1894 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
633 
grain, which at all times and under all conditirns is 
not so safe a food in the hands of the inexperienced 
feeder, as some other foods, used exclusively for stock. 
Theoretically, wheat shouM be fed with more profit 
at the present prices than most of our commercial 
foods. The following table gives the analyses of wheat 
and some of the more common stock foods : 
NltroKen. 
Water. Ash. Protein. Fiber, free ext. Fat. 
Wheat. 10.5 1.8 11.9 1.9 71 9 2.1 
Corn. 10.9 1 45 10.4 1 9 70.2 5.0 
Oats. 110 .SO 11.8 9.5 69.7 5.0 
Barley. 10 9 2 4 12 4 2 7 69.8 1 8 
Bran. 11.9 5.8 16 4 9.0 53.9 4.0 
Those who havegiven us their experience in feeding 
wheat, speak in the highest terms of this food. Par¬ 
ticularly has wheat been praised as a food for work 
horses. While wheat and oats have a similar nutri¬ 
tive ratio, the former 1 to 6.6 and the latter 1 to 6.9, 
it is not to be inferred that the wheat is as safe a food 
for horses under all conditions as oats. Probably for 
safety in the hands of the unskilled, there is no grain 
as safe for horses as oats. The wheat contains a little 
greater proportion of muscle-forming elements than 
oats, and on that account is to be preferred as a food 
for horses hard at work. 
Where some skim-milk is to be fed the pigs, ground 
wheat mixed with this milk makes one of the best of 
foods for growing this class of animals. It is relished 
more and is superior in every way to bran when fed 
as indicated. For a few weeks before marketing, corn 
should be substituted for the wheat if the animals are 
not sufficiently fattened for the market. Ground wheat 
stirred in skim-milk has been fed pigs on the Univer¬ 
sity farm for years, with very satisfactory results. 
There is no reason why ground wheat may not be 
fed profitably to milch cows, if a part of the grain ra¬ 
tion is composed of a more nitrogenous food than the 
wheat. The wheat of itself contains too large a pro¬ 
portion of fat-forming elements to give the greatest 
yield of milk from cows in fairly good flesh. It usually 
happens that when grain is fed to cows, the grain is 
intended to balance up coarse fodders that are deficient 
in albuminoids, or muscle-forming elements. Conse¬ 
quently, if wheat is fed in considerable amounts, the 
remainder of the grain ration should be highly 
nitrogenous, which may be easily secured by adding 
the proper amount of cotton-seed meal or linseed 
meal. 
Wheat is the best grain food for laying hens, where 
they are kept in comfortable quarters. Daring the 
severe winter months, unless comfortable houses are 
provided for the fowls, some corn in the grain ration 
would be preferred to clear wheat or wheat and oats ; 
but the corn rations with cold houses cannot be ex¬ 
pected to bring so many eggs as warmer quarters and 
more wheat. gkorqe c. watson. 
Cornell University, Ithaca, N. Y. 
A List of Fruit for Pennsylvania. 
S. F., Monaca, Pa. —I am about to plant a small 
orchard. I would like to know which varieties of 
fruit to plant, also whether to plant in fall or spring. 
I want to plant apples, peaches, pears, plums and 
cherries. I live in latitude of Pittsourgh. Pa. 
Ans.—A pples : Baldwin, Maiden’s Blush, Olden¬ 
burg, Rambo, Smith’s Cider, Smokehouse. Peaches : 
Oldmixon Free, Reeves’s Favorite, Smock and Stump 
the World. Try Crosbey. Pears : Angoul6me, Anjou, 
Bartlett, Lawrence, Seckel and Winter Nelis. Plums : 
Jefferson, Lombard, Prince’s Yellow Gage. Try 
Abundance and Burbank. Cherries : Bigarreau, 
Downer’s Late, Early Richmond, Governor Wood, 
Rockport. 
To Boot Bose Cuttiners. 
A Svhscriber, Caroline County, Md. —There is a very 
handsome rose bush in our lawn which has no new— 
what we call ground shoots—consequently no roots 
can be obtained. Many have tried cuttings with the 
same result, failure. Can you tell us how to treat a 
cutting so as to make a success of it ? Dow shall we 
take it from the old bush, how treat it after separating 
it from its parent and what kind of soil should be used ? 
Axs. —It is probably a variety that “strikes” with 
difficulty from cuttings. Budding next year upon 
other stocks would insure you a plant or plants. Under 
Ruralisms, page 378, was described the method by 
which cuttings of the Agnes Emily Carman (Rugosa 
hybrid) rose were rooted, and we think that way might 
prove successful with this rose. 
Muriate or Kainit as Absorbents. 
H. V. T., Harwinton, Conn .—Much has been said of 
late in The R. N. Y. about using some absorbent in 
stables that will arrest and hold the ammonia or 
nitrogen, and kainit has been recommended. But I 
understand that the actual potash in this form is more 
costly than in muriate of potash. Will the muriate 
answer as well as the kainit as a “ nitrogen trap ” ? 
Ans. —Certainly the muriate of potash will answer. 
It is true that the actual potash in kainit is more ex¬ 
pensive than in the form of muriate, but in the former 
you obtain more bulk and get more salt and sul¬ 
phates of soda, magnesia, etc., which are useful to 
preserve the manure. 
Bone or Bock Superphosphate. 
J. W. K., Altoona, Fla .—If two samples of superphos¬ 
phate are taken, one made from animal bone and the 
other from phosphate rock, and both having the same 
percentage of soluble or available phosphoric acid, 
considering only the soluble phosphoric acid, are they 
of equal value for growing crops ? 
Ans. —The chemists reckon “ soluble phosphoric 
acid” as being of the same value—without considering 
its source. We should, however, prefer a bone super¬ 
phosphate for practical agriculture. Very little raw 
bone is now made into superphosphate. Why should 
it be ? The use of acid on the bone will lose some of 
the nitrogen, and as for the agricultural value of the 
phosphoric acid in fine bone for most crops, it is as 
serviceable without being treated with acid. 
Manure on Sandy Soils. 
J. C., Michigan. —Do some sandy soils really leach 
away manure ? If so, how can I tell them from other 
sandy soils which do not leach ? I have some manure, 
last winter’s make, which I must move this fall. I 
wish to put it on sandy land for spring crop. Do I 
run much risk of losing the manure if I spread it and 
plow under this fall ? Or would I better put it in one 
large heap and spread in the spring and harrow it in 
after plowing ? 
Ans. —All open and porous soils through which 
water runs readily are apt to lose some of the soluble 
fertility put on them in the form of manure. Consid¬ 
erable nitrogen is lost in this way as the result of 
heavy rains. The most “leachy” soils are those with 
a large proportion of sand resting on a layer of coarse 
gravel above any clay or hard pin. On such soils 
there is a constant leaching, the water following the 
drift of the gravel. While most cultivated sandy soils 
will retain water far better than those underlaid with 
gravel, it is not considered good economy, as a rule, to 
apply manure to them long ia*advance of the crop. 
Such soils should never lie bare if it can be avoided. 
When not in grass, rye or some grain crop should be 
sown in the fall. A crop of this sort through the 
winter will prevent washing of the surface and make 
the soil more compact. We would pile the manure 
and harrow it in after plowing in the spring. 
About Two New Fruits. 
F. E. P., Cobden, 111. —In bulletin No. 48 issued 
January 30, 1893 by the Purdue University Agricul¬ 
tural Experiment Station, Lafayette, Ind, are to be 
found exceedingly favorable reports of two new fruits, 
the Early Maxwell blackberry and the Early Orange 
gooseberry, upon which I should much like to have 
your opinion. Upon writing to Mr. James Troop, 
horticulturist of the station, I fail to get any further 
information as to where either variety is to be had, 
but was able through a recent ad. in The R. N.-Y. to 
find that D, S. Meyer & Son, Bridgeport, Dal., offered 
the Maxwell; but out of 18 late catalogues from eight 
different firms I can find no trace of the Early Orange 
gooseberry—which the above experiment station re¬ 
ports upon very favorably with an additional note 
that “The Early Orange is equal to Champion in every 
respect except siza, and ripens nearly a week before 
the Champion or Downing.” “ These three varieties 
are recommanded for either family use or market.” I 
would be pleased to have the above opinion corrobor¬ 
ated by The R. N.-Y., and to know where the Early 
Orange can be had. 
Ans. —The Orange gooseberry was received at the 
Rural Grounds in 1884, It was sent by H. M. Engle & 
Son, Marietta, Pa. It originated with John Musser 
near Shock’s Mills, Pa. It is thought to be a seedling 
of Uoughton, It is the earliest gooseberry we have 
ever tried, and of excellent quality when fully ripe. 
Our Maxwell’s Early plants came from William Parry 
of Parry, New Jersey, Mr. Parry claims that it is as 
large as the Wilson and as early as the Early Harvest. 
Strawberries ; Mulching? and Varieties. 
R. L. F., Victory, Wis .—1, When should strawberries 
be mulched, before or after the ground is frozen ? 2. 
Would straw make a good mulch ? 3. How thick 
should the mulch be ? 4. Would it do any harm to 
let the mulch or part of it stay on in the spring ? 5. 
What bisexual berry would you recommend for this 
climate ? 
Ans, — 1. We prefer waiting until the soilis frozen. 2 . 
Yes—a rather costly mulch, however. 3. The object 
in mulching is to prevent the soil heaving and to pre¬ 
serve a more uniform temperature. A heavier mulch 
than would insure those two considerations would 
serve no good end. 4. It should be taken off the plants. 
It is well to leave it between the rows and close to 
the plants. 5. Chas, Downing, Sharpless, Parker 
Earle, Cumberland Triumph. 
Diseaae of Horse-Chestnut; List of Pears. 
J. A. S., Annvllle, Pa .—1. I have two horse-chestnut 
trees about 10 inches in diameter, which about five 
feet from the ground have each woxmds, from which 
the sap is flowing continually. The bark has burst the 
entire distance of the flow of sap. The spot is about 
the size of a hand, and is covered with a scum. In 
that scum and through the entire opening of the bark 
are found great numbers of worms, about the size of 
what is called the “pin worm.” I would like very 
much to know the cause and cure. I fear, if not 
checked, the trees will die. I was advised to cover 
parts affected with lard and sulphur. Since the appli¬ 
cation their size has increased. 2. What pears would 
you recommend of the standard varieties ? Soil, a 
loose mountain, a little sandy, in Washington County, 
Md. I wish to plant several hundred this fall, and 
want them for market production. 
Ans. —1. We have never seen or heard of any such 
affection of horse-chestnut trees. The question is sub¬ 
mitted to our readers. 2. Angoul6me, Anjou, Bart¬ 
lett, Clairgeau, Easter Beurre, Giffard, Howell, Law¬ 
rence, Sheldon and Superfln. 
“Broken Wind” the Same as Heaves. 
E. E. B., Redding Center, Conn. —My mare has had a 
cough for about six months and the past week I have 
noticed that she breathes very heavily all the time. 
Some one has said she is broken winded. Is that a 
species of heaves ? Can it be cured ? Otherwise she 
seems well and in good condition. I have been told to 
use limewater. Is it good ? 
Ans. —Yes, broken wind and heaves are one and the 
same affection. It is a kind of asthma, usually result¬ 
ing from indigestion or other gastric derangement, 
due to continued overeating on coarse fodder, and 
especially on old musty or dusty hay. The disease is 
incurable ; but it can be relieved, or in some recent 
cases the symptoms almost entirely concealed, by 
careful dieting, Hiy or other coarse fodder should be 
given only in moderate quantity and of the best qual¬ 
ity. Dusty fodder of any kind should not be fed, or if 
necessary to feed it, let it be slightly dampened. 
“ Chop-feed” forms one of the best rations for a 
broken winded horse. Grass or other green feed is 
always in order. Water should be offered frequently, 
and not more than 10 or 12 quarts allowed atone time. 
One to two hours should follow a hearty feed or full 
drink, when possible, before being put to hard or fast 
work. If the time cannot be given, better to allow 
only half rations. Limewater is occasionally given, 
and may afford temporary relief in some cases. Arsenic 
gives better results. This is most conveniently given 
as Fowler’s solution of arsenic. One tablespoonful 
should be given once daily in the drinking water or 
feed, and continued for several weeks, if necessary. 
In old, or severe cases, the dose may be increased to 
two tablespoonfuls after the first week. f. l. k. 
Pleurisy in a Cow. 
A. 0. S., Weber County, Utah. —I am at a loss to know 
what was the matter with one of my cows that died a 
few days ago. I first observed that she did not chew 
her cud. I made a drench of linseed and flour and gave 
to her, and also some niter. About two days after, not 
noticing any improvement, I gave her some condition 
powders. I kept on giving her these powders till she 
died, at the end of two weeks. Her coat was sleek, 
and she did not lose flesh to any extent. I opened the 
body, and these are my observations: When her breast 
was opened, over 10 gallons of c’ear water came out. 
There was a very large amount of fat around the 
heart. I cut into it and over two gallons of pale yel¬ 
low water ran out. 
Ans. —From your description, I suppose the liquid 
was in the pleural cavity or sac surrounding the lungs, 
and due to pleuritis. Bat your description gives no 
clue to the probable cause of the trouble. The liquid 
from the heart was blood serum resulting from the 
coagulation of the blood in the heart and larger blood 
vessels. I fear, however, that you overestimated the 
quantity of liquid in both cases. A case of this kind 
cannot be treated by correspondence. The personal 
attention of a competent veterinarian would be 
needed properly to treat the symptoms as they de-, 
velop. F. L. K. 
Swelled Neck on a Calf. 
G. W. K,, Clark Station, Ky. —I have a calf which 
received some sort of injury on the left side of the 
neck when about three weeks old. When first no¬ 
ticed it was a swelling the size of a walnut, hard, not 
movable with the skin. The calf is now five months 
old, and the swelling reaches from the shoulder to the 
ear, making the neck twice as thick as it would natur¬ 
ally be. The body of this large swelling is neither 
soft nor hard, but about of the firmness of muscle. 
I have repeatedly tried to get it to “point,” but was 
unsuccessful. What shall I do ? The animal is, to 
all appearance, as healthy as any other in the herd ; 
eyes bright, appetite good, and the neck has never in¬ 
terfered with Its happiness. It is too valuable to 
butcher, else I would have disposed of it that way. I 
think the injury was caused by two calves getting 
their heads into the same stanchion while being fed. 
Ans. —Bathe that side of the neck two or three 
times a week with diluted compound tincture of 
iodine—one part of the compound tincture of iodine 
to three or four parts of soft water. Do not make 
any further effort to get it to “point,” unless it shows 
a decided tendency to gather at one place, f. l. k. 
