1891 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
io5 
The Farmers Club. 
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
[Every query must be accompanied by the name and address 
of the writer to insure attention. Before asking a question, please 
see if it is not answered in our advertising columns. Ask only 
a few questions at one time. Put questions on a separate piece 
of paper.] 
Buckwheat as Feed. 
J. N. B. y Yalesville, Conn .—Will Japanese Buckwheat 
prove injurious as feed for breeding ewes either used alone 
with bay or mixed with other grain ? About what is its 
feeding value in comparison with corn meal or bran ? 
ANSWERED BY HENRY STEWART. 
Japanese Buckwheat differs in no way as regards feed¬ 
ing qualities from our common buckwheat, and as buck¬ 
wheat is an excellent grain for sheep when mixed with 
oats or rye, there can be no harm in using the Japanese 
variety for this purpose. As compared with corn and bran, 
it is of the least value for feeding, being deficient in fat 
which is the most valuable part of the food. The follow¬ 
ing figures show the values of the different foods: 
Per cent of Buckwheat. Wheat Bran. Corn. 
Albuminoids.!... 9. 12.9 10.0 
Carbohydrates. 58.7 59.1 62.1 
Fat. 1.5 3.5 6.5 
Digestible 
Albuminoids. 6.8 10.0 8.4 
Carbohydrates. 47.0 48.5 60.6 
Fat. 1.2 3.1 4.8 
Feeding value per 100 lbs. $0.77 $1.01 $1.11 
Buckwheat is the least valuable of all the grains for 
feeding, and a bushel of it is worth only 35 cents for this 
purpose. It is probable that it could be sold for more 
than this, and thus could be better disposed of in this 
way. But it should be said that in practice these 
theoretical feeding values are considerably modified by 
circumstances, especially by the mixture of foods, by 
which they become more digestible. In feeding buck¬ 
wheat and corn ground together to sows with young pigs, 
I obtained more growth of the young pigs than with as 
much corn meal alone. And in feeding corn, rye and 
buckwheat, whole, mixed in equal parts, to sheep, the 
ewes have done better and the Iambs have grown better 
than with corn only. Thus I consider buckwheat a cheap 
feed at the comparative valuation above given. This is 
due to its effect in increasing the flow of milk, as well as 
to the better digestion of the mixed food. The nutritive 
ratio of the mixed grain is 1 to 6.3, which is a desirable one. 
Spring Rye in New Jersey. 
Amos, Burlington County, N. J. —1. Can spring rye be 
profitably grown in New Jersey ? 2. If so, what is the 
proper time to sow it and the amount of seed per acre ? 3. 
Will ordinary rye sown in a mild spell in winter or in early 
spring, come to profitable maturity under any circum¬ 
stances ? 4. If so, what is the proper amount of seed per 
acre as compared with that used for fall sowing ? 
Ans.—R ye sown so late in the fall that it does not sprout 
before the spring, has often made a good crop in New 
Jersey; but whether fall rye sown in the spring would 
do as well as that sown in November or December depends 
very much on the season. With an early season and good 
weather, a fair crop might be secured. We have grown 
spring rye in New Jersey, having sown two bushels of seed 
per acre as soon as the weather permitted, in a mild spell in 
February. The straw is not so long as that of winter rye, 
nor are the heads so long. It is quite probable that winter 
rye sown in that month would make a good yield, but it 
would be two or three weeks later than if sown in the fall. 
If sown later, spring rye, which can be procured of the 
seedsmen, might better be sown. A good crop of oats 
would yield more grain than rye. Two bushels of spring 
rye is the quantity usually sown per acre, and if winter 
rye should be sown, an equal quantity of seed would be 
required. This is because time is not afforded for the 
plants to tiller and spread and form several stems, as is 
the case with grain sown early in the fall. 
Foot Rot in Sheep. 
W. E. E., Lamartine, Ohio .—What is a remedy for 
foot rot in sheep ? 
Ans.—T here are two kinds of foot rot, and both are com¬ 
mon to sheep and cattle. It would be well, therefore, to 
bear in mind the following remarks for use when animals 
are affected: 
Simple or common foot rot is not contagious. It con¬ 
sists of an inflammation of the horn-secreting structures 
and the adjacent skin, or the internal parts of the foot, and 
is due directly to irritation. Wearing of the sole to the 
quick by long travel on hard roads, or from grazing 
on stony, gravelly pastures, or excessive growth of the 
crust or toe, in low, marshy meadows, so that the over¬ 
grown walls turn in on the sole ; wounds with sharp 
bodies, like nails or glass ; the accumulation of clay or 
mud between the claws; softening of the horn and irrita¬ 
tion from standing on reeking manure, etc., are the usual 
causes of the disease. The symptoms vary according to 
the nature of the malady; but there is always lameness, 
often very severe, so that the sheep get down on their 
knees to feed. An examination of the hoof will usually 
show the nature of the injury. In case of wounds, the 
heat of the hoof will indicate the injured one and a slight 
paring will expose the wound or the cause of the trouble. 
If the disease is due to wet, boggy pasture the sheep 
should be removed. Whenever foreign bodies have entered 
between the crust and sole, they should be carefully re¬ 
moved, by means of a knife, small probe, knitting-needle 
or wire. The foot should be cleansed and in the case of 
superficial soreness between the claws the affected part 
should be touched with a feather dipped in a mixture of 
one part of sulphuric acid and three or four parts’ of 
water, or the surface may be smeared with tar and a band¬ 
age tied between the claws and around the pastern. In 
case of formation of matter under the horn, the detached 
horn should be pared away until that still attached to the 
quick is reached. The surrounding horn should be pared 
down to a thin edge and the sore covered with tar, with a few 
drops of sulphuric acid on the surface, the whole being 
closely bound up in a bandage. In exceptionally severe 
cases a poultice should be used, on the surface of which a 
weak solution of sugar of lead should be poured. One tar 
dressing is often enough, but the foot should always be 
examined a few days after its application, so that any 
hindrance to the healing process may be removed. The 
hoofs of sheep kept on low, soft pastures should be short¬ 
ened with a knife or toe nippers, at short intervals, to 
prevent injury to the sole. 
Malignant foot rot presents nearly the same symptoms 
as simple foot-rot; but usually begins at the coronet, un¬ 
less in the case of pre-existing sores, and tends to produce 
growth of skin round the margin of the hoofs and degen¬ 
eration of the horn in some respects like canker. It is mainly 
recognized by spreading in the flock, for it is highly con¬ 
tagious. The fore feet are the most usually affected. There 
is an inflammation of the whole hoof; blisters form on the 
heels and between the toes, which break and form dis¬ 
charging surfaces, and, in a few days, ulcers, which sup¬ 
purate and excrete fetid matter, All raw, loose or dis¬ 
eased horn should be cut away with a sharp knife; any 
excessive growth of horn at the toes should be removed, 
and if any pus is found beneath the horn, the latter should 
be pared away till all is exposed. The feet should then be 
washed clean with carbolic soap and water twice a week,[and 
after each washing a piece of tow or lint, dipped in the fol¬ 
lowing mixture should be bound on the foot between the 
digits : Oxide of copper, one ounce; arsenic, half an ounce; 
acetic acid, three ounces; honey, eight ounces; or the foot 
may be smeared with the following ointment, which will 
dry on it, and not be washed off by dew: Finely powdered 
blue vitriol, one pound; verdigris, half a pound ; linseed 
oil, one pint; pine tar, one quart. In case the disease has 
made considerable progress and the sheep are feverish and 
ailing, each sick one should receive a dose of two ounces 
of Epsom salts dissolved in half a pint of water. After 
two days the following should be given : Nitrate of soda, 
half an ounce; flowers of sulphur, half an ounce; mix with 
molasses and place on the tongue until swallowed. Repeat 
once a week till the feet are well. The sound animals 
should always be separated from the diseased, and re¬ 
moved from contaminated pastures and buildings, and 
the latter should be thoroughly cleansed and disinfected. 
The Dougal Gooseberries. 
J. O. G., Douglas’.County, Oregon.— Has The Rural any 
more information with regard to the Dougal Gooseberries 
illustrated on the first page of the issue of August 2, 1890? 
Where can plants be obtained? 
Ans. —Yes, Mr. J. S. Collins, Moorestown, New Jersey, 
owns the varieties alluded to and will probably place them 
upon the market next spring. He bought the sole right to 
propagate these gooseberries before Mr. Dougal’s death, 
and The R. N.-Y. has seen the contract. 
Peas for Hogs. 
O. O. B., Lakin, Kan. —What are the best field peas and 
beans for hog feed ? 
Ans.— Hogs will not eat beans except when cooked, but 
peas are choice food for them, either green or ripe. The 
best pea is the Marrowfat field pea. It is best drilled iD, 
in rows twice as wide as those for wheat; this is done by 
stopping the alternate spouts. About three bushels of 
seed will be needed to the acre. If the crop is to be eaten 
off green the hogs are turned in as soon as the small peas 
begin to appear. If the grain is needed, it is allowed to 
ripen before it is fed down, but if fed off green the whole 
crop is eaten, and affords a large quantity of valuable 
food, making the hogs ready for fattening at small ex¬ 
pense. 
The Hessian Fly. 
A. E. Kinderhook, III.— Will The Rural give a full 
jxccount of the Wheat or Hessian Fly ? 
Ans.— There are two broods of the pest. The first lay 
their eggs on the leaves of the young wheat from early in 
April to the end of May, according to the latitude and the 
weather ; the second appear during August and November 
and lay about 30 eggs on the leaves of the young winter 
wheat. The eggx hatch about four days after they are laid 
and the maggots or larvae crawl down the leaf, working 
their way between it and the main stalk, passing down¬ 
wards till they come to a joint, just above which they re¬ 
main a little below the surface of the ground, with the 
head towards the roots of the plant. Here they imbibe 
the sap by suction alone and cause the stems to swell 
and the plants to turn yellow and die. By the end of 
November, or from 30 to 40 days after the wheat has been 
sown, they assume the “flax-seed” state, and, on removing 
the lower leaves, may be found as little brown, oval, 
cylindrical, smooth bodies, a trifle smaller than grains of 
rice. They remain in the wheat until during warm 
weather in April when the larva rapidly changes into a 
pupa within its “flax seed” skin, the fly emerging from 
the flax-seed case about the end of April. The eggs laid 
by the first or spring brood of flies soon hatch ; the second 
brood of maggots last but a few weeks; the “ flax-seed” 
state is soon over, and the autumn or second bx-ood of flies 
appears in August, and there is sometimes a third brood 
in September, which springs from the earliest autumn 
brood. The wings of the fly have a spread of half an inch, 
and are of a dull smoky brown ; the body is of a dark 
brown color and the legs of a paler brown than the body. 
The combined attacks of several ichneumon flies are sup¬ 
posed to destx-oy nine-tenths of all the Hessian flies 
hatched. Particular care should be taken to circumvent 
or destroy the first brood to prevent the second, which 
comes from it. By burning the stubble in the fall great 
numbers of the pests are destroyed. By sowing a part of 
the wheat early, and if this is attacked, plowing and sow¬ 
ing the re3t after September 20, in most cases the crop 
can be saved. A field partially affected may be taved by the 
liberal use of fertllizex-s and careful cultivation. Pastur¬ 
ing the young winter wheat by sheep in November or early 
December often destroys multitudes of the eggs and 
larvae. Rolling the ground- may also be beneficial. Cer- 
tain varieties of wheat are found to resist the pest better 
than otheiM, Diehl in early August, and later sown Claw 
son are chief of these. 
Some Peaches and Pears. 
J. S. B., Alton, III.— 1. Which is the most profitable 
quince for market—Rea’s Mammoth, Champion or 
Meech’s Px-oliflc ? 2. How does the Souvenir du Congres 
Pear compai-e with Bartlett as to earliness and freedom 
from blight ? 
Ans. —1. Rea’s Champion, by far. We have not as yet 
found out what Meech’s Prolific is. It is probably the 
Apple. The Champion is too late for the climate of Cen¬ 
tral New York. It fruits early and abundantly and, in 
favorable seasons, may succeed in your climate. 2. The 
Souvenir begins to ripen with the Bartlett, or even a trifle 
before. It is at its best in early September. The tree is 
but a moderate grower, so that to obtain vigorous trees it 
has been found necessary to work it upon thrifty stocks. 
We should say it is more liable to blight than the Bartlett 
and more variable as to quality as it grows in different 
localities. 
MISCELLANEOUS. 
E. M., Effingham, III. —My cow looks hearty and seems 
in good health. Her milk too appears all right when just 
drawn; but before it gets sour it sinks to the bottom of the 
vessel, leaving only water on top, and it doesn’t get sour. 
When it begins to turn it looks as if it had been cooked. I 
churned some of it to make butter; but got scarcely any, 
and after it had been churned it settled as before. The cow 
is with calf. She has been fed all summer and winter on 
hay and slop. A feed of corn and hay gave no better 
results. What is the trouble? 
Ans. —There is very little to base an opinion upon. How 
long is the milk kept and how ? How long has the cow 
been In calf? What kind of slop is fed? These are all im¬ 
portant matters and without knowing more of them, it is 
impossible to form a judgment. 
T. S. H., Essex, Iowa. —Do not the Rural Branching 
Sorghum and the Rural Thoroughbred Flint Corn make 
about as good ensilage as can be obtaiued ? Where can I 
get the seeds without having to pay fancy prices for them? 
Ans. —The Rural Branching Sorghum is the best of the 
sorghums for fodder, because it may be cut twice in a 
season. As to quality, we should prefer the varieties of 
corn used for ensilage. We doubt if the Rural Thorough¬ 
bred Flint will mature sufficiently with you to make the 
best kind of ensilage. 
W. W. P., Sterling, III. —What is the best corn to plant 
in Whiteside County, Ill., to secure the most fodder and 
the most corn ? 
ANS.—The Learning would probably mature. It yields 
well both of grain and fodder. Queen of the Prairie is a 
very early yellow dent that yields fairly well of medium¬ 
sized ears. It does not, however, grow very tall. King of 
the Earlies yields well in both ways. We would advise 
you to write to Prof. G. E. Morrow, of the Illinois Univer¬ 
sity, Champaign, Ill. He has experimented with all the 
leading kinds. 
W. H. M., Strathsay, Can.—I have an 18-acre field 
which was in pasture three or four years—a light and 
partly worn out soil. It was plowed last fall for potatoes, 
carrots and corn ; this spring I have a quantity of barn¬ 
yard manure to put on it, and about 14 tons of refuse from 
a pork-packing house. What is the best way to use them 
—to spread both on the field now, or to mix them together 
in the pile and spread and plow in in the spring ? 
Ans.—The R. N.-Y. would prefer the latter course, al¬ 
lowing the compost to remain as long as possible. 
A. F. J., Mineral Spa, N. Y. —Are the “ Rustlers” or 
“Downy Plymouth Rocks ” of the same color as the Ply¬ 
mouth Rocks ? Have they yellow legs and single combs ? 
What is The Rural’s price per setting for eggs ? 
Ans. —The birds are like Plymouth Rocks except that 
their wiDgs are shorter and their plumage is thick and 
curly or fluffy. We have none for sale. Write to J, V. 
Henry, North Kingston, N. Y. 
M. C. A , New Jersey.— What kind of grass should be 
sown on a black, peaty soil, in some places two feet thick ? 
Ans. —We would prefer Red Top. 
J. A. H., Eden, N. Y. —What is the best variety of 
sweet corn for early market in Western New York ? 
Ans.— All things considered, The R. N.-Y.’s choice 
would be Crosby for earliest; Perry’s Hybrid for a medium 
crop. 
E. R. M., Flat Rock, N. C.— What is flre-fanged 
manure ? 
Ans.—M anure that has been allowed to heat and burn 
so that it becomes dry and of a whitish appearance. In 
this condition it is likely to lose some of its fertilizing 
value, as much of its nitrogen is liable to escape. 
J. K., Greensburg, Pa.— 1. For a clay or slightly 
gravelly soil, what five varieties of strawberries would 
The Rural recommend for a home market ? 2. What are 
the two best varieties of early potatoes, all things con¬ 
sidered ? 3. What are the two varieties of potatoes next 
succeeding the early, that are among the best ? 
Ans.— 1. Sharpless, -Pearl, Parker Earle, Bubach and 
Cumberland. 2. Pearl of Savoy, Early Sunrise. 3. Early 
Puritan and White Star. 
