1895 r 
long, ragged-edged scar or slit made by the female of 
the snowy tree-cricket in laying her eggs ; when the 
branch is split open, the long, curved, yellow eggs are 
easily seen. Sometimes the smaller branches of fruit 
trees, grape vines, or raspberry canes are seriously 
injured by these ragged slits ; but excepting for this 
injury by the female, this cricket is not a noxious 
insect. Its diet is said to consist, in part at least, 
of plant lice and other small insects. The eggs are 
laid late in summer, but do not hatch until the early 
part of the following summer. If fruit trees or vines 
are being injured by the female in ovipositing, it is 
a simple matter to check the insect's increase by 
cutting out and burning the infested branches before 
growth begins in the spring ; and this is the only 
practical way of fighting the insect. I cannot explain 
the peculiar blister-like, irregular, long scar on the 
outer bark of the apple branch sent. The injury ex¬ 
tends only through the thin, outer layer of the bark, 
as the inner bark just beneath looks green and healthy 
when cut open. I found no trace of the work of insects, 
but would like to see specimens of the injury taken 
during the growing season, and as fresh as possible, 
before giving a definite opinion that it was not the 
work of insects. I never saw any similar injury. 
M. V. S. 
Second-growth Clover; Stalks Without Ears. 
G. F., West Alexandria, 0.— 1. Why is it that second-crop Medium 
clover hay will make horses slobber ? 2. Is a corn stalk that did 
not bear an ear, more nutritious than one that bore an ear ? It 
seems to me that it is more nutritious, because the elements that 
did not make an ear remained in the stalk. 
Ans.— 1. It is not positively known why second- 
growth clover causes horses to slobber. Some have 
suggested that it is due to an unusual amount of 
chlorophyl (the coloring matter in plants) ; others, 
that acrid weeds, which did not appear in the first 
crop, were present in the second, and that the slob¬ 
bering was due to these. 2. Some extended experi¬ 
ments have been conducted at Cornell University this 
year in this direction, by spaying or taking out the 
ears as they appeared. All of the chemical analyses 
are not yet completed. In the near future, the results 
will be published in bulletin form. Some experiments 
in 1891, gave results which led to the conclusion that 
the stalks which would have borne ears and were pre¬ 
vented from doing so, were richer in protein than 
those which produced ears. The experiments during 
the present year have been conducted with the view 
of determining certainly the exact facts, i. r. ROBERTS. 
An “All-Corn” Ration. 
II. F. K., Mexico, N. Y. —I have about one-half enough corn 
stalks and poor hay to keep my stock, and must use corn for the 
rest. Which is better, to have the corn ground, cob and all, or 
have it shelled first? In either case, how much should be fed to 
cows not in milk ? 
Ans. —It is not possible to make up a good ration 
from these feeds, for none of them is rich enough in 
muscle-makers to give a fair balance. If you feed 
enough corn meal to give the cows the needed muscle¬ 
making elements, you will have to feed too much of 
the fats, and thus lose them. It may pay better to 
sell corn and take the money to buy stronger feeds. 
If you will give us the prices at your market for other 
feeds, like bran, ground oats, linseed, gluten, or 
cotton-seed meals, we shall try to make these prices 
a text for some remarks on buying feed. 
The Ohmer Blackberry and Other Things. 
W. W. W., Tyrone, Pa.— 1. I wish to know whether it would be safe 
to plant the Miller Red raspberry here where the temperature in 
winter is often 15 degrees ; seldom, if ever, lower ? 2. How does 
the Ohmer blackberry compare with the Erie and Kittatinny in 
quality, size, hardiness and yield ? 3. Will you tell all about the 
Blue Victor potato ? 4. Where can I obtain a packet of New 
Imperial tomato seed, described in The R. N.-Y. of November 2 by 
A. A. H. ? 
Ans. —1. We think so. 2. The Ohmer has not 
fruited at the itural Grounds, so that we may not 
compare it with others. From what we have heard 
of it, the quality would be better than that of the 
Erie, though not so good as that of the Kittatinny. 
The canes are said to be hardy and productive ; the 
berry of large size, ripening late. 3. We have never 
tried the Blue Victor. 4. Wm. H. Maule, Philadel¬ 
phia, Pa. 
Grafting the Hickory. 
M. II. C., Bedford, N. Y .— Has any one been successful in graft¬ 
ing or otherwise propagating the Shellbark hickory ? If so, will 
he tell exactly how to do it ? 
ANS.— Mr. Trumpy, of the Kissena Nursery, of 
Flushing, L. I., was the first, so far as we know, to 
graft the hickory successfully. In our opinion, the 
best method of grafting is this : Cut off the stock to 
be grafted, horizontally, when the bark will peel 
readily. Then cut slits down from the top as 
many as there are scions to be inserted. Cut the 
scions as for ordinary wedge grafting, only, instead 
of cutting both sides of the end to be inserted, it is 
necessary to slant only one side. Now insert the scions 
in the slits of the stock between the bark and the 
wood, just as in budding ; wind a strong paper around 
the stock, having it reach nearly to the top of the 
HE RURAL NKW-YORKE 
scions. It will be seen that the scions are now vir¬ 
tually in a cup. This cup should be filled with a 
mixture of water and soil, adding water from time to 
time to.keep the soil from drying out. Thus the 
scions will be kept moist until they start to grow. 
This cup method of grafting, as we may call it, was 
first suggested by The R. N.-Y. many years ago, and 
we believe it to be the most effective method of graft¬ 
ing known. 
The Value of “Natural Plant Food.” 
F. P. B., Liberty Corners, Pa.—I inclose a few circulars sent me 
from “The Natural Plant Food Co.,” which I am inclined to think 
is a guilt-eilged. fraud. They are sending out the circulars quite 
liberally, as I have a nice lot of them. Wliatdo you think aboutit? 
Ans. —The circulars mentioned give an analysis 
which seems to indicate that this stuff is a raw phos¬ 
phate rock. There is nothing about it to show that 
there is any soluble plant food in it. Here is an ex¬ 
tract from one of the circulars in which the author 
undertakes to rehearse the values of this fertilizer in 
verse: 
In America, for ages long, buried in Nature’s womb, 
Quiescent lay a pregnant mass, impowered to assume 
Manural vigors, most complete, tit to idealize 
The husbandman’s unromanced thrift, which is to fertilize 
The soil, till vitally enriched, it serves vegetal need, 
And fecundates cmbryon life within the dormant seed. 
When America, amphibious, in water was submerged, 
Where’er a jutting limestone rock, or coral reef emerged, 
It aye became the roosting-place of monstrous water-fowl, 
Such as for food, on finny tribes accustomed are to prowl. 
These birds deposed excrements vast in centuries of time, 
Phospliorical, which leaching through the carbonate of lime, 
By chemic action were resolved for farmers’ happy fate, 
Into “The Natural Plant Food,” the world-famed phosphate 
Which seems of all America’s abundant treasure troves, 
Her palmary discovery—more than her lovely groves— 
Or blue-lit skies, or scented airs, or irisatcd streams, 
Whose beauties, gracefully inwove, tissue rare, tropic dreams 
Of pleasures sensuous and sweet — ol far niente hours; 
Where joys and raptures aye disport, and love’s born with the 
flowers. 
Plant Food, whose history is writ in coral reef and stone 
In guise of economic finds, “ must bear the palm alone.” 
For years it undeveloped lay, impregnating power vast 
Till accident fortuitous discovered it at last 
To be consummate plant-food, without manipulation— 
A sumum bonum for mankind—an inbred creation. 
In substance unctuous, it has an imbrowned creamy hue, 
Which science with commercial tints can artfully imbue, 
This Plant Food is a tonic—an elixir for the land, 
Is richly moisture-laden, can the longest droughts withstand— 
Resuscitates and nourishes the most exhausted soil, 
And well repays the husbandman’s hard, unremitting toil; 
It uniformly does its work, it has no varying mood, 
And is for potatoes a rarely alimcntal food. 
We have great faith in the healing and brain-nour¬ 
ishing powers of poetry ; but in spite of this larger- 
worded effort, we must say, don’t buy this “ Natural 
Plant Food.” .So far as we can see, its poetry is the 
best part of it. It may not be a “ gilt-edged fraud,” 
because some crops, like buckwheat, may be able to 
utilize a little of this insoluble phosphoric acid ; but 
we never advise the use of phosphoric acid unless it 
has been changed, either by the use of acid into “dis¬ 
solved rock ” by fire as in basic slag, or by organic 
growth, as in bone. This stuff is altogether too 
“ natural” to serve as an artificial manure.. We would 
about as soon think of using maple sawdust instead 
of maple sugar. 
A Sour Soil in Georgia. 
J. B. M., Clayton, Ga .— I have a piece of black land that will 
not grow anything but poor grass. It looks as though it is full of 
vegetable matter, when turned up. As ours is not a limestone 
country, I wish to know whether lime is the best tiling to put on 
it. If so, how many bushels or pounds should be applied jjer 
acre ? What time of the year is the best to put it on ? 
Ans. —We think that lime will benefit that soil. 
We would use at the rate of 2,500 pounds per acre, 
and harrow it well in after plowing next spring. If 
you can buy cotton-hull ashes at a cheap rate, we 
would prefer to use 3,000 pounds instead of the lime. 
They contain not only lime, but potash and phos¬ 
phoric acid, and will, probably, give all the plant 
food you need for the present. 
Help for the Deaf. 
.1. W. B., Franklin, 'Venn. —The Ii. N.-Y., in the article concern¬ 
ing “anchylosis,” page 768, mentioned a “big rubber fan with an 
edge of metal that sometimes assists the hearing.” I have often 
heard of the same thing, but never knew where to write for it. I 
have always been under the impression that it would help me. I 
would like to test it to see whether it is what I need. My deafness 
is not caused by anchylosis, but comes from running of the ears, 
as I had scarlet fever when quite young. 
Ans. —The device is known as the Audo fan. Most 
of the surgical implement dealers in large cities sell 
these fans, but they are not in general use, and are 
quite expensive. If you wish to test their value, take 
a light palm leaf or Japanese fan that will bend 
easily, and fasten a slip of light tin to the outer edge. 
Bend the tin over the edge and hammer it down fiat 
so that it will stay on the fan. Then put the metal 
between your teeth, hold the fan handle in your hand 
and bend the fan so that it will curve out. If there is 
any help for you in this method, you will know it 
from this experiment. We know people who have a 
metal attached to the rim of the hat and hold it be¬ 
tween their teeth at church or meeting. From your 
R. 857 
description, we doubt whether your form of deafness 
will be helped in this way. We think, however, that 
it could be helped more easily than a genuine case of 
anchylosis by the proper treatment. 
An Onion Fertilizer Reviewed. 
II. A. II., Center Lebanon, Me.—I have tliree-fourths of an acre 
of land to sow to onions, beets, parsnips, etc., and purpose to 
apply 10 loads of cow manure, worth $20; 200 pounds of nitrate 
of soda, $4.50; 400 pounds of muriate of potash, $9; 1,000 pounds 
of bone meal, $10.50. Would you suggest any changes? Would 
the bone meal be sufficiently soluble for the first crop? Would I 
need acid phosphate with so much bone meal ? 
Ans. —Our own plan would be to use 800 pounds of 
bone and 400 pounds of acid phosphate, instead of 1,000 
pounds of bone. Our idea is that a quantity of sol¬ 
uble phosphoric acid is always advisable in growing 
vegetables, for the benefit of the very young plants. 
To Keep Timber from Rotting. 
G. A. S., Freestone, Ky. —What will keep a pine stick from rot, 
such as we use for derricks, booms and masts in our quarry ? We 
can’t make a boom log last over four years, and they are very 
expensive. 
Ans. —Chestnut or cedar would be much better than 
pine, where exposed to moisture, and any timber may 
be made to last much longer under such conditions, 
by soaking it in creosote, or, what is a very fair sub¬ 
stitute, hot coal tar. If possible, the timber should 
be immersed in the hot tar and allowed to soak in it 
for some time ; but if this cannot be done, something 
may be gained in durability by painting the timber 
with the hot tar. 
Some Raspberries for Canada. 
J.M.M., Wellburn, Ont. —1. If the Cuthbert raspberry were cut 
down to the ground in the spring, would the new canes produce a 
crop the same year ? 2. What are six of the best red raspberries 
combining large size, productiveness, and good quality? 3. Are 
the “ Pride of the Hudson ” and the “ Hudson River Antwerp” 
the same or different berries? 4. Which is the best autumnal 
bearing blackcap ? 
Ans. —The Cuthbert raspberry bears fruit only upon 
the shoots which start from last year’s growth. If, 
then, you cut last year’s canes to the ground, most 
of the crop would necessarily be sacrificed. 2. Col¬ 
umbian, Cuthbert, Turner, Loudon, Miller, and Marl¬ 
boro. 3. The Bride of the Hudson is a seedling of 
Antwerp and, perhaps, a trifle hardier. 4. Gault. 
Grain for a Jersey Cow. 
W. J., Camden, Del .— Would you advise a ration of corn meal 
and wheat bran for a Jersey cow, the corn ground with the cob ? 
If so, what quantity of each? I use Crimson clover hay for cut 
feed, and corn fodder for uncut feed. 
Ans. —For a single cow, you can make a simple 
ration by taking equal parts by weight of bran and 
corn-cob meal, and feeding it with the hay and corn 
fodder. For a herd of cows, you could, doubtless, 
buy foods that would make a more economical ration. 
Paralysis in Hind Legs of Calf. 
W. C. R., Speonk, L. I .— I have a Jersey calf seven months old. 
She was all right and healthy until I left her out all night in 
October. It was not very cold and she was in a sheltered place, 
but next morning she lay on the ground unable to move. I gave 
aconite and warm injections; also applied blankets wrung from 
hot water. She eats well, but has no use of her hind legs and 
seems weak across the loins. I have had her in a sling ; other¬ 
wise she lies down. When she tries to get up she can use the 
fore legs. When lying down she stretches the hind legs out the 
whole length, toward the fore legs. 
Ans. —Give the calf a course of nux vomica ; begin 
with one-fourth teaspoonful doses, once daily, for 
three days ; then twice daily for a like period ; after 
which gradually increase the dose until twitcliings of 
the muscles are observed, when the nux should be 
discontinued, or the dose reduced. Also rub the loins 
every two or three days with sweet oil and strong 
aqua ammonia well shaken together, and continue 
until the skin is well blistered. F. I., k. 
A Mercury Blister; Shoeing Flat Feet. 
C. G., East Springfield, Pa.— 1. On page 547 of The It. N.-Y., binio- 
dide of mercury made into an ointment, was given as a remedy 
for curb on a horse. I have tried this, and it seems to do no 
good. Is biniodide the same as iodide of mercury ? The drug¬ 
gist said it is. He used a dry, red powder, and mixed it with 
vaseline, according to his books, but it did not blister. Please 
give the proportions and just how the ointment is made to cure 
curb. 2. Which is the best way to shoe a horse that is flat-footed 
and inclined to stumble ? The stumbling is only in the front feet. 
Ans. —1. There are two iodides of mercury, the mer¬ 
curous iodide, or lower iodide, which is green in color; 
and the mercuric iodide, which is red or vermilion 
colored. This red iodide or biniodide, is the one much 
used for blistering, and is commonly sold under the 
name of red ointment. The proportion of the bin¬ 
iodide used in a blistering ointment, is usually either 
one or two parts of the iodide to eight parts of lard or 
vaseline. When two parts are used, the ointment should 
be used with care, otherwise too severe blistering may 
result and be followed by sloughing and blemishing. 
2. The flat foot, especially if tender, should be shod 
with a broad-webbed shoe, beveled on the upper sur¬ 
face towards the inner side, so as to remove the 
pressure from the sole, and cause the weight to be 
sustained by the wall. A bar shoe is often used to 
advantage in such cases. The hind feet are rarely 
flat-footed. f. l. kilborne. 
