RURAL n 
idir 
COJJS. 
GRASS FOR SPRING PASTURAGE. 
A correspondent in Mauisou Co., N. Y., 
asks what is tlio bast grass to grow in that 
locality for early spring pasturage. We re¬ 
ply that, in our judgment, based upon what 
we have seen, there is no grass (so called) 
equal to orchard grass. We believe, except 
on limestone soils, in the Middle States, it 
excels the Kentucky Blue Grass. But if we 
had a stock of milch cows for which we de¬ 
sired early green food, we should sow winter 
rye liberally every full for early pasturage or 
for soiling. It is as much a grass as orchard 
or any other grass, is nutritious and will 
furnish ll»e most, Lii« «;nli«st and heal spring 
forage. II our readers have conflicting or 
continuing experience, we shall he glad to 
hear from them. It is not too late to sow 
rye now. 
— Since writing the foregoing we acci¬ 
dentally came upon a statement, hy A. B. 
Allen of this city, made in the Country 
Gentleman under date of May 16, in which 
lie says:—“ 1 have thought it might interest 
some of your readers to give its (orchard 
grass) bight, as well as that of clover and 
rye, on t he first of May, at Tom’s River, near 
the Jersey sea coast. The soil where my 
observation was made, is a light, thin gravel 
or course sand ; very poor nat urally, and was 
only moderately manured previous to the 
sowing of the seed of the above crops. The 
orchard grass then measured from 18 to 26 
inches in bight, the average probably about 
18 inches. Clover was 7 to 12 inches—aver 
age about 10 inches. Rye was 3 feet to 4 
feel 3 inches—average, say, 39 inches, and 
nearly all headed out. Recollect that the 
above was on very poor land. Had it been 
rich, naturally, the growth would doubtless 
have been several inches higher. 
“ I visited my farm at this time and im¬ 
mediately commenced cutting the rye for 
soiling Diestock. The animals took hold 
of it greedily, and continue to prefer it to 
cut hay, wet and mixed up with meal. Al¬ 
though 1 continue this feed to them in suffi¬ 
cient abundance to keep them from dunging 
loose, and especially from scouring, which I 
consider injurious and weakening, and par¬ 
ticularly to be avoided as the warm, relax¬ 
ing spring weather comes on, and more es¬ 
pecially with bard working animals. 
“In the vicinity of the city of New York, 
on the first of A pril, I observed that orchard 
grass was a good bile for cattle, and I saw 
milk cows picketed on it. The leaves are 
broad like oats, and an animal soon tills its 
stomach on such pasture. Another advan- 
lage this grass 1ms over most others is, the 
stems are large, and cattle cannot bite them 
off sufficiently close at. this early season to 
injure a second growth, as they will of other 
anti a more tender kind; and yet the stems, 
though large, are rich and juicy.” 
-- 
would yield two tons of hay to the acre. 
As for pasturage for bees, when it was in 
blossom it was alive with them. On a dry 
soil it Avill not grow any longer than the 
common white clover. It any one has found 
it different I should like to hear from them. 
—James Harris, Chautauqua Co ., N. Y. 
A Pennsylvania FuiMor’a Seedllnsr l’otnio. 
I will give you my experience in raising 
potatoes from seed. The first of May, 1870, 
I sowed in my garden a few seeds from balls 
taken from the varieties of potatoes called 
“Buckeye,” and the old Nesbannock. Suc¬ 
ceeded in growing sixteen vines which had 
tubers on ranging in size from a pea to that 
of a small butternut. There were eight dif¬ 
ferent kinds. The largest vine produced two 
potatoes, the largest of the lot, of which I 
wish in particular to speak. 1 will say, how¬ 
ever, two of the other kinds are very promis¬ 
ing. In April, 1871, I cut those t wo tubers 
so as to make live hills ; put about one 
quart of liog manure in each hill, put on a 
lillle dirt and planted, Hoed them well; 
the vines grew largo. Dug them September 
3d, 1871; bad twenty-eight pounds of sound 
potatoes resembling the old Nesbannock 
very much. Six of the largest tubers weighed 
seven pounds two ounces. The smallest of 
Die six, one pound one ounce; the largest 
one pound ten ounces; average weight, one 
pound three ounces. Now, 1 think twenty- 
eight pounds from one little seed in two 
years not very bad. My wife cooked one 
mess of them and we thought them equal to 
Die Neshnmiock in their palmiest days. If 
I live to see them fully matured, you will 
he apt to hear from me again.—D. W. Hop¬ 
kins, Crawford CoPa, 
Such experiments as Mr. Hopkins has 
detailed are exceedingly useful to farmers. 
They may result in something new and bet¬ 
ter than we have; hut in any ease they com¬ 
pensate, because they promote investigation, 
study, observation and a better knowledge 
Of the physiological development and nature 
of plants. The wonder is that so few take 
time to learn what they may with very lillle 
trouble and expense. 
arm Jmplrmrnts. 
BOYER’S FARM GRIST MILL AND 
HORSE POWER. 
We present herewith an illustration of 
the Premium Farm Grist Mill, and Burt’s 
Union Horse Power, as manufactured hy 
W. L. Boyer & Brother, Philadelphia, Pa., 
We have known of the performance of the 
Premium Farm Grist Mill, for a dozen years 
past, both at the manufactory of Messrs. 
struction that the.}' can he removed and re¬ 
placed without disturbing any part of the 
machine. 
For further information address Wm. L. 
Boyer & Bro., 2101 Germantown Avenue, 
Philadelphia, Pa. 
NOTES AND QUERIES. 
Planter Sowina; Machine. 
S. C. V., Kalamazoo, Mich., is informed 
that some of our correspondents have com¬ 
mended “ Keith’s Plaster Distributor,” made, 
we believe, at Pontiac, Mich. It bolts the 
tree, one of our prominent nurserymen 
invited the ladies and gentlemen of our y,,’ 
ciely, and others, to a “ basket pic-nic ’* ■ i 
his place last week. At 12 o’clock noon 
about fifty ladies and gentlemen were -is 
sembled, most of them hringine 
“ basket,” which said baskets were dul 
taken in charge by an impromptu commit¬ 
tee of ladies, and their contents duly spread 
on commodious tables erected under a spa 
cious arbor. At 1 o’clock ail were iuvitJa 
to partake of the repast, which you may 
imagine was as appetizing as it was beauti¬ 
ful. Fluids in Die shape of excellent cider 
and some choice native wine were abundant 
and for about an hour the consumption of 
good things was uninterrupted. At the 
close of the repast, the company dispersed 
for a walk about the grounds and nursery 
and at 2 o’clock again assembled to view 
and discuss the horticultural display of 
flowers, fruits, vegetables, etc. At about 4 
o’clock most of Die company departed, all 
more or less refreshed and enlightened. I 
have thus in brief given you an outline of 
what are deemed here very pleasant ami 
instructive meetings, combining the utile 
with the dolce in an eminent degree. 
Oct. 1,1871. 
T. 
boyer’s farm grist mill and horse power. 
NOTES FOR HORSEMEN. 
Shell Hone. 
I wj^uld like to ask if any of your numer¬ 
ous readers can give me a remedy for shell 
hone. 1 have a very good mare troubled 
every few vlecks with lameness, and I should 
like to know a remedy if there is one.— Sub¬ 
scriber, South Pownal, VI, 
FIELD NOTES AND QUERIES. 
Couch Gruitx. 
H. A. L. will find in the present and past 
volumes of the Rural New-Yorker, sun¬ 
dry ways given for destroying this grass. 
Plniiting Wheat. 
Wilt, some farmer inform me how much 
wheat to put on an acre when planting, and 
how far apart l should put the drill for hoe¬ 
ing ?—a. p. v. 
JYtiniii-nntu m, Floriilu Tnrnlpx. 
In Rural New-Yorker of Oct. 7, I no¬ 
tice a statement by A. Ross of Florida, Dial 
lie had raised a turnip that weighed ten and 
one-half pounds. 1 should think Florida 
Would be ashamed of herself uOt. to produce 
a larger turnip than Dial. Last year, away 
up in frigid Minnesota, 1 found a turnip in 
market Ihat weighed fourteen pounds plump, 
and was perfectly sound mid good.—C. D. 
M., Faribault, Minn., Oct., 1871. 
Holm! Cough Remedy. 
I saw in the Rural New-Yorker of 
Sept. 30 a question, asked hy one of your 
subscribers, as to wlml would cure a horse’s 
cough. Take a strip of muslin and spread 
it with pine tar, and wrap it around the bit ; 
keep it in his month two or three hours per 
day, until the cough is cured ; it lias always 
cured forme.—A Subscriber, Madison, N. Y. 
Guinea Corn—Morn hum Corn mini, 
I he inclosed seed came than a plant 
closely resembling cane and sorghum. Still, 
good judges say it is nciiher. So you are 
appealed lo for name, qualities, &c. —F. 
Dibble, Palmetto, Ala,, near Cedar Keys. 
I he plant is one o! the many species or 
varieties ot sorghum, and is commonly 
known as Guinea com. It is sometimes 
cultivated for the seed, which is produced 
in a very dense panicle. Our best authori¬ 
ties upon Die OraminetB consider this as only 
a variety of Sorghum vulgare, and not a dis¬ 
tinct species. 
Alsike Clover. 
I see in the Rural New-Yorker, Oct. 
7, S. C. P., Chautauqua Co., wants to hear 
from those who have had experience with 
Alsike clover. Here is mine:—I sowed 
some on a gravelly soil; it grew about half 
as large as the common red clover. Sowed 
some on a dry, mucky soil; it grew about 
eight indies in bight. The red clover and 
herds grass beside it would yield a ton of 
hay to the acre. I had some on a very wet, 
mucky piece of laud ; it was first rate; it 
Alum l'ur Founder. 
W. H. W., Library, Pa., asks how alum 
is to be giveu for founder. Let one man hold 
the horse by the halter, then have the alum 
pulverized and one man take the horse by 
the longue with one hand and with Iheother 
lay a large tablespoon fill of alum as far down 
his throat as ho can, on the root of his tongue. 
Be sure and pul! the tongue out well. Let 
the tongue loose and the alum will go down. 
ReuriiiK and fMiyinit. 
A. W. Miller, Bureau Co., 111., writes us 
that the rearing and shying of horses is to a 
great extent hereditary, in his opinion, and 
lie is a breeder of twenty-five years’ experi¬ 
ence. Doubtless this is true in many cases; 
for animals do inherit a nervous organization. 
But then horses often shy at objects after 
they have been once frightened, who never 
shied before. 
Warts ou Horses. 
I have four horses, and around their noses 
and mpmhs they are full of warts—very 
small ones —hut they grow fast. Please 
give me a remedy if you have one.—D. II. 
IS WEICLY. 
A safe and efficacious remedy, it is said 
by those who have tried it, is a salve made 
of two drachms of crude sal ammoniac, one 
ounce of powdered savin leaves and one 
ounce of lard. Castor oil, it is said, applied 
to the warts daily, will cause them to dis¬ 
appear speedily. 
MaRlas- a Willie Spot on a Horse. 
J. B. Lee asks “ is there any way by which 
1 can cause a while spot to grow on a horse’s 
luce without injury to him ?” Certainly, sir. 
Take a razor and shave off the hair Die size 
and form you wish Die blaze or star to be; 
then take a small quantity oil of vitriol and 
with a feather anoint the part once, which 
will be quite sufficient. After Die applica¬ 
tion ot the vitriol the part will become a little 
sore or inflamed which mav he readily re¬ 
moved and healed up by washing the sore 
with copperas water. Great cure should he 
taken to prevent the vitriol from getting on 
clothes as it will entirely destroy them._ 
Wm. Kuykendall, Clark Co., 111. 
Boyer and in the hands of farmers through¬ 
out the country, East and West, and can 
say, of our personal knowledge, that iL is a 
reliable and efficient mill, and does its work 
rapidly. The grinding surfaces are so ar¬ 
ranged as to possess Hell-sharpening quali¬ 
ties, which removes Die objection that iron 
mills soon wear out; and the mill can be run 
for years without any repairs. They are ef¬ 
ficient for grinding any kind of grain for 
feed, either tine or coarse—for making good 
corn meal for family use—for grinding and 
bolting wheat, in one operation, producing 
good Jamily flour, and lor grinding corn in 
the ear. 
These Mills are adapted to one or two 
horse railway power, or two or four horse 
lever power, or gin, steam or water power, 
and will grind corn, rye, outs, wheat, &c., 
fine or coarse,as may be desired. Driven by 
a two borse railway power, or four horse 
lover power, it will grind from eight to i welvc 
bushelB per hour, and crack from fifteen to 
thirty bushels pej9j<un and driven by a one. 
horse railway hi' a two horse lever 
power, it will gnnd from four to six bushels 
fine per hour, or crack eight to fifteen bush¬ 
els per hour. The grinding parts of Die mill 
can be replaced at a small expense. It is 
also arranged with steel cutlers to grind corn 
in Die ear. It occupies a space of about 
three feet square, and weighs 275 pounds. 
Price, with Sieve arranged for sifting Corn 
meal for family use, while grinding, §50; 
with Bolting Machine attached, lor making 
family flour, and the Sieve arrangement for 
making corn meal, §75. 
Burt’s Union House-Power is a stout 
and reliable machine, and, as will be seen by 
the cut, can be set to run at a low elevation, 
so that lor all ordinary purposes on the farm 
no other elevation is required than wlmt is 
already given by its construction, which re¬ 
moves the objection that so many have to 
railway powers. 
The arrangement of the running gear is 
almost entirely new. The links are made 
with cogs, and the driving gear wheel is 
placed back from Die end, and directly under 
the horse, and is of sufficient, diameter to 
cog into the chain links, both at Die lop and 
bottom of the gear wheel. By this device 
the propelling force of the horse is always 
acting direelly on the top of the driving gear 
on the same plane, and consequently there is 
no loss of power or increase of friction. Also 
the returning sections of the chain on the 
bottom track are acted upon in the same 
manner as the top portion. The power thus 
acts directly on the chain to propel it up the 
inclined plane, thus the connecting pivots of 
the chain are relieved of all the strain and 
friction usually caused by passing the end 
track. 
By this cogging into both the top and bot¬ 
tom, a perfectly fimooth and regular motion is 
given to the chain. All the trembling and 
plaster through holes in a cylinder; is drawn 
hy one horse. We do not know the price 
nor name of manufacturer. 
Adjuxlalilt* Hair Holder. 
The accompanying cut represents a 
convenient, arrangement for filling grain 
bags, termed the Adjustable Bag Holder, 
invented and manufactured by Ira Ai.lkn 
<fc Co., Palmyra, N. Y. This machine 
holds the hag in the most convenient, 
position for scooping grain or filling from 
a basket or measure, and can he easily 
adjusted to any inclination desired. The 
hopper is made of galvanized iron, and it 
secures the mouth of the ha ip a groove in 
the platform by means of a lever at the back 
of the platform, thus holding it securely 
without danger of tearing. 
*antr department. 
SUNDRY LETTERS. 
jerking motion, usually caused by the sec¬ 
tions ol the chain passing the ends from Die 
top to the bottom track, is entirely avoided. 
Also, the difference in the tention of the 
chain, passing the ends, is entirely overcome, 
which dispenses with half the number of 
axles and wheels. All the connections or 
pivots, the axles and wearing surfaces, me 
chill-hardened and very durable. The gears 
and baud wheels arc readily changed from 
one side of the machine to the other. 
The links and treads are so constructed 
that the tread holds Die link and axle that 
support the horse, and dispenses with the 
supporting rod or axles extending across the 
chain. The treads are so simple in con- 
From Sprineflelib Mo. 
We are now at about the close of a very 
remarkable season. Up to about the middle 
of June we had frequent and refreshing 
rains, and Die early crops, garden vegeta¬ 
bles, etc., were unusually fine. The grass 
crop was also line and abundant, Since Die 
middle of June we have had scarcely a single 
really drenching rain ; light showers at rare 
and irregular intervals have scarcely served 
to keep the ground inoistenetl, and vet our 
corn crop will he a fair average. Wherever 
the soil has been well tilled Die heavy dews 
which bless our region, seem to have served 
instead of rain, and on all such farms the re¬ 
turns will be fair. 
Our apple crop this year is superb. The 
choicest sorts can he bought now from 30 to 
40 cents per bushel. As I said iu a former 
letter, this appears to he the home of the 
apple. I saw, at a recent, informal exhibi- 
lion of the Greene Co. Horticultural Society, 
some of (lie finesl specimens of Die Spilzen- 
berg, Newtown Pippin, Fall Pippin,Twen¬ 
ty-ounce, Lady Finger, Ram bo, Winter 
Sweet, etc,, I have ever met with at any ex¬ 
hibition, East or West. The Spitzenbergs, 
some of them, were over 12 inches in cir¬ 
cumference; Fall Pippins, over 14 inches, 
From Northampton Co., Vn. 
On looking at the map one can sec that 
Northampton Co., Va., is the lower one of 
the two Eastern Shore counties, separated 
from the mnin portion of the State hy the 
Chesapeake Bay on the west, and hounded 
on the east by tne Atlantic Ocean. But ii 9 
isolated position, fur from being a disadvan¬ 
tage, is one of its greatest blessings. The 
sea breeze moderates alike the cold of win¬ 
ter and heat of summer. While semi- 
tropical fruits and grains, figs, &e., can 
here survive the winter and flourish, the 
summers are far from being uncomfortable, 
fanned as the shore is hy air fresh from 
ocean. For the same reason lliis place v rec¬ 
ommended to consumptives, and weak lungs 
here strengthen in a marvelous manner. 
Any one who lias made even a brief visit 
to this section can testify to the delicious 
fish, crabs, terrapins, wild ducks, and cherry 
stone oysters that these waters afford the 
inhabitants. 
Eiistville, the county town, is in the mid¬ 
dle of a thickly settled neighborhood. The 
people are intelligent and pleasant, fashion¬ 
able in their dress mid style of living. 
Steamers running regularly from Baltimore 
and Norfolk to these wharves, keep up a 
constant intercourse with other parts of the 
world, and convey nil produce to market 
with little delay, Iron bit* or expend* In u 
short while, however, the railroad which 
now stops at Crist field (a few hours’travel 
above),is expected to run through the Shore, 
and have its terminus near Eastville, This 
will then he the most frequented of any 
route from North lo South, ns persons com¬ 
ing from New York, can on this line make 
earlier connection hy some hours with the 
southern cars at Portsmouth than [iu any 
other way, 
At present, farms can be purchased here 
on moderate terms that will not fail to give 
satisfaction now, and in a few years will 
probably realize a fortune. The country is 
very level, and roads exceedingly good at 
all seasons. Cobb’s Island, from whence 
this letter is dated, is a well known summer 
resort and part of Northampton. It is in 
the ocean, about five miles from the main 
land, connected to it by a little steamer 
which makes the trip in an hour. This 
island is famous for its sea bathing in sum¬ 
mer, and in winter for the rare sport it af¬ 
fords in shooting wild ducks and geese. The 
gunners of New York city are beginning to 
find their way here. Another island, lying 
a short distance from this, called by the 
Indian name of Mockon, is even more de¬ 
sirable than Cobb for gunning purposes. 1 
would suggest, to some of your Northern 
sporting clubs to buy this island, and enjoy 
all the fun they want in the way of slaugh¬ 
tering black duck and brant.— Observer. 
From NcoaIio Co., Kansan. 
NEOsno Co., Kansas, is one of the youngest 
and one of the most populous counties in the 
State. But the future material progress and 
prosperity of her citizens depend either on 
the liberality of the M. K. & Y. K. E. Co., 
or on the action of the Supreme Court. The 
above named coporntion claims the alternate 
_ . section in this and Lnbette Co. The settlers 
and the 1 w enty-ounce, over 10 inches; and i this right. Every quarter section of 
..11 ..f ll.f* ...It 1 ... A 1* . t r.x . ! 1 •“ 1 
nil of Diem of solid and fine growth. There 
is great attention now being paid to the cul¬ 
ture of choice fruit in this section, which I 
have no doubt the dissemination of the Ru¬ 
ral New-Yorker has had great effect in 
producing. 
We have a live Horticultural Society here, 
which holds frequent meetings, and is doing 
also much good. A feature of some of our 
meetings, though not perhaps original, is, in 
my opinion, worthy of imitation in any sec¬ 
tion. We have what we call 
Horticultural l’ic-Nies, 
and I caunot belter illustrate than by de¬ 
scribing a recent one. Mr. M. J. Roun- 
the so-called rail road land is occupied by 
settlers who have their “claims” more or 
less improved. The rail road company’s 
agents here are asking the settlers from $10 
lo $15 per acre, while they have advertised 
in some eastern papers to sell at from $2 to 
$3 per acre. If Die company will comedown 
to the lat ter figures—even $5 per acre for tbs 
land—the settlers will make no fight and 
there will he no trouble. We have had a 
drouth since the first of August; water very 
scarce. Crops now maturing very good. 
But little fall wheat sown yet. But what 
has been drilled in deep in well prepared soil 
to up and looks lovely.—Louis A. Reese. 
uxrHtta -nvnuii 
