MARCH 42 THE RURAL MEW-YORIER. 
Corn and Oats as Soil-Exhauster*. 
Soiling. 
A. C. T., Normal, III., asks which will Im¬ 
poverish land the most—a crop of corn or one 
of oats. 
Ans. —It is very satisfactorily shown that a 
crop of corn is easier on the soil than a crop of 
oats. It is far easier to produce (10 or 70 bush¬ 
els of corn, weighing 3 (100 to 4 200 pounds, to 
the acre, with three or four tons of dry fodder, 
than 50 bushels of oats, weighing 1 600 poundp, 
and a ton of straw. This is accounted for by 
the fact that corn is able to procure a large 
quantity of its nitrogen from the soil where 
oats cannot, and that a good crop of corn can 
be grown with the help of potash and phos¬ 
phoric acid alone, and yet show in the crop a 
large quantiiyof nitrogen, while oats cannot 
be grown without the nitrogen added to the 
other manures. A great many experiments 
have been made in this direction with this 
effect. Now, as nitrogen is the most costly in¬ 
gredient of both fertilizers and of feeding stuffs 
(of which manure is made), it is considered 
that the crops which need the most of this ele¬ 
ment to be supplied for their growth, are 
really the most exhausting crops. Oats arc 
generally considered by practical farmers to 
be unusually “ hard on the soil.” Tne writer 
has grown good crops of corn on the same plot 
five years in succession, and the last was the 
best of all; but he has never heard of oats 
being so grown. 
C. H. B., Harnett, Pa , asks whether soiling 
cows would be likely to pay thereabouts; 
which are the best crops for soiling; how 
much land would be needed to keep a cow by 
the system ; and how should the business be 
conducted. 
Ans.— With good management soiling may 
be made a very profitable practice. No dairy 
can well be managed without it, excepting 
where land is very cheap and one has abun¬ 
dance of grass and pasture. One cow has been 
kept on an acre the year round by a good sys¬ 
tem of soiling, but it is very easy to keep a cow 
on an acre and s-half or two acres. The 
crops usually grown are Winter rye or wheat 
for the first green fodder to be cut in May and 
June ; clover and grass to be cut in June and 
July ; oats, or oats and peas, to be cut in July 
and August; corn to be cut in August and up 
to November with Hungarian grass or millet if 
need be; then mangels for Fall and Winter 
feed with diy corn fodder and hay until the 
rye comes again the next Spring. It is neces¬ 
sary to plant the crops for eutting at intervals 
so as to have them Iresh and not too ripe. 
Composting Animal Matter, 
G. E. N., Afton, N. V., says he is thinking 
of getting deacom d calves from farmers in the 
Spring, and composting them for manure, and 
he asks how this should be done. 
Scab in Sheep. 
R. G , Lewisville, Ohio, has in his flock a 
few sheep that bite, and pull the wool from, 
their 6ides ; there seems to be a sort of scurf 
on the shins; all the rest of the flock are domg 
well, and he asks what ails the afllicLed sheep 
and how to treat them. 
Ans. —This is very probably scab, a most 
troublesome and contagious disease. At any 
rate the case is so full of suspicion of this dis¬ 
ease that great caution should be used lest it 
may spread to the rest of the flock. Separate 
the diseased sheep and treat them as follows. 
Steep oue pound of cheap plug tobacco in one 
gallon of boiling water, but do not boil it. 
Stir in four ounces of flowers of sulphur and 
let it stand until it cools so that the band can 
scarcely be held in it for a minute. Then rub 
thiB liquid ou to the scurfy parts with a corn 
cob, breaking up all the small pimples and 
soaking the skin thoroughly with the hot 
liquid. Go over all the affected sheep in this 
manner, and in ten days examine them, and if 
necessai y, repeat the operation. There is no 
other remedy for scab. If it is only a simple 
irritation of the 6ktn caused ty the diy feed, 
give one ounce of Epsom salts and wash the 
parts with salt and water. But as it will do 
no harm to use the tobacco and the risk of 
scab is serious it would be advisable to treat 
the sheep for that disease. The salts may be 
given in any case. 
tins Lime. 
A. P. U.. Galesburg, Hi, asks, 1, what is the 
value of gas lime as a ferillizer; 2 is It benefi¬ 
cial for loosening ground that is hard to work; 
3, if good, how much of it should be used per 
acre. 
Ans —1. In its fresh state gas lime contains 
sulphuretted hydrogen and other sulphur 
compounds which are poisonous to vegetation, 
and it should never, therefore, be used until it 
has been exposed for two or three months to 
the weather. By this means the injurious 
compounds are changed by oxidation into 
harmless, if not useful, substances, leaving the 
lime in the condition of carbona'e or mild 
lime, with some sulphate. In this state it is 
beneficial to such crops as would bo benefited 
by an application of caustic lime. About 100 
bushels per acre might be used with about the 
same effect as 40 or 50 bushels of ordinary 
caustic lime. 2 Yes, under the same condi¬ 
tions as caustic lime; but, of course, more of 
the gas lime can bo used, and its mechanical 
effect, therefore, would be greater. 3. That 
would depeud on the condition of the soil, but 
somewhat Over double as much as would be 
required of common caustic lime. 
t'amparaiive Value of Feeding SiuOTm, 
F. R , Dundee, Ohio, asks what is the com¬ 
parative value lor tatteniDg stock of ground 
cotton seed, cotton seed-cake meal, linseed- 
cake meal and corn. 
Ans. —The composition, nutritive value and 
market value of the foods mentioned are given 
as follows: 
S’&ffffiSiSagi 
SYS k-rg®* 
-i G 
* » 
11.6 
•jj 1 
01.4 
( 1.6 
9.1 !TlM 
as 
83.9* 
81.6. 
Cotton-seed-cake iunal. 
LinseeU-cako meal. 
Com. . 
The whole cotton 6eed is less valuable id. 
the cake meal because of the larger proportii 
of indigestible husk contained in it. The li 
seed meal made in Cleveland is deprived 
every particle of its oil by a chemical proces 
and Is therefore less valuable than the ordi 
ary meal; the former sells at $25 a ton, ai 
the latter at $40. Cotton-seed meal is the rlc 
estfeedof all, but its costive effects on tl 
cattle make it inadvisable to feed it in su< 
quantities as might otherwise be profitable. 
Ans —Deacons, or immature calves, should 
be skinned as the skins are of considerable 
value. The flesh and bone will weigh probably 
60 pounds, containing 15 pounds of dry matter 
worth at least one cent a pound for compost¬ 
ing. As the flesh contains a large portion of 
nitrogen, some earth or swamp muck should 
be mixed with the horse manure to dilute it. 
A compost heap containing animal matter of 
any kind should be made as follows: a foot in 
depth of soil and sods or vegetable matter 
mixed; a layer of the animal matter such as 
deaconed calves well sprinkled with lime and 
lightly covered with soil; a foot of horse ma¬ 
nure ; a layer of the animal matter sprinkled 
with lime as before, and then a foot of tarth 
sods and vegetable matter. The heap should 
be well packed and tramped and made flat and 
hollow to hold the rain, and to preserve mois¬ 
ture. 
Government Bonds. 
J. D., address mislaid, asks, whether gov¬ 
ernment four-per-cent bonds can be bought 
elsewhere than in large cities, and if so where 
can they be had by a person living in the 
country ; where is the interest paid and how 
often; when do they mature ; does it pay 
to buy them. 
Ans. —The direct sale of the bonds Is con¬ 
fined to large cities; but those living even in 
remote country places can buy them through 
the nearest bank. The interest is paid in Jan¬ 
uary and July In large cities, but it can be co’- 
lected, through local banks, just like a check 
on somebody in a distaut town. The four- 
per-cent bonds were issued last year and run 
for 20 years, the government having the op¬ 
tion of redeeming them after they have run 
ten years. Each bond of the par value of $10U 
is now worth about $113, and for any one who 
is content with a mere trifle over three and 
a-half per cent per annum interest on his in¬ 
vestment, it will pay to bay them. 
Arsenic for Heave*. 
N. Rivenburg, Franklinlon, N. Y. asks, 1, 
whether giving a mare arsenic or any other 
poisonous drug for "heaves” would prevent 
her from getting with foal; 2, would it Injure 
a mare that is in foal. 
Ans. —Arsenic is a dangerous drug to give 
any animal and especially when there are 
other remedies that are equally effective. Ar¬ 
senic is given for the heaves under a misap¬ 
prehension or a mistake tl at heaves is a ner¬ 
vous disorder. It is sometimes caused by a 
disorder of the nerves but is more often caused 
by irritation of the air passages by dust in the 
food or 1 y chronic indigestion. The arsenic is 
given in very small doses as a nerve tonic, five 
grains being the usual quantity'; it iB impos 
sible to determine beforehand what may be tDe 
precise effect of the drug in the particular way 
iudicated, but as it is by no means a necessary 
medicine, it would be well to avoid the risks. 
Grafting tlic Tomato on the l*otato. 
L. V. R. .§., Providence, R. I., asks how the 
tomato is grafted ou the potato, as alluded to 
in a late article in the Rural. 
Ans. —The grafting is that alluded to by Hor- 
tieola recently. Briefly, it consists in growing 
a potato from a single tye, cutting the shoot 
down to two or three inches when it has grown 
about six inches high, and inserting a tomato 
graft I y the method called split-grafting. It 
should be bound up with bast, tied to a stake 
to keep it from being moved by winds, etc., 
and shaded till ualou has taken place. The 
ground Bhould be kept level, and below the 
point of grafting, or the result will be a fail¬ 
ure. 
MUcellaneoim, 
C. F. R, T07iawanda, N. Y, asks, 1, 
whether the books of the American Book Ex¬ 
change are as well got up and bound as those 
of other publishers; 2, are Garmore’s Artificial 
Ear Drums what they are represented to be ; 3, 
is hemlock as good as pine in a barn where it 
is kept dry. 
Ans. —1, The books are neatly gotten up 
and bound. The prices are so low that those 
intending to purchase a number of volumes 
can well afford to order a specimen work in 
advance. 2, We have been told by several 
parties that the ear drums were of no use 
whatever to them; while others again say 
that they can hear better with than without 
them. 3, The wood of the hemlock is coarse, 
splits irregularly and decays rapidly when ex¬ 
posed to the weather. It is stronger than 
white pine, gives a better hold to nails, and for 
all work not exposed to the weather it is pre¬ 
ferred to pine, and for beams, rafters, roofs, 
sheathing, sides of frame bouses, and rough 
work generally, it is equally good. 
J. IP. E , New York City, asks, 1, which 
part of Florida is the most healthful; 2, would 
we advise a young man with a family and in 
moderate circumstances to move to that State 
for the purpose of raising fruits for market ; 
3, in what part of Florida is the best lard 
fonud; 4. are there any books that give trnst- 
worthy information about the State as a place 
for settlement. 
Ans, —1, We do not know. There is but one 
wav to ascertain, viz: by personal experience. 
2, No. we should not, pievious to such inves¬ 
tigation. It is as hard to live in Florida by 
fruit growing as it is anywhere else with the 
disadvantage that old settlers have experience 
which new settlers have not. 3, For what 
purposes? 4, No, several pamphlets have 
been published for advertising purposes; but 
we hardly consider that sort of informaticn 
trustworthy. 
M. AI. M , Orangeville, Pa., a«ks whether Al¬ 
derney and Jersey cattle are the same. 
Ans.—T ee, the Aldermys and Jerseys are 
substantially tLe same, the former coming 
from the small island of Alderney and the la ¬ 
ter from its larger neighbor. Jersey. So few of 
the former, however, are being raised or im¬ 
ported into this country that the term " Alder¬ 
ney’’has been merged into that of "Jere< y” 
by all who are well posted in cattle nomencla¬ 
ture, ulthough mistakes in the matter are still 
frequent among the "outside" public, and oc 
casionally even among those who ought to 
know better. In reality the only Channel 
Islands cattle imported into this country are the 
Jerseys and Guernseys, the number of cattle 
ever landed here from Alderney having been 
extremely small. 
L D., TkOrn Hill. Pa. has a colt rising three 
years old, that has had a bog spavin and thoi- 
ough pin siuce it was a year old. Blistering 
has done no good and he asks what treatment 
should be adopted. 
Ans. —The animal should have absolute rest 
and the use of a high-heeled shoe is ako ad¬ 
visable. The swollen parts should be subjected 
to pressure by means of a carefully adjusted 
truss and cold water bandages should be ap¬ 
plied, after which a wash of tincture of arnica 
diluted with water should be used. It will re¬ 
quire considerable time to effect a cure, and 
the safest and beet means of causing it aro 
pressure and applications of cold water. 
J. R, Lawn nee, Texas, asks how to remove 
a large wart from a call’s ear. 
Ans. —The wart may be removed by tying a 
ligature tightly around Us base, when it will 
drop off before long. Or, it should be touched 
daily with nitrate of silver to be had iu a solid 
form from the nearest druggist; or again, it 
might be washed with a strong solution of the 
same. The safest and perhaps the best way 
to remove a large single excrescence of this 
sort, however, is by the use of the knife and 
the cautery. The cautery will stop the bleed¬ 
ing, destroy the root of the wart, and thus pre¬ 
vent it from reappearing. 
L. K. IP., El Dorado. Kansas, asks, 1, where 
the best books on Agricultural Philosoply, 
Botany and Chemistry may be obtained and 
tht price of them ; 2. can his subscription be¬ 
gin with Jan., 1, 18S1. 
Ans—J ohnston's Agricultural Chemistry 
($1 75) Norton’s Scientific Agricnlture (75c.) 
Caldwell’s Agricultural Chemical Analysis, 
($2 00) Grab's Botary. AH may be obtained at 
the American News Co.. New York City. 2, We 
have no back numbers of the Rural. 
J. TP. S., Jericho, N. Y, asks where can he 
get the revolving churn frequently spoken of 
in high terms by Henry Stewart in his articles 
on tbe Dairy Cow in the Ki kal. 
Ans.— The Churn is called "The Rectangu¬ 
lar," and is made by Cornish and Curtis, Fort 
Atkinson, Wisconsin ; but we suppose it can 
be supplied by any large dealer in dairy sup- 
plies us it has a veiy wide sale almost every¬ 
where. 
E. C., Los Moras Ranche., Menard Co., Tex. 
asks what is the nearest point at which to pur¬ 
chase Cotswold and Leicester rams for Texas. 
An 8.—Kentucky i9 probably as near a point 
as any. W. L. Scott, Scott’s 8tation, Shelby 
Co., Ky., has u fine fleck. T. W. 8amuels and 
Sons, Deatsville, Nelson Co., Ky.. aro also 
475 
reputable breeders of these sheep. Leicester 
sheep will not do well in Texas. It will be a 
waste of money to take them there. 
I). S., Northfield Center, Canada, asks where 
can he fiud the classical names applied to dif¬ 
ferent kinds of wood. 
Ans —The names can be found in any good 
Latin and Greek Dictionaries; for, of course, 
when one speaks of the "classics,” he refers 
to Greek as well as Latin. The botanical 
names of the trees from which the wood is 
made can be found in botanical works treating 
of the different genera. 
M. F. C., Griffin, Texas, asks, 1, the address 
of the makers ot the Lamb Knitting Machine, 
and, 2, which we think tbe better—the Lamb 
or the Twombly. 
Ans.—1, Chicopee Falls, Mass. 2, The Lamb 
has & high reputation. Of the other we have 
no special knowledge, but we have heard it 
highly spoken of. 
N. P. B., Macon Station, Ala., asks what is 
the price of the dog-power for churn lately 
advertised in tbe Rural. 
Ans, —The power is made by the Albany 
Agricultural Works, Albany, N. Y; the price 
varies with the size of the power. A postal 
card to the makers statirg the requirements, 
will secure a speedy answer. 
L. H E, Chapman, Kansas, asks whether 
G. W. Pettebone & Co., of this city, are trust- 
wortly. 
Ans —We would not have admitted their ad¬ 
vertisement were it not that we were assured 
that the concern is trustworthy; but we have 
no word of commendation to bestow on such 
enterprises. 
P. S. Logan., HI., asks whether we will sell 
him a small quantity of the Rural Branching 
sorghum. 
Ans.—W e have repeatedly published that 
we sell absolutely nothing except the Rural 
New-Yorker, and for the information of our 
many new subscribers, we repeat the declara¬ 
tion. 
F. N. G., No address, a‘ks whether mangels 
that have been frozen and still continue so, 
can be profitably fed to stock. 
Ans —Yes; but the sooner they are fed after 
thawing, the better. If not used until some 
time 8fter they have thawed, they are of very 
doubtful advantage. 
J. TP. C , I.ovellsville, Pa., asks whether the 
Robbins Washer still gives satisfaction, and 
whether it can be used on a common stove. 
Ans —So far as we have heard it has proved 
quite satisfactory to purchasers. Yes, it can 
be used on an ordinal y stove. 
H. 0. E , Neosha, Kansas, asks whether we 
will sell seed of the Rural Branching Sor¬ 
ghum to our subscribers, iu addition to giving 
it in the Free Seed Distribution. 
Ans.—W e have repeatedly stated that we 
sell absolutely nothing except the. Rural. 
G. W. C-, Whiting, Kansas and several others 
ask whether F. AI, Lupton, Publisher, 27 
Park Row, N. Y. is trustworthy. 
Ans. —He has tbe reputation of being so, 
and we have always so found him. 
E E. TP, Cherokee, Iowa, desires to know 
what kind of incubator the Rural would rec¬ 
ommend, and the price. 
Ans —We are not prepared to recommend 
any at present. 
Mrs. L. R B., Benton, Co.. Oregon, asks Is 
there any snch bean as the " Bulb,” producing 
and growing from bulbs, witnout planting seed 
every year. 
Ans.—W e do not know of such a bean. 
TP. D B.. Brainard, N. Y., asks, where can 
he obtain a good creamery. 
Ans.—T he best are often advertised in the 
Rural and wiU be soon again. 
Several Inquirers ask where can they buy 
White Elephant Potatoes. 
Ans.—T hey will be advertised in ample time 
in the Rural. 
H. M , Belen, New Mexico, asks whether there 
is auy one connected with the Rural who buys 
6 etds on commission. 
Ans —No. 
L. E. F., Botherell, Out., asks for a descrip¬ 
tion of the Lancaster Red Wheat. 
Ans—W e have never raised it. 
H. M. H., Graft, Neb., asks whether we can 
supply seed of Rice Corn. 
Ans.—N o. 
Communications received vor the week knd- 
ino Saturday. Marchs. 
S H.—W. J.-J. AI. D —V. A. C.—W. n.—A. AI.— 
Several excellent articles were received too late 
for the small Fruit Number —G. H. P —L. W.— 
H. S —A. S., Mansfield. Notes of experience are 
always welcome to lh9 Rural New-Yokkkr.— m. 
W. F.-S. B. P., Mlch.-J. s. W.-E A. H — M. AI. 
T o ;d.—G. S. W., thanks. Too late for Small 
Fruit Number.—G.E. P.—P. B. B.—G. R. D.—B. D. 
B. C. D.—G.A. G.—F. S.—W. H. P.-J. F. S.—D. 
L. R.-J. B.-C. K —A. E. S.—F. D. C.— E. R., Sr.— 
G. F. J.—S. D. A.—E J. AI.—N A. L.-G D. O.—B. 
A. —NV. & G. AI.—II. C. P—A. R.-S. H.-H. M. S.— 
W. P. D., tfianics tor plan.-H. T. J.-G. G. B.-A. 
B. A.—J. S. S — H. S— W. J. B — E. & B.—W. E. 
M. — F. K. M.— 0 W, F.. we should judge from this 
ear Blount's Dent would soon change to Flint. 
