556 
THE  RURAL  NEW-YORKER. 
Aug.  27 
Haverland,  Manchester,  Warfield,  Cumberland,  Wool- 
verton,  Burt,  Beder  Wood.  Class  2,  not  worth  grow¬ 
ing  :  Parker  Earle,  Crawford,  Saunders,  Gandy,  Stay- 
men’s  No.  1,  Michel’s  Early,  Cloud,  Edgar  Queen,  Farns¬ 
worth,  Lady  Rusk,  Walton.  Class  3,  worthless:  Jessie, 
May  King,  Governor  Hoard,  Prince  of  Berries,  Pine¬ 
apple,  Belmont,  Yale,  Downing,  Sucker  State.  After 
much  expectation  and  disappointment  I  am  not  sorry 
to  see  the  whole  lot  plowed  under.  My  estimated  loss 
on  the  poor-yielding  varieties  is  fully  $100.  My  greatest 
disappointment  was  in  Parker  Earle  ;  there  was  not 
one  good  trait  about  it  except  plant  making.  I  give 
my  experience  so  that  weak-minded  persons  like 
myself  may  not  do  any  more  of  this  foolish  business. 
West  Troy,  N.  Y.  w.  G. 
[R.  N.-Y. — This  is  only  the  third  bad  report  we  have 
heard  from  Parker  Earle.] 
Remarkable  Sugar  Trees. — On  page  508  of  The 
Rural  New-Yorker  for  August  G  is  an  account  of  a 
sugar  tree  in  Ohio,  some  years  ago,  from  which  were 
made  51  pounds  of  sugar  in  one  season,  using  four 
spouts,  averaging  12  pounds  and  six  ounces  per  spout, 
which  makes  this  a  remarkable  tree  for  sap  and  sugar. 
In  connection  with  this  tree  I  will  notice  three  maples 
in  Vermont,  one  of  which  is  in  Waitsfield  and  one  in 
Duxbury,  and  the  other  in  Corinth.  From  the  one 
in  Waitsfield  there  were  made  in  one  season,  and  in  one 
day  of  24  hours  (from  six  spouts)  12  pounds  of  sugar. 
From  the  one  in  Duxbury  there  were  made  in  one 
season  (from  two  spouts  and  one  tub),  30%  pounds, 
averaging  15  pounds  and  six  ounces  per  spout.  I  am 
personally  knowing  to  these  trees  and  also  to  the 
people  who  made  the  sugar.  One  fact  more  about 
this  last  tree,  it  requires  only  seven  quarts  of  sap  to 
make  one  pound  of  sugar.  The  third  tree  is  iD  Cor- 
rintli,  and  it  requires  only  five  quarts  of  sap  to  make 
one  pound  of  sugar.  This  is  the  sweetest  tree  that  I 
have  been  able  to  find.  T.  w. 
Waterburj'  Center,  Vt. 
Night  Soil  and  Strawberries. — L.  B.  Pierce  tells 
the  Country  Gentleman  of  an  Ohio  gardener  who  has 
22  acres.  He  is  on  the  outlook  for  cheap  fertility — 
and  does  as  many  others  have  done : 
One  team  when  not  otherwise  engaged  is  kept  at 
team  work  around  the  village  and  in  drawing  manure. 
Vaults  and  closets  are  cleaned  and  the  contents  drawn 
to  the  barnyard  and  composted  with  sods,  leaves  and 
stable  manure.  He  has  constantly  on  hand  a  large 
pile  of  this  compost,  and  part  of  it  is  each  year  ap¬ 
plied  to  the  strawberries  and  worked  into  the  soil  in 
July.  When  applied  it  is  entirely  destitute  of  smell  or 
filthy  appearance,  and  having  11  months  to  be  purified 
by  the  soil  and  elements,  no  rational  person  should 
become  sick  at  the  stomach  at  the  thought  of  its  use 
as  a  fertilizer,  yet  last  year  a  few  enemies  commenced 
a  kick  at  this  man’s  fruit,  and  this  year  it  resulted  in 
a  complete  boycott:  the  village  grocers  were  compelled 
to  refuse  it,  and  he  was  obliged  to  hunt  a  market 
away  from  home  for  some  of  the  finest  berries  ever 
grown. 
We  have  heard  of  such  trouble  before.  Some  people 
go  so  far  as  to  say  that  “  disease  germs  ”  in  such  man¬ 
ure  will  make  their  way  into  the  fruit !  As  Mr.  Pierce 
well  says :  Zj  id  ^ 
The  tip-toe-fine  people  who  complain  of  my  friend’s 
strawberries  allow  their  hens  to  consume  every  kind 
of  filth,  and  the  question  naturally  arises  as  to  whether 
Nature's  methods  of  chemistry  are  any  less  perfect, 
whether  the  alembic  is  the  soil  or  a  chicken’s  stomach? 
Experience  with  Quack  Grass. 
A  writer  in  a  recent  number  of  the  Country  Gentle¬ 
man  gives  some  of  his  experience  with  Quack  Grass, 
more  commonly  known  with  us  as  “  Tommy  Grass.” 
He  says  that  “  any  cultivation  which  tears  the  under¬ 
ground  stems  to  pieces  and  still  leaves  them  covered 
with  soil,  simply  aids  in  propagating  new  plants  ;  ” 
also  “  that  corn  is  a  poor  crop  to  plant  with  an  idea  of 
conquering  the  Quack,"  as  the  shade  of  the  plants  is 
favorable  to  its  growth.” 
I  have  a  vivid  recollection  of  some  of  my  own  expe¬ 
rience  while  on  the  farm  in  Chemung  County,  N.  Y., 
during  the  seventies.  The  farm  had  previously  been 
rented  for  several  years,  and  two  of  the  fields  had  be¬ 
come  badly  infested  with  this  grass.  One  field  that 
had  formerly  been  a  clover  sod,  but  which  at  that  time 
was  a  perfect  mat  of  Quack,  had  been  plowed  by  the 
party  on  the  farm,  and  the  underground  stems  thor¬ 
oughly  harrowed  and  raked  out  of  the  soil.  These 
stems,  of  which  there  were  several  two-horse  wagon¬ 
loads,  were  placed  in  several  large  piles  at  one  side  of 
the  field.  The  roots  upon  the  outside  of  the  piles  con¬ 
tinued  to  grow,  and  formed  a  dense  mat  of  the  grass. 
The  next  spring,  when  plowing  the  field,  all  the  stems 
in  the  piles,  except  those  upon  the  surface,  were  found 
to  be  entirely  decayed,  so  that  when  the  plow  struck 
the  edge  of  a  pile,  the  entire  green  covering  of  the 
grass  was  dragged  off  as  if  it  were  a  blanket. 
Contrary  to  the  experience  of  the  writer  alluded  to, 
I  have  found  corn  and  cabbage  to  be  most  excellent 
crops  with  which  to  subdue  the  Quack.  In  fact,  any 
hoed  crop  will  subdue  the  pest,  if  properly  cultivated. 
When  preparing  the  soil,  pains  should  be  taken  to 
thoroughly  harrow  it,  in  order  to  break  and  tear  out 
as  many  of  the  underground  stems  as  possible,  as  that 
will  give  the  crop  with  which  the  land  is  planted  a 
chance  to  get  a  start  of  the  Quack.  It  has  always  been 
my  plan  to  keep  the  land  thoroughly  cultivated  and 
endeavor  to  cover  up  with  soil  as  many  of  the  under¬ 
ground  stems  as  possible.  That,  together  with  the 
shade  of  the  plants  of  the  growing  crop,  would  eradi¬ 
cate  nearly  every  vestige  of  the  pest. 
A  four-acre  piece  of  clover  sod,  that  was  so  badly 
infested  with  Quack  that  it  was  nearly  impossible  for 
a  heavy  team  to  plow  the  land,  although  it  was  a  sandy 
loam,  was  planted  with  corn  in  1879.  It  was  plowed 
about  eight  inches  deep  late  in  the  fall  of  1878,  and 
allowed  to  stand  until  spring  without  harrowing. 
Many  of  the  stems  that  were  exposed  to  the  weather 
during  the  winter  were  killed.  The  land  was  thor¬ 
oughly  prepared  in  the  spring  and  planted  with  corn. 
By  the  time  the  crop  was  of  sufficient  size  to  be  culti¬ 
vated,  the  land  was  completely  covered  with  the 
green  Quack.  Frequent  cultivation,  in  connection 
with  nine  days’  labor  with  the  hand  hoe  and  a  final 
hilling  up  with  a  horse  hiller,  so  as  to  deeply  cover 
the  underground  stems,  so  nearly  eradicated  the 
Quack  that  no  trouble  was  experienced  from  it  the  fol¬ 
lowing  season.  m.  h.  beckwith. 
Delaware  College  Ag’l  Ex.  Station,  Newark,  Del. 
[Every  query  must  be  accompanied  by  the  name  and  address  of  the 
wTlter  to  Insure  attention.  Before  asking  a  question,  please  see  l'f  It  Is 
not  answered  in  our  advertising  columns.  Ask  only  a  few  questions 
at  one  time.  Put  questions  on  a  separate  piece  of  paper.] 
Hatching  Double-Barreled  Eggs. 
WIIAT  THE  EXPERTS  SAY. 
We  are  having  quite  a  big  controversy  about  the  possibility  of 
hatching  healthy  chickens  from  double-yolked  eggs.  Some  parties 
claim  to  have  produced  two  perfectly  formed  chicks  from  one  such 
egg.  Will  you  be  kind  enough  to  give  us  your  experience  in  the 
matter  ?  Have  you  ever  known  such  an  egg  to  hatch,  and  did  the 
chicks  live  ? 
1  do  not  think  it  possible  to  hatch  two  perfectly 
formed  chickens  from  a  double-yolked  egg.  I  do  not 
doubt  that  some  will  hatch,  and  the  chickens  will  have 
two  good  legs  and  two  legs  protruding  out  behind.  I 
have  seen  such  a  chicken  grow  up  and  be  quite 
healthy,  but  never  in  my  experience  have  I  seen  two 
*  perfectly-formed  chickens  hatched  from  a  double- 
yolked  egg.  P.  WILLIAMS. 
I  have  set  a  great  many  double-yolked  eggs  ;  but  do 
not  know  that  one  ever  hatched.  I  have  heard  of 
others  having  better  luck — some  hatching  two  healthy 
chickens,  some  two  chickens  united  like  the  Siamese 
twins,  some  two-headed  and  some  four-legged  chickens. 
H.  S.  BABCOCK. 
I  have  never  set  such  eggs,  but  I  have  seen  several 
chickens  that  were  said  to  have  been  hatched  from  such 
eggs;  they  were  always  badly  deformed,  c.  s.  cooper. 
I  have  set  double-yolked  eggs  at  different  times,  but 
have  never  succeeded  in  hatching  any  chicks  from 
them.  One  contained  two  full-sized  chicks  at  the  end 
of  21  days’  incubation,  but  they  did  not  come  out.  I 
can  see  no  reason  why  they  failed  to  do  so. 
A.  C.  HAWKINS. 
Here  is  One  Instance. 
I  have  personally  set  several  double-yolked  eggs,  bat 
failed  to  have  them  hatch.  But  W.  H.  H.  Bradbury, 
of  Hammonton,  who  was  running  several  incubators 
at  the  time,  really  did  hatch  two  perfect  chickens  from 
a  double-yolked  egg.  In  a  machine  about  beginning 
to  hatch  he  noticed  a  double-yolked  egg  picked,  so  he 
at  once  removed  it  and  placed  it  in  an  incubator  that 
would  not  be  due  for  a  week.  In  a  day  or  two,  two  per¬ 
fectly-formed  chicks  appeared,  and  lived  until  they 
were  broiler  size  when  they  were  marketed.  This  is 
the  only  instance,  however,  that  I  have  ever  heard  of 
where  perfect  and  healthy  chicks  ever  came  from 
such  eggs.  I  have  known  of  cripples  and  worthless 
chicks  coming  from  double-yolked  eggs,  but  I  have 
yet  to  hear  of  another  case  like  that  of  Mr.  Brad¬ 
bury’s.  MICHAEL  K.  BOYER. 
It  is  Possible  and  That’s  All. 
Double-yolk  eggs,  misshapen  eggs,  and  “  monstrosi¬ 
ties”  of  that  kind,  are  caused  by  overfeeding,  or  the 
use  of  highly-stimulating  foods,  the  hens  being  over¬ 
fat,  and  the  generative  organs  obstructed.  Some¬ 
times  there  will  be  a  small  egg  inclosed  within  a 
larger  shell,  and  again  the  eggs  will  be  devoid  of 
shells.  As  a  remedy  resort  is  had  to  feeding  oyster 
shells  and  other  lime  substances,  which  cannot  correct 
the  difficulty,  the  best  remedy  being  to  compel  the 
hens  to  “  work  off  the  fat,”  by  allowing  them  no  food, 
thus  inducing  them  to  search  and  scratch.  Fat  breed¬ 
ing1  animals  seldom  i  produce  strong  offspring,  apd 
some  will  not  breed  at  all.  The  fat  sow  either  fails 
to  breed,  or  her  pigs  are  weakly. 
I  have  endeavored  to  secure  hatches  from  double¬ 
yolk  eggs  repeatedly,  but  always  failed  in  the  results, 
the  eggs  showing  no  change  whatever.  A  neighbor 
reports  having  secured  two  perfectly  formed  chicks 
from  a  double-yolk  egg,  each  chick  distinct  and  sepa¬ 
rate  from  the  other,  but  I  fear  he  may  have  been  mis¬ 
taken,  though  he  assures  me  he  is  certain  that  it  is  a 
fact.  I  have  also  received  letters  from  a  few  persons 
who  claim  that  they  have  had  two  chicks  (monstrosi¬ 
ties)  from  double-yolk  eggs,  but  the  chicks  died.  It 
is  possible  to  hatch  from  such  eggs,  but  the  cases  are 
extremely  rare,  as  the  eggs  are  abnormal,  and  formed 
under  diseased  conditions  of  the  generative  organs. 
P.  H.  JACOBS. 
Must  the  Sheep  Have  Water  ? 
WILL  THEY  DO  ON  HEAVY  DEW  ? 
1.  Have  you  ever  known  of  a  case  where  sheep  did  well  on  pasture 
without  any  water  ?  Is  there  any  breed  that  will  do  well  on  low  land 
without  a  constant  water  supply?  What  is  the  best  way  to  provide 
shade  and  shelter  for  sheep  at  pasture  ? 
2.  Do  you  know  of  any  Instances  where  ensilage  has  been  fed  to 
sheep  with  success  ? 
1.  I  have  never  known  sheep  to  do  well  without  a 
constant  supply  of  fresh  water  summer  and  winter. 
There  is  no  breed  that  will  do  well  on  low  lands,  even 
if  they  have  a  supply  of  water.  Where  there  are  no 
shade  trees,  proper  sheds  should  be  erected,  but  it 
would  be  better  still  to  house  the  sheep  during  the 
day  and  turn  them  to  pasture  at  night.  2.  I  have  known 
of  ensilage  being  fed  with  success  in  moderate  quanti¬ 
ties  ;  say,  once  a  day,  at  noon;  but  I  consider  ruta¬ 
bagas  much  better.  j.  b.  briggs. 
Sussex  County,  N.  J. 
1.  I  always  keep  a  liberal  supply  of  pure  water  in 
my  sheep  pastures,  believing  that  the  animals  require 
it  for  thrift  and  comfort  as  much  as  any  other  kind  of 
live  stock.  I  do  not  believe  they  would  make  any 
gain  without  it,  especially  through  July  and  August, 
the  most  trying  months  on  sheep  in  pasture.  In  most 
of  my  pastures  there  are  shade  trees,  and  where  there 
are  none  I  set  this  spring  some  hard  maples.  They 
make  the  best  shelter  from  the  sun’s  rays.  I  have  and 
do  use  for  my  rams  a  temporary  shed  or  rather  roof 
supported  on  poles  which  answers  the  purpose  well 
where  trees  are  not  abundant. 
2.  I  have  never  had  any  experience  with  ensilage  as 
a  sheep  food.  wm.  Hamilton. 
Livingston  County,  N.  Y. 
A  Very  Wet  Dew  Will  Answer. 
1.  I  have  known  sheep  to  do  well  on  pasture  with¬ 
out  any  water  supply  when  the  dew  was  sufficient  to 
wet  the  grass,  but  when  for  two  or  three  consecutive 
nights  there  was  no  dew,  water  was  supplied  as  the 
sheep  were  apparently  suffering  from  thirst.  At  the 
present  time  I  have  charge  of  a  flock  of  sheep  which 
are  supplied  with  running  water,  yet  for  two  months 
I  have  not  seen  a  sheep  at  the  water  trough,  and  the 
appearances  do  not  show  that  the  animals  frequent 
that  place,  although  the  pasture  is  short,  and  is  sup¬ 
plemented  with  a  grain  ration.  My  experience  with 
sheep  on  low  land  is  confined  to  Merinos  or  quite  high 
grades,  and  these  were  not  wholly  confined  on  the 
low  land,  yet  most  of  the  pasture  was  obtained  from 
the  low  land  during  the  dry  seasons,  the  sheep  doing 
well  without  a  water  supply.  I  do  not  believe  that 
any  sheep  will  do  well  confined  on  wet  land.  In  a 
permanent  pasture  field  containing  several  forest 
trees  adjoining  a  piece  of  woods,  I  have  noticed  for 
many  years  that  the  sheep  preferred  the  shade  of  a 
low,  wide-spreading  apple  tree  to  that  of  the  woods  or 
the  forest  trees.  I  have  had  no  experience  in  pro¬ 
viding  artificial  shelter  for  sheep  at  pasture.  2.  Last 
winter  I  had  charge  of  two  pens  of  sheep  used  for  ex¬ 
perimental  feeding  ;  each  pen  received  hay  and  the 
same  grain  ration  ;  one  pen  received  ensilage  once  a 
day.  The  ensilage  seemed  to  take  the  place  of  a 
part  of  the  hay,  as  the  ensilage-fed  pen  consumed 
much  less  hay.  The  increase  in  weight  of  the  two 
lots  of  sheep  was  almost  exactly  the  same. 
Cornell  Experiment  Station,  george  a.  watson. 
Plant  Setter  ;  Some  Odd  Words. 
H.  C.,  McKean,  Pa. — Is  the  plant  setter  offered  for 
sale  by  H.  A.  Dreer  a  practical  tool  ?  The  Rural 
last  winter  spoke  of  the  mongoose,  also  lately  I  saw 
the  word  “anthracnose.”  Neither  of  these  words  can 
I  find  in  my  old  edition  of  Webster’s  Unabridged.  In 
the  issue  of  May  28,  page  359,  column  one,  is  the  word 
“fenugreek,”  which  is  new  to  me. 
Ans. — We  do  not  find  the  tool  alluded  to  in  our 
Dreer  catalogue  and  so  cannot  answer  your  query. 
There  is  a  plant  setter,  largely  used  by  tobacco 
growers  in  Chemung  County,  N.  Y. ,  which  is  practical 
and  successful.  The  mongoose  is  a  small  animal,  one 
of  the  ichneumon  family,  a  native  of  India.  In  appear¬ 
ance  and  habits  it  is  somewhat  like  a  weasel.  Anthrac- 
