1873.] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST, 
437 
Aunt Sue's Prize Matter. 
(Continued from page 438.) 
Over 200 have been given by MelvinaA. S., Shannon 
W. P., M. D. C, and F. K. Benson. 
Between 100 and 200 by Fred Wilson, Howard B., Syl. 
Seely, J. I. K., B. W. F., S. J. D., and M. E. L. 
Between 60 and 100 by Frank P. L., Addie B., Morgan 
S.. J. N. Gets, M. D.Walton, Fayetteville (no signature), 
E. E. W., F. P. S., J. P.L., L. Mc F., Alfred W., C. M. 
W., Millie Mead, Addie A., May S., Sadie A. R., E. L. 
Ernest, H. H. B., F. P. D„ L. n. L., A. T„ C. S. D., 
C. H. T., L. F. B„ L. A. B., M. A. M., H. A. A., H. S. B., 
E. A. C, a. H. W., L. J. K., and E. T. 
Between 20 and 50.— Carrie K., Nettie M., A. E. C, 
W. H. F., D. L.W., M.T.B, W. R. F., H. B., Anna 
B.C., H. E. J., O. F. R., A. C. W., Jr., 1. V., A. W., 
Belle B., T. A. C, F. n., W. C, E. M., M. E. F., 
L. A. T., C. A. M., J. P. D., E. S. C, L. A. W., F. E. H., \ 
Josie E., M. L. O., Frank P., D. H. R., JesseT. B, I 
C. C, E. II. L., F. L. S., J. W. IT., J. A. P., Ida G., I 
M. M. M., J. L. C, E. C. M„ C. C. T., and C. R. C. 
20 or under. -H M L., A. K. S., I. G. N., M. C. T,, 
L. N., Miss S., R. E. W., E. H. P., A. T. C, H. M. H., 
L. B. F., Hudson G., H. S., B. F. B., G. T. McC, A. Y , 
M. Y., E. N. P., H. F. B., and A. L. C. 
The industrious but unfortunate ones who selected 
Ranges ('* Mexican Cordilleras," " Macgillycuddy's 
Reeks,' 1 "Sierra Nevada," "Cumberland Mts.," etc.), 
and who have given between 150 and 200 rivers, are 
Arthur H. T., G. Franklin, A. L. Jackman, and W. H. N. 
Between 100 and 150.— Emmeline O. De F., Clara J.W., 
J. J. Potter, E. H. S., Mrs. A. F. S., Sarah A. W., and 
Morton B. 
Between 50 and 100.— Mabel L., L. A. D., H. C. D , 
M. A. McC, W. F. C, F. W. C. C, A. M., C. L. N, 
Tac-ie P., M. C, W. B , D. L. F., G. P. F., A. M. B., 
T. H., A. W., Bertha Elliott (very neatly written list), 
and Onssie H. T. 
50 or less by D. F , n. A., A. R. G., E. E. H., C. M.W., 
D. R, I.S., C.U.S., C. E. L., J. E. F., M.O., Mrs.I.H., 
F. L. S., H. A. C, C. E. C, F. O. B., IT. M. Y., K. M. E., 
A. C. G., I. N. H., A. M., n. n. N., E. H. P., H. D., 
A. M. R., and F. Y. S. 
Paving- SlaWcii.-"G. E. H.," Iugersoll, 
Ontario. The method of paving a barn-yard or stable 
with cobble-stones was described in the Agriculturist 
for November, 1871. 
Damp Cellar.— "J. H. M.," Decorali, 
Iowa. A damp cellar should be underdrained. A draiu 
cut two feet below the wall and communicating with an- 
other drain to cany off the water collected will render it 
dry. Sometimes the surface water or the drop from the 
roof of the house is the cause of the dampness. In such 
a case proper spouts should be fixed to the house, and a 
drain made to carry off all the water away from the 
building. 
Soft Eggs.—" G. W. A.," Cuillicofhe, Ohio. 
Imperfect eggs or eggs without shells or any kind of eggs 
abnormally shaped are due to an irregular condition of 
the oviduct. This passage is sometimes inflamed in 
pasts, when the functions of the inflamed portions are 
suspended. Thus the secretion of the shell or the inner 
membrane or even the white albuminous part of the egg 
may be prevented, or by want of proper action there 
may be a premature secretion by which eggs with- 
out yolks or two missliupen eggs attached together may 
be produced. Very often this is due to over exertion or 
Chasing about of heavy bodied fowls, or by injury from 
jumping from high roosts. The remedy lies in remov- 
ing the causes; one grain of calomel and one twelfth 
of a grain of tartar emetic in bread pills, and providing 
plenty of bone-meal or pounded oyster shells has also 
been recommended as a remedy for these troubles. 
Paris-CJreen on Trees.— "M. W. G.," 
La Salle, IH., writes that observing that a favorite walnut- 
tree was being stripped of its leaves by " worms." he 
syringed the foliage with water in which Paris-green 
had been mixed, and every caterpillar disappeared. He 
thinks that the same treatment would rid fruit trees of 
all insects, including the ©odling-moth. So far as the 
Codling-moth goes we doubt its utility, as the moth only 
visits the tree to deposit her eggs in the blossom end of 
the young fruit. 
As to Sorghum.— " VT. T. 8.," Onchita Co., 
Ark., asks: 1st. What is the valne of sorghum seed as 
feed for fowls as compared with corn at $1 per bushel ? 
3d. Is the fodder of sorghum that is stripped from the 
Btalks when well cured as good feed for horses as corn- 
fodder? 3d. Are the frost-bitten suckers tliat shoot up 
from Ihe bulta of cane-stalks after they have been cut in- 
jurious to cattle when eaten? Replies: 1st. We cannot 
say ; our fowls could never be induced to eat sorghum 
seed. We shall be glad to hear from those who know 
about it. 3d. Yes. 3d. Not absolutely injurious, but in- 
nutritions. 
Wolf Teeth.— " O S. N." It is not gener- 
ally credited that wolf teeth injure the eyes of a colt. If 
the colt's eyes are suffering you may give it the benefit of 
the doubt and draw the teeth with forceps. They are 
easily drawn, and it can do no harm in any way. 
Wlicre is* the Advantage?--" W. C. 
C," Lindale, O. If a full-lilouded merino ram can be 
procured for §15, the profit of his use with fifteen com- 
mon ewes would be found in the increased value of the 
fleeces of his progeny. If the value of native wool be ?0 
cents a pound, that of half-hrcd grade merinos will bring 
40 cents, and three-quarter bra J fleeces will run up to 40 
to 50 cents. Besides, the weight of the fleeces increases 
from 2;i pounds in the common native up to 4J4 or 5 
pounds in the high-bred grades. If this inrprovcnieut 
can be procured for so email an investment as the differ- 
ence in price between a native and full-blood ram costing 
only $15, there is no question about the advantage. 
Mow to Keep Milk Sweet.— "C.W.," 
Milfortl, Pa. We know of but one way to keep milk from 
souring during the hot weather, and that is to keep it in 
a cool, well ventilated cellar or milkhouse, or in pans set 
in s stream of cool water. Anything added to the milk 
to prevent sonringwill spoil the flavor. 
Sugar from BoetB. — " Subscriber." 
Beets contain a great variety of others matters besides 
sugar, from which the sugar is separated only with dim- 
cully. ^It is therefore impossible to make beet sugar suc- 
cessfully without costly machine:;: a::d chemical pro- 
cesses of defecation and refining. 
Slrawherries Under CJSass.— C. Hei- 
rick. Strawberries may be forwarded by two or three 
weeks in a cold frame. The soil should be rich, and the 
earliest rooted plauts put out, and the runners kept cut 
off. When cold weather comes ou, and the ground has 
frozen, cover the plauts with leaves or salt hay, and put 
over sashes or shutters to keep the rain out. In Febru- 
ary the leaves or other litter are removed, the sa;bes put 
on, and the plants started into growth. Care must be 
taken in airing and covering at night as with other 
plants under glass. Any good, perfect variety may be 
psed. Triompbe de Gand, Trollope's Victoria, Presi- 
dent Wilder, and many others force well. 
Conn-meal or Brats for Milch 
Cows.— "M. H. B.," Winnebago, III'., writes: "I have 
sold my oats at 27 cents per bushel, intending to buy 
brau at $10 per ton, or middlings at $11 per ton. Corn is 
worth 30 cents a bushel of 60 pounds, or $10 per ton. 
One of my neighbors thinks I had belter feed corn-meal 
|loi!C I have bceu of opinion that, to produce milk to 
tnake butter, a mixture of corn-meal and bran would be 
better than corn-meal alone. What is your opinion ! "— 
If you have abundance of good grass that costs little or 
nothing, we woull feed corn-meal alone. Corn-meal, 
weight for weight, is far more nutritions than bran. 
Bran is a good substitute for hay or grass, and in the win- 
ter, if bran costs no more per ton than bay, we shoutd 
much prefer to feed a mixture of bran and corn-meal 
than corn-meal alone. 
I Concrete Houses.— "C. Hamlin," In- 
dianapolis. Atwood's Country Homes, price $1.50, con- 
tains all that is necessary to know about using concrete. 
The cost of such a house is about half that of brick. 
To Be*troj- Eice.— " J. F. B," Montgom- 
ery Co., Pa. Lice cf all kinds may be destroyed by the 
application of lard or sweet-oil in which carbolic acid 
has been mixed at the rate of one part of acid to one 
hundred of oil or lard. For poultry, the mixture shosld 
be rubbed beneath the wings and on the top of the head, 
except in the case of sitting hens, which should never 
have grease of any kind applied to them, lest the eggs 
be injuriously affected. 
Estimating Bushels and Oallons. 
— "H. C. Y. W.," Maryville, Tenn., sends the following 
ruie for estimating corn in the crib -viz. : Multiply 
height and width of c»ib (when the sides are straight) by 
half the length, which gives the number of bushels of 
Bhelled corn. This is on the basis of taking two cubic 
feet, equal to 3,456 cubic inches of ears of corn, for a 
shelled bushel, and is approximately correct lor "Western 
or Southern corn with laoge ears. The contents of a 
cistern are found by finding the number of cubic (feet 
contained, and multiplying the amount by 7VS, which 
gives the number of gallons very nearly. 
Stuffing Birds and Animals. — 
"A. G. N." "Maynard'a Naturalist's Guide" is the 
best work oh the subject. It is not practicable to treat 
the matter with sufficient detail in the paper. Price of 
the work $2. 
•:."» 
Cncnmher Fichles.— "U. C," Earls- 
ville, O. We believe that all the bright green pickles are, 
cooked or soaked in brass or copper vessels. It is said 
that if the salted cucumbers are soaked with grape-leaves 
they will be gr-c:i— but we have not tried it. 
Chowcliow.— "Shelter Island." The com- 
position of the English preparation is a secret with the' 
makers, and we have never seen any successful attempts 
at imitating it. 
Curious Egg. — J. N. Walker, Haskins Co., 
Tenn., sends us n sketch of a curiously-shaped egg laid by 
one of his bens. It was rather a double egg, consisting 
of two perfect eggs, excepting that they were soft ones, 
or without shells, each containing a yolk, and the two 
were connected by a-cylindrical sac % of an inch long 
and % of an Inch in diameter, the contents of which 
were not connected with those of the eggs. 
Fine Tomatoes. — Altogeiher the finest 
and largest tomatoes we have seen this year came from 
Forestdale, the residence of W. T. Blodgett, Esq., Bran- 
don. Vt., and reflect much credit upon his gardener, Mr. 
\1>. Longnor. They appear to be Trophies. 
Hens or Bucks.—" G. W. H.," Cranford, 
N. J. There is no variety of duck that is more prolific in 
eggs than the common or so called "native." The 
Aylesbury and the Rouen ducks are of heavier weight. Wo 
have known a common duck to lay an egg daily for -70 
days without intermitting a single day ; yet, while this is 
more than any hen ever did with us in the same time, 
we would not change our hens for ducks as egg-' ■ 
producers. 
Puerperal or Mil U Fever.-- " L. H," 
Tilden. The symptoms of puerperal fev:r are easily con- 
founded with those of the more common nervous debility ■ 
after calving, or the more fatal parturient apoplexy 
which is not at all uncommon amongst highly fed and 
well kept cows. They are at first a hardly noticeable in- 
crease in temperature of the extremities, the horns sud- ' 
denly changing from hot to cold, and an increased pulse, 
which occur within twelve hours after the birth of the 
calf. Restlessness follows and the cow changes place 
often, then she is unable to get up and after rising on to 
her ktnees rolls over on to one side or the other. Then 
great suffering is expressed by the convulsive molion of 
the legs and the turning of the head to the flank. The 
last symptoms arc rigidity of the muscles and limbs, the i 
stomach is distended, and death occurs very rapidly. 
The treatment consists in bleeding at the first possible 
moment, brisk purging by means of a pound (or J4 ounces 
in case, of a strong animal) of Epsom salts and 2 ounces of . 
ginger, given in two quarts of gruel. Injections of soap 
and water should also be given, and the skin should be 
Sponged with cold water and then rubbed dry and the 
cow covered with a blanket. la two hours the cow 
should be given 4 ounces of acetate of ammonia with 80' 
drops of tincture of aconite in a pint of warm oatmeal 
gruel. This should be repeated every four hours reduc- 
ing the aconite by five drops each time until only 10 drops 
are given. It is best then to discontinue it. If the later 
stages have occurred the case will be almost hopeless, 
and nothing can be recommended but to procure the ser- 
vices of a veterinary surgeon who knows his business. In 
the later stages bleeding must be avoided as it will 
probably suddenly kill the animal. Some cows after ar- 
riving at adult age are subject to this complaint, especial- 
ly those which are heavy milkers and keep in good flesh. 
The sudden change in the cow's system after calving and 
the excitement of the circulation consequent upon that, 
event are the causes. .■ • 
Mill for Crushing Ears of Corn.— 
'f J. H. N.," Nacoochec, Ga. We have found a common 
bark mill, such as is uBed to crush bark for tanneries, set* 
so as to rnn backwards, an excellent mill to crush ears of 
corn. If the com ears are desired to be ground finely, 
the broken cobs and grain with the torn shucks may he 
ran through a pair of mill-stones or a steel mill ; the 
meal may then be fed to stock and the whole of it con- 
sumed. We have used such meal for all kinds of stock. 
