ffiibrarg Ittteratg ttf f tttsburg 'Darlington Memorial Libra? (&ia0*.£#/& Sauk .-/»-3LSI 54/4 THE ILLUSTRATED ANNUAL • i * REGISTER OF RURAL AFFAIRS AND CULTIVATOR ALMANAC, > FOR THE YEAE 1859, CONTAINING} PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS FOR THE FAMER AND HORTICULTURIST, ' EMBELLISHED WITH OXE HUNDRED AND FORTY ENGRAVINGS, " ; INCLUDING HOUSES, FARM BUILDINGS, IMPLEMENTS, '> ,• FRUITS, FLOWERS, &c. ■ •»%♦- BY J. J. THOMAS, AUTHOR OF THB "AMERICAN FRUIT CULTUUIST," AND "FARM IMPLEMENTS," ASSOCIATE BDITOR OF THE "COGNTRT GENTLEMAN" AND "CULTIVATOR."' -*-»« ' I A L B A N Y, N. Y. : LUTHER TUCKER & SON, 397 BROADWAY. HEW- YORK: A. O. MOORE, 140 FULTON ST. 1859. I c' 2 4 OS ^^%& PUBLISHERS' ADVERTISEMENT. "With the design and character of the Illustrated Annual Register of Rural Affairs, many who read these pages are already familiar. It has been four years before the public — the present constituting the Fifth of its annual Numbers, and the encourageiuent extended to it, and the universal approval -with which its contents snd purposes have been honored, are such that increased expenditure on the part of the Publishers, and increased labor on the part of the Editor, have been induced, vvlth a view both to render the work intrinsically as useful as possible, and to give it those features of attractiveness and interest calculated to command the widest circu- lation. It has been their hope to place it largely in the hands of those who have not before be.m readers of Agricultural and Horticultural publications, in order that it Ynjght furtli'er the conviction of the importance of such reading with all concerned in 'tilling the 'foil ; that it might open the way for the more extended promulgation of reviabk* journals and books devoted to the subject ; and by adding, if possible, to the profits, tii.d increasing the pleasures of Rural Life, become a powerful though unpre- tending auxiliary in the cause of Rural Progress, as well as an authentic Rkgister ' OB Rural Improvement. '. The Annual Register is issued early in the autumn of each year, the contents of 'the successive Numbers being entirely new, and especially written for the purpose. Different chapters in different Numbers upon the same subjects, are in continuation • f>nd not in repetition of each other. An edition of the Numbers for the three years, 1855, 1S0€', and 1S57, is for sale, printed on larger and very heavy paper, and bound in < pne handsome volume, with the omission of the Calendar pages and Advertisements, : and the' addition of a new Title Page and Index. It has met with a large demand in this form, ,Mid is unhesitatingly offered as the most comprehensive and attractive work of its size ever published on Rural Subjects. Its price is $1, with a deduction 'to Ageiits and Agricultural Societies purchasing in quantities. The whole five Numbers for 1855, '56, '57, '58, and '59, in paper covers as originally published, Are also for sale, and will be sent to any address, postpaid, for $1. A Second Volume will be issued another year, uniform with that mentioned above, to contain the Numbers of the Register for 1858, 1859, and 1860. The work is now firmly, established in popular favor, and its appearance may therefore be annually expected, it is hoped for many years to come. INDEX OF NO. 5, FOR 1859. ; Page. Animals, Choice ofj 137 Apple-Seed Washer, 204 Apples for Domestic Animals, 228 Apple Trees, Productive, 228 Brorsen's Comet, 20 Calendar Pages, 9 to 20 Celery, Raising and Keeping, 203 Chronologieal Cycles, 15 Country Dwellings, 141 Customary Notes, - 7 Day and Night, To Ascertain Length of, 8 Earth, Heat of, 16 Eclipses for 1859 8 Equinoxes and Solstices, 8 Farming, Capital Required for, 125 Good and Bad Contrasted, 125 Implements Necessary for, 131 Live Stock for, 131 Order in, 129 Farm Management, Chapter on, 125 Farm Operations in the Order of Time, - 140 Farms, Directions for Laying Out, .- 133 Fences for, -- 136 Gates for, 136 Size of, 132 Fences, Wire and Iron, 159 Fruit Bottle, Yeoman's, .-. 201 Fruits, Hardy at the West, ...,.=. 198 List of Apples, 199 List of Cherries,.. 200 List of Pears, ■- 200 List of Small, ■. 200 Preserving Fresh, 201 Protecting Young, -* 204 Fruit Trees, Renovating Old, 200 Gardens, Compost for, 228 Grafts, Time to Cut, 227 How to Keep, 227 Grapes, Keeping through Winter,.— 202 Gregorian Year, 9 Horse Power, A Cheap one, 226 Houses— Brick Farm 142 Brick Villa with Tower, 151 Irregular Country, 146 Small Octagon, 143 Square Brick Country, 148 Two Small, 144 Implements, Choice of, 137 Iron Furniture and Structures, 153 Chairs and Settees, 154,155, 156 Page. Iron Stands, Vases and Bedsteads, .. 156 157, 158 and Wire Fences, 159 Leap Year, 15 Manures, Increase and Management of, .., 138 Meteors, Periodical, Nurseries in Canada, of the United States, Principal, in Europe, Old and New Style, Orchards, Draining, Peaches, Choice Selection of, Pear, Culture of the, Pears, Gathering and Keeping, Marketi ng,.. Ripening in Succession,. Varieties most Liable to Fire .Blight, Varieties of; Described, Varieties which do not Crack, — Planets. Discovered in 1857 Plow, Hildreth's Gang, Plums, Select. List of Described, Poultry, Coops and Troughs for, Fat te ui n g, :..;:: Management of, Rotation of Crops,. ....; Saturn, Rings of, ■-■- Soils and their Management, Spots on the Sun, .&»..»..>» Strawberries, Hooker's Seedling, Peabody's, Select Lists of, Transplanting, Wilson's Albany, Street Trees, Care of, Tide Table, True Time, How to Find, Underdraining, Chapter on, Cost of, Depth and Distances of Drains,. How to Fill Drains, Laying Out Drains, Leveling Instruments for, Mode of Cutting Drains, Size of Tile for, with Brush, with Stone, Veranda, Design for, Verbena, Culture of, Work-Shops and Stormy Days, 16 215 205 216 9 228 192 178 190 190 189 190 181 190 13 225 192 222 223 218 139 15 137 18 197 197 198 194 197 225 7 12 164 175 174 175 166 172 174 171 177 176 153- 216 223 <3^S ©c^- IV INDEX. Ensra-n.^^.'vinNrG-s. No. Figures. A. Frost & Co.'s Nursery, 1 Apple-Seed Waalier, 1 Brick Farm House, 3 Brick Villa with Tower, 4 Drains, Brush, 2 Laying Out, 15 Levels for, 3 Stone, 3 Tile and Draining Tools,.. 6 Ellwauger & Barry's Nursery, 4 Farmer Thrift y's Farming, ... 6 Fence for Town and City Lots, 1 Hildreth's Gang Plow, 1 Horse Powers, 2 Iron and Wire Fences, 11 Bedstead and Crib, 2 Chairs, 7 Settees, 3 Stands and Vase, 4 Irregular Country House, 5 Laying Out Farms, 3 Page. 201 204 142 151 177 166 173 176 174 207 126 164 226 226 159 157 154 155 156 146 134 No. Figures. Pear Culture, 2 Pears, Figures of, 10 Plums, Figures of, 4 Poultry Coops and Troughs, — 2 House and Yards, 4 Renovating Old Trees, 1 Saul & Co.'s Nursery, 1 Sizes of Wire, 4 Small Country House, 2 Small House, 3 Small Octagon House 3 Square Brick Country House,. 4 Squire Slipshod's Farming, 8 Stawberries, Hooker, 1 Peabody's, 1 Wilson's Albany, 1 Street Trees, 1 The Verbena, 1 Thomas &Herendeen'sNur6'y, 1 Veranda, Design for, 1 Yeomau's Fruit Bpttle, 2 Page. 180 181 193 222 220 200 210 163 145 144 143 149 125 195 197 196 225 217 209 153 201 ■» ♦ * COltfTEUSTTS OF 3STO- 4, FOR 185S. A Complete Country Residence— With Grounds and Out-Houses fully des- cribed, 28 Engravings. The Apiary — A Practical Treatise on Bees and Bee-Keeking, 10 Engravings. Country Houses— With Eleven Designs, fully accompanied by Plans, 28 Engr's. Note's oh Fruits— With Familiar Hints on their Culture ; the Grape, Currant, Apple, Pear, Plum ; Tools for Orchard Work, 21 Engravings. Lists of the Best Kinds of Fruits. Annual Flowers — With Descriptive Lists and Method of Culture, 8 Engr's. The Kitchen Garden— Hints for its [It is thought proper to add a brief Abstract of the Contents of the previous Numbers of the Annual Register, for the information of persons who do not already possess them. Either No. 4. for 1858, or Complete Sets from 1855, may at any time be had by addressing the Publishers at Albany, N. Y.] Management, and Lists of the Be6t Vegetables, 3 Engravings. Garden Structures— The Vinery, Green- house, &c, 6 Engravings. Farm Bulldings— The Carriage-House, Barn, Granary, Wagon-House, &c, 10 Engravings. Agriculture — Various Facts and Hints in Tillage, Domestic Animals, 8 Engr's. Feeding Animals— Rural Economy — Domestic Economy — Steaming Food — Weight of Grain — Veterinary Re- ceipts— Root Crops — Cheap Fences — Ventilation — Good and Bad Man- agement, &c, (Sic, 14 Engraviugs. RURAL AFFAIRS"— Volume One. it H M II H u K it npHE care with -which the Contents of the successive numbers of the Annual Re- -*- GI8TER of Rural Affairs have been prepared, the expense laid out upon the Il- lustrations they contain, and the universal favor with which they have been greeted, —induce the Publishers to issue a new edition of the three numbers previous to 1858, in one volume, under the above simple and comprehensive title. The Calendar pages and Advertisements of each year, have been omitted, the quality of the paper greatly im- proved, and the. whole subjected to careful revision. The New Volume is offered as the most comprehensive, attractive, and valuable work of its size that has yet appear- ed upon Rural subjects. It contains FOUR HUNDRED AND FORTY ILLUS- TRATIONS, among which are the following : Designs and Plans of Country Dwellings, 44 Engravings. do. do. School Houses, ._ 8 " • Out-Buildines — Barns; Stables; Carriage, Poultry, Dairy and Smoke Houses ; Piggery, &c, 36 Rustic Structures ; Rock Work, &c, 25 Laying Out the Grounds of Farms, Gardens, Orchards, &c, 35 Figures of the Best Fruits of all kinds, 71 Various Processes in the Care and Culture of Fruit, 77 Trees and Ornamental Plants, 20 Improved Implements and Machines, 63 Animals of Good Breeds, and Adjuncts in their Management,... 28 The remainder include Engravings on miscellaneous matters connected with the Farm or Farm-House— illustrative of processes in the Dairy, Drying Fruits, Lightning Rods, "Wind Mills, Injurious Insects, Packing Trees, Shocking Grain, &c, &c. The subjects of the above Engravings will give some idea of the contents of the work itself— of which, however, a more complete, although a very much condensed summary, may be of interest : What Fruits to Choose. Here we have Complete Descriptions of Sixty-one Varieties of Apples, Sum- mer, Fall and Winter, Sweet and Sour ; Fifty-four of Pears, Summer, Autumn and Winter ; Twenty-eight of Peaches ; Six of Nectarines ; Four of Apricots ; Thirty-four of Plums ; Twenty-eight of Cherries ; Thirteen of Strawberries; and a Dozen of Native and Foreign Grapes. Also approved lists at still greater length. and smaller select lists for limited assort- ments. Domestic Animals. Portraits of the Beet Breeds of Impro- ved Cattle, Horses, Sheep. Swine. &c. A valuable paper on Doctoring Sick Ani- mals, with Rules and Remedies of a sim- ple kind. Bight of the more frequently met with Diseases of Horses, nine of Cat- tle, seven of Sheep and four of Swine, are particularly referred to, and appropriate treatment recommended. Country Dwellings. Under this head we have Fifteen Designs accompanied with Plans, in many instances of several floors, and ranging in expensiveness from the Work- ing Man's or Tenant Cottage, at a cost of $200, to Gothic and Italian Struc- tures of several thousands-* including Farm and Village Residences, aiming rather at neatness and taste, than mere display — at convenience and comfort with- in, as well as an attractive exterior. Also General Rules for Buildinsr. and Remarks on the Art of Planning a House. Laying Out A Farm. Garden or Orchard, in an eco- nomical way, is a very important mat- ter. We have four Articles on Laying Out Farms, with two ereneral Plans, — two on Grounds around Houses and Flower Gardens. — eight on different Modes of Planting, and the Trees and Shrubs to be employed. ©c^=- ILLUSTRATED ANNUAL REGISTER. Butter and Cheese Making. The beet modes and means are treated at considerable length, accompanied by Thirteen Engravings, including Designs for Dairy Houses. Rustic Seats and Structures. On this subject many hints are present- ed, with Twenty-three Engravings, inclu- ding Rock Work, Flower Stands, Summer Houses, &c, &c. Rural Economy. Articles on Rotation of Crops, Impro- ved Farm Management, Economy for Young Farmers, Facts for Farmers, Paints for Fences and Buildings, Satisfac- tory Farming, Sprouting in Wheat, Pack- ing Trees and Plants, Presence of Mind, and many brief Notes, the fruits of the Author's experience and observation, may be grouped under this head. Weights and Measures. Tables for reference are here given, in- cluding Length and Distance, Specific Gravities, Contents and Size of Cisterns, Velocity of Wind, &c. Domestic Economy. A number of pages are devoted to valu- able and well tested recipes for household use. This work is issued in the best typographical style, containing over Three Hundred pages, muslin binding,— price §1. Agents are wanted to sell it in all parts of the country, and the attention of Agricultural Societies, Post Masters, Booksellers, Store- keepers and others, is particularly requested to its attractiveness, interest and va- lue, arising from the wide range of subjects treated, the conciseness and practical character of the articles, and the beauty and profusion of the accompanying Engra- vings. There is scarcely a village or post office at which a dozen would not meet with ready sale. Single copies sent post-paid for One Dollar. Address orders, or inquiries for terms at wholesale, to LUTHER TUCKER & SON, Albany, N". Y. The same Publishers also Invite the Attention of all Interested in Agriculture or Horticulure, to Fruit Culture. Under this we have in Twenty-two Ar- ticles, almost every subject of importance in the Management of an Orchard, tho- roughly and clearly explained — including the treatment of nearly all the large and small Fruits, many of their Diseases and their worst Insect enemies, together with a large number of brief Notes, containing invaluable hints and suggestions. Farm Buildings. Eight Plans for Barns, Carnage Houses and Stables, are here presented, with De- signs also for Piggery, Poultry Houses, Ashery and Smoke House, — mode of Cis- tern-building, of putting up Lightning Rods, &c, &c. Farm Implements. Here we have Twenty-three articles, embracing much serviceable information — including the best Mowing and Reaping Machines, Plows, Planters, &c, together with more or less about nearly all the Im- plements the Farmer uses ; illustrated chapters on Wind Mills, Stump Machines, Steam Engines,and many other inventions of interest. School Houses. A Chapter with several neat and taste- ful Designs is devoted to this subject. The Country Gentleman, A Weekly Journal, Exclusively devoted to every branch of Rural Art, — all the processes of the Farm and Garden,— all means of Progress,cithor for Agriculture or the Agriculturist, and aiming to take the first rank in eve- ry Department within its appropriate 6phere. Making two volumes a year, each of 416 large quarto pages, at thelow price of $2. The Cultivator, A Monthly Journal, Which will enter upon its Twenty-fifth year, in 1858. It includes the more brief and practical articles that appear in the Weekly, and presents in each annual vo- lume nearly double the amount of matter contained in any other similar work. It is ottered at the low price of Fifty Cents, and Clubs are presented with the Annual Register. THE CULTIVATOR ALMAIAC FOR 18 5 9. CAF.CULATED BY SAMtJKL H. WKIGUT, DUNDEE, YATES CO., N. Y. CTJSTOIVI^JEfcY NOTES. Venus will be morning star until September 27tb, tben evening star the rest of the year. Mars will be evening star until July 21st, then morning star the rest of the year. Jupiter will be evening star until June 25th, then morning star the rest of the year. Saturn will be morn- ing star until January 29th, then evening star until August 8th, then morning star the rest of the year. The Sun will be north of the Equator this tropical year 186 days, 10 hours, 50 minutes ; and south of it 178 days, 19 hours, 1 minute; show- ing a difference of 7 days, 15 hours, 49 minutes, which is caused by a slower motion of the earth in its orbit, in the summer season, when near its aphelion. Mercury will be in a favorable position for visibility about March 30th, July 28th, and November 22d; at which time it will be in the west in the region of sunset during twilight; also about January 24th, May 22d, and September 16th, when it will be in the east during the morning twilight. Venus will be brightest on the 18th of January, being beautiful in the morning. Good Friday comes on the 22d of April, and Easter Sunday, April 24th ; Pentecost, June 12; Trinity Sunday, June 19th; Advent Sunday, No- vember 27th. TIDE T^BLE. The Calendar pages of this Almanac exhibit the time of high-water at New-York and Boston. To find the time of high-water at any of the following places, add to, or subtract from, the time of high-water at New- York, as below. (There is a great deal of uncertainty about the tides, in consequence of the direction and strength of the winds.) H. M Albany, add 6 34 Aniboy, sub. 0 39 Annapolis, Md.,.. add 8 25 Annapolis, N. S., add 1 49 Baltimore, addlO 20 Bridgeport, add 2 58 Cape Split, add 2 0 Bastport, add 2 9 Hellgate, add 1 41 Holmes' Hole,... add 3 30 Machias, add Marblehead, add New-Bedford, -- sub. New- Haven add New-London, add Newport, sub. New-Rochelle, . add Norfolk sub. Oyster Bay, add Plymouth, add H. H. 1 54 1 49 0 16 8 3 1 15 0 2S 3 9 0 41 2 54 3 19 n. m. Portland, add 3 12 Portsmouth, add 3 10 Providence, sub o 41 Richmond, add 8 15 Salem add 3 0 Sands' Point, ... add 3 0 Sandy Hook, N.J. sub.O 44 Sunbury add 0 19 Throw's Neck,, add 3 7 Windsor, add 2 49 8 ILLUSTRATED ANNUAL REGISTER -^=>i ECLIPSES FOR 1859. There will be six Eclipses this year, four of the Sun and two of the Moon, as follows : I. A Partial Eclipse of the Sun, February 2d. Invisible in the United States. II. A Total Eclipse of the Moon, February 17th, early in the morning, visible. (See the table below.) The Eclipse ends after the Moon has set, or the Moon will set eclipsed, at which time it will be one-third obscured. It sets from three to seven minutes after the Sun rises, where the horizon is perfect and free. West of the Mississippi the Moon will not set eclipsed. III. A Partial Eclipse of the Sun. March 4th, invisible in the United States. IV. A Partial Eclipse of the Sun, July 29th, in the afternoon. This Eclipse will be very small, lasting only a few minutes, and occurs about an hour before sunset. V. A Total Eclipse of the Moon August 13th, invisible in the United States. VI. A Partial Eclipse of the Sun August 28th, invisible in the United States. THE LUNAR ECLTPSE OF FEB. 17 IN THE MORNING. PRINCIPAL PLACES. Begins. H. M. 18 16 13 12 7 5 o 1 57 57 51 51 49 VJ ■i'J 46 3 42 3 40 rotiil E lipse. From To H. M. 5 15 13 10 9 4 2 59 58 54 54 48 4S 46 46 46 43 39 37 H. M. 6 53 6 51 6 48 6 47 42 40 37 36 6 32 6 32 6 26 6 26 6 24 6 24 24 21 17 15 PRINCIPAL PLACES o., Detroit,... Columbus, Cincinnai, Lansing, Indianapolis, Chicago, Madison,. Springfield, St. Louis, Galena, Iowa City, ■Tefl'er80ii City, Santa Fee, Oregon City, Monterey, Cal., ... San Francisco, Astoria, Greg., Augusta, Me.,.. Portland, Me., . Boston, Providence, Hartford, New-Haven, ... Albany, New-York, Philadelphia, .. Utica, Baltimore, Auburn, Washington, ... Dundee, Geneva, N. Y.,. Rochester, Buffalo Toronto, U. C... TO ASCERTAIN THE LENGTH OF THE DAY AND NIGHT, At any time of the year, add 12 hours to the time of the Sun's setting, and from the sum subtract the time of rising, for the length of the day. Subtract the time of setting from 12 hours, and to the remainder add the time of rising next morning, for the length of the night. These rules are equally true for apparent time. Tot^l E lipse. 1 Begins. From To II. M. H. M. H. M. 3 25 4 22 6 0 3 25 4 22 6 0 3 20 4 17 5 55 3 20 4 17 5 55 3 13 4 10 5 48 3 7 4 4 5 42 2 59 3 56 5 34 2 59 3 56 5 34 2 56 3 53 5 31 2 56 3 53 5 31 2 50 3 47 5 25 2 49 3 46 5 24 1 53 2 50 4 28 0 53 1 50 3 28 0 50 1 47 3 25 0 47 1 44 3 22 0 42 1 39 3 17 Ends. II. M. 6 48 6 48 6 42 6 41 5 45 4 45 4 42 4 39 4 34 EQUINOXES AND SOLSTICES. Vernal Equinox,... Summer Solstice, .. Autumnal Equinox, Winter Solstice., March, Juno, September, December, BOSTON. n. ii. m. 20 4 52 ev. 21 1 29 ev. 23 3 41 m. 21 9 28 ev. NKW-YORK. J). H. 20 4 21 1 23 3 21 9 M. 4') ev. 17 ev. 29 m. 10 ev. BALTIMORK P. 20 21 23 21 II. M. 4 30 cv. 1 7 ev. 3 19 m. 9 6 ev. CINCINNATI. D. H. M. 20 3 59 ev. 21 0 36 ev. 23 2 4S m. 21 8 35 ev. ©c^=-- —^3® 1859. JANUARY. MOON'S PHASES. New Moon, (*3d) First Quarter, (tilth) Full Moon, Last Quarter, ......... Boston. H M 0 42 m 39 m 5 e 1 e 2 7 4 N. York. Baltimore H u 0 30 m 2 27 m 6 53 e 3 49 e H K 0 20 m 2 17 m 6 43 e 3 39 e Pittsbu'gh Cincinnati H 0 2 6 3 M 7 4 31 26 H M *11 43 e 1 35 m 6 11 e 3 8 o K M CALENDAR CALENDAR CALENDAR y. a Shadow For Boston, N. England. For N. York City, Phi For Washington, o £ at the New- York State. Mi- ladelphia. Conn., New Mary I'd, Virg'a, fa Noon chigan, Wiscon., Iowa Jersey, Penn'ia, Ohio. Kent'y, Miss'ri, O o mark. s and Oregon. Indiana and Illinois. and California. >> UN I 80S MOON H. W. 8 OH SUN MOON H. W. SUN SUN | MOON e < Aft' noon. rises] eet». B H|H H rises. Bost, H M rises H M sets. H M rises. H M N. Y. H m rises H M sets. 1 rises. H M S H M II M H M 1 S 12 3 50 7 30 4 33 5 38 9 47 7 24 4 44 5 31 6 33 7 19j4 49 5 24 2 S 12 4 18 7 30 4 39 6 36 10 36 7 24 4 45 6 28 7 22 7 19;4 50 6 21 3 M 12 4 46 7 30 4 40 gets 11 19 7 24 4 46 sets 8 5 7 194 51 sets 4 T 12 5 14 7 30 4 41 5 2 morn 7 24 4 47 5 8 8 49 7 19 4 52 5 14 5 W 12 5 41 7 30 4 42 6 6 0 3 7 24 4 43 6 11 9 31 7 191 53 6 16 6 T 12 6 7 7 30 4 43 7 11 0 45' 7 24 4 49 7 14 10 10 7 19 4 54 7 18 7 F 12 6 34 7 30 4 44; 8 13 1 24j 7 24 4 50 8 15 10 44 7 19 4 55 8 18 8 8 12 6 59 7 30 4 45| 9 16 1 58! 7 24 4 51 9 17 11 2- 7 19 4 56 9 19 9 S 12 7 24 7 30 4 46.10 17 2 341 7 24 4 52 10 1712 0 7 19 4 57 10 17 10 M 12 7 49 7 29 4 4711 22 3 14 7 24 4 53 11 21 morr 7 19 4 53 11 20 11 T 12 8 13' 7 29 4 43 rn<>rn 3 571 7 23 4 54 morn 0 43 7 184 59 morn 12 W 12 8 36 7 29 4 49 0 29 4 43 7 23 4 55 0 26 1 29 7 185 0 0 24 13 T 12 8 59 7 28 4 50 1 39 5 37 7 23 4 56 1 35 2 23 7 18 5 1 1 31 14 F 12 9 21 7 28 4 51 2 54 6 37 7 22 4 57 2 49 3 23 7 17|5 2 2 44 15 S 12 9 43 7 27 4 53 4 11 7 46 7 22 4 58 4 51 4 32 7 1715 3 3 58 16 s 12 10 3 7 27 4 54 5 26 8 57 7 22 4 59 5 19 5 43 7 17 5 4 5 11 17 M 12 10 23 7 264 55 6 21 10 6 7 21 5 0 6 14 6 52 7 16,5 5 6 7 18 T 12 10 43 7 26 4 56 rises 11 3 7 21 5 1 rises 7 49 7 165 6 rises 19 W 12 11 1 7 25 4 58 6 3 11 59 7 20 5 3 6 6 8 45 7 15 5 7 6 11 20 T 12 11 19 7 244 59 7 23 ev.50 7 19 5 4 7 25 9 36 7 14 5 8 7 23 21 F 12 11 36 7 23 5 0 8 40 1 35 7 18 5 5 8 41 10 21 7 14 5 9 8 41 22 S 12 11 52 7 22 5 1 9 52 2 17 7 18 5 6 9 52 11 3 7 135 10 9 51 23 s 12 12 8 7 22 5 3 11 4 3 2 7 17 5 8 11 2 11 48 7 12 5 12 11 0 24 M 12 12 23 7 215 4 morn 3 49 7 16 5 9 morn ev. 35 7 12 5 13 morn 25 T 12 12 37 7 20 5 5 0 11 4 38! 7 15 5 10 0 8 1 24 7 ll!5 14 0 5 26 W 12 12 50 7 20 5 6 1 20 5 311 7 15 5 11 1 15 2 17 7 10J5 15 1 11 27 T 12 13 2 7 19 5 7 2 26 6 29 7 14 5 12 2 21 3 15 7 10 5 16 2 15 28 F 12 13 14 7 18 5 9 3 32 7 31 7 13 5 13 3 26 4 17 7 9 5 17 3 19 29 S 12 13 25 7 17 5 10 4 31 8 29 7 12 5 15 4 24 5 IE 7 8 5 19 4 16 30 s 12 13 35 7 16 5 11 5 23 9 25 7 12 5 16 5 16 6 11 7 8 5 20 5 8 31 M 12 13 44! 7 15 5 13 6 4 10 15| 7 11 5 17 5 53i 7 1 7 75 21 5 51 The Gregorian Ykar, and Old and New Style. — The inquiry is often made, "What is the meaning of the expression, 'March 7,1738-9?'" The real dale is March 7, 1739. The civil or legal year in England formerly commenced on the 2"> t h day of March. This practice continued throughout the British dominions till the year 1752. Then the new, or the Gregorian style was introduced, which makes the year commence the 1st of January. But before that period. (1752,) as some ether na- tions had adopted the new style, it wan usual for English writers to designate both years, if the event occurred before the 25th day of March. Thus we have Washing- ton's birth designated, February 11, 1731-2. That is, if the year commenced the 25th of March, it would be February 11, 1731. If the year commenced the 1st of January, , it would be February 11, 1732, or according to new style, February 22, 1732. / . In order to make the above statements more fully clear, it is needful to remember (J -=*o'S 10 FEBRUARY. MOON'S PHASES. New Moon, First Quarter,' Fdll Moon, Last Quarter, ■ 2 10 17 24 Boston. h ?.r 8 20 e 2 56 e 5 53 m 9 33 m X. York. Baltimore Pittsbu'gh Cincinnati H M 8 8 e 2 44 e 5 46 in 9 26 m H M 7 58 2 34 5 9 36 ni 16 n, H II 7 45 e 2 21 e 5 23 in 9 2m H 7 2 5 M 27 e 3 4 e m 8 44 m EC CALENDAR CALENDAR CALENDAR SS Shadow For Boston, N. England. For N. York City, Phi- For Washington, S is at the New- York State. Mi- ladelphia. Conn., New Mary I'd, Viru'a, '- &< Noon chigan, Wiscon., Iowa Jersey, Penn'ia. Ohio. Kent'y, Miss'ri, o o ^3 mark. and Oregon. Indiana and Illinois. and California. >- SX'N SUN MOON H. W. SUN SUN MOON H. W. SOB SON MOON « P Aft'coon. rises H H sets. H M rises H M Bost. H M rises H M sets. H M rises. H M N. Y. H M rises H M sets. H M rises. H M S H M 1 T 12 3 50 7 14 5 14 6 41 10 53 7 10 5 18 6 35 7 44 7 6 5 22 6 30 2 W 12 4 IS 7 13 5 15 sets 11 36 7 9 5 19 sets 8 22 7 5 5 23 sets 3 T 12 4 46 7 11 5 16 6 4 morn 7 7 5 20 6 7 9 1 7 4 5 24 6 10 4 F 12 5 14 7 10 5 18 7 9 0 15 7 6 5 22 7 10 9 37 7 3 5 25 7 12 5 S 12 5 4 7 95 19 8 12 0 51 7 5 5 23 8 12 10 14 7 2 5 26 8 13 6 s 12 6 7 7 8 5 20 9 15 1 28 7 4 5 24 9 14 10 45 7 1 5 27 9 13 7 M 12 6 34 7 7 5 22 10 20 1 59 7 3 5 25 10 18 11 23 7 0 5 28 10 16 8 T 12 6 59 7 6 5 23 11 27 2 37 7 2 5 26 11 24 morn 6 59 5 29 H 20 9 W 12 7 24 7 5 5 25 morn 3 22 7 1 5 23 morn 0 8,6 58 0 57>!6 57 5 31 morn 10 T 12 7 49 7 4 5 26 0 40 4 11 7 0 5 29 0 35 5 32 0 30 11 F 13 8 13 7 2 5 27 1 54 5 10 5 59 5 30 1 48 1 5616 56 5 33 1 42 12 S 12 8 36 7 15 29 3 6 6 20 6 58 5 31 2 59 3 6 6 55 5 34 2 52 13 s 12 8 59 7 0 5 30 4 13 7 35 6 57 5 32 4 6 4 21 6 54 5 35 3 58 14 M 12 9 21 6 58 5 31 5 9 8 48 5 56 5 33 5 3 6 34 6 53 5 36 4 56 15 T 12 9 43 6 57 5 33 0 DO 9 55 6 54 5 34 5 50 6 41 !6 52 5 38 5 44 16 W 12 10 3 6 55 5 34 rises 10 51 6 53 5 36 rises 7 37 6 50 5 39 rises 17 T 12 10 23 6 54 5 35 6 11 11 37 6 51 5 37 6 13 8 23,6 49 5 40 6 15 18 F 12 10 43 6 52 5 36 7 23 ev. 24 6 50 5 38 7 28 9 10 6 48 5 41 7 28 19 S 12 11 1 6 51 j5 33 8 41 1 7 6 49 5 40 8 40 9 53.6 47 5 42 8 39 20 s 12 11 19 6 50 5 39 9 52 1 46 6 48 5 41 9 50 10 32 6 46 5 43 9 47 21 M 12 11 36 6 48 5 41 11 3 2 26 6 46 5 43 10 59 11 12 6 44 5 45 10 55 22 T 12 11 52 6 47 5 42 morn 3 13 6 45 5 44 morn 11 59,16 43 ev.50i|6 42 5 46 morn 23 W 12 12 8 6 45 5 43 0 14 4 4 6 43 5 45 0 8 5 47 0 3 21 T 12 12 23 6 44 5 45 1 19 4 59 6 42 5 47 1 13 1 45 6 40 5 48 1 7 25 F 12 12 37 6 42 5 46 2 21 5 59 6 40 5 48 2 14 2 45 6 38 5 49 2 7 26 S 12 12 50 6 40 5 47 3 16 7 2 G 38 5 49 3 9 3 48' 6 37 5 50 3 1 27 8 12 13 2 6 33 5 48 4 3 8 2 6 37 5 50 3 56 4 48;l6 35 5 51 3 49 28 M 12 13 141 6 37 1 5 49 4 41 8 5S 6 35 5 51 4 35 5 44 6 34 5 52 4 29 that a year is designated to include the exact period of time -which the earth takes to make one revolution around the sun. This is accomplished in 3(55 days and nearly 6 hours ; but as the calendar must consist of complete days, these six hours are omit- ted, and in four years they make up a whole day, when one is added to the year, making what is called a leap-year. This, however, is not strictly correct, for it is ascertained bv accurate calculations, that a solar year i6 exactly 365 days. 5 hours, 48 minutes, and 57.7 seconds ; consequently, in putting on the 6 hours, we add 11 min- utes 12.4 seconds in four years. This, in the course of 15SA years would amount to 24 hours, or a complete day. If this were permitted to go on, the 1st of January would gradually fall hack towards midsummer; and In tne time of Pope Gregory XIII., (15S2,) it' was found that the vernal equinox, which, A. I). 325, happened oil the 21st of March, actually occurred on the loth. The Pope, for the purpose of re- storing the correctness of 'the calendar, ordered 10 days to be dropped that year. ThiB reformation was called "the new style," while the former calendar was denominated " the old style." This new st\ Le was not adopted in England until 1752, when it was 18 59. MARC H. 11 Boston. N. York. Baltimore Pittsbu'gl 1 Cincinnati MUUrvo lJJ.ivo.co. n B M H If H M H M H M 4 2 26 e 2 14 e 2 4c 1 52 e 1 33 e 11 11 56 e 11 44 e 11 34 e 11 21 e 11 2 e Full I Last Q 18 26 5 1 e 4 42 m 4 49 e 4 30 ni 4 39 e 4 20 m 4 27 e 4 7 n 4 8 e ) 3 48 m S3 « CALENDAR CALENDAR CALENDAR w Shadow For Boston, N. England. For N. York City, Phi- For Washington, 0 a £ at the BTew- York State. Mi- ladelphia, Conn., New Maryl'd, Virg'a, Noon cliiga i. Wiscon., Iow:i Jersey, Penn'ia, Ohio, Kent'y, Mies'ri, O o mark. B and Oregon. Indiana and Illinois. and California >< ex s ON MOON n. w. s a n son MOON II. vv. SDK I SUN MOON -< •< P Aft'noou. II M S ri ii sea Si !tb. M rises. Best. H M rises il M sets. II M IMBCS. H M X. Y. H M rises sets. |{ M II M rises. M H II M II M 1 T 12 12 35 G 36 5 51 5 14 9 47 6 35 '> 53 5 9 6 33 5 33 5 52 5 4 ? W 12 12 23 6 35 5 52 5 38 10 29 6 34 5 53 5 34 7 15 i 315 53 5 30 3 T 12 12 10 b 33 5 53 6 1 11 4 6 32 5 54 5 58 7 50 6 30 5 54! 5 56 4 F 12 11 57 6 315 54 sets 11 41 6 30 5 55 sets 8 27 6 29 5 55 seta 5 S 12 11 44 Ii 30 5 55 7 6 mon 6 29 5 56 7 6 9 4 i 27 I > 56 7 5 6 s 12 11 30 6 28 5 56 8 11 0 IS 6 27 5 57 8 lOj 9 41 :i 2(5 5 57 8 8 7 M 12 11 16 li 26 5 57 9 20 0 54 6 25 5 57 9 16 10 17 6 25 5 53 9 14 R T 12 11 li (i 25 5 53 10 30 1 31 6 24 5 59 10 26!10 57 •j 24 . 5 59 10 21 9 W 12 10 46 li 23 5 59 11 43 2 11 6 22 6 0 11 38 11 45 i 22 ( i 0 11 53 in T 12 10 30 li 216 0 morn 2 59 6 2 6 1 Qiorn mon i 2 6 1 morn ii F 12 10 14! ii 2 i 6 2 0 55 3 56 6 19 6 2 0 49 0 42 6 18 6 2 0 42 12 s 12 9 58, 6 13 6 3 2 2 5 0 6 17 li 3 1 51 1 46 •3 17:6 3, 1 47 13 H 12 9 42! ii 16 6 4 3 3 6 16 6 16 6 4 2 56 3 2 6 15 6 4 2 49 14 M 12 9 25 (i 14 6 5 3 51 7 29 6 14 6 5 3 45 4 15 •5 116 5 3 39 15 T 12 9 8; 6 136 6 4 28 8 38 6 i - 6 7 4 24 5 24 i 13 6 6 4 19 16 W 12 8 50! ii 21 6 7 4 59 9 36 16 11 6 8 4 56 6 22 S 116 7 4 52 17 T 12 8 33 li 96 9 5 26 10 27 6 96 9 5 24 7 1 6 10l6 8 5 22 18 F 12 8 15! < mark. and Oregon. Indiana fvxl Illinois. and California. >- * L N S. UX M OO X 11. w. SUN 1 9UN MOON , H. w sou i sun MOON O Aft'noon ri ses H M 8f ts. H M rises n m Bost. H M rises sets. i 11 M II M rises. N. Y. rises sets. H X H M rises. II M 6 H M H M H M 1 F 12 3 5: 5 43 6 26 4 44 10 30 5 45 6 24 4 44 7 16 5 46 6 23 4 43 9 S I 12 3 40 5 42 6 28 sets 11 5 5 44 6 26 sets 7 51 5 45 6 24 sets 3 s 12 3 22. 5 40 6 29 7 7 11 45 5 42 6 27 7 5 8 31 5 43 6 25 7 2 4 M 12 3 5 5 3S 6 30 8 17 mur j 5 40 6 23 8 14 9 13 5 41 6 26 8 9 5 T 12 2 47 5 36 6 31 9 30 0 27 5 38 6 29 9 25 9 56 5 40 6 27 9 20 6 w I 12 2 30 5 34 6 32 10 45 1 10 5 36 6 30 10 39 10 43 5 38 6 28 10 33 7 T 12 2 12 5 32 6 33 U 55 1 57 5 34 6 31 11 49 11 35 5 36 6 29 11 41 8 F 12 1 55 5 31 6 34 mori 2 49 5 33 6 32 n:orn more 5 35 6 30 morn 9 S 12 1 38 5 29 6 35 0 57 3 52:5 31 6 33 0 50 0 38 5 33 6 31 0 43 10 s ! 12 1 22 5 27 6 36 1 47 4 57;|5 29 6 34 1 41 1 43 !5 31 6 32 1 35 11 M 13 1 E 5 26 6 37 2 29 5 10! 5 23 6 35 2 24 2 56 5 30 6 33 2 19 12 T 12 0 49 5 24 0 3S 3 0 7 14 5 26 6 36 2 57 4 0 5 28 6 34 2 53 13 w! 12 0 33 a 23 6 40 3 28 8 14 5 25 6 37 3 26 5 0 5 27,6 35 3 23 14 T 12 0 18 5 21 6 41 3 50 9 11|5 24 6 38 3 49 5 57 5 26 6 36 3 48 15 F 12 0 3 5 19 6 42 4 13 9 59|5 22 6 39 4 14 6 45 5 24 6 37 4 14 16 S 11 59 46 5 18 6 43 rises 10 42 5 21 6 4(i rises 7 28 5 23 6 38 rises 17 s 11 59 33 5 16 6 44 7 30 11 24 5 19 6 41 7 27 8 10 5 22 6 39 7 22 IS M 11 59 19 5 14 6 45 8 41 ev. 6|5 17 6 42 8 36 8 52 5 20 6 40 8 31 19 T 11 59 6 5 13 6 47 9 50 0 49 5 16 6 44 9 44 9 35 15 19 6 41 9 38 20 W 11 58 52 3 11 6 48|10 53 1 40 5 14 6 45 10 47 10 26 ,5 17 6 42 10 39 21 T 11 53 40 5 10 6 49,11 48 2 20 5 13 6 46 11 42 11 6 ,5 16 6 43 11 34 22 F 1 1 58 27 5 8 6 50| morn 3 11 5 11 6 47 uar>rii 11 5? 5 14 6 44 mom 23 S 11 58 15 5 6 6 51 0 35 4 3:5 10 6 48 0 28 eV. 49 5 13 6 45 0 21 21 s 11 58 4 5 5 6 52 1 12 4 56 5 9 6 49 1 7 1 42 5 12 6 46 1 1 25 M 11 57 53 5 3 6 53 1 42 5 50 5 7 6 50 6 43 5 6 6 51 1 37 2 36 5 106 46 I 32 26 T 11 57 42 5 2 6 54 2 8 2 4 3 29 5 9 6 47 2 0 27 W 11 57 33 3 1 6 55 2 29 7 34,5 56 52 2 27 4 20 5 8 6 48 2 24 28 T 11 57 2b 4 59 6 56| 2 47 8 21 5 3 6 53 2 46 5 7 5 6 6 49 2 45 29 F 11 57 14 4 5S|6 58| 3 7 9 7 5 26 54 3 7 5 53 5 5 6 50 3 8 30 S 11 57 6 4 56 16 59 1 3 28 9 52 ,'5 0^6 55 1 3 29 6 38 J5 3 6 51 3 31 0 we should recollect to allow ten days for the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, eleven for the 18th, and twelve for the nineteenth. Directions for Finding the True Time.— The Sun is on the meridian at 12 o'clock on four days only in the year. It is sometimes as much as 16J minutes before or after twelve when its shadow strikes the noon-mark on the sun-dial. On each calendar page of this Almanac, is shown the exact time when the Sun reaches the meridian, or the shadow the noon-mark ; and in order to set a clock or watch correctly, it must, when it is noon by the sundial or noon-mark, be set at the time indicated in the Al- manac. Thus, on the 25th of January, when the Sun is on the noon-mark, the watch most be set 12 minutes and 44 seconds past twelve, which will be the true time. The practice of setting time-pieces by the rising or setting of the Sun or Moon is not j strictly correct; as the unevenness of the Earth's surface and intervening objects, BUCh as hills and forests, near the points of rising aud setting, occasion a deviation, <^o© 1859. MAY. Boston. N. Yor k. {alt i more Pittabu'g ti Cincinnati MOON'S l't i) H M H M H M H M H M New Moon. • 2 5 20 e 5 8 e 4 58 e 4 46 i i 4 27 e Fm-^T Quarter,- • 9 0 15 e 0 3 e 11 53 m 11 41 m 11 22 m Full Moon,* 16 4 23 e 4 11 e 4 1 e 3 48 e , 3 29 e > < 6 5 e 5 53 e 5 43 e 5 31 t 5 12 e 25 ^g CALENDAR CALENDAR CALENDAR H Shadow- F >r Boston, N. England. For N. York City, Phi For Washington, o £ iil the New- York State. M, ladelphia. Conn., iS'ew Miu- yl'd, Virg'a, Noon chiga i. Wisscon.. Iowa Jerse v, Penn'ia, Ohio Ken t'y, Miae'ri. o 0 >• mark s and C regon. Indiana and Illinois. and California. > IN SUN MOON ii. jr. SCN si JN MOON H. w. a oh s UN- Moon < ft Morn: ng II M seta. H M rises. H M B08t H M rises a m sets. B M rises. II M N. Y. H M r aee H M seta. ii if rises. II M s H M 1 V 11 56 53 4 54 6 59 3 50 10 35 4 59 6 55 3 53 7 21 5 2 6 52 3 56 2 M 11 56 51 4 53 7 0 sets 11 18 4 58 0 56 sets 8 4 5 1 6 53 sets 3 T 11 56 44 1 51 7 1 8 29 morn 4 57 6 57 8 23 8 52 5 0 6 54 8 17 4 W 11 56 38 4 50 7 2 9 42 0 6 4 56 6 58 9 36 9 44 4 59 6 55 9 29 5 T ll 56 4 49 7 3 10 49 0 53 4 55 6 59 10 43 10 36 4 58 6 56 10 35 6 F 11 56 27 4 48 7 4 11 43 1 50 4 54 7 0 11 37 11 31 4 57 6 56 11 30 7 s 11 56 2d 4 47 7 5 morn 2 45 4 53 7 1 morn •UOII 4 56 6 57 mora 8 s 11 56 19 4 46 7 6 0 28 3 16 4 52 7 2 0 23 0 32 1 53 6 58 0 17 9 M 11 56 15 1 45 7 7 1 4 4 49 4 51 7 3 1 0 1 35 1 54 6 59 0 55 10 T 11 56 12 4 44 7 8 1 30 5 49 4 50 7 4 1 28 2 35 4 53 7 0 1 25 11 W 11 56 1, 4 43 7 9 1 55 6 50 4 49 7 5 1 54 3 36 4 52 7 1 1 52 12 T U 56 8 4 42 7 10 2 20 7 44 4 48 7 6 2 20 4 30 1 51 7 2 2 19 13 F H 56 7 4 41 7 U 2 41 8 39 4 47 7 7 2 42 5 25 4 50 7 3 2 44 14 R U 56 6| 4 40 7 12 3 3 9 26 4 45 7 8 3 5 6 12 4 49 7 4 3 8 15 S 11 56 6 4 39 7 13 3 29 10 15 4 44 7 9 3 33 7 1 4 48 7 5 3 37 16 M U 56 7 4 38 7 14 rises U 0 4 43 7 10 rises 7 46 4 47 7 6 rises 17 T U 56 81 4 37 7 15 8 33 U 42 4 42 7 11 8 32 8 28 4 46 7 7 8 25 18 W 11 56 9 4 36 7 16 9 37 sv.30 4 41 7 12 9 30 9 16 4 45 7 7 9 23 19 T 11 56 12 1 33 7 17 10 27 1 15 4 40 7 13 10 20 10 1 1 44 7 8 10 13 20 F U 56 14 4 35 7 18 11 6 1 5S 4 39 7 14 11 0 10 44 4 44 7 9 10 54 21 S 11 56 is 4 34 7 19 11 41 2 44 4 38 7 15 11 36 11 30 4 43 7 10 11 31 22 s 11 56 22 4 33 7 20 morn 3 31 4 37 7 16 morn ev-. 17 i 42 7 10 12 0 23 M 11 56 26 4 32 7 21 0 8 4 16 4 36 7 17 0 4 1 2 1 42 7 11 morn 24 T 11 56 31 \ 31 7 22 0 30 5 5 4 35 7 18 0 27 1 51 1 41 7 12 0 24 25 W 11 56 36 1 30 7 23 0 50 5 51 4 35 7 19 0 48 2 37 4 40 7 13 0 47 26 T 11 56 42 4 29 7 24 1 10 6 39 4 34 7 20 1 10 3 23 1 4U 7 14 1 9 27 F 11 56 49 4 28 7 25 1 29 7 32 4 33 7 21 1 30 4 18 4 39 7 14 1 31 23 S 11 56 56 4 23 7 26 1 50 8 24 4 33 7 22 1 52 5 10 1 38 7 15 1 54 29 s 11 57 3 1 27 7 27 2 14 9 15 4 32 7 23 2 18 6 1 4 38 7 16 2 21 30 M 11 57 11 1 26 7 28 2 47 10 8 4 31 7 23 2 51 6 54 1 37 |7 16 2 56 31 T 11 57 20 4 26 7 28 sets 11 2 4 31 7 24 sets 7 48 |4 37 17 17 sets in every place, from the time expressed in the Almanac, which time is adapted to a amooth, level horizon. The only means of keeping correct time is by the use of a noon-mark, or a meridian-line. New Planets Discovered in 1857.— The number of planetary bodies belonging to the solar system was increased during the year 1857, by the discovery of eight new asteroids. * The forty-third Asteroidal planet was discovered April 15, 1857, by Mr. Pogson of the Radcliffe Observatory, Oxford, England. It appears aa a star of the ninth magnitude, and has received the name of Adriadne. The forty-fourth was discovered by M. Goldschmidt of Paris, May 27. It appears as a star of the tenth or eleventh magnitude, and has received the name of Nyaa. The forty-fifth was also discovered by M. GoMschmidl, on the -J8th of June, and has been called Eugenia. I JUNE. 1S59. MOON'S PHASES. 1 7 15 23 New Moon, 30 New Moon, First Quarter,' Full Moon. Last Quarter, Boston. H 2 6 r O 9 9 M 26 m 4 e 34 m 48 id 57 in ii o A, 5 5 9 9 M 14 m 52 e 22 m 36 m 45 m Baltimore Pitte jbu'gh Cincinnati H Irt H M H M 2 4m 1 52 m 1 33 m 5 42 e 5 28 e 5 10 e 5 12 m 4 59 m 4 40 m 9 26 m 9 13 m 8 54 in 9 35 m 9 22 m 9 4m K jtfj CALENDAR CALENDAR CAL ENDAR Z ^ SI i ailow P or Bo ston, N. England, F or N. York City, Phi F or AY ashington, S > a t the New York State. Mi- ladelphia. Conn., New Vfarvl M. Virg*a, fa fc. Noon Chilean, Wiscon., Iowa Jersey, Penn'iaC, Ohio. J vent1 >\ Aliss'ri, o o < p marl v. and Oregon. Indiana and Illinois. and C alifornia. * ,s (J N s ll N MOON H. W. SUN S U N MOON H. W 8 UN S UN- JIOON p ffi >rnirsg rises H M sets. H M Bets H M Bost, II M rises H M sets. sets H M N. Y. II M risc- II M sets. H M sets H M s B M H M 1 w 11 57 28 4 25 7 29 8 33 11 54 4 31 7 24 8 27 8 40 1 36 7 18 8 19 2 T 11 57 38 4 24 7 30 9 36 m >r. 1 3D 7 25 9 29 9 36 1 36 7 19 9 22 3 F 11 57 47 i 24 i 30 10 23 0 50! 4 30 7 25 10 19 10 30 4 35 7 19 10 13 4 S il 57 57 ; 9 '-. <- -J 7 31 11 4 1 44 4 29 7 26 10 59 11 22 4 35 7 20 10 54 5 s 11 58 7 4 23 7 32 11 34 2 36 4 29 7 2? 11 31 inur' 4 ,;0 7 20 11 28 6 M 11 53 18 1 23 7 33 12 0 3 32 4 28 7 27 11 58 0 18 4 34 7 21 11 56 7 T 11 58 29 l i 22 7 33 mori 4 25 4 28 7 28 morn 1 11 4 34 7 21 morn 8 W 11 53 40 4 22 7 34 0 22 5 IS' 4 23 7 28 0 22 2 4 4 34 7 22 0 21 9 T 11 58 51 J. 22 7 35 0 45 6 16! 4 28 7 29 0 46 3 2 1 34 7 22 0 47 10 F 11 59 3 1 22 7 35 1 7 7 9! I 23 7 29 1 9 3 55 \ 34 7 23 1 12 11 s 11 59 15 4 22 7 36 1 32 8 5: 4 23 7 30 1 36 4 51 4 34 7 24 1 40 12 s 11 59 27 4 22 7 37 2 0 8 59 4 28 7 30 2 5 5 45 4 3-i 7 25 2 10 13 M 11 59 3; 1 22 7 37 2 34 9 5!i4 28 7 31 2 40 6 37 4 34 7 25 2 46 14 T 11 59 52 1 22 7 38 rises 10 39 4 23 7 31 rises 7 25 4 34 7 26 ri.-^t s 15 W ift i i*ii on 1 22 7 38 8 22 11 23 4 28 7 32 8 15 8 9 4 33 7 27 8 8 16 T 12 0 17 1 22 7 38 9 5 «v. 11 4 28 7 32 8 59 8 57 1 3^ 7 27 8 52 17 F i2 0 30 4 22 r 39: 9 41 0 55 4 28 7 33 9 36 9 41 4 33 7 28 9 30 18 S 12 0 42 1 22 7 39;i0 10 1 36 4 28 7 33 10 5 10 22 4 3o 7 28 10 1 19 s 12 0 55 i 23 7 39 10 35 2 14 4 29 7 34 10 32 11 0 i 33 7 28 10 28 20 M 12 1 & i 23 7 39 10 55 2 54 4 2917 34 10 53 11 40 J 34 7 28 10 51 21 T 1 12 1 21 4 23 7 39 11 14 3 35 4 29 7 34 11 13 ev. 21 4 34 7 28 11 12 22 W 12 1 31 4 23 7 40 11 33 4 15 4 29 7 34 11 38 1 1 14 34 7 29 11 33 23 T 12 1 47 4 2 j 7 40 11 51 4 59 4 29 7 35 11 53 1 45 4 34 7 29 11 54 24 F 12 2 0 1 24 7 40 in >rn 5 51 4 30i7 35 morn 2 37 4 35 7 29 mora 25 S 12 2 1. 1 24 7 40 0 14 6 44 4 30 7 35 0 17 3 30 4 35 7 29 (1 20 26 s 12 .2 26 i 24 7 40 0 40 7 43,|4 30 7 35 0 44 4 29 4 35 I 29 0 49 27 M 12 2 33 4 25 7 40| 1 12 8 46 4 30 7 35 1 17 5 32 4 :,5 7 29 1 23 28 T 12 2 5i 4 25 7 40 1 55 9 50)4 31 7 35 2 2 6 36 4 36 7 29 2 8 29 w 12 3 3 4 25 7 40 sets 10 50|4 31 7 35 se's 7 36 4 36 7 29 sets 30 T 12 3 15 1 25 7 40 8 13 11 45l 4 31 7 35 8 7 8 31 4 36 7 29 8 1 The forty-sixth was discovered by Mr. Pogson of Oxford, England, on the 16th of August, and has received the liame of Pales. The forty-seventh was discovered by M. Luther of the Observatory of Bilk, on the 15th of September, and lias received the name of Ilestia. The forty-eighth and forty-ninth asteroids were discovered by M. Goldschniidt on the same evening, September 19th. The forty -eighth resembles a star of the eleventh magnitude, and ihe forty-ninth changes in brightness from the tenth to the eleventh magnitude. It has been suggested in the French Academy, that these two asteroids should be termed the twins, and thai to distinguish them, one should be named No. 1 ^ and che other No. 2. rjss The fiftieth asteroid was discovered by Mr. Ferguraon of the Observatory of Wash- (J Ingtou, on the evening of the 4th of October, and has received the name of Virginia. ®o^ . 1859. JULY. MOON'S PHASES. First Quarter, Full Moon.« Last Quarter, • New .Moon, • Boston. H 1 8 10 5 M 10 9 44 0 N. H 0 7 10 4 York. Baltimore Pittsbu'gh Cincinnati H H M H M H M 58 m 0 48 in 0 36 m 0 17 m 57 e 7 47 e 7 34 e 7 16 e 32 e 10 22 e 10 9 e 9 50 e 48 e 4 38 e 4 25 e 4 7 e H O s w E o o < (2 >< 1 F 2 S 3 «.• 4 M 5 T 6 W 7 T 8 F 9 S 10 S 11 M 12 T 13 VV 14 T 15 F 16 S 17 s 18 M 19 T 20 W 21 T 22 F 23 S 24 s 25 M 26 T 27 VV 28 T 29 F 30 S 31 s Shadow at the Noon mark. Aft' noon. H 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 s 27 39 5U 1 12 22 32 42 51 0 8 16 30 36 42 48 53 57 1 4 7 M 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 6 6 6 6 9 6 11 6 12 6 13 6 13 6 12 6 11 6 9 6 7 CALENDAR For Boston, N. England, New-York State. Mi- chigan, Wiscon., Iowa and Oregon. S D N riser SUN MOON sets. sets. 01 26 26 27 27 28 29 29 30 31 7 317 32!7 337 34 7 35 7 36i7 377 387 39 7 39 7 40|7 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 M 40 40 40 39 39 39 3.) 38 38 38 37 37 36 36 35 34 34 33 32 32 31 30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 H M 8 55 9 35 10 1 10 26 10 49 11 10 11 35 morn 0 3 0 35 1 2 13 1 2 55 rises 8 13 39 0 18 9 38 9 10 10 40 11 9 U 46 morn 0 33 1 37 2 51 sets 7 46 8 28 II. \v. Bost. H M morn 0 42 1 32 2 27 3 6 3 54 4 45 5 40 6 34 7 36 8 35 9 32 10 24 U 6 10 50 ev. 3 CALENDAR For N. York City, Phi- ladelphia, Conn., New Jersey, Penn'ia, Ohio. Indiana and Illinois. S u N rises 8 41 16 2 51 3 34 4 19 5 10 6 7 7 17 8 28 9 33 10 39 11 30 m<>ru 0 21 M 3\ 32 32 33 33 34 34 35 36 37 38 39 39 40 41 42 43 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 49 50 51 52 53 54 SUN sets. M 35 35 35 34 34 34 34 33 33 33 32 32 31 31 30 29 29 23 27 27 26 25 24 23 22 22 21 20 19 IS 17 MOON sets. H 8 9 9 10 10 11 11 M 50 31 59 25 49 12 38 morn 7 40 19 8 2 rises 8 8 8 8 9 9 9 10 10 11 II 35 57 16 3S 58 19 44 14 52 morn 0 40 1 44 2 57 sets 7 43 8 27 It. W. N. Y. H M 9 28 10 18 11 3 11 52 morn 0 40 1 31 2 26 3 20 4 22 5 21 6 18 7 10 7 52 8 36 9 17 9 54 10 27 11 2 11 39 ev. 20 1 5 1 56 2 53 4 3 5 14 6 24 7 25 8 16 9 10 9 56 CALENDAR For Washington, Maryl'd, Virif'a, Kent'y, Miss'ri, and California. SUN rises M 3? 37 38 38 39 40 40 41 42 42 43 44 45 45 46 47 43 49 50 50 51 52 53 53 54 55 56 56 57 58 59 SUN MOON Bete. sets. M 29 29 29 28 28 23 28 27 27 27 26 26 25 25 24 24 23 23 22 II M 8 45 9 27 9 57 10 25 10 50 11 14 11 42 morn 0 12 0 46 1 26 2 15 3 9 rises 8 3 21 3 8 9 9 55 15 22 9 59 10 22 20110 48 1!) is 17 lfi 15 11 14 14 13 11 19 11 58 morn 0 47 1 51 3 4 sets 7 40 8 25 Leap Ykar. — Every year the number of which is divisible by 4 without a remain- der, is a leap-year, except the lasl year of the century, which is a leap-year only when divisible by 400 without a remainder. Thus the year 1900 will not be leap-year. Chronological Cycles. — Dominical Letter, C ; Golden Number, 16; Jewish Lu- nar Cycle, 13 ; Epact, 15; Solar Cycle, 19 ; Julian Period, 6571 ; age of the world, 5861. On the Kings of Satckn. — The theory of the gradual approximation of the nntrs towards Saturn, as advanced by several astronomical authorities, lus been recently Investigated by the Rev. Mr. Main of England, and Professors Kaiser and Secohi. Mr. Main, after submitting a series of observations of the rings to a searching inves- tigation, came to the conclusion that there exist no real grounds for the hypothesis /J that the bright rings are gradually approaching the body of the planet. A. similar 16 AUGUST. Boston. N . Y or k. Baltimore Pitt sbu'gl i Cincinnati S PHASES. — MUUJN it II M H H II H H M H M Fiust Qua Full Moo; Last Quah Nkw Moon 5 13 '1 10 38 m 11 52 m 9 2 m 11 42 e 10 26 10 16 m 10 3 m 9 44 m 11 40 11 30 in 11 17 m 10 58 m 9, SO 8 40 m 8 28 m S Q m 27 11 30 e 11 20 e 11 7 e 10 38 e si M CALENDAR CALENDAR CALENDAR B Shadow For Boston, N. Engla>>d. F jr N. York City, Phi For Washington, o s ■* at the New-York State. Mi- hi. lei i >hia. Conn., New Mary I'd, Viru'a, Noon chigan, Wiscon., Iowa Jersey. Penn'ia, Ohio. Kent'y, Miss'ri, o O mark. and Oregon. India na and Illinois. and California. t" SON SUN MOON II. w. s ON s IN MOOM II. \v. SUN a d n MOON p < Aft noon. rises H M sett?. II M sets. H M Bost. H M rises H M sets. II M sets. H M N. Y. II M n ses II M sets. sets. H M S [I M H M 1 M 12 6 4 4 52 7 20 8 50 1 10 4 56 7 16 8 50 10 38 5 0 7 12 8 51 2 T 12 6 0 4 53 7 19 9 14 1 52 4 57 7 15 9 15 11 20 5 1 7 11 9 17 3 W 12 5 56 1 54 7 18 9 39 2 34 1 58 7 14 9 41 morn 5 2 7 10 9 44 4 T 12 5 51 4 55 7 16 10 4 3 22| 1 59 / 13 10 8 0 8 5 2 7 9 10 12 5 F 12 5 45 4 56 7 15 10 35 4 12 •> 0 7 12 10 40 0 58 5 3 7 8 10 46 fi S 12 5 39 4 57 7 14 11 12 5 Si 3 1 7 11 11 13 1 54 5 47 7 11 25 7 S 12 5 32 4 58 7 13 11 57 6 8 5 2 7 10 morn 2 54 5 5 7 6 morn R M 12 5 25 4 59 7 11 morn 7 111 5 3 7 9 0 4 3 57 5 6 7 4 0 11 9 T 12 5 17 5 0 7 10 0 50 8 13 5 4 7 8 0 57 4 59 5 7 7 3 1 4 10 W 12 5 9 5 1 7 9 1 47 9 11 j 5 7 6 1 54 5 57 3 8 7 1 2 0 11 T 12 4 59 5 2 7 8 2 48 10 2 5 6 7 5 2 54 6 48 5 9 7 0 3 0 12 F 12 4 50 a 3 7 7 rises* 10 45 5 7 7 3 rises 7 31 5 10 6 59! rises 13 S 12 4 40 5 4 7 5 7 5 11 23 5 8 7 2 7 2 8 9 5 11 6 58 6 59 14 S 12 4 29 5 5 7 4 7 24 11 59 5 9 7 0 7 22 8 45 5 12 6 57 7 21 15 M 12 4 17 5 6 7 2 7 43 ev 36 5 10 6 59 7 43 9 22 5 13 6 55 7 42 16 T 12 4 6 5 7 7 1 8 3 1 6 5 11 6 53 8 4 9 52 5 14 6 54 8 4 17 W 12 3 53 5 8 7 0 8 23 1 41 5 12 fi 57 8 25 10 27 5 15 6 53 8 27 18 T 12 3 41 5 9 6 58 8 46 2 18 5 13 6 55 8 49 11 4 5 166 52 8 52 19 F 12 3 27 5 10 6 56 9 11 2 59 5 14 6 51 9 15 11 45 5 17 6 50 9 20 20 S 12 3 13 5 11 6 55 9 43 3 48 5 15 6 53 9 48 ev. ^4 5 18!6 49 9 54 21 s 12 2 59 5 12 6 54 10 26 4 43 5 16 6 51 10 32 1 29 5 196 48 10 39 22 M 12 2 44 5 14 6 52 11 19 5 50 5 17 6 50 11 25 2 36 5 20 6 46 11 33 23 T 12 2 29 5 15 6 51 morn 7 3 5 18 6 49 morn 3 49 5 21 6 45 morn 24 W 12 2 13 5 16 6 49 0 26 8 16 5 19 6 47 0 32 5 2 5 21 6 43 0 39 25 T 12 1 57 5 17 6 48 1 43 9 25 5 2U 6 45 1 48 6 11 5 22 6 42 1 54 26 F 12 1 41 5 18 6 46 3 3 10 24 5 21 6 43 3 8 7 10 5 23 6 41 3 12 27 S 12 1 24 5 19 6 A\ sets 11 11 •i 22 6 41 sets 7 57 5 24 6 39 set 8 28 s 12 1 7 5 20 6 42 6 49 11 58 "> 2;> 6 40 6 49 8 41 5 256 38 6 48 29 M 12 0 50 5 21 6 41 7 15 morn 5 24 fi 38 7 16 9 29 5 26 6 36 7 16 30 T 12 0 32 5 22 6 39 7 39 0 43 15 25 fi 36 7 41 10 12 5 27 6 34 7 43 31 W 12 0 14 5 23 6 37 8 5 1 26 15 26 fi 34 8 9 10 51 5 28! 6 33 8 13 result was deduced hy Professor Kaiser. Professor Secchi's observations would seem to indicate that the rings, besides having a rotary motion around the planet, are also elliptical. Tub Earth's TIeat.— Experiments by Professor Smith at Edinburgh, with ther- mometers imbedded in the earth at varying depths, showed a gradually increasing heat of one degree Fahrenheit for every forty feet of depth ; m> thai at two and a half miles water would boil, and at one hundred miles deep all things must be in a state of fusion. Periodical Meteors — The periodical meteors of August, 1857, were studied by th<' orders of M. Le Verrier, the Astronomer Royal of France, from Paris and Or- leans, by simultaneous observations, to ascertain their actual distance from the earth, 1S59. SEPTEMBER. 17 MOON'S PHASES. Fikst Quarter,- Full Moon. Last Quarter, ■ Nkw Moor. i> 3 12 19 26 Boston. H 11 3 5 9 M 21 e 47 m 30 e 12 in N. York. H 11 3 5 9 M 9 e 35 in 18 e 0 m Baltimore H M 10 59 e 3 25 in 5 8 e 8 50 in Pittsbu'gh H M 10 45 e 3 12 m 4 55 e 8 37 u) Cinciimaii H 10 2 4 8 M 27 e 54 in 37 e 19 m 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 S 9 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 O T F S s M T W T F S s M T W T F S s M T W T F S S M T W T F Shadow at the Noon mark. Mornii g 56 55 II M 11 59 It 59 11 59 II 58 11 58 II 53 11 57 11 57 11 57 11 56 11 56 11 11 11 55 11 55 11 54 11 54 11 54 11 53 11 53 11 53 11 52 11 52 11 52 11 51 11 51 11 51 11 50 11 50 11 50 s 55 36 17 58 38 18 58 3S 17 56 36 15 54 32 11 50 28 8 47 25 4 44 23 2 42 21 1 41 22 2 CALENDAR Fo • Boston, X. England New-York State, Mi chimin. Wiscon., Iowa and Oregon. i;s DHL'S M 24 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 53 54 55 SUN .MOON H. W. sets. sets Host. II M H M H M 6 36 8 34 2 5 6 35 9 10 2 54 6 33 9 53 3 45 6 31 10 41 4 42 6 30 11 39 5 45 6 28 morn 6 46 6 26 0 41 7 46 6 25 1 43 8 43 6 23 2 43 9 30 6 21 3 50 10 13 6 19 rises 10 51 6 17 6 10 11 24 6 16 6 28 11 59 6 14 6 50 ev. 37 6 12 7 15 1 12 6 11 7 46 1 52 6 9 8 24 2 35 6 7 9 14 3 30 6 5 10 14 4 31 6 4 11 22 5 42 6 2 morn 6 54 6 0 0 40 8 2 5 58 1 59 9 5 5 56 3 19 10 0 5 54 sets 10 47 5 52 5 38 11 26 5 50 6 3 morn 5 49 6 33 0 13 5 46 7 6 0 58 5 45 7 46 1 41 CALENDAR For N. York City, Phi ladelphia. Conn., New Jersey, Penn'ia. Ohio, Indiana a'ui Illinois SUN rises SUN sets H M H 27|6 286 29 6 306 31|6 32J5 33:6 346 35! 6 366 36 6 37 38 396 40 6 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 5 50 5 51 5 52 5 53i5 54 5 555 M 33 32 30 29 27 26 24 23 21 19 18 16 14 12 10 8 7 5 4 2 1 59 57 55 53 52 50 49 47 45 MOON sets H M 8 38 9 16 9 59 10 48 11 45 morn 0 47 1 43 2 51 3 52 rises 6 10 H. N. H M 11 39 morn 0 31 30 53 19 51 8 30 9 21 10 21 U 28 morn 0 45 2 3 3 22 se ts 5 39 6 6 6 37 11 53 1 2 3 4 5 6 6 7 8 8 9 9 10 11 ev. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 8 9 10 11 28 31 32 32 29 16 59 37 10 45 23 58 38 21 16 17 28 39 48 51 46 33 12 59 44 27 14U CALENDAR For Washington, Mary I'd, Virg'a, Kent'v, Miss'ri, and California. SUN s UN- MOON rises II M sets, n m sets H M 5 29 6 31 8 44 5 30 6 30 9 22 5 31 6 28 10 6 5 32 6 27 10 55 5 33 6 25 11 52 5 34 6 24 morn 5 35 6 23 0 53 5 35 6 21 1 53 5 36 6 20 2 55 5 37 6 18 3 55 5 38 6 17 rises 5 39 6 15 6 11 5 40 6 13 6 31 5 40 6 12 6 56 5 41 6 10 7 23 5 42 6 9 7 56 5 43 6 7 8 36 5 44 6 5 9 28 5 44 6 4 10 28 5 45 6 2 11 34 5 46 6 1 morn 5 47 5 59 0 51 5 48 5 57 2 7 5 49 5 55 3 24 5 50 5 53 StotS 5 51 5 52 5 41 5 52 5 51 6 9 5 53 5 49 6 42 5 54 5 47 7 17 J5 55 5 45 7 59 by calculating the angles at which they appeared to the two observers. But out of about sixty seen, Mr. Liais, who discussed the results, could be certain of only six being the same stars seen by both. These six stars, at the moment of appearing and disappearing, were calculated to be distant from the earth as follows : No. 1, 35,000 11,000 metres, equal to 23.7 miles. No. 2, 3(3,000 25,000 " " 24.17 " No. 3, 31,000 21,000 " " 20.14 " No. 4, 37,000 25,000 " " 25.3 No. 5, 83,000 13,000 " " 55.9 No. 6, 119,000 66,000 " " 79.44 u /j|V and their rapidity, as 14, 14, 16, 17, 55, and 75 miles per second, which affords the vpS curious coincidence (for in the very imperfect state of our knowledge about these •J mysterious visitants this fact is little more) that the highest were the swiftest. ©c^- 18 OCTOBER. 1859. MOON'S PHASES. First Quarter, Full Moor, Last Quarter, New Moon. • Boston. N. York. IJait more H ■ 3 48 e 7 8 e 0 59 m 7 49 e H M 3 36 e 6 56 e 0 47 m 7 37 c H M 3 26 e 6 46 e 0 37 m 7 27 e Pittsbu'gl H M 3 14 e 6 33 c 0 24 m 7 a e Cincinnati M 54 e 14 e 5 e 56 e 83 it CALENDAR CALENDAR CALENDAR 55 w SI widow For Boston, N. England. K )!• X. York City, Phi Kor Wi ishington, C Si •s at the New- York State. Mi- ladelj )liia. Conn., New Nfaryi1 d, Virg»a, &. Noon chiuriin, Wiscon., Iowa Jersey, Penn'ia, Ohio. Kent'j •. Miss'ri, O > marl i . Mini Oregon. Indiana and Illinois. and C i!: forma. !h SIN ] S U N MOON II. w. s IN s UN MOON H. \V. SUN s L'N MOON < ft < p Sforning. rises SI •ts. M sets. Host. II M rises II M sets. a u sets. N. Y. u ii rises !I M Si II ;ts. M sets. H M s H M H M II M H M 1 R 11 49 43||5 56 5 43 8 34 2 28 5 56 a 43 8 41 oiori i 56! 5 44 8 48 2 S 11 49 24 15 57 5 42 9 30 3 22 0 57 5 42 9 36 0 8 5 57. 5 42 9 43 3 M 11 49 5 5 58 5 40 10 30 4 18 5 58 5 41 10 36 1 4 '> 58] 5 41 10 42 4 T 11 48 47 5 59 5 39 11 35 5 15 5 59 5 39 1 1 40 2 1 5 59 5 39 11 45 ft W 11 48 29 6 1 5 38 morn 6 17 6 0 5 37 1 morn 3 3 6 0. 5 33 111' Til 6 T 11 48 11 6 2 5 36 0 36 7 12 6 1 5 36 0 40 3 5- 8 15 37 0 44 7 F 11 47 54 6 3 a 31 1 39 8 2 6 2 a 34 1 42 4 48 6 25 35 1 46 8 S 11 47 37 6 4 5 33 2 40 8 49 6 ;-; 5 33 2 4> 5 35 6 35 34 2 44 9 s 11 47 21 6 5 5 31 3 44 9 32 6 4 5 31 3 44 6 IS 6 4 5 32 3 45 10 M 11 47 4 6 6 5 29 4 45 10 12 6 5 5 29 4 44 6 5- 6 5 5 31 4 44 11 T 11 46 49 6 85 28 rises 10 51 6 6 5 28 rises 7 37 6 65 30 rises 12 W 11 46 34 !6 9|5 26 5 19 11 24 S 7 5 26 5 23 8 10 5 7 5 29 5 27 13 T 11 46 19 6 10 5 24 5 49 ev. 7 6 8 5 25 j 5 54 8 53 6 85 27 5 59 14 F 11 46 5 6 113 22 6 24 0 50 6 9 5 23 6 30 9 36 6 9J5 25 6 36 15 S 11 45 52 6 12 5 20 7 8 1 35 S 10 5 22 7 15 10 21 6 10|5 24 7 22 16 s 11 45 39 6 13 5 19 8 6 2 25 6 11 5 20 8 13 11 11 i 115 22 8 20 17 M 11 45 26 6 14 5 17 9 14 3 23 6 12 5 19 9 20 ev. 9 5 12 5 20 9 27 18 T 11 45 15 6 15 5 16 10 27 4 26 6 13 5 17 10 32 1 12 3 13j5 19 10 38 19 W 11 45 4 6 17 5 14 11 43 5 31 6 14 5 16 11 47 2 17 6 14 5 17 11 52 20 T 11 44 53 6 1815 13 morn 6 37 6 15 5 15 morn 3 23 6 15 5 16 in<>rn 21 F 11 44 43 6 19 5 11 1 1 7 39 6 16 5 13 1 4 4 25 6 16 5 15 1 6 22 S 11 44 34 6 21 5 10 2 16 8 38 6 18 5 12 2 18 5 24 6 17 a 14 2 19 23 s 11 44 26 6 22 5 8 3 31 9 29 6 19 5 10 3 31 6 15 •5 18 a 13 3 31 24 M 11 44 18 6 23 5 7 4 46 10 18 6 20 5 8 4 44 7 4 5 19 5 12 4 43 25 T 11 44 11 6 24 5 5 sets 11 0 6 21 5 7 sets 7 46 6 20 5 10 sets 26 W 11 44 5 6 25 5 4 5 1 11 45 6 22 5 5 5 6 8 32 6 21 5 9 5 11 27 T 11 43 59 6 27 5 2 5 39 morn 6 24 5 4 5 45 9 22 6 22 5 7 5 51 28 F 11 43 54 6 28 5 1 6 25 0 36 6 25 5 3 6 31 10 9 6 23 5 5 6 38 29 S 11 43 50 6 29 5 0 7 18 1 23 6 26 5 2 7 25 10 53 6 24 5 4 7 32 30 s 11 43 47 6 31 1 58 8 17 2 7 6 27 5 0 8 24 11 44 6 25 5 3 8 30 31 M 11 43 45 6 32 4 57 9 21 2 58 6 28 4 59 , 9 26 inorr 6 26 5 2 9 32 In 1839 De Vico, at Rome, and Nobile, at Naples, made simultaneous observations of this sort in the nights of the 23d, 24th, 25th, and 31st of August, and saw the same meteor thirty-one times, and so exact were the results that they served as well as the best ordinary methods for correcting the difference of longitude of those places forty- three leagues apart, while Paris is only twenty-eight leagues from Orleans. Spots on the Surface of thk Sun.— The Royal Astronomical Society, G. B., have recently presented their medal to Mr. Hcinrich Schwabe of Dessau, Germany, for his researches, continued for a period of thirty years, on the spots which appear on the surface of the sun. From the address of the president, in presenting the medal, we derive the following information on this topic : The plan adopted by Mr. Schwabe is, to note by a number each spot in the order of its appearance, carrying on his notation from the first to the last spot In each year. 1859. NOVEMBER. 19 MOON'S PHASES. First Quarter, Full Moon. Last Quarter, • New Moon, ]) Boston. H H n 11 34 in 10 9 21 in 1? 8 23 in 24 8 59 ra ST. York. Baltimore I'ittsbu'gh Cincinnati II M H M H M H M 1 1 22 in 11 12 m 10 59 in 10 41 m 9 9 m 8 59 in 8 47 m 8 28 m 8 11 m 8 I in 7 48 m 7 29 in 8 47 m 8 37 ra 8 25 m 8 6m C 5 a fc. o o ■< >< < 1 T 2 W 3 T 4 F 5 S 6 S 7 M 8 T 9 W 10 T 11 F 12 S 13 s 14 M 15 T 16 W 17 T 18 F 19 S 20 S 21 M 22 T 23 w 24 T 25 F 26 S 27 s 28 M 29 T 30 W Shadow at the Noon mark. Morning H M 11 43 11 43 11 43 11 43 11 43 11 43 11 43 11 43 11 43 11 44 11 44 11 44 11 44 11 44 11 44 11 44 11 45 11 45 11 45 11 45 11 46 11 46 11 46 11 46 11 47 11 47 11 47 11 48 II 48 III 48 s 4S 42 42 42 44 46 49 53 57 3 q 17 25 34 43 54 6 18 31 45 0 16 33 50 8 27 47 7 28 49 CALENDAR For Boston, ft. England. New-York State, Mi ehigan, Wiscon., Iowa and Oregon. SUJi rises M 33 6 34 35 36 37 39 40 41 6 43 6 44 45 47 48 49 51 6 52 6 53 6 54 56 58 59 0 1 3 5 6 7 8 0 N M 0 0 N sets. sets H M H M 4 55 10 24 4 54 11 25 4 53 morn 4 52 0 28 4 50 1 29 4 49 2 31 4 48 3 34 4 47 4 39 4 45 rises 4 44 4 21 4 43 5 5 4 42 6 0 4 41 7 5 4 40 8 17 4 39 9 31 4 38 10 50 4 37 morn 4 36 0 5 4 36 1 19 4 35 2 30 4 34 3 42 4 33 4 54 4 33 sets 4 32 4 17 4 31 5 8 4 31 6 5 4 30 6 56 4 29 8 11 4 29 9 14 4 29 10 16 II. \v. Host. H M 5C 42 32 6 24 12 0 8 47 9 31 10 16 11 0 11 44 38 28 19 16 13 11 10 7 5 CALENDAR For N. York City, Phi ladelphia. Conn., New Jersey. Penn'ia. Ohio. Indiana and Illinois. SUN rises H M 6 29 6 30 a 4 4 1 4 4 sun sets. MOON sets II. w N. Y 6 32 6 33 6 35 6 36 6 38 ■v 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 8 59 9 51 10 40 11 24 morn 0 17 1 4 1 4f 2 30 3 lb 4 4 4 4 39 4 M H M 59 10 29 53 11 29 57| morn 0 30 1 2 3 4 40 41 43 6 44 '6 45 |6 47 6 48 :6 49 6 50 6 51 6 52 6 54 6 55 6 56 6 57 6 58 6 59 4 7 0 7 1 7 2 7 4'4 56 55 53 52 50 49 48 47 46 45 44 43 42 41 40 40 39 38 38 37 36 36 35 35 35 34 34 30 rises 26 12 6 II 8 23 9 36 10 53 morn 0 6 19 29 40 51 sets 4 23 14 11 9 8 15 9 18 10 18 H M 0 36 28 18 CALENDAR For Washington, Mary I'd, Virg'a, Kent'y, Miss'ri, and California. SUN j SUN rises sets. 10 6 58 6 46 6 33 17 2 46 8 30 9 24 10 14 11 5 0 6 6 6 6 6 2 16 0 59 6 5716 56 6 53 6 5l|l6 45 6 6 37 6 26 6 M 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 35 36 37 39 40 41 42 43 44 4 45 4 46 47 48 49 50 106 3 6 50 6 34 (i 1G morn 0 2 4 4 4 4 4 514 52 4 53 4 54 4 55 4 56 4 57;4 58'4 M 1 0 59 58 57 56 55 54 53 52 51 50 49 48 4? 46 46 45 44 44 43 42 42 41 41 41 41 40 40 40 MOON sets H M 10 33 11 32 morn 0 33 31 31 31 34 rises 4 32 5 18 6 13 7 18 8 29 9 41 10 56 morn 0 8 20 28 37 47 sets 4 30 5 21 6 18 7 8 8 21 9 22 10 21 He reckons an isolated spot, or a cluster of spots where there is no visible separation between their penumbrae, as one group. Hence, he observes, the number of spots will depend in a great measure on the excellence of the telescope ; and it often hap- pens that clusters of many hundred, nay, of many thousand spots, will bo designated by one number only, just as a single isolated spot will be. So great, however, is the sun's tendency to present his spots in the form of clusters, thai other observers will, in the course "of a year, assuredly not find any great difference between their numbers and mine. But ho particularly impresses on bis readers, that lie attaches importance not so much on the absolute number of the groups, as on the ratio which obtains be- tween them in different years. The result of his investigations has been to establish with a degree of probability, almost amounting to certainty, that the solar spots pass through the phases of maxi- ©C^»- 20 DECEMBER. 1359. Boston. NY o> k. Baltimore Pit sbu'gh Cincinnati JJO.UU1M J3 JTXX-Q-OX^ i) H M H M H M H M H M 2 9 6 in 8 54 m 8 44 m 8 31 m 8 12 m 0 10 29 e 10 17 e 10 7 e 9 54 e 9 35 e 16 4 32 e 4 20 e 4 10 e 3 57 € 3 39 e New H 24 1 3 m n si m 0 41 m 0 -->R m ? 'X CALENDAR CALENDAR CALENDAR 2 S3 Shadow For Bo-ton, N. Ensrland For N. York City. Pin For Washing! on. S > at ihe New- York State, Mi ladelphia. Conn., Neu Mary I'd, Vira'a, fa fa O Noon chis» << s UN sun MOON H. W. SUN S U N MOON 1 n. w S U N SUN MOON ft -< ft Morning ri ses sets. sets H M Boat. H M rises H Jl sets. II M sets H M M. Y. H M L'iSe:- H M sets. H M Sets II M s a M H M H M 1 T 11 49 12 7 10 4 29 11 17 4 0 7 5 4 34 11 19 0 46 6 59 4 40 11 20 2 F 11 49 35 7 114 29 morn 4 44 7 6 4 34 morn 1 30 7 0 4 39 morn 3 R 11 49 58 7 12 4 28 0 18 5 30 7 7 4 34 0 18 2 16 7 1 4 39 0 19 4 s 11 50 22 7 134 28 1 19 6 19 7 8 4 33 1 18 3 5 7 2 4 39 1 18 5 M 11 50 47 7 14 4 28 2 21 7 6 7 9 1 33 2 19 3 52 1 7 3 4 38 2 17 6 T 11 51 13 7 15 4 28 3 28 7 5S 7 10 4 33 3 24 4 44 7 4 4 38 3 21 7 W 11 51 38 7 16 4 28 4 37 8 52 7 11 4 33 4 32 5 38 7 5 4 38 4 28 8 T 11 52 4 7 17 4 28 5 48 9 47 7 12 4 33 5 43 6 33 7 6 4 38 5 37 9 F 11 52 31 7 184 28 rises 10 39 7 13 4 33 rises 7 25 7 7 4 38 rists in s 11 52 58 7 19 4 28 4 48 11 29 7 14 4 33 4 55 8 15 7 6 4 38 5 2 n s 11 53 25 7 20 4 28 6 1 ev. 27 7 15 4 33 6 7 9 13 7 9 4 38 6 13 12 M 11 53 53 7 21 4 2S 7 21 1 21 7 15 4 33 7 26 10 7 7 10 4 39 7 30 13 T 11 54 21 7 22 1 28 8 40 2 8 1 16 4 33 8 43 10 54 7 10 4 39 8 47 14 W 11 54 50 7 22 4 28 9 55 3 0 7 17 4 34 9 57 11 46 7 11 4 39 9 59 15 T 11 55 19 7 23 4 28 11 8 3 51 7 17 4 34 11 9 ev. 37 7 11 4 39 11 10 lfi F 11 55 48 7 24 4 28 inoni 4 44 7 18 4 34 morn 1 30 7 12 4 39 morn 17 S 11 56 17 7 24 4 29 0 21 5 39 7 18 4 34 0 20 2 25 7 12 4 40 0 20 IS s 11 56 47 7 25 4 29 1 33 6 34 7 19 4 35 1 31 3 20 7 13 4 40 1 29 19 M 11 57 17 7 25 4 29 2 45 7 35 7 19 4 35 2 41 4 21 7 13 4 40 2 38 20 T 11 57 47 7 26 4 30 3 56 8 31 7 20 4 36 3 51 5 17 7 14 4 41 3 46 21 W 11 58 17 7 26 4 30 5 5 9 28 7 20 4 36 4 59 6 15 7 14 4 41 4 54 22 T 11 58 47 7 27 4 31 6 14 10 24 7 21 4 37 6 7 7 10 7 15 4 42 6 0 23 F 11 59 17 7 27 4 31 sets 11 10 7 21 4 37 sets 7 56 7 15 4 42 Sets 24 S 11 59 47 7 28 4 32 4 54 11 57 7 22 4 38 4 59 8 43 7 16 4 43 5 5 25 s nil'moou 7 28 4 32 5 56 morn 7 22 4 38 6 1 9 29 7 16 4 43 6 7 26 M 12 0 47 7 294 33 7 2 0 43 7 23 4 39 7 6 10 10 7 17 4 44 7 11 27 T 12 1 17 7 29 4 34 8 4 1 24 7 23 4 39 8 7 10 45 7 17 4 45 8 10 28 W 12 1 47 7 29 4 34 9 5 1 59 7 24 1 40 9 7 11 22 7 18 4 45 9 9 29 T 12 2 16 7 29 4 35 10 5 2 36 7 24 J 40 10 6 inon 7 18 4 46 10 7 30 F 12 2 45 7 30 4 36 111 6 3 16 7 25 I 41 11 6 0 2 7 19 4 47 11 6 31 S 112 3 14 7 30 4 37 1 morn 3 56 i7 25 4 42 morn 0 42 7 19 4 48 | morn mum and minimum frequency, and vice versa, in a period not very different from ten' years. Brorsen's Comet.— A comet discovered by Bruhn of Berlin, during the past year, has acquired an unusual interest, from the fact that its identity with a comet disco- vered by Brorsen of Kiel, has been satisfactorily proved, and its time of rotation about the sun determined. This amounts to a period of 2,026 days, (rive years six and a half months,) and the greatest axis of the line of rotation is about 600,000,000 miles long. This is the third comet of short rotation known to us, the two others being those of Biela and Encke. Light-Houses.— The U. S. light house department includes (1858) 579 light-house and light-vessel stations, and 627 lights— also about 5,000 buoys and beacons. Sca- the ILLUSTRATED ANNUAL REGISTER OP RURAL AFFAIRS. ^c^-ns: FARM MANAGEMENT. i-ff^iPiift T is an interesting subject for inqiiiry, why different fe men with the same opportunities, variously fail or i succeed, after years of equal labor. One will be- come rich, the other poor, on the same piece of land. One has had continued prosperity, and doubled or tripled his capital. The other has met with nothing but difficult}', misfortune, and "hard times." Instead of increasing his capital, he has become heavily involved in debt. His farm has run down and diminished in value. Altogether, he has come to the con- clusion, that except with a lucky few, farming is a very hard, slavish, non-paying occu- pation. His successful neighbor on the other hand, has adopted a very different opinion. His crops are good, with scarcely an exception — his fences im- penetrable — his fields without a weed — his farm- buildings and barn-yards, models of neatness — his cattle and sheep richly SQCIKE S^IPSHOD'S BARK. Vol. II. No. 2. 126 ILLUSTRATED ANNUAL REGISTER marked with improved blood, in fine condition, and eagerly sought in market at high prices— his fruit trees are bending under their rich loads, and his dwelling and door-yard a gem of rural beauty. He has "not quite yet" concluded to give up the business of agriculture for feverish speculation, nor for the close, pent-up, and anxious life of city trade. There is no lack of examples of both of these kinds of farming. The writer knows two men, now under fifty, who began active life in farming at about the same period— the first with very little property, the other with a beautiful hundred-acre farm. The first in less than twenty years had accumulated enough to buy seven hundred acres of the best land in that fertile region, and his average nett profits were between four and five thousand dollars a year. The other, with the fine hundred-acre patri- mony, has worked equally hard, but he had not an acre left him, and was insolvent. Itfe- K **% FARMER THRIFTT'S BARN, AS SEEN IN WINTER FROM HIS BACK DOOR. Nearly all our readers are acquainted with two similar cases — those of Farmer Thrifty and Squire Slipshod. They will therefore recognize at once some of the accompanying roughly sketched portraits. Squire Slipshod's barn was originally the best in the neighborhood, but mo- tives of economy have compelled him to omit some repairs he would have otherwise been glad to make — and he has become disheartened since he has discovered that boards and shingles become detached more easily than from the build- the squire's door-yariTgate. ings of his neighbors. He has adopted a cheap fastening to his barn-doors, which, from its security, compels him to leave his wagons and tools outside. He especially won- ders why Farmer Thrifty 's barn and fence "keeps in such good order." The Squire's door-yard gate is the best gate on his premises ; although $ the hinges are a little imperfect, causing it to diverge from the post at OP RURAL AFFAIRS. 127 the bottom — the only inconvenience of which results from the street pigs, which are constantly thrusting themselves through. The carriage-gate is scarcely inferior to the one just described, but possesses opposite quali- ties, gaping open at the top instead of the bottom. His mode of wintering tools and implements is not peculiar to him, but has some advantages, the main one being a saving of care and labor. CARRIAGE GATE. The Squire will not admit that his favorite horses are in any respect inferior to others, except it be that Farmer Thrifty 's are a little fatter — which advantage is more than balanced by the high feeding and pampered keeping which the former has to give his team. On two points he confesses to have been unlucky. One is in his young orchard, which has never flourished so well as that of his more successful neigbor, but he will not believe that this difference arises from anything else than luck, although he never gives his orchard any cultiva- tion. Raising pears he regards as a humbug, as such varieties as he has planted, with his peculiar management, which he thinks " good enough," has given him specimens like this — (see fig. 9.) He THE SQUIRE'S MODE OF WINTERING TOOLS AND IMPLEMENTS. fLUUi'l THE SQUIRE'S HORSES. FARMER THRIFTY'S TEAM. cannot, however, account for the good luck of his neighbor, whose entire J/j\ crop was similar to fig. 10. ILLUSTRATED ANNUAL REGISTER TnE squire's young orchard. farmer thrifty's young orchard. The other point in which he admits his inferiority, is in his corn crop, from which, although his land is comparatively fertile, he obtains only about ten bushels of corn per acre, while the Farmer usually gets from fifty to seventy. Fig. 9. Now, the question very properly occurs, what should cause so great a difference in the farming of two neigh- bors— one always pros- perous, the other as uniformly unsuccessful. The answer is an inte- resting and important one, namely, difference in MANAGEMENT. It is not the amount of labor Fig. 10. i expended, but the way in which this labor is directed. A man may work A Jk hard for days together, in carrying a hogshead of water, by repeated M 0 journeys, in an egg shell ; or by efficient appliances it may be conveyed (J — *=^3@ OF RURAL AFFAIRS. 129 the same distance in a few minutes. One may fatigue himself to no pur- pose hy taking hold of the wrong end of the lever, while its proper use may overcome any resistance. It is this bad application of labor that " unlucky" W[TH his corn crop. 4 THE SQUIRE causes heavy loss to hard-working, badly managing farmers. It is the object of these remarks to point out the causes of failure, and the requi- sites for success. Order. — The good performance of a single operation, does not consti- tute a successful farmer. If he raises a hundred bushels of corn per acre, while his other crops do not pay cost; or if he sells a young colt for two hundred dollars, and sinks five hundred on other animals, he is a poor manager. The per- fection of the art requires a skillful attention to every part — a proper ar- rangement of the whole. Everything must be done, not only in the best man- ner, and at the proper time, but with the most effective and economical 1 1 » ' rERGUSON THE FARMER'S CORN. expenditure of money. All must move on with clock-work regularity, without hurry or confusion, even at the most busy seasons of the year. A comprehensive plan of the whole business must be devised. In matu- ring such a plan, several important branches of the subject are to be carefully examined, under the various heads of Capital, Laying Out the Farm, Buildings, Choice of Implements, Selection of Animals, Rotation of Crops, and arrangement of operations in the Order of Time. Capital. — The first requisite in all undertakings of magnitude, is to " count the cost." The man who commences a building, which to finish would cost ten thousand dollars, with a capital of only five thousand, is — "^Q ILLUSTRATED ANNUAL REGISTER ~A • » as certainly ruined, as many farmers arc, who, without counting the cost, commence on a scale to which their limited means are wholly inadequate. One of the greatest mistakes which young farmers make in this country, in their anxious wish for large possessions, is not only in purchasing more land than they can pay for, hut in the actual expenditure of all their means, without leaving any even to begin the great work of farming. Hence, the farm continues for a long series of years poorly provided with 5£ock, frith ijnylements, with manure, and with the necessary labor. Fr#on! Hit^ heavy drawback on the profits of his land, the farmer is kept lo*hg in tlebt; the burthen of which not only disheartens him, but pre- vents that enterprise and energy which are essential to success. This is one fruitful reason why American agriculture is in many places in so low a state. A close observer, in traveling through the country, is thus ena- bled often to decide from the appearances of the buildings and premises of, each occupant, whether he is in or out of debt. In England — where the enormous taxes of different kinds, imperiously compel the cultivator to farm well, or not farm at all — the indispensable necessity of a heavy capital to begin with, is fully understood. The man who merely rents a farm there, must possess as much to stock it and commence operations, as the man who buys and pays for a farm of equal size in the best parts of western New-York. The result is, that he is enabled to do everything in the best manner; he is not compelled to bring his goods prematurely to market, to supply his pressing wants; and by having read}' money always at command, he can perform every operation at the very best season for product and economy, and make purchases, when necessary, at the most advantageous rate. The English farmer is thus able to pa}7 an amount of tax, often more than the whole product of farms of equal extent in this country. The importance of possessing the means of doing everything at exactly the right season, cannot be too highly appreciated. One or two illustra- tions may set this in a clearer light. Two farmers had each a crop of rutabagas, of an acre each. The first, by hoeing his crop early, while the weeds were only an inch high, accomplished the task with two days work, and the young plants then grew vigorously and yielded a heavy return. The second, being prevented by a deficiency of help, had to defer his hoeing one week, and then three days more, by rainy weather, making ten days in all. During this time the weeds had sprung up six to ten inches high, so as to require, instead of two days, no less than six days to hoe them ; and so much was the growth of the crop checked at this early stage, that the owner had 150 bushels less on his acre, than the farmer who took time by the forelock. Another instance occurred with an intelligent fanner of this State, who raised two fields of oats on land of similar quality. One field was sown very early and well put in, and yielded a good profit. The other was delayed twelve days, and then / <©c^- OP RURAL AFFAIRS. 131 hurried ; and although the crop was within two-thirds of the amount of the former, yet that difference was just the clear profit of the first crop ; so that with the latter, the amount yielded only*paid the expenses. Admitting that the farm is already purchased and paid for, it becomes an object to know what else is needed, and at what cost, before cultivation is commenced. If the buildings and fences are what they should be, which is not often the case, little immediate outlay will be needed for them. But if not, then an estimate must be made of the intended improvements and the necessary sum allotted for them. These being all in order,. the following items, requiring an expenditure of capital, -will be required* on a good farm of 100 acres of improved land, that being not far from the size of a large majority in this State. The estimate will of course vary considerably with circumstances, prices, &c. Live Stock. — This will vary much with the character and quality of the land, its connection with market, &c, but the following is a fair ave- rage, for fertile land, and the prices an average for different years, although lower than they have recently been : — 3 hones, at .$100, $300—1 yoke of oxen, $100, $400 8 milch cows, $25, $200—10 steers, heifers and calves, $100, 300 20 pigs, $5, $100—100 sheep, $2, $200, 300 Poultry, &c, 10 $1010 Implements. — To farm economically, these must be of the best sort, especially those that are daily used. A plow, for instance, that saves only one-eighth of a team's strength, will save an hour a day, or more than twelve days (worth $24,) in a hundred — an amount, annually, that would be well worth paying freely for in the best plow. A simple hand- hoe, — so well made that it shall enable the laborer to do one hour's more work daily, will save twelve days in a hundred, — enough to pay for many of the best made implements of the kind. These examples are sufficient to show the importance of securing the best. 2 plows fitted for work, and 1 small do., $25—1 cultivator, $7, $32.00 1 harrow, $10— 1 roller, $10— 1 seed planter, $15. 35.00 1 fanning mill, 1 straw cutter, $40 — 1 root sheer, $28, 6S.00 1 farm wagon, 1 ox-cart, one-horse cart, with hay-racks, &c, 1S0.00 Harness for three horses, 50.00 1 shovel, 1 spade, 2 manure-forks, 3 hay-forks, 1 pointed shovel, 1 grain shovel, 1 pick, 1 hammer, 1 wood saw, 1 turnip-hook, 2 ladders, 2 sheep-shears, 2 steelyards, (large and small,) 1 half- bushel measure, each $1, 20.00 1 horse-rake, $8— 2 grain-cradles, 2 scythes, $12, 20.00 1 wheelbarrow, $5 — 1 maul and wedges, 2 axes, $6.50, 11.50 1 hay-knife, 1 ox-chain, 6.00 1 tape line, for measuring fields and crops, 2.00 1 grindstone, $3—1 crowbar, $2 — 1 sled and fixtures, $30,- 35.00 Hand-hoes, hand-rakes, baskets, stable lantern, currycomb and brush, grain-bags, &c, say 15.00 $474.50 JA The addition of a subsoil plow, sowing machine, mower and reaper, (J threshing machine, horse-power for sawing wood, cutting straw, &c, 132 ILLUSTRATED ANNUAL REGISTER would more than double the amount, but young farmers may hire most of these during the earlier periods of their practice. A set of the sim- pler carpenter's tools, for repairing implements in rainy weather, would soon repay their cost. Besides the preceding, the seeds for the various farm crops, would cost not less than $75 ; hired labor for one year, to do the work well, would probably be as much as $350 ; and food for maintaining all the domestic animals from the opening of spring until grass, and grain for horses till harvest, would not be less in value than $100 ; $525 in all. For domestic animals, $1010.00 " implements, 474.50 " seeds, food and labor, 525.00 $2009.50 Thus, two thousand dollars are required the first year for stocking and conducting satisfactorily the operations of a hundred acres of good land — a much larger sum than is commonly supposed to be necessary, but none too much for the most profitable management. If this sum cannot be had, let the farmer purchase but fifty acres, so as to leave him a larger surplus of money, that he may till his land well. Size of Farms. — The great loss from a superficial, skimming culture, has been fully shown. Take the corn-crop as an illustration. There are many whose yearly products per acre do not exceed 25 bushels. There are others, skilled in good management, who obtain as an average, not less than 80 bushels per acre. Now observe the difference in the profits of each. The first gets 250 bushels from ten acres. In doing this, he has to plow ten acres, harrow ten acres, mark out ten acres, find seed for ten acres, plant, cultivate, hoe, and cut up ten acres, besides paying the interest and taxes on this extent of land, worth about five hundred dollars. The other cultivator gets 250 bushels from about three acres — and he only plows, plants, cultivates and hoes, this limited piece to obtain the same amount — and from the fine tilth and freedom from weeds, this is much easier done, even on an equal surface. The same reasoning applies to every part of the farm. Be sure then, to cultivate no more than can be done in the best manner, whether it be ten, fifty, or five hundred acres. Two well known neighbors owned, one four hundred, and the other seventy-five acres — yet the larger farmer admitted that he made less than his limited neighbor. There is a riile to determine the proper size for a farm, that can be scarcely ever misapplied, namely, to reduce its dimen- sions until the labor expended shall perform every thing in the best manner. If, for instance, the farmer now lays out one thousand dollars yearly on three hundred acres, and finds the sum insufficient, then dispose of such a portion as will allow the thousand dollars to accomplish the very best cultivation. This will give the greatest nett proceeds, even if it be but a hundred acres. As an example of what may be obtained from a small piece of land, 5 ii 2 c( 1 it 6 H 6 U 10 (( 5 (( 5 (( ©o^= =^>^ OF RURAL AFFAIRS. 133 the following products of fifty acres are given, and are not more than have been often raised separately by good farmers, with economical cul- ture, and are much less than some premium crops obtained at higher cost : — 10 acres wheat, 35 bushels per acre, $350 corn, 90 " " 50c, 225 potatoes, 200 " " 35c, 140 carrots, 500 " " 15c, 75 winter apples, 200 bushels per acre, 25c, 300 hay, 3 tons per acre, $6, 108 pasture, worth 60 barley, 40 bushels per acre, 50c, 100 oats, 50 " " 35c, S'l Total product of 50 acres of fine land, $1445 Good land could be brought to this state of fertility, including complete underdraining and ample manuring, at less than a total cost of one hun- dred dollars per acre, where land is at an average price for the northern and middle States ; it would then be incomparably cheaper than many poor farms at nothing ; for while fifty acres could be tilled for four hundred dollars, leaving over one thousand dollars nett profits, large, poor farms, hardly pay the labor spent upon them. A proprietor of such a farm declared, " It takes me and my hired man hard at work all the year, to raise enough to pay him only." Laying Odt Farms. — This department is very much neglected. The proper disposition of the different fields, for the sake of economy in fencing, for convenience of access, and for a full command of pasture and protection of crops at all times, has received comparatively little attention from our agricultural writers and from farmers. Many suppose that this business is very quickly disposed of; that a very few minutes, or hours at most, will enable a man to plan the arrange- ment of his fields about right. But this is a great error. Even when a farm is of the simplest form, on a flat uniform piece of ground, many things are to be borne in mind in laying it out. In the first place, we all know that the fencing of a moderately sized farm costs many hundred dollars. It is very desirable to do it well, and use at the same time as little material as possible. To do this, much will depend on the shape of the fields. A certain length of fence will enclose more land in the form of a square, than in any other practicable shape. Hence fields should approach this form as nearly as possible. Again, the disposition of lanes is a matter of consequence, so as to avoid unnecessary length and fencing, and occupy the least quantity of ground. But these rules may be materially affected by other considerations. For instance, it is very desirable that land of similar quality may be in the same enclosure. Some may be naturally too wet for anything but meadow or pasture; some may be much lighter, and susceptible of plow- ing, while others are not; some may be naturally sterile, and need unusual manuring with green crops. All these should, as far as practicable, be @c^ 134 ILLUSTRATED ANNUAL REGISTER included each in its own separate boundary. The situation of surface- drains, forming the boundaries of fields, may influence their shape ; facilities for irrigation may have an essential bearing ; convenience for watering cattle is not to be forgotten. Where, in addition to all these considerations, the land is hilly, still more care and thought is required in the subdivision, which may possibly require years of experience ; but where fixed fences are once made, it is hard to remove them ; hence a previous thorough examination should be made. A farm road, much used for heavy loads, should be made hard and firm, and cannot be easily altered ; it should consequently be exactly in the right place, and be dry, level and short — the shape of ,J s.*-a ■=> —TV- - -\ ms? adjoining fields even conforming to these requisitions ; but a road little used should not interfere with the outlines of fields. A specimen of laying out a farm is given in the annexed plan. It is of the very simplest kind, or a right-angled parallelogram, on nearly level land — a form that often occurs. It lies on one side of a public road, which is lined with forest trees. The middle enclosure on the road contains the dwelling, the barn, and other out- buildings. It is planted with trees for shade, ornament, and domestic enjoyment — not set " all in a row," but in the graceful or picturesque style which distinguishes a beau- tiful natural landscape. On one side are the fruit, kitchen, and flower gardens — the lot containing ^- ■ 1 them being oblong, to separate Fig. 15. certain portions of the fruit gar- den for pigs — the sovereign remedy for the curculio ; the orchard may occupy the opposite lot. The remainder of the farm is divided into fields nearly square, each being entered from the lane by a good gate. These fields may be increased or lessened in size without altering the position of the lane. They should always be sufficiently numerous to admit a good rotation, and to separate at all times the pasture from the tillage land. In laying out a farm with a very uneven surface, or irregular shape, it would be best to draw, first, a plan adapted to smooth ground, as the one ( M ■it '-•fc .-} VJ 'A * V M : » * % 5 ? f. ^i * ^,h rc^ OF RURAL AFFAIRS. 135 £ * '* ^ J? 3 q y I* o. w* O'V-.v ■Slip •.A- '■"yj/uWwMdJ.i fe Fig. 16. * y^«K«l«?.AT mm '.•JX. w \ ? aooun ? r» o o & t> «v f> « o Pa»o o a <* o o a Fig. 17. ^C^=^- just given ; and then vary the size and shape of the fields, the distance of the lane from the center, its straightness, &c, according to the circum- stances of the case. Fig. 16 exhibits an instance of modification to suit an uneven surface, where A is a , high and broad hill, and B '>, another hill stretching in an opposite direction. To avoid going over the first hill, the lane bends so as nearly to pass around it, until at E it crosses the valley Q IJ, and then con- tinues to rise by a gradual ascent to its termination. A bridge and embankment are made at the crossing, so as to render the road nearly level. The hill A is made to occupy one field, so that it may be easily plowed by passing around it, and throwing the earth down- wards. Another example is furnished by fig. 17, where a long hill or ridge lying near the public road, extends nearly its whole breadth. The house is therefore placed near the end of this hill, so that the farm road may pass around it, and the barn is nearer the center — the road rising suffi- ciently towards it to give all the advantages of a side-hill barn. As this hill is too large and high to plow around it, as in the last exam- ple, the fields are so divided as to be advantageously entered, and the plowing must be done with hill-side plow. The upper portion of A is accessible at a, and the lower part from the public road ; B is entered ILLUSTRATED ANNUAL REGISTER at b ; and C is like A. The road from the barn to these fields being ascending, is well graded and rendered hard ; and the descending road from the barn to the principal lane, is made with equal care, as most of the crops and manure pass over this portion. Some farmers, who care little for proximity to the public highway, would for convenience prefer to place the house farther back, out of sight, and nearer the center of the farm. Fences. — The kind of fence used, and the material for its construction, must depend on circumstances and localities. A good fence is always to bo preferred to an imperfect one; though it cost more, it will more than save that cost, and three times the amount in vexation besides, by keeping cattle, colts, and pigs, out of fields of grain. A thriving farmer, whose whole land, except a small part with stone wall, is enclosed by common rail fence, with upright cedar stakes and connecting caps at the top, finds that it needs renewing once in six years. He accordingly divides his whole amount of fences into six parts, one of which is built new every year. All is thus kept systematically in good repair. Stone walls, if set a foot below the surface to prevent tumbling by frost, are the most durable fence. Hedges have not been sufficiently tried. Gates. — Every field on the farm should be entered by a good self- shutting and self-fastening gate. A proper inclination in hanging will secure the former requisite, and a good latch, properly constructed, the latter. Each field should be numbered, and the number painted on the gate-post. Let the farmer who has bars instead of gates, make a trial of their comparative convenience, by taking them out and replacing them without stopping, as often as he does in one year on his farm, say about six hundred times, and he cannot fail to be satisfied which is cheapest for use. Buildings. — These should be as near the center of the farm as other considerations will admit. All the hay, grain, and straw, being conveyed from the fields to the barn, and most of it back again in manure, the distance of drawing should be as short as possible. This will, also, save much traveling of men and of cattle to and from the different parts of the farm. The buildings should not, however, be too remote from the public road ; and a good, dry, healthy spot should be chosen. The dwelling should be comfortable, but not large — or it should, rather, be adapted to the extent of the lands, A large, costly house, with small farm and other buildings, is an indication of bad management. The censure of the old Roman should be avoided, who, having a small piece of land, built his house so large that he had less occasion to plow than to sweep. The barn and out-buildings should be of ample extent. The barn should have space for hay, grain, and straw. It is a matter of great convenience to have the straw for littering stables, housed, and close at A hand, and not out of doors, under a foot of snow. There should be A plenty of stables and sheds for all domestic animals. This provision will OP RURAL AFFAIRS. not only save one-third of the fodder, hut stock will thrive much better. Cows will give much more milk — sheep will yield more and better wool — and all will pass through the winter more safely. The wood-house near, or attached to, the dwelling, should never be forgotten, so long as comfort in building fires, and economy in the use of fuel, are of any importance. A small, cheap, movable horse-power, should belong to every estab- lishment, to be used in churning, sawing wood, driving washing machine, turning grindstone, cutting straw and slicing roots. Choice of Implements. — Of those which are much used, the very best only should be procured. This will be attended with a gain every way. The work will be easier done, and it will be better done. A laborer, who by the use of a good hoe for one month, can do one-quarter more each day, saves, in the whole time, an entire week's labor. Choice of Animals. — The best of all kinds should be selected, even if costing something more than others. Not "fancy" animals, but those good for use and profit. Cows should be productive of milk, and of a form adapted for beef; oxen, hardy, and fast- working ; sheep, kept fine by never selling the best ; swine, not the largest merely, but those fatten- ing best on least food. A Berkshire or Suffolk, at 200 pounds, fattened on 10 bushels corn, is better than a "land-pike " of 300 fattened on 50 bushels. Having now taken some notice of the necessary items for commencing farming, it remains to glance briefly at SOILS AND THEIR MANAGEMENT. The chief distinction of soils, in ordinary practice, is into heavy and light, wet and dry, fertile and sterile. A volume might profitably be written on their management, but space can be afforded here for a few brief hints only. Heavy (or clayey) soils are easily distinguished by their adhesiveness after rains, by cracking in drought, and by frequently presenting a cloddy surface after plowing. They are not sufficiently porous for natural drainage, but when thoroughly tile-drained, they become eminently valuable, as they retain manure better, and may be made richer than any other soil. Sandy or gravelly loams have less strength, and may be more easily worked. They do not retain manure a long time. With a hard subsoil, they also require drainage. Sandy soils are easily tilled, but are not strong enough for most purposes, possessing too little clay to hold manure. Peaty soils are generally light and free, containing large quantities of decayed vegetable matter. They arc made by draining low and swampy grounds. They are fine for Indian corn, broom corn, barley, potatoes, and turnips. They are great absorbers, and great radiators of heat; hence they become warm in sunshine, and cold on clear nights. For this reason, they are peculiarly liable to frosts. Crops planted upon them must, consequently, be put in late — after spring frosts are over. Corn 2* 138 ILLUSTRATED ANNUAL REGISTER should be of early varieties, that it may not only be planted late, but ripen early. Each of these kinds of soils may be variously improved. Most of heavy soils are much improved by draining ; open drains to carry off the surface water, and covered drains, that which settles beneath. An ac- quaintance covered a low, wet, clayey field with a net-work of underdrains, and from a production of almost nothing but grass, it yielded the first year forty bushels of wheat per acre — enough to pay the expense ; and admitted of much easier tillage afterwards. Heavy soils are also made lighter and freer by manuring; by plowing under coatings of straw, rotten chips, and swamp muck ; and in some rare cases, by carting on sand — though this is usually too expensive for practice. Subsoil plowing is very beneficial, both in wet seasons and in drought; the deep, loose bed of earth it makes, receiving the water in heavy rains, and throwing it off to the soil above, when needed. But a frequent repetition of the operation is needed, as the subsoil gradually settles again. Sandy soils are improved by manuring, by the application of lime, and by frequently turning in green crops. Leached ashes have been found highly beneficial in many places. Where the subsoil is clayey, which is often the case, and especially if marly clay — great advantage is derived from shoveling it up and spreading it on the surface. A neighbor had twenty bushels of wheat per acre on land thus treated, while the rest of the field yielded only five. Manures. — These are first among the first of requisites in successful farm management. They are the strong moving power in agricultural operations. They are as the great steam engine which drives the vessel onward. Good and clean cultivation is, indeed, all-important; but it will avail little without a fertile soil ; and this fertility must be created, or kept up, by a copious application of manures. For these contribute directly, or assist indirectly, to the supply of nearly all the nourishment which plants receive; it is these, which, produced chiefly from the decay of dead vegetable and animal matter, combine most powerfully to give new life and vigor ; and thus the apparently putrid mass, is the very material which is converted into the most beautiful forms of nature; and plants and brilliant flowers spring up from the decay of old forms, and thus a continued succession of destruction and renovation is carried on through an unlimited series of ages. Manures possess different degrees of power, partly from their inherent richness, and partly from the rapidity with which they throw off their fertilizing ingredients, in assisting the growth of plants. These are given off b)T solution in water, and in the form of gas ; the one as liquid manure, which, running down, is absorbed by the fine roots; and the other as air, escaping mostly into the atmosphere, and lost. The great art, then, of saving and manufacturing manure, consists in ¥ ■©c^— ^C" OP RURAL AFFAIRS. retaining and applying to the best advantage, these soluble and gaseous portions. Probably more than one-half of all the materials which exist- in the country, are lost, totally lost, by not attending to the drainage of stables and farm-yards. This could be retained by a copious~application of straw, by littering with saw-dust, where saw-mills arc rear ; and more especially by the frequent coating of yards and stables with dried peat and swamp muck, of which many parts of our country furnish inexhaus- tible supplies. I say dried peat or muck, because if it is already saturated with water, of which it will often take in five-sixths of its own weight, it cannot absorb the liquid portions of the manure. But if it will absorb five-sixths in water, it will, when dried, absorb five-sixths in liquid manure, and both together form a very enriching material. JChe practice of many farmers, shows how little they are aware of the hundreds they are every year losing by suffering this most valuable of their farm products to escape. Indeed, there are not a few who carefully, and very ingeniously as the}" suppose, place their barns and cattle-yards in such a manner on the sides of hills, that all the drainage from them may pass oft* out of the way into the neighboring streams; and a farmer is mentioned, who, with pre-eminent shrewdness, built his hog-pen directly across a stream, that he might at once get the cleanings washed away, and prevent their accu- mulation. He of course succeeded in his wish ; but he might, with almost equal propriety, have built his granary across the stream, so as to shovel the wheat into the water when it increased on his hands. All neat farming, all profitable farming, and all satisfactory farming, must be attended with a careful saving of manures. The people of Flanders have long been distinguished for the neatness and excellence of their farms, which they have studied to make like gardens. The care with which they collect all refuse materials which may be converted into manure and increase their composts, is one of the chief reasons of the cleanliness of their towns and residences. And were this subject fully appreciated and attended with a corresponding practice generally, it would doubtless soon increase by millions the agricultural products of the country. But there is another subject of scarcely less magnitude. This is a systematic Rotation of Crops. — If manuring is the steam engine which propels the vessel, rotation is the rudder which guides it in its progress. Unlike manuring, rotation does not increase the labor of culture; it only directs the labor in the most effective manner, by the exercise of judgment and thought. The limits of this article do not admit of many remarks on the prin- ciples of rotation. The following courses, however, have been found A ^ among some of the best, to be modified according to the various crops A J adapted to each region of country: Q ILLUSTRATED ANNUAL REGISTER 1 _lst j'ear. Corn and roots well manured ; 2d year. Wheat, sown with clover seed, 15 lbs. per acre; 3d year. Clover, one or more years, according to fertility and amount of manure at hand. 2.— 1st year. Corn and roots, with all the manure; 2d year. Barley and peas ; 3d year. Wheat, sown with clover; 4th year. Clover, bne or more years. 3 _lst year. Corn and roots, with all the manure ; 2d year. Barley; 3d year. Wheat, sown with clover ; 4th yoar. Pasture ; 5th year. Meadow ; 6th year. Fallow ; 7th year. Wheat; 8th year. Oats, sown with clover; 9th vear. Pasture or meadow. The number of fields must correspond with the number of the changes in each course ; the first needing three fields to carry it out, the second four, the third nine. As each field contains a crop each, in the several successive stages of the course, the whole number of fields collectively comprise the entire series of crops every year. Thus in the last above given, there are two fields of wheat growing at once, three of meadow and pasture, one of corn and roots, one of barley, one of oats, and one in summer fallow. Operations in the Okdek of Time.— The vital consequence of doing every thing at the right season, is known to every good farmer. To pre- vent confusion and embarrassment, and keep all things clearly and plainly before the farmer at the right time, he should have a small book to carry in his pocket, having every item of work for each week, or each half month, laid down before his eyes. This can be done to the best advantage to suit every particular locality and difference of climate, by marking' each successive week in the season at the top of its respective page. Then, as each operation severally occurs, let him place it under its proper heading; or, if out of season, let him place it back at the right time. Any proposed improvements can be noted down on the right page. Interesting experiments are often suggested in the course of reading and or observation, but forgotten when the time comes to try them. By recordincr them in such a book under the right week, they are brought at once before the mind. Such an arrangement as this will prevent a great deal of the confusion and vexation to,, often attendant on multifarious cares, and assist very essentially in conducting all the farm work with clock-work regularity and satisfaction. In reviewing the various items which are most immediately essential to ( ,->-_ ■ =^=^ A OF RURAL AFFAIRS. 141 good farm management, some of the most obvious will be — capital enough to buy the farm and to stock it well ; to select a size compatible with these requisites ; to lay it out in the best manner ; to provide it well with fences, gates, and buildings ; to select the best animals and the best implements to be had reasonably ; to bring the soil into good condition, by draining, manuring, and good culture; to have every part under a good rotation of crops ; and every operation arranged, so as all to be conducted systematically, without clashing and confusion. An attention to all these points would place agriculture on a very different footing from its present condition in many places and with most farmers. The business then, instead of being repulsive, as it so frequently is, to our young men, would be attended with real enjoyment and pleasure. But in all improvements, in all enterprises, the great truth must not be forgotten, that success is not to be expected without diligence and indus- try. We must sow in spring, and cultivate well in summer, if we would reap an abundant harvest in autumn. When we see young farmers com- mence in life without a strict attention to business, which they neglect for mere pleasure, well may we in imagination see future crops lost by careless tillage — broken fences, unhinged gates, and fields filled with weeds — tools destroyed by heedlessness, property wasted by recklessness, and disorder and confusion triumphant; and unpaid debts, duns, and executions, already hanging over the premises. But, on the other hand, to see cheerful-faced, ready-handed industry, directed by reason and intelligence, and order, energy and economy guiding the operations of the farm — with smooth, clean fields, and neat, trim fences — rich, verdant pastures, and fine cattle enjoying them, and broad waving meadows and golden harvests, and waste and extravagance driven into exile, we need not fear the success of such a farmer — debts camiot stare him in the face, nor duns enter his threshold. COUNTRY DWELLINGS. In addition to the many designs furnished in former numbers of the Register, we give the following, which we hope will contribute towards a supply of the almost interminable demand for plans of farm-houses and rural residences, now felt in every part of the country. The first is a design for a brick farm-house, a sketch of the plan of which was fur- nished by a correspondent. The perspective view (fig. 18) is added. The advantages of this plan are: the three rooms most used, are in direct contact with and easily accessible to each other ; the family bed-room. (B) although near the kitchen, (K) is sufficiently secluded, not opening to the latter; the bath-room, as should always be the case, opens to the bed- jk. room and to the kitchen, at a convenient point for both hot and cold () — : =3^® 142 ILLUSTRATED ANNUAL REGISTER * •wxmc — &■*,?/* rr Fig. 18— Brick Farm-House. water; the kitchen stove (marked 5,) stands remotely from the pantry and living-room doors, rendering these cooler in summer; the dish-closet (d. c.) in accessible to both kitchen and living (or dining) room— to the latter it may be by a mere opening and slide. The collar is entered from , the kitchen beneath the front or hall stairs, and is thus quite accessible WOOD w 4 * * i s • : \ i / \ ! PRINCIPAL FLOOR SECOND FLOOR to both the kitchen and dining-room. The back stairs start at the back cud of the hall, and land over the pantry. The garret stairs start from the passage at the head of the hack stairs, and the garret is thus reached without passing through the front rooms and hall. "A flue," observes our correspondent, "should ascend into, or up the side of the living-room 4 OF RURAL AFFAIRS. chimney, to ventilate the cellar. The hath-room floor may descend toward the corner next the sink, where the water can pass out, and flow off with that from the sink and well." The cistern for rain-water is in the cellar, directly under the sink, where it may form a square apartment built of masonry, extending up nearly to the joists and covered with plank. A pump passes up through the floor, and flows into the sink, and a tube with stop-cock may pass through the side wall into the cellar. The well (w) is just without the kitchen door. The back door of the living-room opens by means of a double door, with a space of air enclosed on the back veranda (V.) It may probably be built in a plain and substantial manner, for a sum not exceeding $2,200 — the cost would vary $500 with the decree of finish and varying price of materials in different localities. If made of wood, it may be afforded for $100 less, at the average relative price of brick and lumber. Small Octagon House. The plan of this house was furnished by a correspondent — we have added an elevation. The octagon form gives the greatest amount of inte- rior space for a given surface of outside wall, and the ob- ject of this plan has been to arrange a house for a small family, where the mistress does her own work, or imme- diately superintends it. Our correspondent remarks : — " The house is erected on what is called a balloon frame. The lower rooms are 8 feet 8 inches high, the upper Fig. 21— Small Octagon Hodsb. rooms 8 feet. Roof to pro- ject two feet. Cellar wall 18 inches above ground. Weather boards either common clapboards or vertical inch boards battened. The plan explains itself, and is thought to be very con- venient. Cellar stairs un- der hall stairs. Chimney in the center. Hall lighted as other rooms from the side, rendering the cupola unnecessary. A K • I BED ROOM >^ , 12X13'» jCL : Fig. 22-Principal Floor. Sides 134 feet long in- Chamber Plan (A side. Built with four-inch scantling, it is about 33j feet from outside Jjk Q to outside." Q 144 ILLUSTRATED ANNUAL REGISTER Our correspondent thinks this house might he huilt in the cheap way described, for seven or eight hundred dollars — with larger rooms and more substantial materials and better finish, it would cost twelve to fifteen hundred. Many attempts have been made in designing larger octagon houses, the principal object being to economize in the amount of exterior wall — but all that we have seen are encumbered with serious defects, either in the plan or in the exterior appearance, this form rendering it especially diffi- cult to combine neatness and convenience. .1 KITCHEN 15X1G I "AKLOR OR LIVING i ROOM. DINING ROOM '"18X18. A 14rXlG. 14X18. 12X12 14X18. Fig. 25 — First Story. Fig. 26— Second Story. Plan of a Small House. This plan is for a small and cheap house, and combines convenient arrangement with a compact disposition of the apartments. On account of its simplicity, but lit- tle explanation is neces- sary. The entry is small, and occupies but little space, yet furnishes ready access to all rooms in the house but the kitchen. The upper entry may be lighted by a dormer win- dow, or by the omission of one of the closets at its side. Closets may be made under the stairs, for the two rooms, right and left. Plan of a Small Country House. On page 28 of the Rural Register for 1855, a plan and perspective view are given of a small house, possessing much convenience for a building of that size. A correspondent has since furnished the accompanying im- provement, (fig. 27) differing by giving the two principal rooms a square instead of an octagonal form, by placing the closets between them and not at the corners, and also flanking the kitchen with two small bed- rooms. Another correspondent has still later given us another modification, shown by fig. 28, and of which he furnishes the following description: " Having noticed a plan for a small house, (fig. 27) I will give you the plan of a house I built last summer. It is much the same as the plan OF RURAL AFFAIRS. 145 referred to, with the addition of two small rooms, viz : a bathing-room and pantry, which, I am satisfied, can he added to the first plan without in- creasing the cost over $15, as it takes no more outside wall to enclose the building with these two rooms than without them, and two angles less. Fig. 27. Fig. 28. " In maturing a plan, I kept steadily several objects in view. First, how many rooms and what size a small family would need ; and secondly, what form I should build on to get the greatest amount of room for a certain expense, and in the most compact form. I was satisfied the nearer square I could build, so as to give the rooms proper shape, the better, as it would enclose the greatest amount of room with a certain amount of outside wall, with the least number of angles, and in the most compact form possible. My house is 27 by 33 feet, one story 10 feet high, with steep roof, so that I have two good bed-chambers on the second floor 14 by I65 each. On the lower floor there are 7 rooms, 2 small halls, 1 closet, and 1 wardrobe under the stairs, opening into family bed-room, and 2 fire-places. Had I plenty of money to spare, I would have had all the rooms larger and the story 12 feet high, but for a small family they do very well." Fig. 28 is copied from the sketch sent, which we think a very success- ful attempt in arranging the apartments of a moderate sized house ; the roof having no receding angles, is consequently not subject to leakages. The only material defect we observe, is, that the kitchen is lighted and aired on but one side — windows on opposite sides, like those in fig. 27, being more favorable to a pure air, and that cleanliness which is best se- cured by ample light. Its position, however, would make it warmer in winter ; but also warmer in dog-days. Most of the plans hitherto given in the Register, are for cheap houses. The following several views and plans of dwellings of a more costly character, are taken from Calvert Vaux's work on " Villas and Cot- tages," a very complete and perfect treatise on the better class of Country Houses^and possessing the rare merit of combining compact and conve- nient plans with neat and picturesque exteriors. The plans we have ©CjB=- -<=® -^&>© ILLUSTRATED ANNUAL REGISTER selected are only fair specimens of the many which are given in this excellent work. Fig. 29 — Irregular Country House. The first view is of a moderate-sized country house, and the whole of the following description is copied from Vaux : " This design was prepared and executed for a gentleman of Newhurgh ; and the general idea of the plan includes so much that is called for by the American climate and habits of life in the Northern States, that it will probably be better worth the attention of those who wish to build a moderate-sized cheap house, with a kitchen above ground, than many other plans of more pretension. It possesses one convenient quality, which some other styles of plans cannot be arranged to include, for it admits of many modifications, without sacrificing its advantages. It may be completely altered in outside appearance, and doubled in extent of interior accommodation, and yet be in reality the same plan. It can be adapted to almost any situation by a proper arrangement of the roofs. Thus, for example, on an elevated and somewhat open site, such a one as this house occupies, a roof of only moderate pitch is desirable. On level ground, or in a valley, a high-pitched roof should be preferred. It is also an economical plan for the accommodation afforded, as will be seen by the particulars of cost that are annexed. The house, as now finished, is constructed with an eight-inch brick wall, furred off outside, and covered with clap-boards in the ordinary way followed in a wooden building. This plan of construction was adopted in accordance with the special request of the proprietor, who preferred it to any other method. Its advantages are, that it secures to a certainty a perfectly dry interior wall. On the other hand, it seems undesirable to have a brick house, and to give it the appearance of a wooden one, as brick is the superior and more -=«=© OF RURAL AFFAIRS. 147 (L durable-looking material. The accommodation maybe thus described: A veranda-porch on the east provides a covered approach to the front door. The principal hall, 11 6 by 10 feet, gives access to the parlor and library, both of which are on the south of the house, and also to the dining-room. Another door opens on to a staircase-hall, which is easily accessible either from the principal rooms or from the kitchen wing. This is desirable, as the scale of the house would not warrant a second staircase. An east and a south veranda are supplied to the principal rooms, but each has windows that are unobstructed by any veranda. The dining-room connects through a pantry with the kitchen wing, which is also approached from the main body of the house under the staircase. A lobby plan of principal floor. opens on to a kitchen veranda, facing south, that provides a "servant's entrance, and is convenient for hanging out clothes under cover in rainy weather. A kitchen, 17 by 13, fitted up with closets, wash-trays, and store-room, completes the accom- modation on the main floor and wing. By this plan the disadvantages of living in the basement are entirely avoided, and the lady of the house can superintend her servants with ease and comfort. 11 In the chamber plan will be found five bed-rooms, and a bath-room and water-closet; and in the wing two bed-rooms, a linen-press, and a house- ILkL^liillmiliiiiiil! Fig. 31— Basement. Fig. 32— Chamber Plan. Fig. 33— Plan of Roof. maid's sink. All these rooms are supplied with registers near the ceiling, 1 1 that communicate with foul air flues separate from the chimney-flues. In Ik the garret over the bath-room is a large well-lighted linen-room ; and as (j this is planned on the half-landing, it is very easy of access from the ILLUSTRATED ANNUAL REGISTER chamber floor. A large store-room, the size of the bed-room over the dining-room, is finished off under the roof in a common way, and is se- cured with a door after being enclosed from the stairs by a plastered partition. The remainder of the space is open and unplastered. It makes a very roomy garret, with plenty of headway all over it ; but the windows in the peaks are, of course, close to the floor, and it was never intended that any bed-rooms should be fitted up here. The roof is covered with shingles, the flat being floored and covered with canvas. In the basement are cellars and furnace-room, the kitchen-wing foundations not being carried down farther than was necessary to keep clear of frost. In this house special precaution was taken, by the proprietor's request, with regard to the plumber's work. All the pipes, hot, cold, and waste, were enclosed in a tin envelope fitted tolerably closely to the pipes. As the work proceeded, this tin case was soldered up every here and there, and particularly where the pipe is led through the wall, in the first instance, and where it starts from the boiler. By this means the little insects that work their way from below, and are often found about water fixtures in rooms, are prevented from crawling up and down, and breeding among the warm pipes, as they are tempted to do in many situations. " The carpenter's contract for this house was taken at $3500 ; the mason's at $2500 ; the remainder of the work was done by the day. " After the contracts had been made, the proprietor left the work entirely in the hands of the architect ; and, with the exception that hard walls were substituted for brown walls throughout, and that some trifling alterations were made in the arrangements for the linen-press, the plans, as signed, were faithfully executed for the contract amount, without any difficulty whatever. The carpenter's and mason's extras, which amouted to $350, included the change from brown wall to hard finish, and all the work appertaining to a large outbuilding at some distance from the house." It will be perceived that this house, which cost about $6000, might have been built much cheaper of brick in the ordinary way ; and at a still less sum, or at one-half its actual cost, if built of wood only. We do not recommend it for its mode of erection, but for its admirable plan and fine exterior views. Square Brick Country House. This house, (fig. 34) with the exception of a small central projection, is nearly a square, and it consequently possesses the advantage of much enclosed space for the amount of wall. Its otherwise monotonous appearance is relieved by the projection in front, and by the irregularity of its roof. Those who desire a more irregular outline, may apply the plans here given (figs. 35 and 36) to the accompanying neat and pictu- resque exterior — (fig. 37.) The plan, which combines many excellences, is thus described by Vaux : f OF RURAL AFFAIRS. 149 ff Fie. 34— Square Brick Country Hocse. " The house is entered by a recessed porch, with a covered balcony overhead. This upper balcony being also recessed in the brick-work, and enclosed at the sides, is always in shadow, and materially helps to relieve what would otherwise be a monotonous front. This space is fitted PLAN OF PRINCIPAL FLOOR. PLAN 0F CHAMBERS. Fig. 35. Fig. 3G. with a glazed frame in the winter, the porch being enclosed with folding- doors as soon as the cold weather sets in. The hall extends through the house, and communicates with a parlor and bed-room, a dining-room, and a veranda in the rear. The main stairs are in this open hall, and on the half-landing is a connection, through a French easement window, with a J balcony over the veranda, from which a pretty view is gained. The 150 ILLUSTRATED ANNUAL REGISTER f parlor has a large bay-window in it, the cornice of the room being carried round the recess that it forms. There is a private door from this room to the bed-room adjoining. " It is not generally a desirable plan to give up the space necessary for a bed-room on the principal floor ; but circumstances occur in which it is a very great desideratum, and this study may serve to show how, in a simple house, the idea may be deve- loped. It will be perceived that a -portion of the veranda is enclosed for a small dressing-room to this bed-room, thus making it a far more commodious sleeping apartment than it would oth- s.w.view. erwise be. The dining-room connects Fig. 37. with a pantry, and is also' supplied with a large china-closet. The pantry is fitted up with hanging-shelf, drawers, and closet, and connects with the kitchen, which is thus shut off from the living-rooms, although under the same roof as the rest of the house. An enclosure of the veranda, similar in size to that on the oppo- site side, supplies a space for a pantry and sink-room. The servants' entrance is quite convenient of access from the road, but, at the same time, is shut off by its position from interfering with the privacy of the veranda. A door, where shown near the hall door to veranda, encloses the basement stairs for the use of the kitchen, and a compact flight of stairs from the kitchen itself, provides a separate access for the servants to the bed-rooms above. This staircase occupies a very small space, and is a great addition to the convenience of the house. In the basement is a wash-room under kitchen, with an outer entrance, close by servants' entrance, for convenience in canying out clothes to dry. The remainder of the space is not finished off, and furnishes cellars and furnace-room. '; A straight veranda enclosed on both sides would not, perhaps, be thought sufficiently airy, and a projection is therefore made, as will be seen on reference to the plan, to increase its size and give it a more open effect. This arrangement also adds somewhat to the external appearance of the design, at hut little additional expense, while it is calculated to insure privacy in a suburban house; and in common houses the notion is carried out frequently, in a simple way, by lathing up the ends of ve- randiis, to prevent them from being overlooked by next-door neighbors. Such a veranda as is here shown, will he almost as retired as any of the rooms inside the house. " Up stairs are three full-sized bed-rooms, and a small bed-room, or A dressing-room, a bath-room, and water-closet, a linen-press, and two ser- vants' bed-rooms, the latter disconnected with the other apartments. This arrangement is made with the idea that the attics arc to be left entirely \ ^c^=- OP RURAL AFFAIRS. 151 unfinished for a time, the house being occupied by a small family ; but the plan has been, from the first, so arranged that three or four airy, well- lighted rooms cau be fitted up at any future time, and if this should ever be done, the two servants' rooms shown on chamber plan, might be con- verted to the use of the family, and the servants' rooms arranged above." The actual cost of this house, which was erected for a gentleman at Newburgh, with the addition of an ornamental fence, and a moderate- sized stable and coach-house, was over $7000— but the same plan may be used for a simpler and cheaper structure, or for a good farm-house of wood, that might be erected for about half that sum. Fig. 38— Brick Villa with Tower. For beautiful picturesque effect, this exterior view is one of the finest in Vaux' " Villas and Cottages." It is especially adapted to a somewhat varied surface of country, or where moderate hills predominate, and it should stand at some distance from the road and other dwellings. It had not been erected when Vaux wrote his work, and the cost was therefore only estimated, at over $7000. The following is his description: " A recessed porch, large enough to serve as a morning veranda, pro- vides access to the principal hall, which is only of small dimensions, but it is provided with cloak-closets, and contains the doors to the three principal apartments, and to the staircase. The library is in the lower story of the tower, and the design is so arranged that this tower can be omitted entirely when the first contract is made, without a disagreeable \ appearance being the result; and although the interior accommodation ILLUSTRATED ANNUAL REGISTER PLAN OF CHAMBERS. PLAN OF ROOFS ©c^=- and the exterior effect of the house would be materially reduced un- der those circumstan- stances, the design would still be fair and complete, and the addi- tion could be made at any time. A parlor and dining-room open on to a veranda. Near the dining-room is a pantry, a garden en- trance, and door to the kitchen, which is in a wing building. " The chamber plan supplies four bed-rooms, and a fifth in the upper story of the also a bath-room and water-closet, a linen-press and two servant's bed-rooms. The observatory is conveniently reached by continuing the stair- case that leads to tower bed- room. The roof is arranged as shown on the plan. The inten- tion in this design is to insure, as far as possible, an irregular picturesque effect, without any sacrifice of convenience or a large outlay of money. As the house is to be built on somewhat of a highland, it seems undesi- rable to use an acute pitch for the roof, for the trees that sur- round the site proposed for the house, although vigorous and well-shaped, are somewhat scat- tered, and of no great magni- tude. They would, therefore, scarcely take their proper share in the general composition, if the roof were made too promi- '[ — <=>@ OF RURAL AFFAIRS. 153 nent a feature. Considerable judgment is needed in settling on the exact position for a house like this, so as to realize all the advantages that the site affords. It must not seem to overhang the descent, or the effect will be crowded, and will give the idea from the road of a small, restricted property. Neither should it retreat very far from the brow of the hill, or the house will be shut out of sight, and altogether lost on a tolerably near approach to the premises. A happy medium, both in the location of the site and in the pitch of the roof, is the desirable point to aim at under such circumstances." J3C — ~^g. Fig. 42. The above design of a partially enclosed veranda, was used in screening from view a kitchen and other portions of the out-buildings too much exposed by their side-hill position. The trellis-work here represented, freely admitted light to the kitchen, and secured at the same time a proper degree of privacy, by excluding the view from the garden and ornamental grounds. Similar contrivances may sometimes be used to great advantage for like purposes. ITu.rn.itu.re and. Rural Structures of Iron. A beneficent provision for the wants of man is shown in the large existence of iron. It is incomparably the most abundant metal found in nature. At the same time it possesses strength greatly superior to that of other metals. It is nearly twice as strong as copper, three times stronger than silver, and has nearly four times the tenacity of gold. It is almost the only metal that can be worked by welding. Its combina- i tions with carbon in the formation of cast-iron and steel, greatly enhance |v its value ; and its magnetic properties are indispensable to navigation. J The introduction and use of iron has kept nearly even pace with the A s I 0 Fig. 43— Grape Chair. Fig. 44— Morninq Glory Chair. Fig. 45. Hall Chairs. Fig. 46, A 0 -« Fig. 47— Traveling Chair. Fig. 49— Wire Arm Chair. Fig. 50— Grape Settee. progress of civilization. With the ancients it was a comparatively scarce metal. In 1740, its production in England had risen to 17,000 tons. England at present produces 3,500,000 tons— an increase of more than one hundred and fifty fold in a century. The whole production of the A A world is estimated at 7,000,000 tons annually— enough to load a line of /^ ( ) common wagons reaching around the circumference of the earth. In 1810, (J &fc^= Fig. 53— Iron "Wash Stand — =3g^> OF RURAL AFFAIRS. Fig. 54— Gothic Settee. ss ear* so Fig. 55— Iron Bedstead \ the United States produced 54,000 tons — now the annual product is a million tons. The consumption of iron has been said to be a social barometer, — showing the relative height of civilization among nations — which is corroborated by the fact that while Great Britain and the United States manufacture two-thirds of the whole amount in the world, Spain and Norway each manufacture but one-three hundredth part, and Italy but a hundredth. The different uses to which iron is applied, are almost innumerable, from minute cambric needles and delicate watch-springs, to iron roads stretching over thousands of miles, and ponderous bridges of many thou- sand tons. A bar of iron worth $5, may be increased in value by working into horse-shoes to $10 ; into pen-knife blades to $3000 ; into shirt buttons to $29,000 ; and into the balance-springs of watches to $250,000. We pass over all these multifarious uses, and confine ourselves at present to Ljk rural structures and household furniture. «^® -=^>a? ©^^ OF RURAL AFFAIRS. 159 (1 ct -o— c Or SSP^^^ , ^ss^s^^wS^^^^^^fc -Or Fig. 59— Wirb Fence with Wood Posts. Fig. 60— "Wire Fence with Iron Posts, For these two purposes, there are several extensive manufactories in this country, some of the largest of which are in the city of New-York, and among them is that of Hutcuixson & Wickersham, (312 Broadway,) who furnish all the articles here named, and for the convenience of our readers, we have procured and appended the prices at this establishment, as the knowledge of the cost is an important desideratum to those who wish to procure them. Household Furniture. — Among the various kinds of iron chairs, we may enumerate the " Grape Chair," (fig. 43, $5) — the " Morning Glory Chair," (fig. 44, SO)— and the two Hall Chairs, (figs. 45 and 4G, each $4.50) the preceding being of cast-iron; and the following wire chairs, namely, the Folding or Traveling Chair, (figs. 47 and 48, .$150) — one representing it as closed for carrying, and the other as open and standing for use. The wire Arm-Chair (fig. 49) is sold at $8. Among the Settees, the Grape pattern (fig. 50, $9 to $15) is an especial favorite; the Rustic Settee (fig. 51, $10) is of lighter form, and the Gothic Settee (fig. 54, $17 to $20) is best adapted to places where Gothic architecture prevails. A neat Umbrella Stand is shown in fig. 57, ($1.50 to $6) — and iron i Wash Stand, (fig. 53, including crockery, $7,) with looking-glass. A new ^|\ and improved Hat-Tree is exhibited in fig. 52 ($16.) Many other forms M of hat and umbrella stands are manufactured. 160 a t ILLUSTRATED ANNUAL REGISTER ¥ -s: -EC -e: •e: j^*' < ^-jj^^^t^^^-^y ?ltfi-^ ^g^^^!^iu^~^iJ >--^a^. "u^rJi\ i <4 0 r Fig. 61— Iron Fencb with Flat Rails. Fig. 62— Flat Rail and Corrugated Post Fencb. rf£p IfTnTTTTT! k ^^ 7 Fig. 63— (1) Corrugated Railroad and (2) Rural Wire Fencb. iv?»- ^ 2 Li | ^ --^3§ OF RURAL AFFAIRS. 161 Fig. 64— Brace for End Post Fig. 65— Mode of Fastening Wires or Bars to Wooden Posts. Iron Bedsteads possess two most important advantages over those of wood, — first, in their almost endless durability, and secondly in their entire freedom from bags. They should, however, he substantially made, as the desire for a cheap article often induces a weak and flimsy structure, which does not stand firmly, and is liable to become bent by use. Fig. 55, when made of stout bars, is the simplest and one of the very best in use, although not so ornamental as some others, ($4 to $6.) Others of more elaborate patterns are made, ($7 to $9.) Fig. 56 ($10) shows a Orib, the sides of whieh are left out. Rural Ornaments and Structures. — Cast-iron vases are very durable ornaments on the more finished parts of grounds, and require only occa- sionally a small application of paint. Fig. 58 represents a neat vase of this character with its pedestal. The prices of these vases vary with their size, from $5 to $20, and the pedestals are about 85 each. Fences. — Wire fences have generally failed in consequence of endeavor- ing to make them cheap. We believe that none capable of withstanding cattle, can be made in open ground for much less than $2 per rod. A lower price reduces the size of the wires, and renders them inefficient. Fin-. 69 represents one of the simplest kinds of Wire Fence, with wooden pi^tx. The screws for lengthening and contracting the wires for heat and cold, are shown between the posts ; and the brace to sustain the end-post, 162 -=^=>@ tJ ILLUSTRATED ANNUAL REGISTER Fig. 66— Post for Wire Fence. Fiff. 67— Post for Iron Rail Fence. Fig. 68 — "Wires Fastened to the Post. placed in a short sill at the bottom, is represented in fig. 64. This fence costs, if five wires high, $1.33 per rod, besides the posts, and 20 cents per rod for each additional wire. Fig. GO shows a similar fence with iron posts set in cedar blocks, the cost of which for five wires is $2 per rod, and for ten wires, so as to exclude pigs, turkeys, geese, &c, $3 per rod. Fig. Gl represents the rails of flat iron, instead of wires, which cost but little more, and by being more visible, prevent cattle from striking it. The flat bars are not so liable to sn^. An ingenious mode of fastening those wires or bars to wooden posts, is shown in fig. Go ; and Wickersham's Patent Corrugated Iron Fence-Post, for each of these kinds of rails, is represented b.y figs. 66 and 67. Fig. 62 is a more distinct figure of the Flat Rail and Corrugated-Post Fence. FiS 164 ILLUSTRATED ANNUAL REGISTER making. The end jiosts must be braced in the most secure manner, or a large tree may be used — the intermediate posts may be set in a hole made with a crowbar, and gravel firmly rammed about them. A hurdle fence made of flat bars, (with a gate,) is represented by fig. 73. Its cost is $2.50 to $5 per rod. The rails are bars an inch wide, and an eighth of an inch thick. The posts are six feet apart, terminating at the bottom in three prongs, each a foot long, which entering the ground at right angles to the fence, hold it firmly in its position. This fence is easily moved, and one man may set up sixty rods in a day. A. VVVV\ vwvv n o r, o fi -L_L XA±iL±lL£ iWvwvwv , , 'S W\/\A/y y'.AAaaaaaa Fig. 74— Fence for Town or City Lots. A more elaborate and costly iron Fence, intended for the small lots of towns and cities, is shown in fig. 74. The left-hand portion of this fence varies in cost from $2 to $3 per running foot; the central is $1.75 to $2.75; and the right-hand portion $1.75 to $2. • ♦ » U N D E R-D RAINING. There are very few of the best soils that do not need artificial drainage. Lands that are tenacious enough to hold manures well, do not allow water to pass rapidly through them. Eight inches of such soil, saturated with water in spring, cannot quickly become dry, if all this water must creep slowly and silently downwards through the particles of earth on a broad ten-acre field. It has been shown that a single acre of soil a foot deep, holds at a wet season a surplus of more than two thousand barrels of water, which if discharged would leave the land moderately moist, and right for vegetation. The only way to get rid of this flood promptly, is to provide artificial channels for its discharge. There arc some sandy and gravelly soils that do not require drainage, but they can never be brought permanently to the highest state of fertility, as they do not contain clay enough to absorb and hold manure. There are also some heavy soils which have a natural drainage of porous gravel or fissured rocks beneath; but these are rare instances. As a general rule, then, every farmer whose lands are oot thiii sand or hungry gravel, .should prepare for the thorough and systematic underdrainage of his whole farm. * OF RURAL AFFAIRS. 165 The advantages are great in many ways. 1. The land when thoroughly- drained may be worked at almost any time, the owner not being com- pelled to wait till the best time for sowing or cultivating has past. 2. Crops may be planted early, and sometimes doubled from this cause alone. 3. Less labor will manage the farm, as there will be less time lost in waiting tediously for water to flow off. 4. Draining prevents very effec- tually all injury from drought, because if the soil does not become soaked and muddy, it keeps mellow and does not bake hard. 5. The soil thus being always mellow, it allows roots to penetrate it freely, and promotes the rapid growth of crops. 6. It admits the thorough admixture of manures through the mellowed mass, and its effect is thus much increased. 7. The soil, from its porous character, is a better non-conductor of heat, and the roots of planis are less injured by freezing in winter. 8. Drained soils do not heave by frost, and plants are not thrown out by freezing. These and other advantages are so great, that many farmers who have underdrained their lands uniformly and thoroughly, have asserted that the expense (which is usually about $30 per acre) has been fully returned to them by the increase in the two first crops. John Johnston of Geneva, N. Y., says these two crops have always repaid him ; and on very wet land, the first crop has more than paid the expense, by its increase. He gene- rally lias on his drained and well-tilled land, over thirty bushels of wheat per acre, while his neighbors who cannot afford so expensive an operation, have repeatedly lost more than half theirs by the weevil, in consequence of feel tier and later growth. Although the cost is $25 or $30 per acre, yet he can drain a large farm for $400 or $500 — as follows : This sum will drain 20 acres the first year; in two years it will be returned in the in- crease, when twenty more will be completed — and so on till all is done. Gov. Wright of Indiana, said — " I knew a farm of 160 acres that was sold five years ago for $-300, but after an expenditure of less than $200 in draining, the owner refused $3000 for it." He had a neighbor "whose extra crop of corn paid the whole expense of draining the first year." An instance occurred some years since, where a four-acre field yielded the first year after thorough drainage, forty bushels of wheat per acre, that was only fit for a wet pasture before. The impossibility of producing large crops, even by high manuring, on wet lands, has been amply proved, and a case is mentioned in the Transactions of the New- York State Agri- cultural Society, where seven acres of low, wet land, although manured annually at the rate of twenty-five loads per acre, produced per acre only thirty-one bushels of oats ; but after thorough underdrainage, the manure which had been locked up by the water which enveloped it, was imme- diately rendered effective, and the first crop, without additional manure, w;is eighty-nine bushels per acre. 1%. To ascertain where draining is required, diu holes into the earth two ij to three feet deep (post-holes often answer the purpose,) and observe if ILLUSTRATED ANNUAL REGISTER water remains in these holes during the wetest periods. If it soaks away within twenty-four hours through the porous subsoil, and leaves the hot- torn dry, then draining will be wholly unnecessary. But if the water remains several days, then artificial channels will be required to carry it off. LAYING OUT DRAINS. Laying out the course of tbe drains to relieve the land of its surplus water, is an operation of great importance. If it is judiciously done, the water will be quickly and safely conducted away ; if badly performed, much labor and expense will be lost, and the water, if reached, only carried from one place to flood another. There are different modes of laying out drains, wbich may be compre- hended under the two general heads of simple and easy ; and, complex AND INEFFICIENT. The former consists in adopting one general rule for all cases, namely, to run parallel drains by the shortest and steepest course down the natu- ral slope of the land, at regular distances, usually about thirty feet apart. The latter requires an examination of the seams and strata of tbe soil and subsoil, and the position of springs and wet spots, and the adaptation of various crooks and side courses in the drains to meet all these points, without any regular system. The former, if applied to a gradually descending field, or to the side of a hill or slope of a valley, can scarcely ever fail of effecting a complete and thorough drainage of the whole surface. — for generally the surplus water at wet times is distributed evenly over the whole surface, and it will be carried off evenly and uni- formly by this regularly distributed system ; and even where there are springs, they will be approached within a few feet, and be generally tapped before reaching the surface, by some one or other of these drains. Many pages have been written, in applying geological principles to the operation of draining; but with a few rare exceptions, all the rules thus developed have only served to make the subject, more difficult to beginners, and more inefficient in practice. One of the leading characteristics of g^ this mode is to examine the strata, ascertain through what seams the wa- ter oozes out at the surface, and by judicious side ditches, running ob- liquely downwards, to tap and cut off Fig. 75. these streams. The annexed figure (fig. 75) exhibits the mode by which this is done, as described in standard works on draining. The dotted portion represents gravel or porous soil, alternating with hard, impervious layers. The ditch at a, cut through into the hard bottom, intercepts all the water from the upper gravel bed, ft and prevents it from injuring the soil below; while, the ditch b is of no J \ use, as it does not extend down far enough to reach the water which flows / ■ OF RURAL AFFAIRS. 167 c.r_-~&- --■--■- over the second hard layer. This reasoning appears well on paper, but is defective when applied in practice ; for if these ditches have any de- scent, as they must have in order to discharge, they must cross the hard strata, and can be therefore carried as the figure represents them, only for a ver}7 short distance. Incomparably better and more efficient is the practice of cutting through all these strata at right angles, directly down the hill, as shown in fig. 76, each drain thus made forming a complete dis- charge for every accumulation of wa- ter. In extreme cases, very short Fig- 76- side drains or branches may extend laterally to cut off any unusual escape of water to the surface. A mistaken practice is often adopted, by running drains obliquely instead of directly down hill, even in soils where there arc none of the seams or layers just described, but where the subsoil forms a uni- form substance, for the retention of water. The accompanying fig- ure (fig. 77) will serve to show the error of this practice, AAA being the drains, and the dotted lines the channels of moisture, as they leach down- ward through the soil. The shortest descent down the sloping sur- face is from B to C, the drains being placed at an oblique angle of ahout forty-five degrees. We shall suppose these drains to be two rods apart. Very little, obviously, of the water in the soil will pass into the one next above it. but will nearly all flow into the one below. Then, as from a to c is two rods or 33 feet, the distance from a to b will be 47 feet, or nearly three rods, which is the furthest distance for the water of the soil to soak into the ditches. Let us now examine the other mode of laying the channels, namely, directly down hill by the shortest course. B C, Fig. 78, is the direction of the descent, down which the drains are laid two rods asunder. These receive the water equally on both sides, i the effect of each drain extending half way, or to the straight dotted Ik The direct distance is consequently hut one rod, as shown by c &; /] lines. -=ag=>© ILLUSTRATED ANNUAL REGISTER but as the moisture must flow obliquely to reach them, the distance be- comes greater according to the B I '*. I AN V ' ! /'/ \*s 'A I I 1 v\\ ! ^S :/ i 1/ i V % / / ' /// \ \ \\> r/ I*?- / y / decree of obliquity. If this // obliquity is ibrtv-five degrees 6- 1 | 7/ y V is quity is forty-five degrees, (or half way between perpen- dicular and horizontal,) as shown by the line a b, then the distance will be 23 feet, or only one-half that required in the former or oblique mode of ditching. Even if the moisture should descend so much nearer to a parallel with the ditches, as to pass sideways only half its own distance of descent, (as shown by D D,) d e heing this distance ; even in this case d e would be only about 87 feet, or a little over two rods, being ten feet 3' less than in the former mode. It may therefore be laid down as a safe rule, that the perpendicular drains would be as efficient at two rods apart, as the oblique ones at two- thirds of this distance. But there are other influences still more in favor of the perpendicular mode. When the drains are oblique, the water does not find so ready a passage down them, and consequently if tile is used they must be of lar- ger size. The passage through them being some- what obstructed by a want of descent, the water after it has filled them, tends to leak out on the lower side, (fig. 79) and if the subsoil FlS- *'9- is pervious, thus to add to the amount of water in the soil below, instead of draining it. But when it once enters the -perpendicular drains, it never passes back into the soil, but escapes by the channel thus made for it. The question is sometimes asked, why the water will flow sideivise for reaching the perpendicular drains, and if it will find its way at all into them ? The answer is, water always tends (unless an obstruction is pre- sented,) to pass from a soil filled with it, to one that is dry or empty, in the game way that it will run out on all sides of a basket; and as sot n is that, portion nearest the ditch becomes drained, more remote portions / ; flow in to fill the vacancy, till all escapes. 6^ =^3© ®<=^ OF RURAL AFFAIRS. — '$ An eminent standard work gives the accompanying figure (fig. 80) of the mode for draining the sides of a hill. It is true that the drains rep- Fig. 80. resented could hardly fail to carry the water safely down so steep a descent; but a more complete way is shown in fig. 81, where the water not only descends more readily and directly, but the drains are more Fig. 81. evenly distributed, and the same result is therefore effected at less cost. In fig. 80 there are many angles or corners with a drain on each side a i| jj i; !| ;j ij !• il I |i j: :| •I Jl I' l[ t! [l !■ !' '! ■! 1* !' !■ ',* 'I !| ;! tj lj Ji ': t} J* 'i _! i LJ i — 5 Fig. 82. 170 ILLUSTRATED ANNUAL REGISTER Av -^ .7 ^-f ** 0, .5* • 1- *.- s ij s ii ij SJ \1 1 i It ' N [ ji ^^t| » ---,\ 5 5 5 \ X i i| J >' ~~~© and valuable, after which may be named the Seckel, Sheldon, Belle Lv<- crative, Flemish Beauty, Lawrence, Winter Nelis. The Washington, Autumn Paradise and Beurre Bosc, are fine pears, growing only on pear- stocks. For Qui?ice Stocks exclusively. — Louise Bonne of Jersey, Duchess An- gouleme, Beurre Diel, Easter Beurre, Glout Morceau. Growing well on both Pear and Quince, are Yirgalieu or Doyenne, Buffum, Rostiezer, Urbaniste, Winkfield, Tyson, Beurre d'Anjou, Made- leine, Nouveau Poiteau. Belle Lucrative does well for the first ten years. The Newer Varieties. — Among the many hundred new sorts intro- duced and examined of late years, some will doubtless prove of great value. A portion have been tested extensively for several years — others are less known. The great interest felt in relation to these newer sorts, has induced the preparation of the following list. Beurre Clairgeau. — The large size, great beauty, fine qualilty, pro- ductiveness and late ripening of this new pear, and the handsome pyramid it forms on the quince, have given it great celebrity. A want of suf- ficient hardiness, indicated by the effects of winter, in some localities, has some- what lessened its high re- putation. This defect may, however, on further trial, prove of comparatively small importance. It is large, obovate, pyri- form, the larger specimens generally distinct pyri- form; skin yellow when fully ripe, sometimes near- ly clear and smooth, and at other times, and partic- ularly with larger speci- mens, coarsely dotted, and nearly covered with rus- set, often with a handsome crimson cheek towards the sun; stalk an inch long not sunk at insertion ; lyx in a moderate basin; flesh buttery and melting, sometimes granular, with ca- Fig. 107— Beorre Nantais. ©c^~ OF RURAL AFFAIRS. 183 a "very good" perfumed flavor. The quality is somewhat variable — from "good" to nearly "best." On quince, the fruit is of larger size and of better quality than on pear stock. Beurre Gijfard. — Although the growth is slender and straggling, this is one of the best and most valuable of all early pears, ripening imme- diately after the Madeleine. Beurre Langclicr. — A large, light green p,?ar, becoming pale yellow; fine grained, juicy, melting, with a rich flavor; ripening early in winter. Grows best on quince. Beurre Nantais or Beurre de Nantes. — This pear promises to be of much value. The tree is an erect and vigorous grower, both on pear and quince, comes early into bearing, makes a fine pyramid, and is very pro- ductive. It has been cultivated many years in France, its place of origin, but not until recently have its merits become appreciated in this country. It is rather large in size, (the drawing being made from a quite mod- erate specimen,) pyri- form or pyramidal, neck narrow ; skin greenish - yellow, with minute dots; stem near- ly an inch long, not sunk ; calyx in a mode- rate rather narrow ba- siu ; flesh buttery and melting, with a rich, agreeable, perfumed "very good" flavor. Ripens about the middle of autumn. Beurre St. Nicholas or Duchesse d' Orleans. — A rather large pyri- form fruit, and when well ripened, delicious; it is generally regarded as among the most valu- able new autumn sorts. Beurre Sterkman. — Fruit of medium size, short obovate, flesh melting, very juicy, with a rich vinous. Fig. 108— Comtk DE Flandrb. =3^ 184 — <^=>S> ILLUSTRATED ANNUAL REGISTER I /CA> snb-acid, perfumed flavor. Season after mid-autumn. Tree vigorous and productive. Beurre Superfin. — Size medium, flesh exceedingly juicy, buttery, melt- ing, with a brisk sub-acid flavor. Ripens about mid-autumn. Tree a vigorous and handsome grower, and does finely on the quince. Brandywine. — One of the finest early pears— size medium, pyriform, partly russeted, flesh very juicy and melting, with an excellent flavor. It forms a fine pyramid on quince. Church. — A fruit of medium size, the flesh buttery, melting, and with an exceedingly rich, sweet, and highly perfumed flavor, unvarying in quality. It is uniformly productive — a large tree of this variety at New- Itochelle, N. Y., affords fifteen to twenty bushels annually. Comie de Flandre. — Rather large, pyriform, oblique ; skin greenish- yellow, becoming yellow at maturity, with numerous small dots, and marked with thin rus- set ; stem an inch long, set under a lip, with lit- tle or no depression; calyx in a shallow ba- sin; flesh very juicy and melting, with an agreeable, refreshing flavor; quality "very good." Tree vigorous and productive. Sea- son late in autumn. Although this pear is hardly so high flavored as some of our finest varieties, yet when well ripened, its juiciness and agreeable aroma render it one of the most delicious sorts. Des Nonnes. — Of this pear, described by Charles Downing as Beurre de Brignais, we have been furnished fine specimens by TnoRP, Smith & Han- chett of Syracuse, who have fruited it for several years. Should Fig. 109— Des Nonnbs OF RURAL AFFAIRS. 185 Q, 1 it prove ahcays fair, it will undoubtedly be a great acquisition. They have stated that it is a vigorous grower, good bearer, and that it succeeds finely on the quince. We know of no pear that, all things considered, has a more delicious flavor than the specimens sent us. In size it is medium — form roundish turbinate, obtuse. Skin greenish- yellow, becoming a clear yellow, with numerous greyish brown dots — sometimes with a faint tinge of red towards the sun. Stalk an inch and a-half long, moderately slender, set in a slight depression. Calyx rather small, often closed, iti a small wrinkled hasin. Flesh juicy, and exceed- ingly melting when at perfection, very sweet, perfumed, and with an Fig. 110— DOYSKNB ROBIK. exquisite flavor — "best." Ripens rather before mid-autumn. It is pro- bable that its extreme delicacy requires that it should not only be well- grown and ripened, to attain its highest perfection, but that the precise point of maturity should be chosen when it shall have attained fully its \ fine melting texture. ) Doyenne oVAlencon, or Doyenne oVHiver Nouveau. — This is one of the Q 186 ILLUSTRATED ANNUAL REGISTER most valuable of all the new winter pears. It is medium or rather large, obovate-pyriform, dull yellow, and when well ripened of excellent flavor. Doyenne Goubalt. — Size medium or rather large, flattened-obovate and acute, dull pale-yellow, stem short and thick, flesh melting, juicy, with a sweet, rich, aromatic flavor. First half of winter — its value depends on being properly ripened. Doyenne Robin. — Size above medium, round, nearly regular, or ob- scurely and obtusely ribbed; skin pale yellow, usually russeted about the crown : stalk an inch and a-half lona, generally set in a rather deep smooth cavity j sometimes merely planted on the surface ; calyx in a smooth Fig. Ill — Doyenne Sieulle. or scarcely furrowed basin ; flesh buttery, slightly melting, with a fine "very good" flavor — not equal to that of the Virgalieu nor so sweet. Tree a IVee grower and very productive. Season mid-autumn. Doyenne Sieulle. — This pear, although well-known here for some ten k or twelve years to several American pomologists, may properly be /A (J ranked among the newer sorts. The tree is an upright and vigorous g C^5> ■ ' ife- OF RURAL AFFAIRS. 187' grower, and very productive; while its good quality, and period of matu- rity through the latter part of autumn, and often nearly to mid-winter, render it quite valuable. It is rather large, roundish, slightly obovate; color a rich yellow when ripe, often reddened towards the sun; dots on the surface rather small and not conspicuous; stem an inch and a half long, rather deeply set in a frequently wide and somewhat ribbed cavity ; basin quite small, wrinkled ; flesh nearly white, fine grained, buttery, with a mild, rather aromatic flavor; " good" or " very good." Howell. — A large, fair and very productive variety, the tree coming into early bearing, and likely to prove one of the best for market, although the flavor is not often of the highest quality. Fondante de Noel. — Medium or rather small, obtuse-pyriform, pale greeninsh-yellow, with a red cheek, flesh whitish, melting, juicy, very good. A seedling of the Passe Colmar, ripening earlier, and of similar flavor — a fine late autumn sort. Josephine de Malincs. — Medium in size, sometimes small, flesh melting, juicy and rich — ripens in winter. The tree is vigorous aud productive, and forms a fine pyramid on quince. Laure de Glymes (of Bivort.) — This is a new European variety, which lias not yet been much tested in this country, but so far appears to be worthy of attention. It is a good grower on quince, and productive. It is medium in size, conical-obo- vate, regular, the whole surface nearly covered with a russet, which becomes a rich light orange at maturity — scarcely reddened towards the sun ; stem three-fourths of an inch in length, inserted without de- pression in a fleshy base ; calyx moderately sunk in a smooth basin; flesh vellowish-white, slightly granular, buttery, not melting, with a high and some- what perfumed flavor — quality very good." It is probable that the quality of this pear may vary considerably, or be found to range, under the va- rious circumstances of cultiva- tion, soil and season, from "good" to " best." It ripens Fig. 112— Laure de Glymes. Ssc^— about the middle of autumn, /,l\ sometimes continuing quite late. A 188 ILLUSTRATED ANNUAL REGISTER Noureau Poiteau. — A vigorous grower, productive, forming a fine pyramid on quince. Fruit rather large, obovate pyriform, with a juicy and melting texture and fine flavor. This pear promises to be quite valuable. Ontario. — We hare received specimens of this fine new native variety from AV. T. & E. Smith of Geneva, N. Y. It is a vigorous and productive sort, and promises to be valuable for market. The quality is "good " or "very good" — not quite equal to the Yirgalieu or Doyenne in its high aromatic flavor, but well-grown and weil-ripened specimens are not much inferior. In form it considerably resembles the Bartlett, but is of smaller size, and we are informed it is a seedling of the Canandaigua ; if we were to guess its origin, without any knowledge except from the specimens, we should think it was a cross from the Bartlett and Doyenne. Fruit medium or rather large, oblong-pyriform, sometimes very faintly and obscurely ribbed, and generally somewhat irregular. Skin pale yel- low, with numerous very small dots. Stalk about an inch long, mostly curved, with a fleshy ring at base, and inserted in an irregular depression. Calyx open or partly closed, in a wrinkled basin. Flesh white, but- tery, becoming melting, with a rather sweet, mild, plea- sant, agreeable flavor. Ri- pens a little before mid- autumn. Sheldon. — Medium to large, roundish-obovate, ve- ry obtuse ; skin pale green russet, becoming a rich brownish russet; stalk short, stout, flesh very melting and juicy, with a high, rich, pe- culiar, and excellent flavor. One of the most valuable of all new pears. Middle and late autumn. Origin, Wayne county, N. Y. Theodore Van Mons. — Medium to large, obovate- pyrif'orm, regular, greenish- yellow, more or less covered v\\\\va,\ lilted* Fig. 113— Ontakio. -*% OF RURAL AFFAIRS. with distinct, patches of russet; stem an inch long, scarcely sunk; calyx large, open; (basin, none) — sometimes closed in a small basin; flesh granu- lar, juicy, and melting — sometimes slightly astringent Varying from " good " to " very good." This pear is likely to prove valuable on account of its vigorous growth and great productiveness, when worked on pear or quince. Van Assche, or Van Assene. — Rather large, conic-obovate, yellow, with a fine touch of red ; flesh juicy, melting, and often excellent. Tree vigo- rous and productive. Middle and late autumn. Walker. — Fruit large, long pyriform, flesh rather coarse, rich, with a peculiar almond flavor. The last half of autumn. Zcpherin Gregoire. — Inferior to some as a fine grower, but marked for the high excellence of its quality. It is very productive — the growth of the tree rather slender. Its lateness, — ripening through the latter part of autumn. — increases its value. It is medium in size, roundish-obovate, light green, reddened when fully exposed to the sun; stem an inch and a-fourth long, fleshy at in- sertion ; calyx open, in a narrow basin; flesh but- tery, very melting, fine- grained, with an excellent perfumed flavor — "best." Pears Ripening in Suc- cession. — The following list will give a continued supply, beginning to ripen in the Northern States at mid-summer, and continu- ing through summer, au- tumn and winter, into spring: Madeleine, Doy- enne d'Ete, Skinless, Gif- fard, Bloodgood, Osband's Summer, Rostiezer, Ty- son, Brandy wine, Kirt- land, Bartlett, Washing- ton, Andrews, Bilboa, Belle Lucrative, Buffum, Seckel, Flemish Beauty, Stevens' Genesee, Howell, Urbaniste, Beurre Bosc, Autumn Paradise, Louise Bonne of Jersey, Bt-urre d'Anjou, White and Gray Fig. 114— Thkodore Van Mon3. ^ 190 ILLUSTRATED ANNUAL REGISTER Doyenne, Sheldon, Beurrc Diel, Noivcau Poiteau, Lawrence, Sieulle, Winkfield, Beurre Clairgeau, Beurrc Langelier, Columbia, Josephine de Malines, Winter Nelis, Prince's St. Germain, Beurre Gris d'Hiver Nou- veau, Doyenne d'Alencon, Easter Beurre. Varieties of the Pear most liable to Fire-Blight. — Madeleine, Bartlett, Passe Cohnar, Stevens' Genesee, and Glout Morceau, and Wink- field while young. Among those least liahle, the Seckel stands at the head, and the following are less liable than those first named : Louise Bonne of Jersey, Angouleme, Flemish Beauty, Sheldon, Virgalieu, Eas- ter Beurre. All are, however, more or less affected in different places, and sometimes the order here given is reversed. Varieties which do not Crack. — The cracking of some sor's is becoming a formidable evil. It becomes, therefore, desirable to select those least affected. At a large pomological meeting held at Buffalo in 1857, none had ever known the Lawrence, Doyenne d'Hiver, Bartlett and Ananas d'Eic to crack. Only one had seen the Angouleme and Louise Bonne of Jersey affected. The Flemish Beauty was rarely injured. Gathering, Keeping, and Marketing Pears. — Some cultivators have been greatly disappointed in the deficient quality of their fruit; and others, who raise for market, at the low price received. This disappointment re- sults either from the care- less manner of gathering, from improper ripening, or from a bad selection of a j purchaser or dealer. Nearly all varieties should be picked several days be fore fully matured, in or der to secure the best flavor and appearance. The utmost care must be taken to avoid bruising, for indented spots will in arly destroy their sale. The Bartlett and some other sorts, if gathered a Fig. 115— Zkpheiun Gkegoirb. I OF RURAL AFFAIRS. week or more before maturity and kept in a dark place, will become marked with a fine red cheek, adding much to their attractive appearance ; while they would only present the common yellow skin if ripened in the light. Some varieties depend almost wholly on the best mode of ripening, for perfecting their flavor, without which they would be nearly tasteless. This has been especially the case with winter pears. Some of these, being kept in too warm a place before the proper period of maturity, ripen too soon, and mid-winter varieties become soft by the close of autumn. Others are withered while )ret green, after which they never can become excellent. This difficulty is partly owing to imperfect develop- ment in growth in consequence of neglected cultivation. The very best treatment must be given to the trees of winter varieties. And the fruit- room must be cool, and neither too damp nor too dry. As the period of maturity approaches, they are to be placed in a warmer apartment. Great care has been taken by some cultivators to keep their pears in drawers or on shelves, in single layers ; but of late years more success has resulted from packing away in tight barrels, as practiced for winter apples. They are not then subjected to the changes effected by currents of air, nor changes of humidit}'. The apartment must, however, be quite cool. In some instances they have been very successfully kept in the center of bar- rels, surrounded with apples. All bad odors should be carefully excluded ; excellent fruit has sometimes been ruined by them. Wrapping them sepa- rately in paper or cotton, is found to abstract a portion of the flavor. John Gordon, a very successful pear-raiser near Boston, finds that woolen cloth, placed between the successive layers of the fruit, assists most per- fectly in ripening. His general skill in the process of maturing, together with his excellent cultivation, enables him to sell Bartletts at ten dollars per bushel, while his neighbors, with ordinary management, received but three dollars. Those who send fruit long distances to market, should be careful to have it packed when sufficiently hard to endure the journey before soft- ening; to pack it tight in barrels or boxes, with coarse and elastic mat- ting around the interior, so as completely to prevent rattling; and to consign them to a commission salesman of character and responsibility, who understands his business thoroughly, who knows when the right period of maturity has arrived, and who can dispose of them to the best advantage. Selection of Cherries. — P. Barry, one of the four greatest American nomologists, made the following selection of cherries, at the meeting of the Fruit Growers' Society at RochesV;r in 1858: Early sorts — Early Purple Guigne, Belle d'Orleans, Gov. Wood, Mayduke, Black Tartarian and Black h Bagle. For a late sort, Reine Hortense, and very late, Belle Mngnifique. For market, he would add Napoleon, Rockport Bigarreau and Elkliorn. (j C^= ' =3fc>® 192 ILLUSTRATED ANNUAL REGISTER 0, ' — f PEACHES. The following selection of the most highly esteemed varieties, will furnish a succession lasting .about two months: — Senate Early York, Cooledge's Favorite, Large Early York, Crawford's Early, Nivette, Old- mixon Free, Bergen's Yellow, Druid Hill, Crawford's Late, and Heath Cling. The last named, (in the Northern States,) if picked just before frost, and kept on shelves in a cool room, will remain in good eating con- dition for some weeks, and specimens have been kept till winter. Craw- ford's Early is the most reliable for uniform and good crops through different seasons, and Cooledge's Favorite has been found remarkable for its hardiness. There are other varieties, ripening at the same time as some of the above, and nearly or quite as good in quality, which might be substituted for them. For example, the Early Tillotson is quite as early as the Serrate Early York, and in some localities, particularly in the Southern States, is higher in flavor and more valuable. George the Fourth and Grosse Mignonne ripen nearly with Large Early York. Morris White ripens at the same time as Nivette. • ♦ • PLUMS. The following valuable or excellent old and new varieties, are carefully arranged according to their order of ripening, and they furnish a succes- sion of fruit from the middle of summer until after the middle of autumn, or for about three months. Primordian — small, yellow, flavor moderate, tree a slow and slender grower, but good bearer ; valuable for its extreme earliness, ripening a little before the usual time of harvesting wheat. Imperial Ottoman and Royal Ilative, are very early plums, of medium size, and jj°od quality. Peach Plum, a very large and showy variety, of second quality. Hudson Gage, a new sort, of medium size, and of a rich and fine flavor, the tree thrifty and productive. Prince's Yellow Gage, remarkable for its hardiness and productiveness, the fruit above medium size, and usually juicy and with a fine flavor. Duane's Purple, a very large and showy fruit, but of second-rate quality. Green Gage, well known for its unequalled flavor, the tree a slow grower; Lawrence, a large, green, and excellent plum; and Red Gage, a l very productive and tine medium-sized plum, all ripen about the same JA time. The Lombard, a very hardy and reliable sort, of good quality, is scarcely later. ^= ft gc>— OF RURAL AFFAIRS. 193 .0 Fig. 116— Imperial Ottoman. Fig. 117— McLaughlin. Washington, very large and showy when well-grown, is a great and gene- ral favorite, but a serious drawback on its value is liability to rot on the tree. Smith's Orleans immediately fol- lows the Washington. It is a large, oval, purple fruit, and the tree is $¥&%?■;'' i>--*, <•'** -^k Fig. 118— SCHKNKCTADT CATHERINE. Fig. 119 — Fl'LTON. remarkable for its productiveness, hardiness, and vigorous growth. Jefferson, a large, handsome, and excellent variety, follows next in succession. Bleeckefs Gage, a productive and reliable plum ; Red Diaper, large, 194 ILLUSTRATED ANNUAL REGISTER showy, and excellent, but a slow grower; and Columbia, a very large, handsome and showy, but rather coarse plum, all ripen together. Nearly at the same time is the McLaughlin, one of the finest of all the new plums, the tree being vigorous and very hardy, and the fruit large, and scarcely inferior in deli- cious quality to the Green Gage. The Imperial Gage—weW known for its rapid growth and enormous productiveness ; and the Bingham, a large, handsome, productive and excellent plum, ripen about the same time or immediately after the prece- ding several sorts. The Schenectady Catherine is small in size, but is valuable for its excellent quality and profuse productiveness, but more particularly for the extreme hardiness of the tree and its endurance of severe winters. Reine Claude de Bavay, one of the best new late varieties, productive, and a vigorous grower. Coe's Golden Drop, a very large and excellent plum, but requiring a warm season to ripm it at the north. Fulton, a new variety, large, of a rich, high flavor — the tree vigorous and productive, and the fruit hanging long after ripe. Coe's Late Red, a good, late, medium-sized plum, tree thrifty and prolific. , *-•- THE STRAWBEERY. V Transplanting Strawberries. — The best time is always early in spring, as, St that Time, we have only to set out the plants with ordinary care, for all to grow. They will bear abundantly the second season, and if kept clean and cultivated, for two or three years afterwards. If allowed to run the season of transplanting, and not cultivated except in the early part of the season, they will give a full crop the next year, but not. after- wards. Some good cultivators think it best and most economical of labor to plant a new bed every year, and to let the bed run full of plants, for only one year's bearing. They find it easier to plant out a new bed in spring, than to cultivate the old one through the season. The crop is not, however, so fine, when thus treated. Transplanted immediately after bearing, and while the plants arc some- what exhausted and consequently in a partially dormant state, strawber- ries will do well, and afford as good a crop next season, as by spring transplanting, but more care and labor are required. The ground is first to be prepared by properly enriching it, and making it clean and mellow. The amount of manuring must depend greatly on the previous character and condition of the soil. If naturally fertile, and if it has been well previously manured, little need be applied; if not largely composed of ^=^=~ OF RURAL AFFAIRS. 195 Fig. 120 — Hooker Strawberry. vegetable matter, a quantity of leaf-mould or well-prepared peat will be found very useful. Where much manure is needed, a compost with a large proportion of such vegetable matter is always best. The plants should be selected from the youngest well-rooted runners of the previous year. They should be lifted out with a spade and the earth sbaken off, and not piffled out. as is often done to the injury of the roots. All the fully expanded leaves are to be clipped off, leaving only the small, half-open ones. The roots are then to be dipped in mud made in a pan or pail for this purpose, thick enough to leave a coating on them about the fourth of an inch. They are then to be transplanted, spreading out the fibres as much as may be convenient, and taking care not to cover the crown. If the soil be dry, they should all be watered heavily, and an A inch of mellow earth drawn over the watered surface, to fill up the set- m tied earth. A mulching is then to be applied about an inch or an inch ^ (J and a-half thick, of fine, partly-decayed stable manure. This will prevent (j ■ *^d" ILLUSTRATED ANNUAL REGISTER 4 Fig. 121— "Wilson's Albany Strawberry. the surface from drying and becoming hard and crusted ; and if watering should afterwards be necessary, which, however, can only happen in ex- tremely dry weather, this mulch will keep the surface moist and in proper condition. Treated in this manner, all or nearly all the plants will live, and furnish an abundant crop next year. THREE NEW STAMINATE STRAWBERRIES. The opinion of some eminent strawberry cultivators, that pistillate varieties only can be relied on for uniform productiveness, is now fully disproved. Two new profuse-bearing staminate sorts of great size, have been produced within a few years, that are likely to supersede all prece- ^ ding ones. These are the Wilson, which is perhaps the most prolific of all known strawberries, and the Hooker, superior in quality, but less ' *^=* OF RURAL AFFAIRS. havdy than the Wilson. They have been already briefly described by Charles Downing and some other writers. The size given in the accompanying engravings, is the result of exact measurement of the fruit as grown in Western New-York, with ordinary cultivation. Unusual care would doubtless afford larger berries. The Hooker strawberry varies in size when fully grown, from an inch to an inch and a-third, and sometimes an inch and a-half in diameter; it is roundish and obtuse-conical, the berries remarkably well filled out in every part, very dark crimson, flesh soft and juicy, with a sweet and ex- cellent flavor. Staminate (or hermaphrodite) and uniformly a great bearer. The writer has picked berries an inch and a-third in diaim ter, from plants set out seven weeks previously. It has two drawbacks — its softness, — unfitting it for distant marketing, — and its tenderness, resulting from the protrusion ol the crowns of the young plants above the surface of the earth, but which rarely causes their destruction. It is destined to super- sede wholly Burr's New Pine and other sorts, hitherto so largely raised for family use. Origin, Rochester, N. Y. Wilson's Albany is not less in size than the Hooker; it is extremely hardy, the plants early in spring presenting a remarkably deep, healthy green ; and is unequalled for its crops, in the several places hitherto tried, both in the State of New-York and further west. Two or three hundred bushels of fruit might unquestionably be raised on a well-cultivated acre. The berries are roundish-conical, sometimes roundish-oblate, and occa- sionally coxcombed, full and obtuse, dark crimson, moderately firm, but becoming tender when fully ripe, flavor very good, but not of the highest excellence. Probably the most profitable market sort at present known. Crops, that for other sorts would be considered good, have been produced seven weeks from the time of setting out in spring. Origin, Albany, N. Y. Both of these varie- ties being stauiinates, are self-fertilizers, and save much of the trouble usually resulting from the necessity of mixing stauiinates with pistil- »/ !». < « f"\ j \ '■r V>\- :'-•'-.;;# V:. •• V. ■■■■■■' -j r ■'' ''-mRF Avoy's Superior, &c. Peabody's Straw- berry.— As far as size and flavor are concerned, 122— Pbabody Strawberry (aa grown in western N. Y.) this renowned new sort ««=>© 0 llJ8 ILLUSTRATED ANNUAL REGISTER is not a humbug, as many have feared. The figures are the exact size of specimens grown with ordinary care, and we think the quality unexcelled by any other sort. It is oblong-conical, often coxcombed, deep crimson, flesh firm, very sweet and high-flavored, and appears to keep longer after picking than other varieties. The plants have proved quite hardy at the north, but we fear it will be found too unproductive to be of much value. Origin, Columbus, Georgia. It is sometimes termed " Peabody's Haut- bois," from the faint shade of the Hautbois flavor which the berry possesses ; but it does not in the least resemble the Hautbois in any other particular. In addition to the preceding, the following new sorts may prove valua- ble: — Jenny Lind, for its extreme earliness; Genesee, for its good size and fine appearance ; Triomphe de Gand, very large and showy, but a moderate bearer. Scott's Seedling is large, showy, and productive, but is deficient in flavor — the same remark applies to the Gushing. At the summer meeting of the Fruit Growers' Society of Western New- York, in 1858, twelve strawberry-growers voted for the five best, with the following result: For Amatkurs— Hooker, 12 votes— Large Early Scarlet and Burr's New Pine, 7 each — Hovey's Seedling, 5— Wilson's Alhany, 4— Jenny Lind, McAvoy's Superior, Triomphe de Gand, Peabody, and Trollop's Victoria, 2 each. For Market— Large Early Scarlet, 8 votes— Crimson Cone and Wil- son's Albany, 7 each — Genesee, 5 — Hovey's Seedling and Hooker's, 4 each — Cashing, Scott's Seedling, Longworth's Prolific, Iowa, and Burr's New Pine, 2 each. HARDY FRUITS AT THE WEST. The late intensely severe winters in the western States, have performed a very useful and important service. By cutting off all tender varieties of fruits, they have furnished a list of the most hardy, such as may be relied on for endurance in future years, and they have performed this task at the very commencement of extensive plantings, when the knowledge thus given is especially needed. Single experiments do not establish a rule; as a variation in exposure, in fertility of soil, in the thriftiness of growth, and especially in drainage, may all give quite different results with the same sort. But a variety that is frequently killed, cannot be regarded as reliable; and one which under all circumstances escapes unhurt, may from its entire hardiness, be exten- sively planted. JA The following lists were recently furnished by intelligent western cor- respondents, from which a general summary of results is made, and fl OF RURAL AFFAIRS. 199(1 which cannot fail to bo valuable to orchards in the west. APPLES. I I. C. Allex of Lena, III., furnishes the following results of hi 6 experience. Very hardy — Oldenburgh, Late Strawberry. Hardy — Early Joe, Early Pe nock, Bops of Wine,Cooper. Fulton, Fall Orange, Mo- ther, Fallawater, Hubbardstoa Nonesuch, Jonathan, Limbertwig. Trader — Early Harvest, Summer Bellflower, Belmont, Hawley .Jersey Sweeting, Rambo, Twenty Ounce. Baldwin, Domine, English Russet, King, Newtown Pippin, Golden Sweet. E. Okdwav of Freeport, 111., gives the following list of such varieties as have withstood the late severe winters there : Tallman Sweeting, Yellow Bcllflower, Hecknofurther, Golden Russet, Northern Spy, White Winter Pearmain, Winesap, Fallawater, Maiden's Blnsh, Red Canada, Sops of Wine, and Large and Small Ro- mauite. Samuel Edwards, La Moille, 111., gives tlie following as the most hardy and valu- able : — Bed June, High-Top Sweeting, Hocking, Early Peunnck, Keswick Cod- ln, Maiden's Blush, Fameuse, Westtield Seekuofurthcr, Yellow Bell flower, White Winter Pearmain, Fulton, Red Romanite. Dr. S. L. Pt.N.visGToN, Sterling, 111. Hardy, or but slightly injured — Yellow Bcllflower, Westtield Seekuofurthcr, Fa- meuse, Black Detroit, Winesap, Poinme Grise, Lowell, Red June, Willow Twig, Early Nonpareil. Tender — Baldwin, Por- ter, Rhode-Island Greening, Roxbury Russet, Ortley, Sweet Bough, Rambo. E. H. Skinsek, Mo Henry Co., 111. For summer — Red Astrachan and Carolina Red June. For autumn — Porter. Early winter — Fameuse. Winter and spring — Jonathan, Rawles' Janet, English Russet. J. S. Sherman, Rockrord, 111. Sweet June, Baldwin, Tompkins County King, Wagoner, and most of the hardiest in Western New-York, except Rhode-Island Greening and Sweet Bough. Maiden's Blush and Yellow Bellflowcr succeed ad- mirably. B. W. Steerk of Adrian, Mich., men- tions as particularly tender, English and Roxbury Russets, Gravenstein, Baldwin, and Rhode-Island Greening — the latter becomes hardier with age, but is an un- certain bearer. A mas a Stewart of Le Seur, Minnesota. Early Harvest, Early Strawberry, Red Astrachan, Maiden's Blush, Fameuse, Harrison, White Bellflower. The Rambo was tender. F. K. Phovtx, Bloomington, 111., who , has also made extensive observations in A Wisconsin, names the following hardy ^ apples : Summer — Carolina June, Sweet J June, Red Astrachan, Sops of Wine, all those who are about to set out Benoni, Summer Pearmain. Autumn — Autumn Strawberry, Dyer, Fall Orange, Haskell Sweet, Gabriel, Northern Sweet, Oldenburgh, St. Lawrence. Winter — Yellow Bellflower, Carthouse, Limber- twig, Romausteni, White Winter Pear- main, Seeknofurther, Tallman Sweet, Winesap, Monstrous Pippin, English Gol- den Ru. set. Willow Twig, Winter Sweet Paradise, Cainptield Sweet. Onto PoMOLOOlOAL Society, 1S57, from the report of various members : Carolina Red June, tine in centra! Indiana, poor in southern Michigan : Late Strawberry, good in Ohio, Indiana and Illinois ; American Summer Pearmain, generally and highly esteemed ; Hawley, promising well; Maiden's Blush, everywhere hardy and productive ; Fallawater, second qual- ity, but everywhere valuable; White Pippin, one of the best for central and southern Ohio ; White Winter Pearmain, highly prized in Indiana and Illinois, un- known in Ohio ; Pryor's Red and Rome Beauty, southern Ohio: lied Canada, northern Ohio. The following sorts have generally done well : Winter Sweet Para- dise, Broad well, Tallman Sweet, Dan vera Sweet. The Northern Spy had done well in Kentucky, St. Louis, and Indiana, al- though diminished in keeping qualities. In aditiou to the preceding lists, the following has been furnished by M. R. Patrick of Saekett's Harbor, N. Y., a place remarkable for its intense winters and severe winds. Vigorous growers tind perfectly hardy — Ilawthornden, Sops of Wine, Late. Strawberry, Jewett's Red, O rue's Early. Nearly us hardy — Early Harvest, Summer Queen, Fall Orange, Hawley. King (Tompkins.) American Golden Russet, Swaar, Benoni, Red As- trachan, Ribston Pippin. Somewhat ten- der— Rambo, Dyer, Gravenstein, Fa- meuse. Half hardy — Jonathan, Domine, Sweet Baldwin, Danvers Sweet, Belmont, Canada Reiuette, Yellow Bellflower. Tender— Baldwin, Twenty Ounce, Tail- man Sweet, Fall Pippin, Sweet Bough, Summer Rose. Early Strawberry, Early Joe, Jerwey Sweet, Oldenburgh, Roxbury Russet, (very poor,) Westtield Seekno- further, Ladies' Sweet, Esopus Spitzen- burgh, Porter, Lowell, Lady Apple, New- town Pippin, English Russet, Northern Spy, Red Canada, Rhode-Island Greening, Peck's Pleasant. From the preceding lists, it will be seen that the following have proved hardy wherever tried, without exception, viz : Sops of Wine, Late Strawberry, White II inter Pearmain, Winesap, F(dl Orange, Fallawater, Maiden'' s Blusli. Carolina June, and lied Astrucftun. These sorts ILLUSTRATED ANNUAL REGISTER may therefore be planted without fear of cold wi liters. The vote was neurit/ unani- mous for Fameuse, Yellow Ue'l/loicer, Westfield Seeknojitrther, Jonathan, and Oidenburgh. TEA RS. B. W. Stkere. Adrian, Mich., gives the following list : Tender— Bartlott, Seckel, YViiiktield, Oswego Beurre ; hard;/ — Fle- mish Beauty. Tyson, Roeticzer, Doyenne d'Ete, Beurre d'Anjou, Belle Lucrative, Onondaga, and Lawrence. Tlje Ohio Pomological Society, in its Transactions for 1S57, gives from the re- port of some of its members, the follow- ing pears as having proved valuable at Cincinnati : Walker, Foutenay Jalousie, Andrews. Gray Doyenne. Urbauiste, Belle Lucrative, Flemish Beauty, Kirtlaud, Doyenne Sieulle. I. C. Ali.en of Lena, Stephenson Co., 111., furnishes the following list of pears, the results of his experience in that re- gion. Very hardy — Flemish Beauty. Har- dy— Buft'um, Columbia, Dix, Winter Nc- lis, Forelle, Fulton, Lawrence, Osband's Summer, Oswego Beurre, Onondaga, Ste- ve, s' Genesee, Snsette de Bavay. Half- hardy — Doyenne d'Ete, White Doyenne, Easter Beurre, Glout Morceau, Bilboa, Henry IV, Seckel, Tyson, Benramotte Cadette. Aremberg. Tender — Bartlett, Belle Lucrative, Beurre d'Anjou, Beurre Bosc, Catillac, Chaumontelle, Dearborn's Seedling, Angouleme, Louise Bonne of Jersey, Madeleine, "Vicar of Winkfield, Van Mons' Leon le Clerc. CHERRIES. The dukes and morello cherries, such as Early Richmond, Mayduke. Belle Magmrique, Belle de Choisy, Morello, See., all succeed well at the Avest ; while the Heart it Bigarreau varieties generally fail. SMALL FRUITS. Currants, Houghton's Gooseberry, and the smaller fruits generally, succeed well throughout the west. RENOVATING O L U> TREES. When old trees become feeble, there is no better way of imparting to them vigor, than by manuring. Instead of adopting the more common practice of digging a circular trench around them and filling this with manure, the operation may be" performed in a more perfect and efficient manner by digging narrow radiating trenches from within a few feet of the trunk, directly from it — this will prevent cutting many of the roots. The annexed diagram (fig. 123) will show the position of these trenches. These may then be filled with a compost, made of turf, stable manure, ashes, and per- haps a little bone manure — the turf to be the chief constituent, say one-half or two-thirds — and the ashes say one-thir- tieth. The hone manure is not essential, as its constituent parts are in common manure in small quantities. If this is done in autumn, the roots will be pre- pared to penetrate it early in spring, and F'fe'- 1--3- if the tree is not past recovery, it may make a new push. The roots probably extend as far each way as the height of the tree, and the trenches should extend about as far. They need not be cut very near the tree, as A the roots are all large there, and would be more likely to be injured and M\ would be little benefitted. The trenches should be only Uie width of aJ (J spade, and may be two to four feet apart. =^ 9c^= OF RURAL AFFAIRS. PRESERVING FRESH FRUITS. THE YEOMANS FRUIT BOTTLE. In answer to the frequent inquiries that are made for the best mode of preserving fresh fruits in cans, jars or bottles, the following directions have been furnished by T. G. Feomans of Walworth, N. Y., who, besides being a very skillful and successful cultivator of fruits and fruit trees, has for several years given special attention to the subject. Having used his bot- tles, we find them exceedingly convenient and just the thing wanted. He states in a recent Utter, (and his statements can be fully relied on,) that in the sale of many thousands of dozens of these bottles, so far as he knows, "they have given universal satisfaction." The following is his statement of the advantages of this fruit bottle : 1st. It is made of glass, and will not corrode and poison the fruit; and being transparent, the condition of the fruit can at all times be seen, while they are so easily cleansed, that they are as good as new for suc- ceeding years. 2d. It is more readily scaled up securely, than any other can, jar or bottle. 3d. The shape of the neck is such that the cork cannot be forced in by the atmospheric pressure on it, caused by the cooling and consequent contraction of the fruit in the bottle; and also with a neck of such length that the contraction will not bring the fruit below the neck, so that if there should be, as there Fig. 124— Tunnel. Fig. 125— Fkcit Bottle. sometimes will be, a slight mold on the surface, the surface being so small, very little fruit would be thus injured, and that lit t le could be very easily removed; while the shape of the bottle below the neck is of such a taper, that the fruit conies out readily. 4th. It is cheaper than any other bottle, jar or can of merit, that has \ ILLUSTRATED ANNUAL REGISTER yet been brought before the public, and so cheap as to be within the reach of all. Directions for Using and Filling. — Cook or stew the fruit in its own juice, with water enough only to keep from burning it, with sugar enough only to flavor it to the taste — or omitting the sugar entirely till opened for use, as you please — until it is cooked through in every part, keeping it well covered while cooking; then with a small dipper or large spoon, and a tunnel for the purpose, fill the bottle, which should be standing in a pan of warm or hot water, to prevent its breaking; when full, imme- diately cork by pressing the cork down to the jog in the neck, then with an iron spoon, or any thing else, rub a little wax over the surface of the cork, and soon after dip the top of the bottle into the hot wax, which completes the sealing. The twine that goes under the cork should be bent down on the cork, and sealed under, to prevent, by any possibility, air from passing down by the twine. Keep in a cool, dry place. Such fruit as is naturally too dry to afford juice enough to cover it when cooked, or such as are too hard and firm to sweeten conveniently without cooking in the sugar, are best put up with su^ar enough to flavor them, which at the same time furnishes juice or syrup to cover the fruit in the bottle — which, when fully covered, is less liable to mold on the surface. To avoid mold entirely, the bottle may be inverted occasionally, and most frequently for a fev; weeks after putting up. Wax for Sealing. — An excellent sealing-wax is cheaply made of about one pound rosin to an ounce of tallow, to give it toughness. Corks, &c. — Corks to fit, (furnished, When ordered, at $1.50 per gross,") are used by putting a small, stout twine, double, across the mouth of the bottle when corking — by these the cork may be easily extracted without injury, and kept for future use. The bottles are of two sizes, holding about one and two quarts, and are put up in boxes of twelve dozen for the one-quart bottles, and six dozen for the two-quart, and sent safely to any distance. Wholesale prices are furnished by the inventor, T. G. Yeomans, Walworth, Wayne Co., N. Y. • ♦ > KEEPING GRAPES THROUGH WINTER. It is important that they be kept in a cool place ; a slight frost will not injure them if they have become fully ripe. Bunches with green stems are not ripe, and may be spoiled by freezing. Cut the stems in picking, handling the hunches as little as possible, and remove every imperfect or decayed berry. Place them in broad shallow boxes about six inches deep, with a white sheet of unsized paper on the bottom and between each layer of grapes. Set the boxes uncovered in a dry open place for about ten days, -0^ S)C^=- OF RURAL AFFAIRS. 203 till all the surplus moisture has evaporated — this will prevent future molding and decay, and is very important. Then cover the boxes with covers which have been previously made to shut tight. Place them in a cool cellar, or in a garret not subject to severe frost, and they will keep till spring as fresh as when packed away. A convenient size for the boxes is two feet square, and six inches deep. These are rather better than tubs made from barrels cut in two, by allow- ing the moisture more readily to escape. Baskets for packing should be avoided, as by yielding, they bruise the fruit. A convenient way for gathering is to suspend a light shallow box, holding about a half bushel or less, by means of a strap to the neck, leaving both hands at liberty. In this box they ma}- be carried to the place of packing. To send grapes long distances, pack them closely, without any interve- ning substance, in pasteboard boxes, so as not to shake or rattle. The boxes should hold about half a peck each. In this way they may be carried safely a thousand miles. » » » RAISING AND KEEPING CELERY. P. Hendersox of Jersey City, who raises celery largely for market, adopts the following mode, dispensing with a hot-bed. The seed is thinly sowed early in spring, on a very rich, mellow, and perfect piece of land — they are well cultivated and thinned, and afford fine healthy plants by the first of 7 mo. (July.) They are always transplanted in rain, to rich land. Those intended for autumn use (blanching on the ground,) are in rows four feet apart (to allow banking up,) and five or six inches in the row — on the surface and not in trenches. For winter and spring use, the rows are three feet apart. They are well cultivated with a horse and by hoeing. When about half grown, or about the end of summer, a little earth is drawn to them to give them an upright position. After that, the plants are held closely together with one hand, and additional earth applied. In a few weeks more, they are banked up by digging the earth between the rows. That intended for winter use, is packed away in trenches about a month before winter sets in. For early winter, the plants are removed a week or two sooner, and without shaking the earth from the roots. For later use, they are taken up a little later, and packed more closely. The trenches are not over eight or ten inches wide — if wider they promote fermentation and decay. After they are filled, the soil is pressed closely on each side, by thrusting a spade down, but leaving the green tops ^\ exposed. About the first of winter, the whole is covered with about six j /) inches (or more) of stable manure or leaves. fr ©c^—- 204 ILLUSTRATED ANNUAL REGISTER APPLE-SEED WASHER. Nurserymen and others often inqure for the best mode of washing apple- seed from the pomace. The following, adopted by J. M. Mattison, is one of the best, by which two men will wash half a bushel of seed or more in an hour: the quantity of water pouring into the box may be easily controlled. One man stands on the board e "which extends across the box ; and the other carries and deposites the pomace (well pounded to oieces,) into the box at d, one or two bushels at a time. The man on the box then stirs the pomace rapidly with a four-tined fork, and throws out the straws. The pomace floats over the lower end(which is an inch lower than the sides) and the seeds fall to the bottom. A few back strokes from the lower end of the box assist in the separation of the remaining pomace. In washing a"cheese'' that contains a bushel of seed, it is usual to wash it two or three times, by using a scoop- ehovel. Afterwards, the last cleaning process is given to it by placing the whole in a box, and then scratching a four-tined fork through it a few times. A little expe- Make a box 5 feet wide, 8 or 9 feet long, and 10 inches deep; leave the lower end/, one inch lower than the sides, for the wa- ter to flow over. Place this box in the bed of a brook or stream, on crossbars or scantling, with a dam above to collect the water into a trough, carrying the water into the box, and projecting six inches over it. This trough should be made of boards 12 inches wide, nailed together, and the stream should be large enough to nearly fill it when flowing gently. To Fig. 126— Apple-Seed "Washer. prevent the water from dashing into the box too furiously, two boards are first nailed together as shown at b, one board being 18 inches by two feet, and the other 18 inches by 1 foot. The longer board is placed on the top of the spout, and the shorter at right angles across the lower end of the spoilt. This serves to throw the water perpendicularly downwards into the box, and at the same time serves to spread it out into a thin sheet. By moving this board up or down the spout, rience will enable any one to judge accurately of the proper quantity of water to turn on, so as to make rapid work, and not carry the seed over the box. The pomace, Jresk from the cheese, should be drawn and placed on a board- platform beside the box, and then plenty of water thrown upon it, until it is tho- roughly soaked. This will render it easily beaten to pieces with a hoe. The pomace should never remain in the cheese over twenty-four hours, as it soon ferments and the seed is spoiled. Protecting Young Fruits. — Hardy as well as tender strawberries should be covered for winter, because if hardy they will make an earlier start, and ripen their crops sooner ; and if tender will often escape de- struction. Coarse litter is good, but evergreen boughs are better. Trim- mings of nursery trees spread over the bed and covered with straw, make a good protection and give the plants more air. The cultivated raspber- ries and blackberries need protection, where the largest and earliest crops are desired. The latter may be most readily covered with two inches of A earth, first bending and pegging them down ; and to prevent breaking, making a small mound of earth against the foot of the stems, of which JA \ only five or six of the best should be left in each stool. A tQ^^=- 1 OF RURAL AFFAIRS. 205 NURSERIES OF THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA. No part of the following is copied from other lists of nurserymen previously published, but it is wholly made up from an extensive corres- pondence. In most cases the information it contains was derived from the proprietors themselves. Their statements, when examined, have in nearly all instances been found correct, and the list is therefore believed to be unusually accurate. There may be a few good nurseries contained io other lists, which are omitted in this; but there are also a great num- ber excluded which are insignificant and unworthy of notice, have ceased to exist, or never had an existence except on paper. The number of acres indicates, nearly, the extent of operations. There are a few exceptions to this rule, some nurseries near large cities occupy- ing but little land, but containing extensive ranges of green-houses, and doing a large business. A few others occupy much land with scattered specimens, and thus overstate their operations. The extent is in all cases intended to indicate, the land actually under growing trees. A good and well-managed nursery of hardy trees requires, on an ave- rage, one laborer for every two or three acres ; the sales will average $250 per acre annually; and, on account of the necessary lapse of several years before cash returns are made, the nett profits should not be less than 40 per cent., (which is less on the capital invested than 5 per cent, for the tradesman who makes semi-annual sales.) By applying these numbers, the reader may readily determine very nearly the annual sales, cost, and profits of any good nursery, its extent being given. Thus, for example, a nursery of 100 acres managed in the best manner, requires from 30 to 50 hands, sells yearly $25,000 worth of trees, and clears $10,000 in money. There arc a few that have occasionally exceeded these amounts ; but many more have fallen below; while a great multitude, and especially those who enter the business with but little knowledge and experience, fail entirely. There are some nurserymen who understand the business very superfi- cially, and some are entirely unworthy of confidence. To point out such, and to name those also who are strictly reliable, and perfect masters of their occupation, would render the list more valuable, but it would be impossible in the present state of information. [The dates give the time the nursery was commenced, and the post office address follows the name.] MAIM. John "W. Adams, Portland, (2 miles from, at Weotbrook R. R. Station)— 1849-8 acres — a large dealer in native ever- greens. , 8. L. Goodale, Saco. 11. Little ic Co., Bangor. NKW-nAMPSHIBB. Levi Burt, "Walpole. B. F. Cutter, Pelliam, 4 miles from Lowell — 4 acres, mostly forest and shade trees. Joseph Pinneo, Hanover. VERMONT. R. T. Robinson, Ferrisburgh. ©C^s— ~*^=>© 206 ILLUSTRATED ANNUAL REGISTER MASSACHUSETTS. Anthony & McAfee, New-Bedford. Barnes & Washburn, Harrison Square, Dorchester. B. K. Bliss, Springfield— chiefly green- house aiid ornamentals. A. Bowdich, Roxbury. Breck & Son, Brighton. James Brewer, Springtield. D. C. Brewer, Springtield— 30 acres. E. W. Bull, Concord. W. C. Capron & Son, Uxbridge— 4 acres— an old establishment. Asa Clement, Lowell (3£ miles from) — 1S48— 10 acres. S. H. Coltou, Worcester— 1S39— 12 acres, fruit and ornamental. H. H. Crapo, New-Bedford. Francis Dana, Roxbury. L. Eddy, Taunton. Evers & Co., Boston. Isaac Fay, Cambridge. Ebeuezer Gray, Bridgewater. O. B. Had wen, Worcester— 2 acres— buys most of his trees. John A. Hall, Raynham. Hovey & Co., Boston — nurseries at Cam- bridge—extensive and widely celebrated — large and tine ranges of green and hot- houses— and very extensive orchards of specimen trees, especially of the pear. 8. ii G. Hyde, Newton. J. F. C. Hyde, Newton Center. John A. Kenrick, Newton — old and ex- tensive. D. W. Lincoln, Worcester— 4 acres — buys most of his trees. Robert Manning, Salem, " Pomological Garden"— established in 1823 by the elder Robert Manning, who soon made the best collection of specimeu trees then in America— S acres, and 3 acres specimen trees closely planted — widely known for its accuracy and the pomolo- gical skill of its proprietor. Cheever Newhall, Dorchester. Dexter Snow, Chicopee -a very exten- sive and successful cultivator of the Verbena. J. C. Stone, Shrewsbury — 6 acres. W. C. Strong, Nonantum Hill, Brighton, 5 miles from Boston— 50 acres closely planted with a general assortment of fruit and ornamental trees, and green- house plants. Special attention is given to the new grapes. Henry Vandine, Cambridgeport. Samuel Walker, Roxbury— 1S34— 17 acres — pears predominate, which are raised with great success— one of the most reliable nurseries in the Union. B. M. Watson, Plymouth. Marshall P. Wilder, Dorchester— celebra- ted for its collection of pears, the speci- men orchards of which are probably unequall'-d in America. Geo. W. Wilson, Maiden. RHODE-ISLAND. C. & D. P. Dyer & Co., Providence. Silas Moore, Providence— 1841— 18 acres. CONNECTICUT. T. C. Austin, Suffield— 1838— 10 acres. P. & H. A. Dyer, Brooklyn. Stephen Hoyt & Sons, New-Canaan. S. Lyman, Manchester. J. Mason & Co., (formerly C. S. Mason & Co.,) Hartford— 1853— 3 acres, mostly small fruits, ornamentals, and green- house plants. H. S. Ramsdell, West Thompson, Ct.— 1836 — 5 acres. Geo. Seymour & Co., South Norwalk— small fruits and New-Rochelle Black- berry. Win. H. Starr, East New-London— H. E. Chitty manager. Paphro* Steele &. Son, Hartford (3 miles from.) F. Trowbridge, New-Haven — does not raise trees, but an extensive and perma- nent dealer for 12 years. Alfred Whiting, Hartford (3 miles from) — 10 acres. E. A. Whiting, Hartford (5 miles west from) — 10 acres closely planted — com- menced about 20 years ago with one acre, at which time the question was often asked, "Where will you find a market for nil your trees?" — this, and two acres adjoining, being the largest in the State. Henry Willis, West Meriden. NEW-YORK. S. H. Ainsworth, West Bloomfield, On- tario Co.— 1848 — 26 acres— land tho- roughly cultivated, costs about $3000 cash per year, and sales more than double this sum. Silas Boardman, Brighton, 3 miles east of Rochester— 1828 — fruit trees generally. J. W. Bailey, Pittsburgh. J. Battey, (agent for owners,) Keeseville, Clinton Co.— 12 acres. C. P. Bissell & Salter, Rochester (nursery on E. Avenue)— 1855 — mostly email fruits. H. H. & J. H. Bostwick, Auburn— 1848. Anson Braman, Ithaca — 1848 — 12 acres. D. Brinckerhoft", Fishkill Lauding, Dutch- ess Co. Bronson & Merrill, Geneva — 1854 — 40 acres, mostly fruit trees. Wm. Brocksbank, Hudson — 1836 — 15 acres. Joseph Caldwell (manager for owner) — Troy, (on Mt. Ida, east of city,) 7 acres. S. P. Carpenter, New-Rochelle— 1850— mostly small fruits. Henry Collins, Auburn (2 miles south of) — 15 acres — one-half fruit trees, and the rest ornamentals, the latter mostly ev- ergreens. William Collins. Smyrna, Chenango Co. — small. -=^& ©Gfe=- OF RURAL AFFAIRS. 207 Fig. 127 — Elhcanger Sf Barry' s principal J. R. Comstock, Hart's Village, Dutchess Co. — 7 acres — hardy fruits generally. J. D. Conklin, Locke, Cayuga Co. — smalL John II. Corning, (formerly II. Snyder,) Kinderhook — P. O. address, Valatie, Columbia Co. — 1838—25 acres — pear trees of successful growth a speciality. Alvah Covey, Penlleld, Monroe Co. — 1845 —30 acres." Cowled fc Warron, Syracuse. Jolm Dingwall, Albany— green-house and ornamentals. J. Donnellan &. Co., Hanford's Landing. Packing Shed, during the Selling Season. C. Dubois, Fishkill Landing. Ellwanger & Barry, Rochester (H miles south of)— 1S38 — 440 acres — probably the most extensive nursery in the world. The wide celebrity of this great establishment, its extent of business, a:id the interest generally felt to know its operations, require a notice of cor- responding fullness. The Fruit Department occupies 350 acres, in about the following proportion of the different kinds :— Standard pears, 69 acres— Dwarf do., 51 acres— Standard >e I" * •> o o a I* a, i' ■•■ .1| | «ii gJL'i-llU;;t;i];i|}' L° I !||l!||llliSlp^*?^ Fig. 128 — Home Grounds of Elhcanger 4' Harry's Nursery (about one-thirtieth part of thrir Home Nursery)- fronting Mt. Hope Avenue. A. part of Dwarf Pear specimen grounds — B. Part of Dwarf Cherry specimen Trees — C. Rare Evergreen B, &c. — D. Herbaceous Perennials — E. Dahlias — F. Busi- ness Olliot — G. Cold Grapery — H II II Green and But Houses— I. House for Prop- agating Grant K. Propagating House— L Shed* and Working Cellars— M. Resi- dence of G. Ellwanger — N. Residence of P. Barry. Sc^=- «=^>® 208 ILLUSTRATED ANNUAL REGISTER Fig. 129 — Back View of Home Nursery of Ellicanger $ Barry. Residence of P. Barry on the left— Business Office in the center — Packing-He *ses, and Residence of G. Ellwanger on the right. apples, 72 acres — Dwarf do., 31 acres — Standard and Dwarf cherries, 25 acres — Standard and Dwarf plums, 20 acres— and 82 acres of other fruit trees, seedling stocks, &.c. In the above-named department, the following items are more particularly worthy of notice. A fine S-aere block of dwarf and standard cherries, containing 120,000 trees, two years from the bud ; 12 acres of standard and dwarf pears in about equal quantities, two years from the bud, containing 330,000 trees of beau- tiful growth ; another block of 20,000 plum trees from last spring's grafts, on 3 acres ; 6 acres of currants, chiefly White Grape, Cherry, and Victoria, 200,000 plants : 4 acres of Houghton's Gooseberry, 70,000 ; 3 acres of New-Roehelle and Dorchester blackberries, 100,000 plants ; aud 100,000 hardy grapes on 3 acres. The Okna.y.ental Department occu- pies 90 acres, about as follows : — 24 acres of evergreen trees, 50 acres hardy deci- duous trees and shrubs, 8 acres roses, 3 acres dahlias, bulbs, and herbaceous plants, 5 acres specimen trees, &c. The mast remarkable items in this de- partment are : — The evergreens, which exceed half a million in number, besides this year's seedlings ; the 8 acres of roses; the weeping trees, covering alone over -2 acres ; the Magnolias, of which t? «rre are more than an acre in one plot ; ® ILLUSTRATED ANNUAL REGISTER rr.. _-r"-w Fig. 135— Poultry-House. fowls, twenty-five in each apartment; though if it were so heavily stocked, the droppings should he removed daily, as much as the horse- stable or the cow-stable should be cleansed daily. We give the ground plan and section below, which exhibit the arrange- ment so clearly that any mechanic could easily build one like it. .Ro os tiny I Booms Fcedmg ! Rooms ncsys \rics\ts j <*3 8 F? Fig. 137 — Cross Section. 16 FP Fig. 136— Ground Plan. We should prefer to make the house one foot wider and a foot higher. This would give room enough to stud the house with three-inch studs, and to line it with one-inch matched boards. It should also be covered with narrow, sound, matched boards, and battened. Then fill up the space between the studs with dry tan, and nothing more is needed for warmth. Such a house would protect fowls with the largest combs from the influence of severe frosts, and beside, would furnish a large dividend on the additional expense, by daily installments of fresh eggs all winter. The best material for the floor is a mixture of sand and gravel pounded down very firmly. The floor should be raised from 10 to 12 inches above the earth on the outside of the building, so as to guard against moisture. Bricks should never be used for paving the floor, as they absorb so much moisture from the earth that they keep constantly wet, and poultry can- not bear cold, wet feet much better than unfeathered bipeds can, without becoming rheumatic and gouty, and even roupy. In winter every poultry-house should be furnished with a low box filled with dry wood ashes, and if mixed with a little dry sand, all the better. /i\> OF RURAL AFFAIRS. 223 ( should be six and the other seven inches wide, and then finish by nail- ing on the end pieces, which should be about eight inches wide and twelve long. To keep the fowls from getting into it with their feet, put a grate over the top, (made by nailing cross slats to two or three laths running lengthwise. The grating should be fastened so that the trough can be cleaned at pleasure. FATTENING FOWLS. If it is desired to fatten fowls in a very short time, they should be con- fined in small coops. Baily says: — " A coop for twelve fowls (Dorkings) should be thirty inches high, three feet long, and twenty-two inches deep; it should stand about two feet from the ground, the front made of bars about three inches apart, the bottom also made of bars about an inch and a-half apart to insure cleanliness, and made to run the length of the coop, so that the fowl constantly stands, when feeding or resting, in the the position of perching ; the sides, back, and top may be made the same, or the back may be solid." Some writers think it better to make half of the floor a little inclined, and to cover it with a board. Troughs for feed and water should be fastened around the edge of the coop, and the whole placed in an out-building, as a barn or shed, away from other fowls. For the first twenty-four hours give water, but no food. On the second day com- mence feeding regularly three times daily with the most nutritious food, such as oatmeal mixed with milk, boiled wheat, &c, &c. The troughs should be cleansed daily, and a plenty of fresh clean water given ; and the fowls must be fed very early in the morning, and all they will eat at all times. In from fourteen to twenty days they will be in their best condition, when they should be killed, for if kept longer they soon become diseased. Poultry may be fattened quicker and more perfectly by stuffing, but it is an unnatural as well as an inhuman practice, and we cannot recommend it. Dorking, Spanish, Game, Hamburgh, and Polish chickens hatched the last of Hay, in latitude 43p, will do well to fatten when three months old, but Shanghai, Malay and Java chicks' should be at least a month older. f WORK-SHOPS AND STORMY DAYS. Every farmer who has boys should provide them a work-shop. It may be a building erected on purpose, or else partitioned off from the carriage- house, corn-house, or other out-building. Let it be neatly made, and not unpleasantly situated, for it should be attractive and not repulsive to those for whom it is is intended. It should be tight, and furnished with a small stove, so as to be comfortable in winter. It should be provided with a work-bench and vice, a shaving-horse for using the drawing-knife, and ^ perhaps a small foot-lathe. The two latter are convenient but not essen- \ tial. The tools should be two or three planes, augers of different sizes, a 224 -=^ ILLUSTRATED ANNUAL REGISTER few chisels, a brace-bit, drawing-knife, saw. and hammer. A small part of these will answer, and others may be added — the cost of the tools varying from five to twenty-five dullars. Such a work-shop will afford several important advantages. The greatest is the assistance it will render the cause of practical education. The best inheritance any man can leave his children, is, not wealth to support them, but the ability to help and take care of themselves. A young man, whose natural ingenuity is so developed by practice that he can at any moment repair a rake, adjust a scythe, fit in a new hoe-handle, set a clock in running order, sow a broken harness, make a door-latch fasten easily, set a gate in good swinging condition, sharpen a pen-knife, give edge to a pair of scissors, mend an umbrella, repair a cistern-pump, whitewash a ceiling, paper a room, stop a leaky roof, make a bee-hive, bottom a chair, and black his own boots, will pass through the world more comfortabty to himself, and profitably to those around him, and be far more worthy of the hand of the finest young woman in the country, than the idle and sluggish pretended gentleman, with pockets full of cash earned by his father, and who is obliged to send for a mechanic for all these things, which he is too helpless to perform himself. Dr. Franklin said, " if you want a good servant, serve yourself;" and, :( if you wish your business done, go; if not, send;" and these sayings apply with especial appropriateness to such as have those jobs to perform, commonly known as " odds and ends." Another important advantage afforded by such a work-shop is its moral influence in furnishing pleasant employment to boys during rainy or stormy weather or other leisure hours, and lessening the temptation to frequent taverns, and to attend places of diversion — often leading to the most pernicious habits. Another, is the actual saving of expense to the farmer, in having around him ingenious boys, who will repair immediately any broken article, and save the cost of carrying it to the neighboring village, and the delay and inconveniences, often much greater, of waiting till it is mended. They will be able also to manufacture many of the Simpler wooden implements required for farm use. To keep every part of a farm and premises in the best and neatest order, cannot be accomplished uidess the owner or his sons are of ready and active hands. Those who depend on hired men to perform the innumera- ble little services which this condition of a farm requires, will find that these services must be connected with an amount of constant observation and thought which cannot be secured by simply paying wages. It is therefore essential to educate the young managers to use their own hands, and become habituated to hand-work and thinking together; and the various operations connected with the work-shop will be found a most important auxiliary in accomplishing this very desirable result. &rc^=~ -<=S OF RURAL AFFAIRS. 225 V STREET TREES. No words are needed to show the beauty and refreshing appearance of fine shade trees along the streets of towns and villages. But, to secure success in all instances, more care is needed to preserve them when newly planted. To prevent the rubbing of cattle (which by the way generally do ten- fold more mischief in streets than the value of their pasture,) some structure must be erected to shield them. After trying several modes, we find none equal to that shown in the annexed cut, (fig. 141,) neither in cheapness nor in neat appearance. It is well known to some of our readers, and consists, first, of two stout pieces of board, about five inches wide, and eight or nine feet lon^, which are inserted with the lower ends a foot and a half into the earth, and nearly upright or a little inclined towards the tree on each side. These are connected by four cross- boards nailed on horizontally, as shown in the figure; and the intermediate space has strips of common lath nailed on at intervals of three or four inches. These strips parallel with each other, but not quite horizontal; and being placed at opposite inclinations on the opposite sides of the structure, give a neat lattice-like appearance. The — long upright pieces will be strong enough if of stout fence-boards ; but would be more secure if inch-and-a- Fig. 14L half plank. They are most easily set before the hole is filled ; but may be inserted afterwards by partially hewing them sharp, and driving them into crowbar holes. If there is any danger from sheep, the lath may be nailed on the whole space, so as to enclose the tree from top to bottom. As street trees cannot be cultivated, they should be copiously mulched for the first few years, in a wide circle at least five or six feet in diame- ter. Sawdust or old tan answers a good purpose. HILDRETHS OANO PLOW. Every implement which enables the cultivator to control more com- completely all his operations, becomes a positive benefit. There are some kinds of work which are better executed by the gang plow, than in any other way, and hence it is occasionally of great value to every far- mer. Sod ground, which has been deeply plowed late in autumn, may be reduced to a very mellow surface by the use of the gang plow, leaving k \ the sod undisturbed below. A thin coating of yard manure, or a thick A ) dressing of compost, may in the same way be turned under and rendered (J ?C^= = =^>© 226 -=^>S> ILLUSTRATED ANNUAL REGISTER available for corn planted on the sod. Corn stnbble, plowed in fall, may be seeded very early in spring by covering the seed with this implement. There is still another use, of value to small farmers. A seed drill, costing nearly a hun- dred dollars, is too expensive a machine for a five-acre wheat- field — the gang, cost- ing only twenty-five dollars, forms a use- ful and convenient substitute. Hildreth's Fig. 142— Hildreth's Gang Plow. gang plow, (made by Hildreth & Charles at Lockport,) which in our own use we have found exceedingly convenient, is furnished with a seed-box, as represented in the accompanying cut, which sows any desirable quan- tity of seed from a peck to three bushels per acre, and the plows cover it at one operation ; and in this respect it possesses an important advantage over the wheat drill, which requires complete previous preparation. Hil- dreth's machine is made entirely of iron except the tongue ; the depth of cutting and the width of slice may be regulated with complete accuracy ; and two horses plow three furrows at a time with ease, the friction from the weight of the machine and of the earth, being obviated by the wheels which sustain the plows and on which they run. It is liable to clog in wet stubble, and always performs more perfectly in clean ground. A CHEAP HORSE POWER. The admirably constructed endless-chain powers of Emery, Wheeler, Pease, and others, have proved machines of great convenience to moderate farmers, who do not wish to be dependent on itinerant eight-horse power threshers, requiring several extra horses and extra hands. It is both in- dependent and economi- cal to be able to thresh grain within doors, in winter, or during stormy weather. The chief ob- jection to the endless- chain power is its cost. We have lately examined FiS- 143— Hildreth's Horse Power. a horse-power manufactured by Hildreth & Charles of Lockport, N. Y., and furnished much cheaper, or at less than half the price of the endless- OF RURAL AFFAIRS. 227 chain powers. Fig. 143 gives a fair representation of this power, needing little further explanation. It is best secured to its place and kept solid by wedging into mortises in two logs, set in the earth, across which it is placed. It is usually for two horses, but strong enough for four. In addition to threshing, it may be employed in sawing wood, pumping water, driving straw-cutters, cap-augers, slitting saws, for turning grindstones, or churning. The "tumbling-rod" revolves about a hundred times in a minute — a suitable velocity for a cross-cut saw for cut- ting logs into stove- wood. A larger, more dura- ble horse-power, man- ufactured at the same establishment, is shown in fig. 144. It Fig. 144— Hildreth's Horse Power. is wholly iron, very neat and compact, and so durable that some have been run for years with- out the expenditure of a dollar in repairs. The whole gearing is covered with a cap, so that the driver cannot be injured, and the wheels are pro- tected from dust. It is adapted to eight or ten horses, and the cost is $110. CUTTING GRAFTS. There is no better time to cut grafts than at the commencement of winter. In cutting and packing them away, there are some precautions to be observed. In the first place, let them be amply and distinctly labeled, as it is very annoying to find the names gone at the moment of using them. For this purpose they should be tied up in bunches, not over two or three inches in diameter, with three bands around each bunch — at the ends and middle. The name may be written on a strip of pine board or shingle, half an inch wide, a tenth of an inch thick, and nearly as long as the scions. This, if tied up with the bunch, will keep the name secure. For convenience in quickly determining the name, there should be another strip of shingle, sharp at one end, and with the name distinctly written on the other, thrust into the bundle with the name projecting from it. If these bunches or bundles are now placed on ends in a box, with plenty of damp moss between them and over the top, they will keep in a cellar in good condition, and any sort may be selected and withdrawn without disturbing the rest, by reading the projecting label. We have never I f \ found sand, earth, sawdust, or any other packing substance, so convenient, ILLUSTRATED ANNUAL REGISTER clean, and easily removed and replaced, as moss, for packing grafts. It is needful, however, to keep an occasional eye to them, to see that the proper degree of moisture is maintained — which should be just enough (and not a particle more,) to keep them from shrivelling. They must, of course, be secure from mice. Plum grafts, which are sometimes injured by intense cold, are generally better if cut hefore the approach of the severest weather, and securely packed away. Compost for Gardens. — Principal ingredients — Stable manure, more or less, and turf from fence corners ; these laid in alternate layers, a few inches thick, and occasionally added as other materials increase. Auxiliary ingredients — Weeds, litter, rakings of leaves, potato tops, wood and coal ashes, soapsuds, dish-water, refuse hair, dust from house sweeping, chicken and fish bones, gutter scrapings, and nearly every thing else that would be " dirt " elsewhere. Rotted a year in a heap, and these ingredients will form a valuable compost, to the benefit and neatness of the premises. Apples for Domestic Animals. — Sweet apples are of great value in feeding almost any kind of farm animals. Hogs fatten rapidly on them, as well as on those that are acid. Cows, fed moderately at the start, on well cracked or cut apples to prevent choking, will increase in milk and improve in condition. Apples form an excellent succulent food for horses in winter. Varieties should be specially sought for feeding animals, combining hardiness, thriftiness, and great bearing qualities. Among the best now known are Codies' Sweet, Pumpkin Sweet, and Haskell Sweet for autumn — and Green Sweet for long keeping. At the west, the Hightop or Summer Sweet is the best early sort, and the Sweet Pearmain and Sweet Romanite for autumn and winter. Productive Apple Trees. — For early, and great and continued bear- ing, the Baldwin will probably stand first — five or six-year trees often affording three or four bushels of fruit, and old trees sometimes yielding forty or fifty bushels. Next to the Baldwin, stands the Jonathan — a most excellent and very handsome apple, but rather small in size. The Rhode Island Greening, and Tompkins County King, are also great bearers, but do not give such early crops as the Baldwin or Jonathan. DRAixiro Orchards. — It is best to place underdrains betiveen the rows of trees — because, first, the large roots sometimes run down and injure or derange the channel ; and secondly, because it is the space between the rows that is covered by the great mass of small fibrous roots, which fur- nish the nutriment to them. As dwarf pears do not send roots so far nor so deep, they may be set directly over the drain if desired. Sc^=- •- =^=® THE LAWTON BLACKBERRY Fac simile from Nature. IS UNIQUE, and not, as some hare been led to believe, the common " New-Rochelle Blackberry," impro- ved by cultivation. It differs in shape, size and quality from all others. Is per- fectly hardy, enduring the severest winters without protection. The fruit is delicious, having small seeds in pro- portion to its size; is a prodigious bearer, and in any good /arming soil, the stalk, leaf, flower and fruit, will grow of mam- moth proportions. For the convenience of l?labs, and those who take orders for giants, they will be safely packed in Tx>xes, put up in clusters of one dozeD, without charge for package, at the following rates : — A box of one dozen, 32 ; a box of 3 dozen, $5 ; a be:: of 8 dozen, $10. To pre- vent iwjpo*:iion, which has been most extension* practiced, every package trill ^e marked and branded, and purcha- sers from the undersigned will thus se- cure the genuine variety, without ad- mixture, and may enjoy this delicious fruit the second summer in perfection. The money should accompany the order, with name and address distinctly writ- ten. N. B. No itinerant plant sellers or traveling agents are employed to sell the plants from my grounds. Address WILLIAM LAWTON, No. 54 Wall-St., New-York, or, New-Rochelle, N. Y. In the Transactions of the New- York American Institute, published annually by the State of New-York, at a meeting of the Farmer's Club, held on the 2d of August, 1854, Judge Van Wyck offered the following resolution, which was unanimously adopted : " Resolved, That the Farmers' Club of the American Institute highly approves of the efforts made by William Lawtos, Esq., of New-Rochelle, to cultivate, improve and spread that most valuable blackberry, spoken of to-day, and that he has presented to this Club at different periods, both this season and the last, most liberal specimens of this blackberry, so that every member could not only gratify his sight but hi6 palate, with eating as many as he pleased, and thus be qualified to judge in every stage and season of their growth, their superior qualities as regards size, flavor, and succulency : and that we do hereby earnestly and decidedly recommend the LAWTON BLACKBERRY, as the Club has correctly named it, to public notice and patronage." At the Fifth Meeting of the Am. Pom. Society, held in Boston, in Sept , 1854. Mr. Cabot of Massachusetts : — "I wish to inquire about Lawton's Netc-Rochelle Blackberry?'1 Rev. William Clift of Stonington, Conn. : — " The Latcton Blackberry has fruited with me for the first time this season ; it fulfills all its promises, which is all that need be said ok it. Coining just after raspberries, it prolongs the season of small fruits a month or more, and it is a great acquisition. It deserves a place in every garden." Mr. Pink of New-York : — " It is the most remarkable acquisition : very sweet and delicious indeed, and the hardiest plant possible." Mr. Maurice of New-York : — " It is very large, tender and delicious. I think it the greatest acquisition we have had." Mr. Clark of Connecticut : — " I never saw anything more productive." Mr. Saul of New-York : — " I can corroborate what others have said." Mr. Prince of New- York :— " It is amo-t remarkable acquisition of the blackberry kind, very sweet and delicious indeed; a great bearer, and the hardiest plant possible." A Mr. Gkorge Gabriel of Stonington, Conn. : — "The Lawton Blackberry has fruited /j(\ with me for the first time this season. It fulfils all its promises, and deserves a place ^ly in every garden." ©c^=~ OAKLAND NURSERY, Throg's ISTeclc, Westchester Co., !N". Y. WM. L. FERRIS, Proprietor, offers for sale Standard and Dwarf Pears, of moderate and extra large size, of vigorous growth, of the most approved and proved sorts. Also a general collection of other FRUIT TREES AND ORNAMENTAL TREES, Including a very extensive collection of Evergreens of different varieties, of luxu- riant growth, from 2 to 12 feet in height, which are well adapted forgiving immediate effect for new lawn plantations. Catalogues will be sent free to applicants. "WILSON'S ALBANY SEEDLING!" BE S T AND MOST PROLIFIC STRAWBERRY. YIELDS 200 B USHELS PER ACRE. UNEQUALLED FOR SIZE, COLOR, FLAVOR, FIRMNESS, FRUITFUL- NESS, AND LONG-CONTINUED RIPENING— is perfectly hardy and quite early. Plants of thi6 kind 6et out early in Spring, will hear the same season. Circulars, with description and engravings of fruit, &c, sent to all applicants en- closing a stamp. Plants for sale in any quantity. Price, for best, strong, well-rooted plants, packed and delivered in Albany, $10 per 1000— $6 for 500— $5 for 400— $4 for 300— $1.50 for 100 — $1 for 50. Orders, with cash, promptly attended to, by WILLIAM RICHARDSON, 96 South Pearl Street, Albany, N. Y. VkW See page 196 of this Annual Register for 1859. IMPORTANT TO USTVEISTTORS. PATENT OFFICE DEPARTMENT. WE transact all kinds of business connected with procuring Patents, either in this country or in any of the European States. Having secured the aid of the best Patent Attorneys known to the public, both in England and on the continent of Europe, we are able" to afford the best of facilities for obtaining Patents in foreign countries. The Solicitor who has charge of our Patent Office Department, has for the past eight years been successfully engaged in obtaining Patents for Inventions, and during the later portion of that time has devoted particular attention to contested cases. The business of this Office will be strictly confidential. No charges will be made for examinations of new inventions ; inventors may consult us as to the novelty and patentability of their improvements, and receive our report, by describing their in- ventions to us, and enclosing a 6tamp to prepay the return letter. Communications by letter in reference to Inventions, Patents, or Patent Law, promptly attended to. FOWLER & WELLS, 308 Broadway, New-York. PUBLISHED BY A. O. MOOU E, (Late C. M. Saxton & Co.,) Wo. 140 Fulton Street, New-York, And sent by Mail to any part of the United States on receipt of Price. 1 3 4 6 6 7 American Farmers' Encyclopedia —a Work of great value, $4.00 Dadd's Modern Horse Doctor,... 1.00 Dadd's Anatomy and Physiology of the Horse, 2.00 Dadd's do., colored plates,... 4 00 Dadd's Am. Cattle Doctor, 1.00 The Stable Book, 1.00 The Horse's Foot— How to Keep it Sound, 50 8 Bridgeman's Gardener's Assistant 1.50 9 " Florist's Guide, 60 10 " Gardener's Instructor, 60 11 " Fruit Cultivator, 60 12 Field's Pear Culture, 1.00 13 Cole's American Fruit Book, 50 14 Cole's American Veterinarian, .. 50 15 Buist's Am. Flower Garden Di- rectory, 1-25 16 Buist's Family Kitchen Gar- dener, 17 Browne's Am. Bird Fancier, 18 Dana's Muck Manual, 19 Dana's Prize Essay on Manures,. 20 HioeKiiard ' Ch'al Field Lectures, 21 Norton's Scientific & I tact. At., 22 Johnston's Catechism of Agricul- tural Chemistry (for Schools,).. 23 Johnston's Elements of Agricul- tural Chemistry and Geology, .. 24 Johnston's Lectures on Agricultu- ral Chemistry and Geology, 25 Downing's Landscape Gardening. 3.50 26 Fessenden's Farmer & Gardener, 1.25 27 " Am. Kitchen Gardener, 50 28 Nash's Progressive Farmer, 60 29 Richardson's Domestic Fowls,.— 25 30 Richardson on the Horse, 25 31 Richardson on the Hog, 25 32 Richardson's Pests of the Farm,. 25 33 Richardson o\\ the Honey Bee, .. 25 34 The Cow and Dairy Husbandry,. 25 35 Skinner's Elements of Agri'lture, 25 36 Topham's Chemistry Made Easy, 25 37 Breck's Book of Flowers, 1.00 38 Leuchar's Hot Houses, 1.25 39 Chinese Sugar Cane and Sugar- Making 25 40 Turner's Cotton Planter's Manual 1.00 41 Allen on the Culture of the Grape, 1.00 42 Allen's Diseases of Dom. Animals, 75 43 Allen's American Farm Book,... 1.00 44 Allen's Rural Architecture, 1.25 45 Pardee on the Strawberry 60 46 Pedder's Farm'rs Land Measurer, 50 47 Phelps' Bee-Keeper's Chart, 25 48 Guenon's Treatise on Milch Cows — paper 38 cts.; cloth, 60 49 Domestic and Ornamental Poul- try, plain $1 •, colored plates, 2.00 75 50 1.00 25 1.00 60 25 1.00 1.25 50 Randall's Sheep Husbandry, 1.25 51 Youatt, Randall, and Skinner's Shepherd's Own Book, 2.00 52 Youatt on Sheep, 75 53 Youatt on the Horse, 1.26 54 Youatt &, Martin on Cattle, 1.25 55 Youatt & Martin on the Hog, 75 56 Barry's Fruit Garden, 1.25 57 Mauri's Practical Land Drainer, . 50 58 Stephen's Book of the Farm, 4.00 59 The American Architect, or Plans for Country Dwellings, 6.00 60 Thaer's Principles of Agriculture, 2.00 61 Smith's Landscape Gardening,... 1.25 62 Weeks on the Bee - paper 25c; cl., 50 63 Wilson on Cultivation of Flax,.. 25 64 Miner's Am. Bee-keeper's Manual 1.00 65 Quinby's Mysteries of Bee-Keep- ing, 1.00 66 Cottage and Farm Bee-Keeper,.. 50 67 Elliot's American Fruit-Grower's Guide, 1.25 68 The Am. Florist's Guide, 75 69 Hyde on the Chinese Sugar Cane, 25 70 Every Lady her own Flower Gar- dener— paper 16 cents ; ciotn, 00 71 The Rose Guitarist— paper 25c, cl. 50 72 History of Morgan Horses, 1.00 73 Moore's Rural Hand Books, 4 vols.,... 5.00 74 Rabbit Fancier— paper 25c ; cloth, 50 75 Reemeliu's Vinedresser's Manual, 50 76 Neill's Fruit, Flower, and Vegeta- ble Gardener's Companion,. ... 1.00 77 Browne's American Poultry Yard 1.00 78 Browne's Field Book of Manures, 1.25 79 Hooper's Dog and Gun, 60 80 Skillful Housewife— paper 25c,cl. 50 81 Chorlton's Grape Grower's Guide, 60 82 Sorgho and Imphee, Sugar Plants, 1.00 83 White's Gardening for the South, 1.25 84 Eastwood on the Cranberry, 50 85 Persoz on the Culture of the Vine, 25 86 Boussingault's Rural Economy,.. 1.25 87 Thompson's Food of Animals, .. 75 88 Richardson on Dogs— paper 25c, cloth 50 89 Liebig's Letters to Farmers, 50 90 Cobbett's American Gardener, -. 50 91 Waring' s Elements of Agricul- ture, 75 92 Blake's Farmer at Home, 1.25 9:5 Downing's Rural Essays 3.00 94 Darlington's Ag. Botany, 1.25 95 Flint on Grasses, 125 9() Fish Culture, 100 97 Thomas' Farm Implements 1.00 98 Herbert's Hints to House Keep- ers, 100 99 Warder's Hedges and Evergreens 1.00 t&c^=— ©c^= THE HORTICULTURIST, AND JOURNAL OF RURAL ART, EDITED BY J. JAT SMITH, IS PUBLISHED nvrOlNTTHLY, BY C. W. SAXTOM, 25 Park Row, New-York. TERMS. — One copy, one year, payable in advance, Two Dollars. The Edition with Colored Plates. — One copy, one year, payable in advance, Five Dollars. Single numbers, plain edition, 18 cents. Single numbers, colored edition, 42 cents. Specimen numbers mailed upon receipt of their price. The POSTAGE on the Horticultcrist is only 18 cents a year, if paid quarterly, in advance. Volumes commence with the January number, are indexed accordingly, and we send from that number, unless otherwise ordered, but subscriptions may commence with any number at the option of the subscriber. Address all subscriptions and business communications to C. M. SAXTON, Publisher, 25 Park Row, New-York. CHEAP CASH BOOK STOIiE. IS?" Any Book mailed, postage paid, upon receipt of its advertised price. .£31 C. 3Sd._ SAXTON, PUBLISHER AND BOOKSELLER, !N"o. 25 Park Row, (op' site the .A^stov House,) JNTe w-Yorfi. SEND FOR OUR CATALOGUES. AGENTS AND CANVASSERS WANTED, IN EVERY County in the Union, to sell some of the most popular Historical, Bio- graphical, and Miscellaneous Works ever published. For Catalogues and Circulars, giving full particulars of a business that can be made to pay $50 to sglOO per month, on a capital of a few dollars, address C. M. SAXTON, Publisher, 25 Park Row, New York. N. C. MILLER (late Miller, Orton & Co.,) may be found or addressed at No. 25 Park Row, as heretofore. ALBANY TILE WORKS, CORNER OF CLINTON AVENUE AND KNOX STREET, ALBANY, N. T. THE subscribers, being the most extensive manufacturers of Draining Tile in the United States, have on hand, in large or small quantities, for Land Draining, the following descriptions, warranted superior to any made in this country, hard burned, and over one foot in length. On orders for 5,000 or more, a discount will be made. SOLE TILE— PIECES. 2 inches rise, ;*12 per 1000. " 18 " " 40 " " """Hill 60 u " 80 ', " 125 " C. e furnished gratis <>n application. Orders must be accompanied with the Cash or a satisfactory reference. HOVEY «fc CO., No. 7 Mkkcuants' Row, Boston. ^ FLOWER SEEDS! FLOWER SEEDS!! OF SUPERIOR GiXJ^.IjIT^r_ JB. K. BLISS, Seedsman and Florist, SPRINGFIELD, MASS., WOULD respectfully invite the attention of those interested in the cultivation of Flowers, to his extensive and well selected assortment of the above, com- prising every desirable variety in cultivation, of both Foreign and Home growth. His new Descriptive Catalogue for 1859 will be published in January, and will con- tain all the novelties of the season, with many rare and choice seeds, and a total of upwards of Eight Hundred Varieties of Flower Seeds, Of each of which a complete description is given, by means of a tabular arrange- ment, admirably adapted for referential convenience, with explicit directions for their culture. He would invite particular attention to his choice collection of FRENCH AND GERMAN ASTERS, DOUBLE HOLLYHOCKS, CARNATION AND PICOTEE PINKS, DOUBLE BALSAMS, CALCEOLARIAS, CINERARIAS, ENGLISH PANSIES, GERMAN STOCKS, COCKSCOMBS, CHINESE PRIMROSE, $c, Received direct from the parties who grow the plants for the English and Continen- tal Exhibitions, by which he is enabled to insure to purchasers pure and genuine eeeds of the best sorts in cultivation, raised from prize flowers only. FLOWER SEEDS BY MAIL. For the accommodation of those who love the cultivation of Flowers, but who reside at a uistance from where they can be procured, he has selected from his large assortment of Flower Seeds, the most showy varieties, and those of easy culture, and put them up in assortments, which will be sent, postpaid, to any address in the Union, at the following prices : Assortment No. 1— consists of twenty choice varieties of Annuals, $1.00 No. 2 — consists of twenty choice varieties of Biennials and Peren- nials, 1.00 No. 3 — consists of ten extra fine varieties of Annuals and Peren- nials, embracing many of the new and choicest in culti- tion, 1.00 No. 4 — consists of five very choice varieties, selected from Prize Flowers of English Pansies, German, Carnation and Pic- otee Pinks, Verbenas, Trufi'aut's French Asters and Double Hollyhocks, each of which are sold for 25c. singly, 1.00 Persons in ordering will please give the number of the Assortment. Any person remitting Threb Dollars will receive the focr Assortments, postage free. The above assortments have been sent out for the past five years, and have had a thorough trial in every section of the country. Those who have given them a trial recommend them freely to their friends, and the most flattering testimonials of their good quality are daily received. The following additional assortments will be sent, free of postage, at the prioes annexed : Assortment No. 5— contains fifteen very select varieties of Green-House 8eeds, $3.00 No. 6— contains one hundred varieties of Annuals, Biennials and Perennials, including many new and choice varieties, 5.00 No. 7— contains fifty varieties of Annuals, Biennials and Peren- nials, 2.50 No. 8 — contains twenty varieties of hardy Annuals, Biennials and Perennials, for sowing in the ant n inn 1.00 The seeds contained in all of the assortments are of his selection. Purchasers who prefer to make their own selections from the Catalogue, will be entitled to a discount proportionate to the quantity ordered. All orders musl be accompanied with the cash. Remittances can be made by mail in current bank bills or postage stumps. N. B. Catalogues forwarded to any address in the Union on receipt of a three-cent i postage Btamp. Address B. K. BLISS, Si'uingfielh, Mass. ©c^=~ -^=>z ROCHESTER COMMERCIAL NURSERIES. THE stock of Trees and Plants now offered for sale by the subscribers, will be found unsurpassed by any in the market, either in the health and vigor or size and beauty of the tree, of the correctness of every variety to name. We spare no pains or expense in adding to our collection such new varieties as give promise of being valuable. Among the items which we cultivate in large quantities, are the following . STANDARD FRUIT TREES FOR ORCHARDS. APPLES, PEARS, CHERRIES, PEA CHES, PL UMS, APRIC O TS, NECTARINES, QUINCES, $c, Sfc. DWARF FRUIT TREES FOR GARDENS. APPLES, PEARS, CHERRIES. GRAPEVINES— All the hardy Native and Foreign sorts. SMALL FRUITS. CURRANTS, STRAWBERRIES, GOOSEBERRIES, RASPBERRIES, BLACKBERRIES, $c, $c. RHUBARB, ASPARAGUS, «fcc. 03E^aSTA>3VLEJMTJ^Iu JDEFA-^lTnS^CEISrT- DECIDU0U8 ORNAMENTAL TREES. EVERGREENS of all the best varieties. HARDY ORNAMENTAL SHRUBS. ROSES. HEDGE PLANTS. AMERICAN ARBORVIT^E, beautiful plants, low. stocks for irsrTj-RSER-x'iMiEKr- Including a full supply of ANGERS and FONTENAY QUINCE STOCKS. THE HOOKER STRAWBERRY Originated on our grounds, and can now be furnished in large quantities at low rates. The experience of several years has proved this to be, all Uiings considered, far the best known variety. The flowers are perfect. The fruit is very large and beautiful, and quite superior in quality to any other productive sort. The plant is very vigo- rous, hardy, and extremely productive, thus combining more excellences than any other variety. It is an assortment in itself, and indispensable to all good gardens. II. E. HOOKER &. CO., Rochester, N. Y. REBECCA GRAPEVINES, FOR SALE AT REDUCED PRICES. TWO-YEAR-OLD VINES, strong plants, $20.00 per dozen— $150 per 100. One-year-old vines, strong plants. 12.00 " 80 " DIANA— 2 year-old vines, strong plants, $9.00 per dozen. " 1-year-old vines, strong plants, 6 00 " CONCORD— 2-year-old vines, strong plants, $9.00 per dozen. " 1-year-old vines, strong plants, 6.00 " DELAWARE— 1-year-old vines, good plants, $3.00 each. ISABELLA— 3-year-old vines, $18.00 per 100. " 2-year-old vines, 12.00 " CATAWBA— 3-year old vines, $18.00 per 100. " 2-year-old vines, 12.00 " STRAWBERRY FT-.-A.3STTS, Of tne most approved varieties, including Prince's Imperial, Scarlet, Primate, Mag- nate, (the largest of all) ; also Wilson's Albany — price $2.00 per 100. LINNyEUS RHUBARB, per Dozen, $2.00— per Hundred, $10.00. Also a general assortment of Fruit Trees, Evergreens, $c. I beg leave to call the attention of those wishing to purchase Rebecca Grapevines, as I have the largest 6tock and the strongest vines of any one. > Kg" Terms positively Cash WILLIAM BROCKSB INK, / Prospect Hill Nukseky, Hudson, Columbia Co., N. Y. ( : «^=>® FRUIT AND ORNAMENTAL TREES. EMAV ANGER &, BARRY solicit the attention of Planters, Nurserymen, and Dealers in Trees to their present stock, which has never heen equalled in extent, nor surpassed in vigor, health, and beauty of growth, culture, the utmost care has been taken to insure accuracy. In its propagation and feuit t e, e e s_ Apples on free stock for orchards, 2 to 4 yrs. from bud and graft — do. on Paradise and Doucain stock for gardens, 2 to 3 years. Pears on Pear stock, 2 to 3 yrs. from bud — do. on Quince stock, 2 yrs. from bud — do. on Quince stock, 3 to 4 yrs., with fruit buds. Cherries on Mazzard stocks, 2 yrs. fr'm bud — do. on Mahaleb stocks, 2 yrs. f m bud. Quinces — Orange, Portugal, and Ilea's Seedling, a superb new variety. English Filberts — Spanish Chestnuts. Grapes — Hardy, all the most valuable new and old sorts — do., Foreign, for cul- ture under glass, strong well-ripened plants in pots, of all the best varieties. fc Strawberries — all the best sorts in cultivation, new and old, at the lowest rates. Blackberries — New-Rochelle, or Lawton, and Dorchester, (the largest stock in existence.) Raspberries — a general collection, including those fine new ever-bearing sorts, " Belle de F^ontenay" and " Merveille de quatre Saisons." Goosrberries — the best English sorts, and an immense stock of the American Seedling that bears most profusely and never mildews. Currants — White Grape, Cherry, Victoria, Black Naples, and many other old and new sorts. Rhubarb — including Linnaeus, Prince Albert, Giant, Victoria, and many others. OH3SrA.3^CE^TTA.X. T E, E E S_ The stock is immense, covering 90 acres of land closely planted, all well grown and in perfect health and vigor. Nurserymen, Dealers, Landscape Gardeners, &c, will be supplied on terms that cannot fail to please, as the stock must be reduced. Deciduous Trees — Elms, Maples, Cypress, Catalpas, Horse Chestnuts, Larch, Laburnums, Lindens, Magnolias, Mountain Ash, Tulip Trees, Salisburia, Pop- laiv. Thorns, &c, &c, of all sizes. Weeping Trees — Ash, Birch, Elm, Linden, Mountain Ash, Poplar, Thorn, Willow, including the American and Kilmarnock. Evergreen Trees — Arbor Vita?, (American, Siberian and Chinese,) Red Cedar, Common Juniper, Balsam Fir, European Silver Fir, Norway Spruce, Red American Spruce, African or Silver Cedar, Japan Cedar (Cryptomeria.) Pines, (Austrian, Scotch, Benthomiana, &c.,) Yew (English and Irish,) Tree Box, Mahonia, Washington, or " Big Tree" of California, and many other California Evergreens. Flowering Shrfbs — including all the finest new varieties of Althea, Calyean- thus, Flowering Currant, Deutzia, Loniceras, Lilacs, Spiraea, Syringas, Vibur- nums, Wiegelas, &c, &c. Climbing Shribs — such as Honeysuckles, Bignonias, Aristolochia (Pipe vine,) Clematis, Ivy. &c. Rosks, Paeonies, 'Dahlias, Phloxes, and other hardy border perennial plants. BULBOUS AND TUBEROUS BOOTS, viz .—Hyacinths, Tulips, Crocus, Nar- cissus, Dahlias, Pteonies, &.c, &c. STOCKS FOR aSTTJ-ESEETriULElSr. Pear Seedlings. 2 years. (1 year transplanted, fine,) — do. do. 1 year from seed bed. Mazzard Cherry, i year, very -trong. Mahaleb Ciierrv, 2 years, (1 year transplanted, fine,) — do. do. 1 yr. from seedbed. Quince Stocks, Angers and Fontenay, 1 year from cuttings. Manetti Rose stocks— Comewell Willow for the Weeping sorts. All who are interested are respectfully invited to examine the stock and prices- The following Catalogues are sent gratis prepaid, to all who apply and enclose one stamp for each : No. I. Descriptive Catalogue of Fruits— No. 2. Descriptive Catalogue of Ornamen- tal Trees, fee.— No. 3. Descriptive Catalogue of Green-House and Bedding-Out plants —No. 4. Wholesale or Trade List. ^ ELLWANGER &- BARRY, ! Mount Hope Nurseries, Rochester, N. Y. M^=- i ©c^— THOMAS & HERENDEEN'S NURSERIES. THOMAS &• HERENDEEN (formerly J. J. Thomas,) offer for sale at their nurseries at Macedon, Wayne Co., N. Y., a very extensive collection of APPLES— consisting of about fort}' of the finest select varieties ; PEACHES — affording a succession of the best sorts for two months ; CHERRIES — comprising all the well-proved and valuable new kinds ; PEARS — Dwarfs and Standards, the best chosen varieties ; PLUMS — containing a full list of approved sorts ; besides an ample supply of Raspberries, Gooseberries, Currants, Strawberries, and the smaller fruits generally. Their trees are not only of vigorous, handsome, and healthy growth, but are propa- gated with great care to insure accuracy, and exclusively of such sorts as have been amply proved by fruiting— their list of Apples alone being selected from specimen orchards of several hundred varieties in bearing. Their Ornamental Department contains the best ^ HARDY IMPORTED AND AMERICAN EVERGRENS, Ornamental Trees, Shrubs, and Herbaceous Flowering Plants, &c. All orders must be addressed to Thomas Sf Herendeen, Macedon, Wayne Co., N. Y.; or if for Standarh Pears, to J. J. Thomas, Union Springs, Cayuga Co., N. Y., will meet with careful and prompt attention, and packing will be performed in the most secure manner for safe conveyance to any part of the continent. In all cases where desired, selections will be made with scrupulous care by the proprietors. DETROIT, MIOHIGrAN. WJI. ADAIR (as above,) keeps constantly on hand a general assortment of the best and most popular varieties of Fruit and Ornamental Trees, Flowering Sfirubs, Roses, Hardy and Green-House Plants. CONCORD, REBECCA, DIANA AND DELAWARE GRAPEVINES. The first three can be supplied by the Dozen or Hundred. RASPBERRIES, BLACKBERRIES, AND STRAWBERRIES, Including Brinckle's Orange, Allen's, New-Rochelle, Wilson's Albany, Hooker, Pea- body's. <$"c. Particular attention is invited to the large and well-grown stock of Pear Trees, (both Standard and Dwarf,) Hardy Evergreen Trees, Roses, Dahlias and Verbenas. Address WILLIAM ADAIR, Detroit, Mich. OLD ROCHESTER NURSERIES, ROCHESTER, N. Y. SMOUIiSON offers for sale an extensive collection of Fruit and Ornamental • Trees, embracing Apples, Standard and Dwarf , Pears, Standard and Dwarf; Cherries, Standard and Dwarf; Peaches, Plums, Grapes (Native and Foreign,) Cur- rants, Gooseberries, Strawberries, Raspberries, Chestnuts, Walnuts, and Filberts ; and in the Ornamental Department will be found Evergreen Trees of American growth, from the seed ; Roses in many varieties, of the hardy classes ; Flowering Shrubs and Bulbs ; Hedge Plants ; also Stocks for Nurserymen. Catalogues of varieties, with prices affixed, can be obtained by all applicants who forward a stamp for prepayment. NEW VERBENAS, HOLLYHf CKS, DAHLIAS, CARNATIONS, PICOTEES, PINKS, PETUNIAS, &c. THE subscriber is happy to inform his friends and patrons that he has received from England "luring the past season, a large addition to his assortment of the above — embracing all the newest and best varieties in cultivation, which will be offered for sale in April. A new Descriptive Catalogue will be published the first of April, and forwarded to all applicants on receipt of a postage stamp. Address B. K. BLISS, Sprinrfiklp, Mass. &C^=~ r SHRUBS, FRUIT AND ORNAMENTAL TREES, ROSES, VINES, AND EXOTIC PLANTS. PARSONS &- CO., Flushing, near New-York, invite attention to their fine 6tock of Hardy and Exotic Trees and Plants, constantly enriched by their collectors in America, and by importations from abroad. Their Exotic Department, occupying a number of houses, is full of rare and val- uable Plants, and is -worthy the inspection of visitors. The varieties of Exotic Grapes are kept genuine by constant propagation from fruit-bearing vines, to which two houses are devoted. Their Rose Department contains a large assortment of all the finest varieties, and the best Standard sorts are cultivated in very large quantities, and sold at reduced rates for massing and dealers. They do not bud their Roses, and cannot therefore Bell them to compete with those who have adopted that mode of cultivation. No stock upon wnich to bud has yet been found, that will not sucker up and destroy the variety worked upon it. In the Open Ground Department, they offer a large stock of well-grown and thrifty Fruit Trees, *uitable either for the Amateur or the Dealer, including the finest kinds of Standard and Dwarf Pears, Cherries, Plums, Peaches, Apples, ijfc. These are now offered at reduced prices. In the Hardy Ornamental Department will be found a large quantity and variety of Deciduous and Evergreen Trees and Shrubs, for the Avenue, Lawn, or Garden. Of these some fine varieties are cultivated in very large quantities, and sold at a great reduction from the usual rates. Among them are Spiraeas, Lilacs, Forsythias, Weigeleas, Stuartias, Andromedas, Pyrus japonica, Norway Spruce, Deciduous Cy- press, Larch, Ash, Maple, Beech, Linden, and others. They have made *he Rhododendron a speciality, and have cultivated it in such large quantities that they can otter it at greatly reduced rates. The beauty and rich- ness of* the foliage and flowers of this valuable shrub cannot be too highly appreciated. A new feature of their establishment is the extensive propagation of the Rare Evergreens, the cost of importing which has hitherto placed them beyond the reach of any but the wealthy. They can thus offer at moderate rates, the fine sorts, as Podocarpus, Retinospcrnum, Cephalotaxus, Thujiopsis, Taxus erecta, and others. For Hedges, they would call attention to the Siberian Arbor Vitre, which is far more valuable than the American, in that it bears transplanting well, is very close and compact in its habit, requires no trimming, and is not aflected by the coldest winter. A general or trade Catalogue will be sent on application. Careful attention is given to packing and forwarding. DUTCH BULBOUS ROOTS "FOUR, FAJZaTa FTaJ^JSTTTlXa: THE subscriber will receive early in September, a large and well-selected assort- ment of the above direct from Holland, consisting of the finest varieties of DOUBLE AND SINGLE HYACINTHS, TULIPS, POLYANTHUS NARCISSUS, CROWN IMPERIALS, JONQUILS, SNOWDROPS, CROCUS, $c, tfc, Catalogues of which will be sent to all applicants enclosing a stamp. For the conve- nience of those who desire a fine collection, but are unacquainted with the varieties, he has put them up in Collections as follows, with full directions for culture : Collection IINTo. 1— "Price &10— Contains 20 DOUBLE and SINGLE HYACINTHS, (all named flowers,) suitable for Parlor culture in pots or classes, or for the Flower Border. 20 DOUBLE and SINGLE HYACINTHS, for the Flower Border only. 20 EARLY TULIPS, for Pot culture or open Border. 20 LATE TULIPS, for the Border only. 6 POLYANTHUS NARCISSUS, fur Pot culture or Border. 6DOUBUK ROMAN NARCISSUS, very fragrant. 12 DOUBLE JONQUIL8 100 FINEST MIX HI) CROCUS. 2 strong plants of the new and splendid Chinese Plant, DIELYTRA SPECTA- BILI8 4 PEONIES, distinct varieties, and very fine. Collection lS"o. £— Price ^o— Contains One-half of each of the above-named varieties, with the exception of the D'telytra and Peonies. All orders must be accompanied with cash or a satisfactory reference. Address B. K. BLISS, Springfield, Mass. i -^3© ALBANY NURSERY. JOHN WIIiSON, of the Albany Nursery, would call the attention of all those intending to purchase Trees, Plants, &c, to his stock of FRUIT AND ORNAMENTAL TREES, Shrubs, Roses, Grapevines, Currants, Gooseberries, Raspberries and other hardy Slants ; and also of Greenhouse Plants, of which he has a great assortment ; and to is stock of Bedding-out Plants, suitable for spring planting, embracing Verbenas of the newest and most showy varieties ; Dahlias, a great and superb collection ; Pansies, Daisies, Geraniums, Petunias, Heliotropes, Fuchsias, for sale as above. R. T. UNDERHILL, M.D. ! ®e^=~ •^Pk w TO FR.TJ I T-G R O W E R S. THE subscriber offers for sale 45,000 TEAR TREES, (a part on the Quince Stock.) embracing all the varieties worthy of general cultivation , also APPLE, CHER- RY, PEACH, and other Fruit Trees. GRAPEVINES— Rebecca, Delaware, Union Village, and all the other "best" kinds. CURRANTS, GOOSEBERRIES and RASPBERRIES in great variety. EVERGREENS and other Ornamental Trees, Shrubs, Roses, Buckthorns, Rhu- barb, Herbaceous Plants, Tulips, &c. STRAWBERRIES— Carolina Superba, Rival Queen, Admiral Dundas, Adair, Incomparable, Magnum Bonum, and other new varieties — price $1.50 per dozen. Walker's Seedling, Longworth's Prolific, Hovey's .Seedling, and other well-known varieties, from $1 to $2 per 100. SAMUEL WALKER, RoXBURY, MA8fl. ELIZABETHTOWN NURSERY, N. J. M. REID offers for sale a very complete and general assortment of NURSE- RY STOCK, consisting of FRUIT AND ORNAMENTAL TREES, EVERGREENS, HEDGE PLANTS, SHRUBS, ROSES, Sfc. The collection of Fruit Trees have made a fine growth this season, and are generally of good fair size Especial attention having been given for a number of years to Fruit Culture, the collection at present is allowed to be one of the best in cultivation. The Ornamental Department contains nearly everything that is hardy and suitable for out-door cultivation. Also a fine assortment of the rarer aud new Evergreens, consisting of Irish, Swedish, Common and Pyramidal Junipers These can be fur- nished by the quantity to Dealers and others," from one to four feet. Also fine plants of the Creeping and Spreading Juniper, such as Savin Tamariscifolia repens, Cana- densis, prostrata, &c. Irish aud English Yews, Cypresses, Lambertiana macrocarpa, etricta and funebris ericoides, &c, Washingtonia gigantea, Thuja aurea decurrens, Gigantea, &c, Pinus Excelsa, Siberian Deodar, Silver and Lebanon Cedars, Himalaya Spruce, with many others that are jet rare and new. Also a tine 6tock of Norway Spruce, Silver Fir, White, Scotch and Austrian Pines of all the various 6izes, which will be sold at reasonable prices to Dealers. Catalogues, with prices, will be for- warded on application. Orders, by mail, or left at the Nursery, will be promptly executed and forwarded as directed. THE VALLEY FARMER, DEVOTED TO WESTERN AGRICULTURE, HORTICULTURE, STOCK RAISING, & c. THIS Journal was established at St. Louis, Mo., on the First of January, 1848, and will enter its Eleventh Year and Volume on the First of January, 1S59. It is edited by Norman J. Colman and H. P. Bvkam, and published monthly in large Octavo form, each number containing Thirty-two pages of matter exclusive of Advertisements. It has become an almost indispensable companion to the Western Farmer, Fruit Grower, and Stock Raiser. Farmers at the East, who think of removing to the West, or who desire to obtain reliable information of the Agricultural Resources of the West, of the System of Farming pursued, of the Climate, Soil, Stock, Fruit, &c, &c, will find the Valley Farmer just the journal they should patronize. It is published at the low price of One Dollar per Year. Money may be mailed at the risk of the Publisher. TO ADVERTISERS.- The Valley Farmer is one of the best mediums afforded to Advertisers in the Great West. It is the only Agricultural Journal published in the heart of the Mississippi Valley, and having been established for ten years past, it has an immense circulation in the Stales of Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee and Arkansas. Nurserymen, Dealers in Seeds, Agricultural Im- plements and Machines, and Manufacturers of Implements and Machines, will find this the best medium for Advertising afforded. Specimen Numbers sent free to all applicants. All letters to be addressed to NORMAN J. COLMAN, Publisher of tlie Valley Farmer, St. Louis, Mo. k=^> ©c^=- Grloanring Nursery, Clarksville, Georgia. THIS Nursery is composed principally of Southern varieties of Fruit, which have been collected by the subscriber, and and in most instances worked direct from the original trees. Catalogues sent gratis on application. J. VAN BUREN. Fruitland Nursery, Augusta, Georgia. THE leading object of this Nursery is the propagation of Fruit and Orna- mental Trees and Plants, especially adapted to our Southern climate ; and the collection of Native Seedling Fruits of the South, is believed to be inferior to that of no other establishment. All arti- cles warranted true to name. BeF" For Priced Catalogues (which are mailed./re'? to all applicants,) address P. J. BERCKM AIVS & CO., Augusta, Ga. BelvicLere Nursery. N. ~ =^fog j G-eorge D. Kimber, Flushing, L. I., axrcriR, serym j±it year, and this year intends using two of his sons in his own ll .ck. k J. C. TAYLOR, Holmdel, Monmouth Co., N. J. [Pomona G-arden AND NURSE R Y. AG E N E R A L assortment of Fruit and Ornamental Trees, Vines and Plants, embracing the choicest varieties of Strawberries, Raspberries, Blackberries, and Rhubarb Plants, are extensively cul- tivated for market, affording an opportu- nity of ascertaining the most profitable kinds for Field Crops. This year my Raspberries brongbt 75 cents per quart — Strawberries 02 cents; and Blackberries £lo per bushel in Phila- delphia market. Descriptive Catalogues furnished gratis. WILLIAM PARRY, ClNNAVINSON, N. 3. Alfred M. Treclwell, Madison, Morris Co.. N. J , IMPORTER, Breeder, and Dealer in Thorough-bred North Devon and Ayrshire Cattle- Distant from New- York City, Two Hours per Morris and Essex Railroad. Address at No. 251 Pearl Street, Xeic- York City. Inventors, Look to your Interests ! ! How to get a IPatent, Or the Inventor's Instructor. NEW EDITION. Now Ready. Price only 6 cents. Send two three-cent stamps for a copy, to FOWLER & WELLS, 308 Broadway, New-York. A. Longett, No. 34 Cliff Street, Nkw-York, DEALER in Agricultural Implements. Peruvian Guano, Superphosphate of Lime, Wool and Blood Manure, Elide Island and Mexican Guano. D. S. Hefiron, of Utica, N. Y., CAN spare a few pairs of Dark Gray Dorking, pure White-faced Black .Spanish, true Earl Derby Game, with white legs and feet, and Golden Laced Sebright Bantam Fowls ; also, of Ayles- bury and Rouen Ducks. How to Do G-ood, And Get " Paid for it." TAKE an Agency for our Publications. The terms are such, there can be no possibility of loss. Every Family will be glad to obtain some of them. For par- ticulars, address FOWLER & WELLS, 308 BKOADOAY, NKW-Yr0RK. ®c^= <=^=>\ ^Cu^ue-'q^i t'.sf. EMERY BROTHERS, PROPRIETORS OF THE ALBANY AGRICULTURAL WORKS, ALBANY, N. Y. —++- THE subscribers having devoted more time and money in the perfecting and intro- ducing of Agricultural Machinery, especially in the class of Hcrse Powers and various Machines to be propelled thereby, than any other House in this country, take pleasure in again assuring their patrons and the public generally, that their Machines were never before as complete and perfect as now made, and are unequalled in work- manship, utility, symmetry and perfection in their mechanical proportions and ease of operation. Their POWERS are Adjustable, and Changeable Right and Left handed, 6imply by removing the Nuts on the ends of the Shafts, and transposing the Geers and Pul- lies. A great variety of Velocities and Forces are also attained for propelling the great variety of Machines and operations of the Farmer and Mechanic. Their THRESHERS and VIBRATING SEPARATORS are very perfect in every part — the Cylinders being balanced under a velocity double threshing speed, which insures safety and perfection of running the same. Their THRESHERS and CLEANERS are warranted to do as good work as any in use in this country, large or small, and to run as light and do as much work with the same force, and ease of men and team, as with the Vibrating Separator only. All Machines rcarranted, and offered at same prices as those of similar construction — while their cost of construction and intrinsic value are from 10 to 20 per cent, greater to the manufacturer and purchaser. Address EMERY BROTHERS, 52 8tate Street, Albany, N. Y. HL,H.TJl^CI3Sr^VTE3D CATALOQ-UE. The Proprietors of the ALBANY AGRICULTURAL WORKS have just com- pleted their new Catalogue, the most complete and beautifully illustrated work ever published by any manufacturer. As a work of art it deserves a place in every library. It contains nearly 30 pages new engravings. On receipt of six cents in stamps to prepay postage, it will be sent to all applicants, m B3T" Local Agencies solicited for the sale of the above Machines. 3 retausM se- GRAND, PARLO R-G RAND AND SQUARE PIANO FORTES. THE reputation our PIANO FORTES have acquired for being superior to any made in the United States, we are determined to maintain — using so many new and important improvements, giving great fullness and sweetness of tone, with clear- ness, and a remarkably full, brilliant, musical treble. ACTION" of the moat perfect kind, with our own patent improvements, combining lightness of touch and elasticity, with great power. Our patent Corrugated Sounding Board, Has been pronounced the great improvement of the age in Piano Fortes, and has proved itself deserving of the name — gaining greatly increased vibrating surface and fullness of tone, and never checking, splitting, or warping out of place, even iu the most changeable climates. THE CASES are made for solidity and strength, combined with beauty of outline, (and to take tip the least possible amount of room,) which, together with SXJSFElSriDEID MASSIVE IIRCHS! FRAMES, Make them very durable. 0"u** IPianos are Celebrated, and Remarkable for keeping in Tune and. Order for a great length of Time. They have been awarded at different State, Institute, and other Fairs, SEVENTEEN FIRST PREMIUMS, GOLD AND SILVER MEDALS, DIPLOMAS, Etc. With a full determination to make or sell no Piano Fortes but such as will prove good, PERFECT SATISFACTION TO EVERY PURCHASER WILL BE GIVEN OR MONEY AND EXPENSES REFUNDED. Persons on application will be furnished with Illustrated Price Lists, Circulars, &c, containing every information. KF* Piano Fortes with or without the Dolce Campana Attachment, jgg ^ Wm. G. Boardman. ) „_ . „ _,__ . mT _,_ __ „ _ ^ James A. Gray, i BOARDMAN, GRAY &, Co., J Siberia Ott. ) Albany, N. Y. 2c^= NEW-YORK STATE AGRICULTURAL WORKS, *■ ALBANY. WHEELER, MELICK