1895 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
5o5 
that if it has not been a success, it has, at least, not 
been a failure. That we are not discouraged in our 
efforts, is proved by the fact that we had January 22, 
1895, 34 strong, healthy chicks in one of our home¬ 
made brooders in the house, and their three hen 
mothers were sitting on 54 more eggs. I have exchanged 
the stove lamp in the brooder for a safety lamp ; it 
doesn’t require so much watching. 
Our experience in hatching the 34 chicks was unique- 
On Christmas Day, three hens were set with 18 eggs 
each. January 3, 10 were tested out, and January 15, 
one chick was found crushed in the nest. Immedi¬ 
ately the incubator was heated, and the eggs washed 
and put in. By January 17, 20 strong chicks were put 
into the brooder. That evening the lamp was put out 
as 48 hours has always been the limit for hatching. 
The next morning, one lone, lorn chick was discovered 
peeping with cold in the incubator; an egg was 
broken, and another live chick found. The eggs were 
put into warm water, the incubator reheated, and the 
eggs put in again ; from that time to January 22, 15 
more chicks hatched, though the last were so weak 
that they did not live. This made, with the chick the 
old hen killed, and the egg broken, 38 live chickens. 
Six eggs were spoiled. This was a very good hatch, 
considering the extreme cold weather after Christmas. 
The only way that we can account for it is, that on 
account of the cold weather, and the not very tight 
condition of the henhouse, the eggs were not warmed 
equally. It would have been such a pity to lose those 
13 strong, little ehicics. moss. 
[Every query must be accompanied by the name and address of 
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Weeds in Crimson Clover Seed. 
W. E. T., Laddonia, Mo. —I send by mail a vial containing rock 
found in Crimson clover seed. What are the names of the black 
seeds in the vial ? I also send another vial containing two bugs 
which I found in my potato field, killing the Colorado beetle. They 
have small spears in front, coiled under the body, with which 
they puncture the beetle and are able to carry the largest young 
beetles on their spears. 
An 8.—The seeds found in the clover were the Corn 
thistle (Agrostemma Githag-o); Puccoon (Lithosper- 
mum arvense), five ; Medick (Medicago lupulina), two; 
Thistle (Cnicus sp.), one, and a quantity of seed which 
come near to that of Ellisia (Ellisia Nyctelea), one of 
the water leaf family. The two bugs are Spined 
Soldier bugs, Podisus spinosis. These bugs are valu¬ 
able allies of the potato grower, and very materially 
assist in checking the increase of the Colorado potato 
beetle by feeding upon the larvae of that insect. 
Crops to Save the Hay. 
T. It. A., Herkimer County, N. Y. —Is there any kind of fodder 
crop that can be planted in July or the fore part of August, and 
be cut and cured before snow comes (usually in November) to be 
used in the place of hay for feeding cows ? Hay will not be one- 
half of a crop around here, and the price will be too high to buy 
with economy. What would The R. N.-Y. advise a farmer to do 
in such a case ? 
Ans. —We doubt whether any crop you can plant 
now will mature in your latitude, though it might be 
worth while to try some quick maturing corn if your 
location is not subject to early frosts. For weeks 
past, The R. N.-Y. has been urging farmers to plant 
corn for fodder to help save the hay crop. Look over 
some of the recent issues. Better sow Crimson clover 
in the corn at the last cultivation, and this will fur¬ 
nish fall and early spring pasture, if it make a good 
growth, as will early-sown rye. Flat turnips may 
also be sown and these furnish a valuable addition to 
the feed, although not taking the place of dry fodder. 
Special care should be taken in harvesting the corn 
crop that it may all be saved in the best possible con¬ 
dition for the cattle. 
Crimson Clover and Wood Ashes. 
J. F. S., Fairview, West Fa.— 1. Will it do to sow Timothy with 
Crimson clover if sown the latter part of July ? 2. How soon can 
strawberry plants be set with safety ? 3. I am sowing my garden 
to Crimson clover just as I quit working the beans, peas, potatoes, 
cabbages, etc. Will it be a suitable size to plow under for fertil¬ 
izing purposes by May 1 to 15 ? 4. Will wood ashes do to mix 
with onion fertilizer ? 
Ans —1. We doubt it. We have had no experience 
with this combination, but hope to try it this season. 
2. You can set potted plants at anytime now. 3. That 
is just what we are doing. We expect, with a favor¬ 
able season, to have clover large enough in the fall 
to plow in—even though it should die during the win¬ 
ter. 4. We would never mix wood ashes with any 
other fertilizer. Use them alone, and add whatever 
goes with them in another application. 
A Difference in Crimson Clover. 
S. It., Hartwick, N. Y .— Does the location make the difference in 
Crimson clover as to hardiness, or is there really a difference in 
the clover? Will it smother if covered with from two to three feet 
of snow through the winter ? 
Ans. —There are evidently several sub-varieties of 
this clover, some of which are more valuable than 
others. “ Acclimated” seed from plants grown as far 
north as possible, will be best for you. The clover 
will stand a covering of snow. In most of last year’s 
experiments, the crop wintered well, but some failed 
because it was injured by the freezing and thawing of 
the bare ground in spring. 
Clover Hay for Horses. 
J. II. II., Indianapolis, Ind. —“As Mr. Powell says, the time is 
coming when clover hay will be priced above Timothy in the city 
markets. It is already, in the English markets! It is worth more, 
and should bring more !” Do you mean this as regards horses ? 
People here have a prejudice against feeding clover hay to horses 
except in limited quantities, or as chop feed, claiming that it pro¬ 
duces heaves. As we have no Timothy this season, an opinion 
will have especial weight. 
Ans. —Certainly we mean it as regards horses. 
Clean, bright clover hay, well cured and free from 
dust is excellent for horses. It is more difficult to 
cure in good condition than Timothy hay, and the 
feeding of that which is improperly cured has prob¬ 
ably created the prejudice. Most stock will eat clover 
hay more greedily than they will Timothy, and for 
this reason, horses may gorge themselves injuriously 
if permitted to do so. The hay must be good, and 
must be judiciously fed ; then there will be no 
trouble. 
Turning the Sod in an- Orchard. 
It. S. L., Washington, D. C. —When should I plow my apple and 
peach orchards ? They have been In sod for two years, and 1 
wish to turn it down, but am told to delay till later in the fall as 
otherwise a second growth might be induced. The sod is rather 
heavy, and there is considerable matter to turn under. 
Ans. —It is preferable to plow orchards that are in 
grass, in the fall, winter or early spring. To plow 
under a sod in mid-summer, is likely to cause too late 
a growth of the trees. Early and frequent stirring of 
the soil should be practiced in all orchards to stimulate 
the trees to do their best early in the season. Deep 
plowing in summer might seriously injure the trees, 
and deep stirring of the soil in old orchards is to be 
avo'ded at all times of the year. u. e. van deman. 
Cotton-Oil Waste for Fertilizer. 
A. A'., Rodney, Miss. —Wbat can I put into cotton-seed-oil tank 
settlings so that it may be used for fertilizer ? 
Ans. —We cannot answer this question, as we have 
no analysis of this material. Better send a sample to 
your State experiment station (Agricultural College, 
Miss.,) for analysis and advice about using. 
Onions Need a Lunch. 
J. II. C., Chemung County, N. Y .— Why will not onions do well 
after cabbage ? Just what does the cabbage take from the soil 
that the onions need ? Is it not potash ? If so, how should I 
apply it to benefit my crop? The onions are at a standstill. 
Ans. — While we have no definite experimental 
knowledge bearing on the subject, it would seem that 
J. H. C.’s suggestion is probably correct. We know 
that cabbage takes up enormous amounts of nitrogen 
and potash from the soil, and also that this form of 
plant food is used abundantly by onions. I would 
suggest that he apply some muriate of potash and 
nitrate of soda on the surface. If he has good 
wood ashes at hand,*the potash in that form will prob¬ 
ably act more quickly than in the form of muriate. 
Geneva Ex. Station. l. l. van slyke. 
A Trio of Bugs. 
J. W., Waterloo, Ind. —I send specimens of some bugs that are 
on my potatoes. They are brown, with yellow spots on the wings. 
There is also some kind of small hoppers of a light green color, 
which hop very quickly. They stay on the undersides of the 
leaves. As soon as I touch the vine, I see them swarm. Another 
little black bug is about the size of a pinhead. When I try to put 
my finger on them, they hop. What are they? What are the 
names of these three bugs ? What is the remedy for them ? I 
send you a few leaves ; they are all eaten full of holes ; they dry 
up at the end of the leaf first, and so on until they are all dead. 
Is it potato blight ? If so what shall I do for them ? 
Ans. —The “ brown bugs with yellow spots” are the 
Tarnished Plant bug (Lygus pratensis) which I dis¬ 
cussed in detail in The R. N.-Y. for May 11. I do not 
recognize the “ light green hopper” mentioned; it is 
probably allied to the familiar Rose Leaf hopper. The 
“little black hopping bug” is doubtless the Cucumber 
fleabeetle (Crepidodera cucumeris). This little beetle 
has long been known as an enemy to cucumbers and 
melons, but in recent years seems to have turned its 
attention more to potatoes, and now, in some localities, 
rivals the well-known Colorado Potato beetle in num¬ 
bers and destructiveness. It eats small round holes 
in the leaves, often literally riddling them. All of 
these insects may be checked by a thorough applica¬ 
tion of kerosene emulsion, diluted with nine parts of 
water. Paris-green seems to have but little effect on 
the little Flea-beetle, although they are chewing in¬ 
sects, and it could have no effect on the other two 
insects, as they obtain their food by sucking it from 
beneath the surface of the leaves. I could not deter¬ 
mine from the dry specimens whether the leaves were 
affected with potato blight fungus. Very likely they 
may be. This blight can be held in check with the 
Bordeaux Mixture in two or three applications, be¬ 
ginning as soon as the first indications of it appear. 
This Mixture will also check the Flea-beetle. Try 
both the emulsion and Bordeaux Mixture. M. v. s. 
How to Kill Roaches. 
R. F. L., Greenville, Va. —How can I rid my house of roaches ? 
Ans. —There is nothing more effective and safe than 
Buhach. This must be blown into the cracks and 
crevices of the rooms they infest. The roaches will 
in an hour or less leave their hiding places, and soon 
become paralyzed. Then they should be gathered 
and destroyed or many will come to life again. 
Pruritis in a Cow. 
W. II. S., Valley Cottage, N. Y. —My neighbor has a four-year- 
old Jersey cow that was taken about six weeks ago with an itch¬ 
ing about the lower part of the belly. She would lick it and make 
it sore. That is now healed, but the affection is now over the 
back, loins and sides, and if he lets her loose, she will lick aud 
then bite the flesh off, and goes perfectly crazy. If let alone I 
think she would kill herself. She is in good condition and healthy, 
and the sores heal in two days if let alone. She will be fresh in a 
month’s time. He has had a veterinary to see her, and he calls it 
mange. He has given her internally one tablespoonfui of Fow¬ 
ler’s solution three times a day, sulphur, a tablespoonful three 
times a day, changed about from week to week. He has washed 
her externally witli tar soap, kerosene, tobacco water, creollne, 
salt and water, and a number of ointments. He has also given 
her twice one pound of Epsom salts, and now says if the owner 
gets any kind of an offer, he would better sell her. What is the 
trouble ? 
Ans. —The case is evidently one of inveterate 
pruritis, or nervous irritation of the skin, instead of 
mange. The treatment which you have given, if 
thorough, should have relieved any case of mange. 
Try the following course of treatment : Internally 
give twice daily on the feed, or in a drench, two 
tablespoonfuls of sulphate of soda, and one teaspoonful 
of powdered nux vomica. Externally, wash the skin 
occasionally with water made slightly sour with oil* 
of vitriol. (The wash should be quite sour to the 
taste, but not strong enough to burn the tongue.) If 
this wash afford no relief, apply the following lotion 
to the itching surface : Two drams of carbonate of 
potash, and four grains of cyanite of potassium, dis¬ 
solved in one quart of soft water. F. L. k. 
Premature Parturition in a Heifer. 
A. J. S., New Millport, Pa.—I have never had anything like mis¬ 
carriage or abortion in my herd, but I have a strange case upon 
which I would like the opinion of Dr. Kilborne and some of the 
practical dairymen in The R. N.-Y. family. I have a Guernsey 
heifer that attracts much attention on account of her beauty and 
appearance as a jjrospective dairy cow. She is about 21 mouths 
old, and was served October 29, 1894. About three or four days, 
or, perhaps, a week ago, one of my men said to me that I must be 
mistaken about the time of service, for she had considerable of 
an udder, and the appearance of a cow soon to calve. Last even¬ 
ing, when we brought the cattle from the field, she seemed to be In 
heat; but I left her in the yard and this morning the other cows 
were troubling her. I noticed that her udder was swollen, and 
milked her. I examined her, but could not tell whether she had 
lost her calf or not. She was served, and forthwith commenced 
to discharge a bloody mucus, such as a cow will pass after being 
fresh two or three days. I put her by herself, and kept the other 
cows away from her. After discharging a very large quantity of 
this seeming decayed flesh and bloody water, she discharged a 
yellowish fluid, and in an hour gave birth to a heifer calf. It 
lived for nearly a half hour, lowing just the same as a matured 
calf, only very weak. I do not suppose that any one can tell the 
cause. The placenta appears to have something like a cancerous 
growth in several places. Has any one known of similar cases, 
aud what is the advice as to breeding her, if she live and does 
well, as soon as she comes in heat again ? Or would it be better 
to wait ? In her biting aud licking herself, she got hold of a teat 
and commenced to suck, I believe from the pain. 
Ans.— The premature birth was evidently due, 
either to disease of the fetal membranes, or to the ser¬ 
vice of the bull. Cows have occasionally been known 
to appear to be in heat, and to take the bull while preg¬ 
nant. The parturition may have been due simply to 
the service. If the discharge passed by the heifer 
immediately following the service, was due to a dis¬ 
eased condition of the membrane, that would account 
for her condition and the premature parturition. You 
are probably correct as to the time of service. The 
heifer would naturally have been making bag at this 
time, as they usually “spring” for one to two months, 
or even longer, previous to the first calving. The 
calf being only 231 days old, could not be expected to 
live long ; although a few cases are on record where 
they have lived when born at that age. The excre¬ 
ment you mention as being passed by the calf, was 
the “ meconium,” the natural contents of the bowels 
at birth, which is usually passed soon after birth. 
Calves which are deprived of the “ colostrum” or first 
milk of the dam, often suffer from retention of the 
meconium, giving rise to constipation. I would advise 
waiting two or three months before breeding again ; 
or longer if she has not apparently entirely recovered. 
If she continue sucking herself, use some anti-suck¬ 
ing device at once, so as to break up the habit before 
it becomes confirmed. F. L. kilborne. 
