be¬ 
fore breakfast. 1 mash the potatoes, bring in 
wood and always make it a point to see that 
the water pail is never empty when I am near 
the house. I also help scrub the kitchen floor, 
make flower-beds and keep generally ou the 
watch for work that might lessen the labor of 
my mistress. I get full pay by always feeling 
that I am just exactly as welcome as any mem¬ 
ber of the family ever could be. People may 
think I work m the house instead of on the 
farm, but 1 drive a good team of horses through 
all the work they can do. While my team is eat¬ 
ing, or after the day’s work is done, I feel that. 
I can do a few little jobs about the house just 
as well as l could spend tho time leaning over 
a fence or growling because dinner is not 
ready. If some farmers’ wives did not feel so 
far above the hired man, and would ask him 
kindly to aid in the work,they would find that 
their work would be greatly lessened. 
Avoca, N. Y. J - B - 
We want to hear from the huskers among 
the Rural’s readers. What do they wear on 
the hand to tear the husk apart? Here we use 
the stick across the fiugers; the point to meet 
with the thumb. A good husker here handles 
20 to 40 bushels of ears per day, according to 
the corn. chas. MUNQHAM. 
Lambton Co., Out. 
I was just getting enraged with the picture 
of “A Scrub Cow” in a late Rural, aud with 
the artist who drew it; as the miserable face 
and framework excited my pity, and I was 
about to take up the cudgels in her defence 
when a word or two of the editorial comment 
caught my eye, aud then I wanted to (bank 
tbe writer. God Bless you, Dear Sir! aud all 
those who really know that much may be 
done by editing a newspa|>er, to prevent our 
Choosing Barabbas, and hanging the wrong 
mau. Jas. b. olcott. 
South Manchester, Conn. 
confess my inability to understand how these 
things can be. Aud yet they are 1 I would 
like to have some of the Rural readers try 
this experiment, viz: 
When tho grouud is frozen solid, cover one 
square rod two inches deep with barnyard 
manure, and another square rod to the saun 
depth with straw, and next Spring note which 
plows up the lightest and is the most friable, 
and report to the Rural. See that neither 
plot is trampled after the ground thaws until 
the plowing is done. fred orundy. 
Christian Co,, Uls. 
[The manure question raised by our corres¬ 
pondent is well answered by Sir J. B. Lawes’s 
article on page 766 of the Thanksgiving Num¬ 
ber.— Eds.] _ _ 
Advantages of Fall Plowing. —I am in 
favor of fall plowing, though many potato 
growers say it is a waste of time. Last season 
part of my ground was fall-plowed and re¬ 
plowed in the Spring. It is all a sandy loam 
—one portion as rich as another. Each part 
received the same cultivation. The advantage 
of early plauting was with the spring-plowed 
plot. Potatoes of both early and late varieties 
were planted. In every instance and with all 
varieties the fall-plowed land produced the 
finest tubers, and a fourth to a third more. 
Some varieties fully doubled. The fall-plowed 
land was iu much the finest condition—very 
fine aud friable; and who knows but a benefic¬ 
ial chemical action is produced in the freezing 
of the upturned soil? And then the manures 
and fertilizers used are turned towards the top 
by the spring plowing, and made much more 
beneficial by the driving spring rain. 
Bureau Co., Ills. J. w. baker. 
£axm 
THAT MANURE QUESTION. 
I have just read, on page 656 of the R. N.- 
Y., Mr. Stewart’s exposition of that manure 
question, and am very much mystified for the 
following reasons: He states positively that 
manures do not leach through soils. 1 had been 
led by observation to believe that they did— 
through some soils at least—and for that rea¬ 
son have hesitated about digging a well close 
by my stable, though I should very much like 
to do so. 
A farmer living near me dug a well 25 feet 
deep close beside a yard used for cattle and 
pigs, und into which all stable and other ma¬ 
nures were thrown, aud though he formed a 
bank two feet high aud several feet wide 
around the well, with the clay tuken out of it, 
the water became discolored and unfit for use 
the third year after it was dug. He then moved 
the cattle yard and manure heaps a hundred 
yards away aud within three months after¬ 
ward the water in tho well became, apparent¬ 
ly, pure and fit for use. 
Again, in January,’84, I drew out a quanti¬ 
ty of mixed manures and piled them up iu a 
heap to rot. As it happened, the heap was lo¬ 
cated over a tile drain, 400 feet from its outlet. 
This drain had been laid two years and was 
three feet four inches deep—soil heavy clay 
loam. As the ground thawed out the follow¬ 
ing Spring, tho water flowing out of the drain 
became discolored and continued so nearly 
two weeks, and I noticed that the weeds along 
the ditch into which the drain emptied grew 
much more rank that Summer than ever be- 
fore. 
Ouco more, T havo a tile draiu laid three 
feet deep under my stable. The outlet is 320 
feet distant. Every Spring the water flow¬ 
ing out of this draiu is discolored, but only for 
a short time ufter the ground thaws out, and 
the weeds that spring up about, and for some 
distance below , the outlet, plainly show that 
they derive “encouragement” from some 
source. 
After reading Mr. Stewart’s article I must 
SOME NOTES ON TOMATOES. 
Mikado Tomato. —Not only is Turner’s Hy¬ 
brid the same as the Mikado, but so too is 
General McClellan. 
Farqchar’s Faultless Tomato was the 
earliest of all the varieties I grew this year, 
aud it showed this early character very de¬ 
cidedly not only in ripening but iu going 
past. But, as an outdoor summer variety, its 
small size and unoveu form will ever render 
it unpopular. 
The Best Tomato I had this year was from 
Hallock & Thorpe, and it originated with 
Reed & Hummel of Huntington. L. I. The 
fruits are of good average size, round, smooth, 
very solid, and the core is quite soft; the skin 
is bright red. It is a capital bearer. Its bright 
color, even size aud beauty altogether are not 
eclipsed by any other sort I have grown. Mr. 
Reed assures me that It is earlier by several 
days than any other variety, but as I did not 
get it till too late to include it in my trial of 
tomatoes, I cannot of my own experience give 
an opinion on its earliness. 
Livingston’s Beauty.— What have we 
guiued in this newcomer? Livingston’s Per¬ 
fection is a beauty; this, in my opinion, is no 
belter; but, on the contrary, its Acme-tinge 
musfweigh against its popularity. 
Among Other Tomatoes we cannot re¬ 
nounce old Trophy, it is such a sure cropper 
am i less apt to rot thau most other sorts; aud 
by careful selection seedsmen have much re- 
fined aud evened its former appearance. A 
variety of it with bronze-green leaves is 
equally good with the typical form. Im¬ 
proved Queen, Essex Hybrid, Emery and many 
others in my trial grouud have behaved quite 
meritoriously. 
Yellow Tomatoes. —I had Goldeu Queen 
from Rawson of Boston, and really it is one 
of tho prettiest tomatoes I ever saw—such a 
clear, yellow color, and smooth, eveu form. 
The fruits are of medium size, and the crop 
heavy; but there is no demand for yellow to¬ 
matoes. WM. FALCONER. 
Poisoning Cabbage Roots.— One experi¬ 
ment last season cost me dearly. 1 wauted to 
kill tho maggots at the roots of my cabbage 
and cauliflower plants, and invented a rem¬ 
edy. (?) I made a puddle of dirt aud water, 
mixed iu a small quantity of insect powder 
aud Paris-green, and dipped the plants in the 
mixture before setting. They never made the 
least mite of growth, but gradually dwindled 
away. 1 had literally poisoned tho plants to 
death with the Paris-green. I had a curiosity 
to learn what effect Paris-green would have 
on the roots of plants. 1 had no idea that the 
poison would have taken effect so soon, as I 
had often read that Paris-green was not solu¬ 
ble, and that tho roots of the plants would not 
assimilate it. I wish some one would experi¬ 
ment in this matter, and examine the roots 
with a microscope and see what the effect is. 
Glendale, Mass. J - H - 
[A too-large proportion of the green mixed 
with plaster will kill the leaves of potatoes; 
why not the roots as well?—E ds.] 
