JUNE 4 
THE 
RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
♦ 
374 
of room. If ventilation through the body of 
the pile seems necessary it is better to place, 
through the middle of the bin, before filling it, 
narrow open boxes made of slats and reaching 
from the bottom to above the top of the pile. 
3 The principal point in preserving potatoesis 
to keep the temperature as near the freezing 
point as possible without letting it fall below 
SIDE-VIEW OF BINS —FIG. 288. 
that point. The potatoes should therefore not 
be covered until the entire bulk has become 
sufficiently cooled. Afterwards a covering 
with sand is beneficial. 4. Wheat straw cut 
short in a straw or feed cutter would answer 
the purpose fully as well as sawdust. 
When to Feed Grain to floriea. 
L. M. N.. Michigan asks which is the best 
time to feed grain to horses—immediately after 
watering them, or after they have eaten hay 
a while. 
Ans —Horses are provided with an unusually 
large development of the salivary glands, and 
an enormous quantity of saliva is secreted dur¬ 
ing the eating of a feed of grain or hay. This 
copious supply of saliva is amply sufficient to 
moisten and dilute the food, so that it can be 
digested perfectly without the help of water. 
Water is absorbed by the coats of the stomach 
and enters the blood with such rapidity that a 
thirsty horse will drink in two minutes con¬ 
siderably more water than the stomach will 
contain at one time, and the water begins to 
pass off through the kidneys in such a case 
after the lapse of a very few minutes. So that, 
knowing these facts, one may reasonably infer 
that a horse may be watered a few minutes be¬ 
fore feeding with more advantage than soon 
afterwards, because in the former case the 
water has been absorbed before the food is 
swallowed, and digestion cannot be interfered 
with by the presence of too much water in the 
6tomach, as might happen in the latter cate. 
The best practice is that usually followed, v z. ( 
to give the horse a very little water on starting 
out to work after feeding in the morning; to 
water on coming in at noon and in the even¬ 
ing, before unharnessing and feeding. This 
gives time for the absorption of the water be¬ 
fore the food enters the stomach. 
Watermelon *ml Cantaloupe Culture. 
T, P., Charleston, W. Va , asks how to grow 
watermelons and cautaloupes. 
Ans. —New ground from which the brush has 
j List been removed is the best adapted to grow¬ 
ing watermelons. Mark out your ground in 
rows eight feet apart each way, and make 
holes at intersections of rows, in which put a 
couple of shovelfuls of yard manure and loaf- 
mold ; then make a bill over the compost in 
which plant six or seven seeds. When the 
plants first appear sprinkle them with finely 
ground bone-meal to keep off the “striped 
bog.” Three vines to the bill are sufficient. 
It is well to start the seeds in a hot-bed. The 
culture of the cantalonpe is quite similar to 
that of the watermelou. It thrives on a thor¬ 
oughly worked, sandy loam. Mark out the 
ground in rows five feet apart each way and 
manure as stated above. Plant about a dozen 
seeds in a circle on each hill and eover about 
one-quarter inch deep. When two rough 
leaves are formed, tbin out to three plants in a 
hill, and when these begin to run pinch them 
back twice to the third joint. One ounce of 
seed will plant 25 hills. 
Blind (Bagger* in Figs. 
SHU., Eagle Mills, N. Y., has a sow that 
staggers about as if she had fits; runs against 
“ things” as if she were blind, and refuses to 
eat. She has not been shut up, but has been 
fed on whole corn and swill. She has four 
pigs eight weeks old and doing well. A couple 
of years ago he lost a number of hogs by the 
same disease, and he asks what it is and how 
to treat It. 
Ans —This pig is suffering from acute indi¬ 
gestion, com mouly known at “ blind stuggers,” 
or stomach staggers. Thi6 produces conges¬ 
tion of the brain to a serious extent by disturb¬ 
ing the circulation through the Inactive state 
of the stomach. The remedy is to give a lib 
eral dose of Imseed oil, for instance, a teacup¬ 
ful, and repeat the third day; then give some 
bran mash with a teaspoonful of giuger in it, 
once a day for u week The pig has been 
having too much whole coru no doubt. This 
is not a good food for pigs as a steady diet, 
and is dangerous when the pig is not well sup¬ 
plied with water. 
Destroying the Apple-tree Borer. 
A. F., Durand, III., asks how to destroy 
apple-tree boieis. 
Ans.—A ttend to the matter at once. If they 
are near the bark, Cut them out with the point 
«f a knife. If deeper, use a wire to punch into 
the hole. The perfect insect moy be in tbetree 
beyond the reach of a wire. To prevent it 
from depositing eggs npon the tree, wash with 
a mixture of lime-water, aloes, whak^iil soap, 
carbolic soap, sulphur, etc., all or several. Color 
with lamp-black and a little red mineral paint. 
The stems from a little below the surface of 
the ground 18 inches up, should be washed two 
or three times during the Summer. A little 
soap boiled in with the mixture will give some 
adhesive power. 
Information Wanted about Silo Building. 
E. J. II., Scotia, N. Y., says : “I hope to 
get information from some of the readers of 
the Rubai, on the following question. I have a 
two-story barn with three large bays20«24 feet 
and I would like to convert a couple of these 
into silos ; but not wishing to incur the expense 
of building a concrete wall, I have thought 
that by ceiling up the bays with matched plank 
and pitching the joints, the boarding would 
do just as well as a brick, stone or concrete 
wall, as it is only necessary to exclude the air 
—if I understand the matter aright. I would 
like to hear the opinion, on this subject, of 
6 ome one who has had experience with ensi¬ 
lage and is willing to help another in a dilem¬ 
ma.” 
Miscellaneous. 
G. E. N., Afton. N. 1'., asks, 1, how to re¬ 
move a lump the size of a hen’s egg from the 
udder of one of his cows; 2, a remedy for ticks 
on sheep. 
Ans.— A positive prescription cannot be 
given in a case like this, except from personal 
examination. This bunch on the bag may 
have come from being hooked by another cow 
or it may have received a blow, or been 
rubbed hard against something. In such a 
case washing it in water as hot as the hand 
can bear, every Hour or two daring the day, 
may allay the swelling. Or it is possible that 
It ought to be poulticed, and when it comes to 
a head by showing a soft, dead-pale spot, like 
a boil, be lanced and thepus and blood gathered 
there pressed out. Repeat this pressing for 
two or three days till the bunch has gone 
down and that part of the bag has again be¬ 
come soft. Keep the heifer, if lanced, where 
flies cannot get at the sore, and when it is 
well cleaued aud she is ready to be turned out 
to pasture, spread a little tar over the wound. 
2. As good a remedy as any we kuow of, ard 
one that is as easily applied, is Little’s Chemi¬ 
cal Sheep Dip, T. W. Lawford, agent, Balti¬ 
more. Md. Or rub the infested parts—usually 
the side of the neck aud the inner parts of the 
thighs and arms—with some of the following 
preparation: lard, one pound ; flowers of sul¬ 
phur, two ounces; creosote, twenty drops. A 
pint of sweet oil may be used instead of the 
lard. 
A. 8- C., Anamosa, la., has a pure-bred 
Short-horn Duke bull, six years old, which has 
been used pretty freely and fed in a stable on 
hay, corn and oats. List Fall at fair time he 
weighed 11160 pounds as a show animal, and 
about two months ago his weight was 1305 
pounds. Within the last couple of months he 
has served four cows, three of them twice each, 
and the other, three times, at intervals of about 
two weeks in each case. He serves without 
hesitating, but as none of the cows are with 
calf our correspondent thinks the bull has be¬ 
come 6terile and asks whether anything can 
be done to render him productive. 
Ans. —We should not condemn the bull yet. 
It is not uncommon for cows to “come 
around ” three or four times at intervals of two 
to three weeks, before they are really served. 
Give the bull moderate feed of hay (or grass) 
and oats—no corn. Give him plenty of exer¬ 
cise in a paddock at least ten feet square for 
at least half of each day. Lit him serve the 
cow after she is well on in her heat—not iu the 
earlier part of it; and let him give her one 
good leap and one only. 
I) A. J.. lioslyn, L has a horse that 
seems perfectly healthy, but which persists iu a 
fashlou of rolling lu the sh ifts after eating his 
dinner, although he has been doctored in vari¬ 
ous ways in the attempt to break him of the 
habit, and our correspondent asks for some 
rem-dy. 
Ans.—A s we have occasionally seen othet 
horaeB affected in the same way as that of our 
correspondent, we have no doubt it is a mere 
trick with this, as it was with them. We do 
not tbiuk he has auy disease, and medicine 
consequently can be of no benefit. The only 
way we have been able to prevent a horse from 
lying down and rolling in harness was to keep 
his halter on him, aud wheu we slopped, to 
hitch his nose within a foot or even still closer 
to the post. This has invariably prevented bis 
lying down or attempting to roll, with us. When 
such a trick is acquired it is almost impossible 
to break the horse of it. aud it would be better 
to devote him to plowing and general farm 
work, where, when stopped to rest, if he lies 
down in light, loose harness simply, he can do 
no injury. 
J. IF., Marion Center, Kan., asks what is 
the best place to learn telegraphy. 
Ans —In nearly all our large cities there are 
schools or business colleges iu which telegraphy 
is laugbt either as a specialty or along with 
other subjects. Generally they advertise in 
one or more of the local papers, and there Is 
never any difficulty iu lit. dmg their locatlou. 
1 We have never tiled any of them aud there¬ 
fore cannot say which of all of them ;s the 
best. The art is taught gratuitously here at 
the Cooper Institute to those who secure ad¬ 
mission to the course of instruction there 
given, and there is also a considerable num¬ 
ber of private institutions where instruction is 
given in It. 
C. W.. Eoanston, III., asks, 1, whether the 
Kit ffer Hybrid Seedling Pear is hardy, and if 
it is likely to withstand the Winters in Illinois, 
12 miles north of Chicago; 2, is the Paradise 
stock a go jd one on which to graft apples for 
village lots. 
Ans. — We should say not. Let others who 
have tried it answer. It did not stand last 
Winter at the Rural Grounds. 2, The Paradise 
stock ia to the apple pretty much what the 
quince is to the pear; but a given kind of ap¬ 
ple grafted on the Paradise is not, as a rule, so 
prolific as a given pear on quince roots. They 
are handsome little trees and well adapted for 
small places, 
“ Rural Reader ,” Tioga , N, Y., referring to 
the recipe given for curing mange in a horse 
in the Rural for May 13, asks what are the 
ingredients of the "compound Bulpbur oint¬ 
ment” there mentioned. 
Ans. —Sulphur, six ounces; white hellebore, 
two onuces ; niter, one drachm; soft soap, half 
a pound : lard, a pound and a half; oil of ber¬ 
gamot, 30 drops. In the writer’s young days 
almost every country druggist kept this oint¬ 
ment already prepared, but of late many of 
them don’t kuow even the formula for com¬ 
pounding it. 
“ Subscriber," Cedartown, Ga, asks what 
will kill the little striped “bug” that infects 
melon plants, without killing the plant also. 
List year he tried Paris-green and several 
other insecticides, but death to the pests was 
death to the plants. 
Ans —Mr. Henderson recommends several 
applications of bone dust. We have never 
trh d it. Try Persian insect powder. We last 
year need London-purple and plaster (propor¬ 
tions, one to 40) for this pest. Our lemem- 
brauce is that it was effective. 
T P, Charleston, W Va , wishes to know, 1, 
if he can be enlisted in the U S. army; 3. are 
clothes furnished those who join ; 3. where can 
he do so; 4. wbat salary is paid; 5, how old 
must he bo for admission; 6, how long must 
he serve. 
Ans —I, That depends on your physical con¬ 
dition, age, etc. 2, Yes. 3, At recruiting sta¬ 
tions in any of the principal cities. 4, $13 00 
per month. 5, Between 18 and 36. 6, Five 
yearn. 
G G., Dayton, Texas, has carefully planted 
an acre with peach trees, but the moles are 
tunneling under the roots and destroying 
them, and he asks what ought he to do. 
Ans. —A few feet from the trees—say six— 
pour a little coal tar on their tunnels. Beyond, 
towards the trees, press down the soil that they 
have displaced, firmly with the foot. Continue 
this management for a week and please report. 
W D , Union Mills. Ia., asks which crop 
of Mammoth Clover should be saved for seed 
—the first or second. 
Ans —Mammoth Clover is nothing but a 
large variety of the common red clover, and 
has precisely the same habit of growth. The 
second crop is cut for seed. 
C. B C., Bangor, Mich., asks where ma¬ 
chines for grinding sickles of mowers can be 
procured. 
Ans —Powell & Douglas, Waukegan, Ill., 
or Watertown Portable Engine Co., Water- 
town, N. Y. 
Stork and Poultry. 
40 Clydesdale Stallions 
AND MARES—Mostly Imported. 
60 Hambletonian Stallions, 
AND MARES OP TBE FINEST BREEDING. 
Largest Herd of 
HOLSTEIN CATTLE. 
With largest milk records in America. 
Separate Catalogues of each class of stock with 
milk record of cows. Denote which la wanted, 
jy Correspondence solicited. 
SMITHS Sc POWEI/L, 
Lakeside Stock Farm, 
Syracuse, N. Y. 
Pi.sccllaneoujL 
PROFESSOR 
POWDER 
Asbestos Roofing —G. W. T., of Stelton, 
N J., referring to the inquiry on the above 
eubj .'Ct in the Rural of May 7, says he has 
used this sort of roofing and it has proved en¬ 
tirely satisfactory, lla is now using the As¬ 
bestos paint and he ssy> It makes a smoother 
surface and is more easily applied than auy 
other paint he has ever U6ed. He has no rea¬ 
son whatever for recommending it, he says, 
except the desire to make known a good 
article. 
♦ » ♦- 
COMMUNICATIONS RECEIVED FOE THE WEEK END¬ 
ING Saturday, May 2S. 
D. M. J.—Mrs. W. B. H.—A. S. H.—Mrs. S. H. H. 
—B. 0. D.—11 G -R. T. T.—T. E. T.—W. J B.— 
E. H.—F. B R.-Dr. K. T. L. R. L. 8.—T. R H.— 
L. K. W.-C. A. K.-J. L P.-r J. N.-P. B. M.- 
A. M. L.—W. J. B„ what number.—A. £ B.—j. g. 
thanks tor wheat.—B. T.—F. G., Monroe, La., 
thank you for report.—W. F. C.—A. H. B.—L S.— 
A. G —T. R. H—Mrs. S. H. R,—G O M.~G, B.— 
P. B. M.—W, c.—J. B., LaSalle, N. Y., strawoer- 
rles received.—J. H. H., quince received.—One 
dozen blackberries without name.—w. M. n.—w. 
A. B —c. W,—R G., Jr., thanks—D. A. J —T. H. 
H , M. D —G E N.-D. A. B.—E D. W.-J. H.— D. 
B P. - J. A. W.-O A. G.-E E. W.—A. F E.M, 
totato received —c. W. D , potato received — E. P. 
R-, planis received, thanka.-J, B N . thanks. - E. 
E. II.—J 8. C., no, we can take no interest lD 8 U 3 h 
Inventions .—A fanners wile, thanks.— W. C. B.— 
W. J. K.-M. F.-G. G.-V. A. JU.-A. O.-H. 8. 
Made from Professor Horsford'a Acid 
Phosphate. 
Recommended by leading physicians. 
Makes lighter biscuit, cakes, etc., and 
is healthier than ordinary ~ > ow- 
der. 
in cans. Sold at a reasonable price. 
The Horsford Almanac and Cook Hook 
sent free. 
Rurnford Chem ical Works, Providence, R. I. 
CARPETS. 
MOQUETTE CARPETS. — We 
have just placed on sale 300 pieces 
American Muquette Carpets at the low 
price of §1.40 per yard—the cheapest 
carpets ever offered. They oannot be 
had elsewhere in the city. 
W LLTON CARPETS at §2.25, 
full live-frame, aDd equal in quality to 
anything offered in this market at §2.75 
or §3 per yard. 
AXMINSTER and MOQUETTE 
Carpets from §1.50 to §2.50. 
Best BODY BRUSSELS Carpets, 
§1.25, §1.40, §1.50 and §1.60—the latter 
for the choicest patterns. 
TAPESTRY CARPETS.—Hav¬ 
ing exhausted our first offering of 75 
cent Tapestry Carpets, we have placed on 
sale for a few days, another lot of the 
SA31E GOODS at the SAME LOW 
PRICE. These goods are equal to 
those sold elsewhere at 90 cents and §1. 
We have other goods varying in price 
up to §1.15. 
We have also on exhibition a superior 
TAPESTRY CARPET, equal in 
Texture and Quality to anything made 
either here or in Europe. 
ENGRAINS—We have of the best 
Extra Superior Grade a very full line 
from 75 cts. to 90 cts. per yard. Also, 
a line a grade lower at 65 cts. to 75 ots, 
—all wool. 
Persons in want of CARPETS will 
do well to call on us before purchasing. 
Every Carpet is warranted as repre¬ 
sented. Fall satisfaction guaranteed or 
the money refunded. 
).&). DOBSON, 
OARPET MANUFACTURERS, 
40 ami 42 WEST 14th ST., NEW YORK. 
John Van Gaasbeek, Manager. 
Oik Gold aud Silver CUrumo Cards, with name. luo. 
hi” post paid. Gko. I. Kkkd & Oo., Nassau, N. 1. 
i pp a wee*. u> *<jar own town. Terms and go outfit 
$UU free. Address B. Laliett 4 Co.. ioxUand. Mams 
