JAN .IB 
THE RUBAL IIW-V0BK1B 
and the proceeds, applied to their own uee, are 
frequently of 6ome value, and the whole ar¬ 
rangement, while it instructs them in the cul¬ 
tivation of the soil, early implants in the chil¬ 
dren the idea of thriftandeconomy- Sometimes, 
where a good many animals are raised, a pig, 
a lamb, a calf, up to even a colt, according to 
the age of the children, is given to each to rear 
and to keep or sell. Farmers, think of this; 
it will more than repay you in the happiness 
and confidence iL will impart to your sons and 
daughters. ___ 
Tires Loosening —At a late meeting of the 
Farmers’ Club of Elmira (as reported in the 
Husbandman) the question was asked if the 
tires of the Davis iron wagon would grow 
loose. One member replied that this was im¬ 
possible because they are set upon iron spokes 
and there is, therefore, none of the swelling 
that comes to wooden wheels in wet weather, 
aud, of course, there cannot be the correspond¬ 
ing shrinkage. 
J. Bridgman said that he had been troubled 
so much with loose tires that he had resolved 
to buy one of these iron wagons to obviate the 
difficulty, but he supposed it would be heavier 
than a wooden wagon, and that would be an 
objection. 
J. Burnham replied that his wagon with the 
double box, wbiflL'trees and everything com¬ 
plete, weighed 1,050 pounds. 
,T. Bridgman remarked the difference be¬ 
tween it aud a wooden wagon in weight was 
not perceptible.__ 
Another Victory foe American Manu¬ 
facture. —A cablegram from Melbourne, Aus¬ 
tralia, just received, says:—‘‘At afield trial 
of grain binders held under the auspices of the 
Melbourne International Exposition, now in 
progress, the Walter A. Wood. Twine Binder 
was awarded the first prize, McCormick, Os¬ 
born and others competing.” 
©ocruffliitu. 
RURAL SPECIAL REPORTS. 
Kansas, Cedar Vale, Chautauqua Co., Dec. 
29 —Some time last Summer the Rural New- 
Yorker hail a good deal to say about 
war on insects; but if we wage tbis war 
with poisons, it seem; to me we are doing 
just about as much mischief as good. My 
two younger boys, who make the field and 
prairie their school and study-room, have 
taught me that. This has been a very bad 
chinch-bug year hereabouts, aud one of those 
boys’ observations was of a very consoling 
character. They fouud out that some other 
insects prey ing upon the “ chinches," increase 
pretty fast, too, aud “get awry” with them 
at a pretty lively rate. We have also had some 
potato beetles. After they have deposited 
their eggs there comes a little bit of a slug that 
takes hold of the eggs oue by one and sucks 
them in a gourmand like mauner. [We ob¬ 
served last seasou these little things, and how 
rapidly the eggs were eaten by them. They 
cannot have escaped the notice of entomolo¬ 
gists, and yet we do not remember to have 
seen any account of them.— Eds J Now, if we 
fight the pests with Paris-green or Loudon- 
purple, wo must destroy their enemies with 
them. I believe Mother Nature will take care 
of these things best, if we only do not ruth¬ 
lessly break h ir established equilibrium. But 
there lies the rub. 
You ouca said that eeedliog grapes may- 
bear aud may not. 1 have about 150 of them 
out, two years old last Spring from the seed 
(gathered from the native wild grape), and 
once transplanted. Last Spring they all bios 
somed, and many of them so profusely that 
they almost scared me, lor 1 feared they were 
going to kill themselves. 1 counted over 150 
bunch is on some vines. But the extremely 
dry weather caused them to drop their blos¬ 
soms, and only a few of the latest bore some 
fruit. [The Rural would bo glad to hear as 
to these grapes—their difference in size, color, 
quality, etc ] We have had quite a supply 
of peaches here, but ouly from seedling trees; 
the budded fruit did not amount to anything. 
I had au indication of the same difference in 
toughness in my grape-vines. There are some 
rows of Concords and Clintons, raised from 
cuttings, in the earne plot. I commenced 
trimming them in early March, leaving the 
cut vines on the ground, to be removed later 
at leisure. Then came that terrible cold snap 
that killed the budded peaches. When it was 
fairly over I resumed my trimming, and was 
astonished to find that the cut-off seed¬ 
ling vines had taken root, even where 
they hud only lain loosely on the ground. 
The Coucords and Clintons showed no signs 
of doing the like, and they were a year older. 
So my advice to frnit growers In untried 
localities would be to rely more on seedlingB. 
Be 6uro to get something, and take the chance 
of what it will be and improve It in time. 
The Rural has already' recommended the 
culture of root crops, and It Is quite right in 
that. But if anywhere the seed is of the 
utmost importance, it is here. For several 
years—since I have been here—I have culti¬ 
vated a few rows of beets, and have always 
been vexed to see them come np and grow so 
unevenly. This year I carefully set out about 
a dozen of the finest beets in order to raise my 
own &eed. One Sunday morning, when they 
were in blossom, I happened to take a walk 
through the field, to see how the crops were 
getting along, when it seemed to me the beets 
made far too many shoots to be able to ma¬ 
ture all the seeds well. So I went for a pair 
of small pruning scissors and shortened the 
shoots in pretty nearly one-half. Three plants 
I left untouched, in order to judge of the 
difference. And a difference there was, and a 
very marked one. The trimmed beetsripeued 
their seeds evenly in size and of a superior 
quality at the same time.while there was a great 
deal more trouble to gather the other seeds, 
on account of their ripening so unevenly. 
This difference alone paid for the trouble of 
the trimming, and then there was the vastly 
improved quality of the seed besides. Next 
year I shall uot only trim down the shoots, 
but cut the weakest oueB entirely out. Tbe 
seed I now have looks as if I could trust it if 
planted like corn. H - 8 - 
N Y., Corning, Steuben Co., Jan. 1.—The 
prices of stock are very low. I hear of goed 
cows selling for $12 to $15; and yearlings at 
$6 to $S apiece. Hay is high, $IG a ton—and 
good straw $10 Two years ago $7 a ton were 
all that was paid for first-quality hay deliv¬ 
ered at the press. Beef is three to four cents ; 
potatoes, 30 cts. per bushel; apples, 25cts.; 
butter, 26 cts.; eggs, 25 cts. We had au 
unusual amount of high winds the past Fall, 
doing considerable damage to buildings and 
uprooting many trees in surrounding towns. 
The epizootic has been having a run, but I 
have heard of only one horse dying from the 
effects of the disease. Ice is being gathered, 
and it is of good quality and thickness this 
year. I am glad to note the improvements 
that have been made in the Rural New-Yorker 
during the year just closed, and sincerely 
hope the agriculturists of the country will ap¬ 
preciate them. It looks strange, but it is never¬ 
theless a fact that the majority of farmers’ 
homes are Dot so well supplied with agricul¬ 
tural literature as they ought to be. Why is it 
that we see so many old sheep on out' farm6? 
When we consider how much easier youog 
sheep are kept than old ones and the greater 
profit from them, it is certainly not good 
economy to keep any over six years of age 
at least that is my idea. p h d. 
Wis , Auburndale, Wood Co., Jan. 2.—I 
whether the half-Jersey is likely to be a better 
milker than her elder sisters. 
Ans —1. The cow is not too old to breed 
well, for Short-horns have often done bo till 
past the age of 20 years. It is just possible 
she has formerly been fed too highly to make 
her show finely, and this may have injurfd 
her procreative power. The best way we have 
found to get a cow. ftHd indeed all other do¬ 
mestic females, with young, under the'-e cir¬ 
cumstances, iB to breed to an extra vigorous 
male, if to be had, and let him cover the 
female as many times as she would stand for 
him. It this does not succeed, then the cow 
should bo reduced in flesh by feeding hay, 
cornstalks or straw, without any grain, but a 
few vegetables may be added daily if neces¬ 
sary. During this time she must have plenty 
of out-door exercise in the day, and be kept In 
the sun as much as possible. After getting 
pretty thin in flesh, then put her again to the 
bull as directed above. It would have been 
much better for our correspondent to have 
added another $50 to the above amount and 
purchased a two-year-old Short-horn heifer, 
as a reasonably good one without pedigree— 
and perhaps with it—can be occasionally got 
for $100. 3 If the bull that begets the calves 
comes from a good milking strain—for there 
is a great difference in Jerseys as to this—the 
1 calves generally make rich and deep milkers, 
provided the dam is a good milker. It is quite 
extraordinary that this cow has not produced 
superior dairy animals. 
Hen Manure and Stable Manure, Etc. 
J. E. J). B , Waverly. 2V. F, asks, 1. the com¬ 
parative value of heu manure and ordinary 
stable manure ; 2, whether castor pomace is a 
valuable fertilizer. 
Ans. — 1. The comparative value of the two 
manures may be seen by the pillowing table 
.—Contents of l,iH>0 pounds of—. 
Stable manure. Hen manure. 
Water.tan lbs. 
Nitrogen. o .. 
Potash. . 
Soda. 2 ;* 
Magnesia. Di 
Phosphoric acid...,. 8* 
Nitrogen may be valued at 
25 
560 lbs. 
16* “ 
8 *" 
1 “ 
24 ” 
7K” 
15 * " 
cents 
per 
came into the woods here and “ took up ’ a 
farm about 18 months ago. I never had auy 
experience in farming; diu not know how to 
sow grain, or make a garden; but hit on the 
happy thought that I ought to have a good, 
reliable “agricultural paper” to commence 
with; so I sent for the Rural. It has paid 
me ten times over the subscription price, to 
say nothing of tbe seed distribution. I have 
now 17 acres cleared and under hay ; I cut two 
tous per acre last year, aud sold it for $12 per 
ton, realizing $24 per acre for cleared land, 
annually. I think this is not bad. But I cannot 
expect to plow for some years yet. My Ovoid 
Mangels did well, though iu York State it 
would not be considered so; they averaged 
about seven pounds, say from four to ten 
pouuds ; but I sowed them on new land with¬ 
out manure. My Ennobled Oats did excellently. 
The raspberries aud willow look well. Tne 
flower seeds did uot germinate except tbe 
pentstemons aud manroot. I have a specimen 
ofbothofttae.se. I planted my potatoes last 
Spring on new land ; they did very well, but 
next Spring I intend to plant on the same land 
aguiu without plowing (itis impossible toplow) 
uud have haultd on lhe land some very old 
barn-yard manure from a lumbering camp; 
aud intend manuring them iu the hill- Now, 
which had I belter do, put the manure in first, 
laying the potatoes on tbe manure ; or lay the 
manure on the potatoes. R - 
[Such manure is equivalent to a highly en¬ 
riched soil and should be placed where the 
roots will feed upon it from the start.— Eds ] 
Qt-iK Querist 
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
An Infertile Cow. Etc. 
F. F., Van Wert, Ohio, says, 1, that a year 
ago he purchased for $50 a pedigreed Short¬ 
horn cow 12 years old, weighing 1.500 pounds, 
for the purpose of getting a calf from her by 
a pure-bred SUoxt-horn bull. She has been 
with the bull three times, but she is not with 
calf, and he asks what shall he do with her. 
It seems a pity to make beef of her, as she is 
very finely formed, gentle, a good feeder, and 
has had cal ves, 2, He has a half-bred Jersey 
heifer calf from a Jersey bull aud a 15 year-old 
common or “native” cow which has been a 
remarkable milker. Heretofore her calves 
have not been exira-good milkers, though they 
have always been of her color, and he asks 
pound, potash at 6 cents, and phosphoric acid 
at 10 cents ; the rest is not worth considering. 
Fresh hen manure is therefore worth only 
about three times as much as stable manure, 
so far as its actual value is concerned. The 
value depends very much upon the condition 
of dryness. As the water is evaporated and 
decreased to about 25 per cent., of course, the 
proportion of the other constituents is in¬ 
creased, but at the best the hen manure is not 
worth more than about six times as much as good 
stable manure. Its apparent value depends very 
much upon its greater solubility and activity. 
2. Castor pomace isavaluable fertilizer, being 
rich in nitrogen and containing about five per 
cent, of ammonia, besides considerable potash 
and phosphoric acid. It is, however, only to be 
procured, at a reasonable price, at St. Louis, 
where it is made, its bulk and the high freight 
increasing its cost too much for its profitable 
use in the East. It is sold at $8 a ton at St. 
Louis, and at ■*. 12 a ton would be a useful and 
moderately cheap fertilizer. 
Black-leg. 
A. S. W\, Battle Fiver, Dakota, asks what 
ailed a call that had just died. When first no¬ 
ticed it was very stiff in the hind-quarters and 
scarcely able to walk; it died the next morn¬ 
ing. Ou being skinned the right hind quarter 
was found to be badly bloodshot and twice its 
natural size, and around the bone the flesh was 
very black. 
Ans.—The disease was earbuncular erysip¬ 
elas commonly known as black leg, black- 
quarter aud bloody murrain. It is a blood 
.disease produced by too copious feeding and 
consequent unwholesome assimilation of the 
food. It is confined to young cattle in good 
thrifty condition and is so sudden aud virulent 
in its attack that remedies are unavailing. 
When its approach is suspected the danger 
may be averted by a full dose of Epsom salts 
—four ounces for a yearling and six ounces 
for a two-year-old. As other cattle, or even 
man, may become infected from contact with 
the disease germs in the bodies of animals that 
have died from tbts malady, the carcasses 
should be buried deeply, or, better still, 
burned, hides and all. 
The Best Fleur Tor a Horse Stable, 
H. T., Sioux City, Ia„ asks which would 
make the best floor for a horse stable—earth, 
brick, plank or cement. 
Ans — Earth becomes soon saturated with the 
manure and both disagreeatle and unhealthful. 
Brick is too soft; plank is uot durable and is 
often slippery ; eetnent is dry, durable, clean 
and warm. It should be made of one part of 
hydraulic cement aud twoparts of sand, mixed 
dry aud then with water to a thin mortar into 
which five parts of coarse coal ashes or coarse 
gravel, previously watted, Is mixed thoroughly. 
Tbis is laid three inches thick and well-ramme-1 
and bealeu. When dry and smooth it should 
be soaked with hot gas tar aud dry eeiuent 
scattered ou it until the tar is soaked up. This 
lloor is perfectly water-, damp- and vermin- 
proof. 
a red raspberry of any value which does not 
spread from the root; if so what is the variety * 
where can he get it, and what will be the prob¬ 
able cost per dozen ? 
Ans —Strictly speakiDg there Is no red rasp¬ 
berry in cultivation that does not sucker from 
tbe roots. Gauargua, Norwood. New Rochelle 
and the old Purple Cane are sorts that do not 
sucker and are called red, but all are either 
varieties or hybrids with part blood of the 
Purple Caue species, the berries of which are 
purple and not red. None of these are desir¬ 
able except In certain sectious. Philadelphia, 
Herstine and Franconia,or Naomi, are vai ieties 
that suckei but sparingly, the two last being 
among our finest raspberries, especially the 
Herstine. Plants of all may be had of those 
who advertise plants of the Small Fruits in the 
Rural. 
C. N. (r., Plainfield, AF. J., asks which is 
the better eorn-planter—tbe Hoosier or the 
Cornell, of. Albany; which would work tbe 
best in strong ground and he the most durable. 
Ans.— We cannot answer the question, having 
used only the Hoosier upon sandy or gravelly 
land. We should think either would endure a 
heavy strain. The Cornell planter is the more 
elaborate machine. It is provided with hoes 
and fertilizer attachment. It will drop all tbe 
way from two inches to four feet apart. It 
would be bettf-r for our friend to examine both 
before purchasing. 
A. S„ Butterfly, N. Y., has some twelve- 
year-old currant bushes which she wishes to 
transplant, and asks, 1, when should this be 
done—in Spring or Full; 3, if in tae Fall at 
what time; 3, if in the Spring, how early or late 
can it be successfully done; 4. the nearest 
breeder from whom full blood Brahma fowls, 
well recommended, can be bought. 
Ans.— 1, There is little choice between Fail 
and Spring. Convenience would guide ns. 2, 
As soon as tbe leaves begin to fall. 3, As soon 
as the ground is rid of frost. 4, Geo. 8. Jos- 
selyn, Fredonia. N. Y. 
I. H, West Granby, Conn., asks where can 
he get the Report of the United 8tates Fish 
Commissioners for 1879, and at what price, 
j Ans —The Report for '79 is not published 
yet. That for ’78 was issued a few months 
ago. It is 1 u* ll3hed by the Government at 
Washington for free distribution, and, like 
other Government publications, can be ob¬ 
tained, if at all, through the- Congressman for 
the applicant’s district or the Senator for his 
State. Members of Congress are assigned a 
certain number of such publications for distri¬ 
bution among their constituents, and applica¬ 
tion should therefore be made to them. 
F. H., Beloit, Wis, asks where “ Spurry 
seed" can be bought, and at what price. 
Ans. —Spurry seed is rarely kept for sale in 
this country. It is common in England and 
Europe. It can be procured of R H Allen & 
Co., or Thorburn Co., of New York, if any¬ 
where: or either of these seedsmen may pos¬ 
sibly be able to procure it for you. It should 
not cost more than 50 cents a quart. It is 
hardly a desirable fodder plant when we have 
so many other better ones. 
T. II. B., Windsor, Ohio, asks, 1, what is the 
value of road dust as a lertilizer ; 2, is bone 
that has been softened by remaining in wood 
ashes as valuable a fertilizer as ground bone- 
Ans.—1 This question can hardly bo an¬ 
swered. The value of road dust depends upon 
the value of lhe natural soil of the road and 
the arnouut of travel over it. 2. Yes. 
A. S. T.. Wyoming, la., asks where can he 
buy “Farming for Profit,” and what is its 
price. 
Ans. —This excellent work is published by 
J C. McCurdy Co., Philadelphia. Pa., price 
$3 The publishers have oiiiaes also at Cin- 
cinnaii. Chicago aud St. Louis, where the work 
can be had. 
A Subscriber. Centrecille, N. T., asks where' 
can he get eggs of the Golden-Spangled fowls 
true to name. 
Ans —Write to B. L. Wood, Doe Run, 
Chester Co., Pa. 
a. 
Miscellnucouit. 
B. Union Co., la., asks whether there is 
COMMUNICATIONS RECEIVED FOR THE WEEK END¬ 
ING Saturday. Jan. S. 
W. M. C.—E W. S —A. H.—H. T,—Jot.—C. L. 
R —F. A. G.—H. S.—S. L.—D. E. McA.—B. F. T.— 
A. S. S.-J. S. C—N. R., thanks-n. N. L.—W. E. 
M.-E. E. B.S.-C. K.-F. H.-F. D. C.—D. I. C., 
thanks lor apples.—P. S. W. S. R. M.—J. W.R.— 
D. M.-J. B. P.-P. O. C.-G. H. A.-S. B. P.-A. 
C. H.— C. S. H.—A. D.-S. W. IL—E. H. P.—J. W.— 
W. J. Mctf.—W. G.-H. G.-J. K. S.—C. T.—N. R. 
—P. M. A.—J. S. W.—C N. G.—J. B.—J. L.—J. M. 
K. ^E. H. P.—8. B. P.-G. W, A —S. B. P.-J. W. 
R., thanks.—S. K. M.—C. T —W, J. Me., thanks— 
\V. G., thanks tor all such information. AU of 
our readers should send us the valuable facts that 
appear every year.—K. W.—L. Y. A.—J J. P.—D. 
1*. (“Apple tree")—w. E. M., yes that experiment 
has often been tried. The com is essentially 
the same as that from lhe ear.—G. A. G. Jr.,—A. 
B. A.—U. S.—F. K. M.-S. B. P., thanks—W. H.— 
E, S. T.-A. W.—M. B. P.-J. P.—G. G.-S. H.— 
J. n.— J. T. L.—M. L. S.-S D. L.—n. L.—E. R 
1 T.-H. C. B.-E. W. H.-R. C. P.-M. S.-L. R.— 
L. R. T.—U. P.—N. II.—N. B.—M. L. S.— M. S. R,— 
K. . B., thanks.—B. L. L.—E. V. N.—L. R.—D. N.— 
8. R.—L. tf.-M; K.—L. L.-J. A. H.—S. M. T.— 
