APRIL 46 
®trt <$umst. 
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
Livestock mid Urnm UnerlM. 
A New Beainner, Dalton, Pa„ asks, 1, a remedy 
for catarrh tu sheep; 2 . what la the best sheep for 
mutton and wool In Northwestern Pa.; 3, where 
can Short horn and Jersey bull calvea, and Cots- 
wold sheep ho bought; 4, would the Improved 
Kentucky sheep he profitable there : which la 
the best breed of cattle to fatten for the butcher ; 
r>, what la a good mixture of grass for the lawn. 
Ans.— l. We suppose the catarrh la only a, cold, 
which sheep are apt to take when exposed to high, 
raw wind, snow, sleet, and rain, or standing on 
muddy ground. Secure i he sheep from all such, 
give them of Epsom salts or sulphur Jitatenough to 
loosen their bowels slightly, and with their hay 
teed night and morning one to two quarts of 
wheat bran, or twice the quantity of roots, in¬ 
stead of grain. A half to one pint of oil meal 
(Uuseed meal is the same), Is a good thing also to 
be fed with the abovu. 2, The best sheep for a 
combination of wool and mut ton, are me English 
Downs, it the pasture Is rather scant and the 
ground rough, the South Down Is preferable. If 
the pastures are a bund nut, then the larger-sized 
Downs, like the Oxford, Hampshire, or Shrop¬ 
shire. llut a cross of the Ootswold, or any large 
lOhg-wooled ram on Merino ewes or their grades, 
produces excellent mutton lambs and wethers, 
and a fulr quality of wool. 3, Short horn hulls, F.C, 
Cornell, Ithaca, N. Y.; Jersey bull calves, M 
Milos, Mountalnvllte, N. Y.; Cots wo Id sheep, Jo¬ 
seph llarrls, Moreton Farm, Rochester, N. Y. 4, 
We have heard these sheep highly spoken of; but 
whether they would prove the best kind for any 
particular locality, can only be ascertained by 
trial. 0, It pasture Is abundant Short horn cattle 
are the most protltablo breed to rear for the 
butcher; but It Iced Is not very abundant, Devons 
are preferable, as they thrive on scantier fare. 0. 
The best mixture of grass for the lawn, Is simply 
Red-top and white clover. Prepare the ground In 
the finest mauner, then sow at the rale of eight 
quarts of the clover to the acre, and two bushels 
of grass seed. The seeds men mix up half a 
dozen different kinds or grass seeds and clover for 
lawn sowing, but as those grow quite unevenly 
they do not make so floe a lawn as a single sort. 
Orchard Grass, also Rye grass, make a tine lawn, 
provided at least, four bushels per acre are sown, 
so as to come up very thick. No other grass or 
clover should bo sowed with these. They come 
forward In the Spring earlier than any other sorts 
and keep green later through the Autumn, and If 
the weather Is mild, Into the Winter. They must 
be cut quite Often, not bo suffered to grow over 
four or Uve inches high, otherwise the grass will 
become coarse, and perhaps spread whero not 
wanted. 
(tarn ot an 0»ag<i Orange Hedge. 
IK. If. C, Williams Co., 'Venn., wishes to know 
how to plant and cmltlvalc an Osage orange 
hedge. 
Ans.— The usage Orange may be raised from 
seeds or from root cuttings. The oranges or fruits 
should not be sown In their natural state us the 
plants would come tip In too thick clusters ana 
much seed would bo wasted. .Seed already pre¬ 
pared can be obtained or leading seedsmen at 75 
cents per pound. The seed should be sown In Au¬ 
tumn or Spring. If sown In the Autumn they will 
not make their appearune.o until Spring. Good, 
rich, well pulverized garden soil should be chosen 
and the seed put In, In open drills, with a hoe, 
about eight Inches apart, the seeds two Inches 
apart In the row. • lover them about an inch and 
a half deep. An occasional hoelug or stirring of 
the ground to keep It clear of weeds Is necessary. 
The plants should be two years old before traus- 
plutited, though If the soli In which they havo 
been growing was strong and rich, they may be 
transplanted after one year's growth, Spring Is 
the best season for planting hedges in northern 
latitudes, hut southward whero there Is no dan¬ 
ger from mo heaving" of ino soli In Win¬ 
ter, Fall planting succeeds very well. Before 
planting, the plants from the seed-bed should be 
carefully sorted, l bone corresponding In size and 
strength should he set together and each one cut 
down to wit bin two inches of the ground line of 
the seed-bed and all the longer roots cut back 
about one-Uilrd their length. The hedge line 
should be laid out and plowed two or three reel 
wide and pulverized thoroughly. Two parallel 
trenches eight or ten Inches deep should now be 
dug, and at a distance apart of about six inches, 
and In these trenches set the young plants twelve 
inches apilrt, breaking Joints, as the carpenters 
would say. Press t he earth down rirmly arouud 
the stems and level with a hoe. The aeuson after 
planting several shoots will be thrown out which 
are to be shortened back the ensuing Spring to 
within six inches of the ground, and then cut 
back each year’s growth thereafter to twelve 
Inches. The hedge should ho trimmed In early 
Spring or Fall. Summer trimming Is liable to be 
Injurious to the hedge, owing to Intense heat. 
riauting Corn, 
j. F., Bellmore h, Intending to plant an acre 
of corn on the plan recommended by the Rukai_ 
that la, in dt Ills-asks for information as to cul¬ 
ture, best kind of seed and tort of manure. The soil 
Is a sandy loam, was sod lust Spring; then It was 
plowed, manured well and planted to cucumbers 
for pickles. 
Ans - Such land should not need much manure. 
We advise to plow shallow and harrow in, say, six 
loads of farm manure to t he acre- or from 2fio to 
400 pounds or com concentrated manure such as 
may bo purchased for about $40 per Ion of Forres¬ 
ter, ltowker, Mapes; or the sfinie quantity of iish 
guano or of" soluble Pacific Guano” may be sown 
broadcast t horoughly mixed with soli. We should 
advise you to plant lllouut’8 Corn except that we 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
do not know of any seed offered for sale that has 
been carefully selected. The Chester Co. Mam¬ 
moth will on such land unquestionably give you 
a bandHome yield, If high winds do not prevail 
late 1 u the season to lodge It. The fact Is that 
every farmer should have his own variety of corn. 
It pays to try different kinds on small plots, 
and then to savo the best, ears from the most 
prolific stalks, i pon such plots—which should 
tie as widely separated as the farm permits 
to prevent crossing—It la not much trouble 
to go over It as soon as the “ sets" appear and 
cut off the tassels ot all stalks that are barren or 
less productive than others. Then the most pro¬ 
ductive will be fertilized by the most pro¬ 
ductive. w r e um *k this upon our readers. It will 
pay them to do so. We would advise that the 
land be put In thorough order, if sufficiently dry 
roll It, and thou harrow. If tall-growing kinds are 
planted, let the drills be four feet apart and drop 
the corn In the drills, as cIoho as may he, hoeing 
out at the ilrst. booing so that the plants stand from 
one foot to tu inches apart in the drill /><> not 
plow after planting. Use a shallow cultivator 
to keep the surface mellow and rreo or weeds* 
lice and cultivate ./tat There can be but one ob¬ 
ject In hlUIng up corn plants, viz,, to kill the weeds. 
The hills give no support to the stalks and soil Is 
taken for the purpose of hilling from where It Is 
more needed—viz., from over t he feeding roots. 
Rrnxy In Sheep. 
F. M, n, sodas, Mich , asks what alls bis ewes, 
and a remedy for the disorder. Thu Ilrat sign of 
the disease Is tholr refusal to cat; In a few hours 
they throw up their beads and begin to stagger 
around the yard, and In a few hours more they He 
down and begin to bloat, appearing *ln great dis¬ 
tress, hut they Unger for several days before 
death relieves thorn from pain. 
Ans—T his appears to he inflammation of the 
bowels, or Intestinal fever, called by shepherds 
“ braxy" it would be more satisfactory lfour 
correspondent opened and examined a sheep. It 
our surmise Is right, the sheep would be found to 
have a quantity or reddish fluid. In the abdomen 
and the bowels would be of a purplish or a green¬ 
ish color and of a fetid odor. It is hardly worth 
while to try to save a sheep when It la down, but 
when Hrat taken the following treatment Is advis¬ 
able. Give a dose of two ounces of Epsom salts 
and dip a rug or sack lu hot water and tie It under 
the belly. After the salts have worked off, give 
flax-seed tea or oat-meal gruel sweetened and put 
a teaspoonfui of saltpeter In It. Repeat this for 
two or three days. Keep the sick sheep very quiet 
by themselves. It Is the result or too much dry 
food. Smutty corn or corn fodder or musty food 
will cause it. 
Small Fruit* in BouthwnNtorn Hainta*. 
J. II. li., GarjUUd, Kansas, asks what sorts of 
small frulla are likely to thrive In southwestern 
Kansas. Experience with fruits there Is unat¬ 
tainable as nono have yet been planted, and little 
or no Interest la shown In their cultivation by the 
new Bottlers who comprise all the Inhabitants 
there. 
ANSWKK BY PROP. K. OAI.K, I'KKSIOKNT OF KANSAS 
8TATK HORTICULTURAL SOCIKTV. 
The writer of this query will Und It difficult to 
succeed at first, with the varieties of small rrult 
that grow abundantly In the Eastern states. Suc¬ 
cess with any varieties la not assured. For two 
years past failure has been the rale La all the 
western naif of the state. Wo are hoping for a 
better condition or things the coming year. But 
our Qrst, second and third Injunction to all plant¬ 
ers of small fruits on the plains la, oo stow. You 
can discard all red raspberries, strawberries will 
need careful mulching In Winter; and always 
plant something tor protection—plant shelter- 
belts at once. Don’t wait to see If you need them, 
for you will. 1‘lant corn or sorghum or anything 
that will keep the wind off your garden the first 
year or two. There are reliable nurseries all 
through the West. Send to any of them for their 
catalogues. Then order direct from them either 
by express or mall, and you will do better than to 
order through any ot the traveling agents. 
Uusriea ou Drainage. 
W.L. Wyoming, N. K, asks, l, whether a 
good drain can be made ot stone at a less expense 
than one of tile; 2, if tiles are used should a layer 
of atono be put on top of them; 3, how much 
more surface will a ditch three feet deep drain 
than one feel deep: 4, the name ot the host 
work on drainage, its price and where it can be 
got. 
Anb.-i, A atone drain may he made as serviceable 
as a tile drain, and In some cases better. When a 
Bufflcleut supply of Hat stone or atone that can be 
laid snugly, oau be got, ihe drain may be laid as 
follows : a row ot stones la laid at each aide of tho 
ditch, close to t ho side that the water may not 
pass beuind, and these are covered with fiat stones 
so that the Joints are Orokenand protected. Above 
these upper atones la laid a quantity of rough or 
round afonca for a foot lh depth, and tne earth is 
tilled over these. If well laid such a drain will be 
permanent. 4. When tile la laid no stone should 
be placed on them or there will he great, danger 
of breaking aotno of the tile by the pressure. 3, 
A ditch 2,v; foot deep will drain as much ground as 
aaeeper one. Drains are rarely made deeper than 
feet now. The mania tor deep draining has 
been cured of late years: 4- KUppart’a Land 
Drainage la the hebt WOl k on thla subject ; prlco, 
$1,73, to bebadot the American Nows Company. 
Bermuda Graft*. 
«. N. A ., Floyrl, N. r. aska where can seed of 
Bermuda Grass be obtained, and whether It would 
be Ukely lo thrive In that section. 
Ans.—I t cannot be obtained unless possibly 
from tho West Indies. It does not seed in this 
country, thougU mauy suppose It does. Upon 
careful examination of I he flower spikes, however, 
very few II any seeds will be found, it is propa¬ 
gated by cuttings alone. These may he proenred 
in Georgia and other Southern States. We have 
no positive information as to whether It would en¬ 
dure the winters wtt.bln tho above section. Ac¬ 
cording to Mr. Klllebrew, It thrives on the top of 
Lookout Mountain which is 2,200 feet high. 
American Henbrlglita. 
A’. J. F ., Brighton, Oh,to, asks for information 
about the American Seabrlght fowls. 
Ans. —American Soabrlgbts are a mongrel varie¬ 
ty which don’t breed true enough to get a place In 
the “American standard or Excellence." Several 
generations of them have been sent to Buffalo 
Shows with as many kinds of combs, *c., as there 
were generations. There Is a class of fanciers 
who would uever be satlsffed except with a breed 
of their own origination or an undoubted mongrel. 
For such people American Soabrlghts ought to 
till the bill. We do not know who originated them. 
Mlftrt-llaueou*. 
.4. ft.. Fugle Harbor, Mich., has a well that is dug 
for 14 feet and drilled for in feet moro; the water 
rises to the top of the drlLl hole, and he tbtnkB 
there is water enough below to make it rise to the 
top of the well were It not that the soams are too 
close; and he asks whether a heavy blast exploded 
at the bottom would he likely to open the seams, 
and whether It would lojure the upper part of tho 
well, which Is “plpod " to within two feet of the 
bottom. 
Ans.— in similar caseB In oil wells recourse has 
been nad to what are known as “torpedoes," 
which are tin cartridges loaded with nitroglycer¬ 
ine, These are lowered to the bottom of the well 
and arc exploded. The. effeet of thla powerful ex¬ 
plosive is to shatter the rock, and if any seams are 
near to the boring, to open them and increase the 
flow of the well. Tho uso of suoh a device In the 
above ease may cause a freer flow ot water, but 
the pipe should bo drawn out ot the well before the 
eartrldgells exploded, otherwise It wtU probably 
bo hurled out by the discharge. It la hardly prob¬ 
able, however, that the water will rise to the top 
of tho well, as tho bight to which water rises de¬ 
pends not on its abundance In the subterranean 
reservoir, hut upou the bight of tho fountain-head. 
If thla, however distant, Is higher than Che mouth 
or the well, the water will ovei n >w, as in an arte¬ 
sian well; but the water will never rise spontan¬ 
eously in the well higher than It Is at the fountain¬ 
head. 
w. u., van Wert, Ohio, asks, l, whether Persian 
Insect powder will not kill cucumber and squash 
vines Instead of the Insects that injure them: 2 , 
whether more Hax seed cannot be raised on land 
by sowing one oushel per acre than by sowing 
three peeks per acre ; 3, In trimming grape-vines 
how many of the Joints should be left on to secure 
the most prom,, 
Ans. 1. It will not kill the vines. 2. That de¬ 
pends. If the laud were rich and well prepared 
wo should prefer the three pecks, us each stalk 
will then have more branches and therefore pro¬ 
duce more seed than If sown more thickly. When 
Max Is grown for seed,from half a bushel to a bush¬ 
el per acre Is sown; tho richer the grouod the loss 
seed Is required. 3. Wo oanuot answer. Rank- 
growing vines, like the Concord, should be per¬ 
mitted to bear more than feeble growers like the 
Delaware. Tho thrift ot ihe vine must answer 
the question. Generally in amateur cultivation 
vines are permit ted to bear too heavily. 
D. E. 8., Norton, Kansas, asks, l, what la the 
best plant for a permanent hedge for lino or road 
fence to turn stock—evergreen preferred; 2 , how 
much seed would be needed to raise plants for 
three miles of he dge; 3, where could seed be ob¬ 
tained, and at what price; 4, how to sow the seed, 
cultivate and transplant, our Inquirer Is preju¬ 
diced against Osage Orange for a tence. 
Ans.— l Evergreen Thorn and Honey Locust, the 
former (evergreen) is armed with thorns, a. Buy a 
pound of teed, count them,and allow one-third for 
poor seeds, a From Thomas Meehan, Germantown, 
Pa., or J. M. Thorburn ,b Co., is John street, New 
York Price of Honey Locust about so cents a 
pound. 4. These questions havo been answered 
in previous numbers, to which we must refer our 
Inquirer. 
IK. F. ft., Springfield, Mo., has a Short-horn cow 
whose calf Is three months old, and being anxious 
that she should breed again, but not knowing 
when she comes into heat, as she runs by herseir, 
he asks for some treatment that will bring her 
into breeding condition, and how this can be as¬ 
certained. 
Ans.—I t is very often that a cow does not come 
Into breeding condition for two or three mouths 
after having a calf. The arrival of the period 
may be Known by the cow being very restless and 
uneasy, carrying the tall to one aide, bellowing 
continuously and anxiously looking around us If 
looking for something. It Is bettor to wait for 
natural effects than to try to bring It on by feed¬ 
ing which Is very rarely or any benetlt. 
T. L. l\ V., Cartersvtlle, Fa., asks where can the 
seed of Sheep's Fescue Grass be obtained, also 
Burnet seed, and the prior of both. 
Ans —Sheep’s Fescue, a free grower on high 
dry pastures, having the chief merit of affordlnga 
pasture for sheep where better grasses will not 
thrive, can be bod from .X. M. Thorburn * Co., is 
John hi. N. Y , price 25 cents per pound, seeds of 
Burnet, a vegetable used chiefly for salads and 
soups, can be had rrom the same firm tor 20 cents 
an ounce, or $1.30 per pound. 
ft O. (’„ Goliad, Texas, asks how soon should 
the top ho cut off after Inserting the bud in bud¬ 
ding peach trees In June. 
Ans.— In your climate If the hud were inserted 
In Juue, we should cut back the top as soon 
as a thrifty growth of the bud has been made. 
.4. M. ft., Grrcntjush, la., asks whether theden- 
taphono will do what Is claimed for It, and 
264 
whether the company that advertises it is trust¬ 
worthy. 
^ Na * The dontapbone is In some cases a help 
to the deaf; but in others-and these seem to he 
the more numerous—18 la utterly worthless. The 
manufacturers wo have found fairly reliable. Of 
course, like dealers in other wares they dwell most 
on the successes of th eir device. 
I. ii., Rising city, Net)., asks where he can get 
Alfalfa seed. 
Ans. From all prominent seedsmen who adver¬ 
tise In the Run a r,. The usual charge Is so cents 
per pound for California Reed — Alfalfa; and 
43 cents for Lucerne, both being the same, except 
that one Is raised at home and the other Im¬ 
ported. 
F. ik., Cambridge, Mo., asks where and at what 
price can the Double Red dowering Thorn and the 
Calico Plant be obtained. 
Ans.—T hese can be purchased of many of the 
nurserymen whose catalogues have recently been 
noticed In our columns. The price is for the Thorn 
about one dollar and for the Calico Bush (Kalmla 
latlfoiia) from so to 7ft cents. 
ft. J. Havana, n. r., asks where tho weep- 
iDg Beech can be had and its price. 
Ans—O f every nurseryman that, advertises In 
our columns. It is a magnificent tree; slow to 
start-slow to grow for the drst two or three years 
—but it, Is a joy after that. Our best specimen is 
now seven years old from the nursery, it la about 
12 feet high. 
J. J. J., Logansport, ind., asks where can 
14 smooth ” barley be obtained and at what price. 
Ant.—W e do not know what Is meant by smooth 
barley unless It Is » hulless barley," which Is 
about the same, as compared to ordinary barley, as 
hulless oats are compared to ordinary oats. J. J. 
It. Gregory of Marblehead charges $8 per bushel 
for It. 
win, M. A’., Darien, conn., whom wo thank for 
various suggestions, asks if Mr. Charles Downing 
Is the author ot “ Fruit and Fruit Trees of Amer¬ 
ica.” 
ans,—A. J. Downing is the author, but. Charles 
Downing has revised, corrected and largely added 
to the valuable wurk. It can be obtained through 
the American News Company ot this city, price $ 5 . 
TK. M. V., Burbank, Ohio, asks which Is the best 
harvester— twine or wire, 
ans.—T hat made by Walter A. Wood—twine or 
wire—is an excellent machine; so is the New 
Adams and French machine, with Fair’s Cord 
Binder; the Buckeye Wire Binder, made by A Hit¬ 
man, MtUer & co., is also fine. 
O. F, French, Linn, Wright Co., [a., says 1, 
Will Professor 1. P. Roberts please give name and 
address ot the manufacturers of the hay sling de¬ 
scribed by him In a late lie hat, ; 2 , Please, give 
the name and address of a company that makes 
a good two-horse hay rake 12 feet wide. 
Ans.—S ee adv. columns of next Issue for hay- 
allng. 
IK. T, <!., Address mislaid, sends us kernels of 
what ho calls Diamond Spring Wheat, which are 
very long and Handsome. He says it has long 
heads, and he would like to know If we or our 
readers have had experience with It. 
ans.—W e have hot. 
A. ft,, stater, Indiana, desires name of evergreen 
sprig. 
Ans.—W e cannot tell from this specimen. It 
seems to be a Juniper. 
- +♦♦- 
BURNDTT'S COOOAIND 
Promote* tho Growth, of tho Hair, 
And reuders It dark and glossy. It holds, In a 
liquid form a large proportion of deodorized co- 
ooanut On., prepared expressly for this purpose. 
No other compound possesses the peculiar proper¬ 
ties which so exactly suit the various conditions 
of the human hair. 
The greatest appetizer, stomach, blood and liver 
regulator on earth—Hop Bitters. 
- » ♦ ♦- 
Important. 
Have you found the key to perfect health and 
strength? It Is Kidney-Wort, the only remedy 
that overcomes at once t he Inaction of the kidneys 
and bowels. lu either liquid or dry form it Is a 
perfect remedy for those terrible diseases that 
cause so many deaths.—Home and Farm. 
-♦ - ♦- 
Women that have been given up by their dearest 
friends as beyond help, have been permanent y 
cured by tho use of Lydia E Pinkham’s Vkgkta- 
bi.k Compound Ti Is a positive euro for all remale 
complaints Send to Mrs Lydia E. 1‘tnkham, 233 
Western Avenue, Lynn, Mass., for p imphlets. 
Tropic-Fruit Laxativr Is the best and most 
agreeable preparation In the world for constipa¬ 
tion, biliousness, etc. One-halt to one lozenge is 
the dose. Price 25 and oo cents per box. 
Communications kkckivxd por ths wkrk bnd- 
ino Saturday, April 9th. 
F. W.—U. T. W.—V. D.—C, S. L,—T. J. B.—F. W. 
C.—II. W.—1. P.—P. W., Rising City, Neb, many 
thanks.—J. H. B.—W. H, M.—J. A. R.—B. C.—C, 
M. .1.—R. L , Flonda, thanks tor Information as to 
engine—Glad to hear irom you — J. J. B.—C, N, G. 
—1>. U.—J. N. S.— E. FP— A. L. ,T,—S. R. M.—II. B. 
—S R.M.-E.G S.—L. 8. H.— K E. W W. U. B. 
—C. D.—C. F. II.—I. It. 8.—I. P. U.—G. H. F.—N. 
q. R. A. L. J.-A. a. M.-E. W. 8.—II. I) E.-A. 
W.—J. 11.the apple not yet received.—N. A.— 
Jno. r„ A. S — J. B.—W. S. II,—I. A. H.—W. H. C. 
—W. U. B. A.—S. H.—L. 1).—J. L.—G. M. M.—E. 
H.—J. L„ Jr.—E. J, A.—J. S.—J. C.—H. A. 
