AUG. 27 
567 
THE BUBAL NEW-YORKER. 
Mr. Vick reminds his readers that the 
“ White Worm.” or ary other worm, in pots, 
may be destroyed by sticking three or four 
common matches down into the soil, also one 
or two np into the drain opening. The phos¬ 
phorus on t.be match is certain death to animal 
life, and a powerful fertilizer for plants. 
A farmer relating his experience in the 
Husbandman, says that when he took posses¬ 
sion of the farm he now has, there were many 
very large apple trees on it, and as they had no 
value as an orchard he cleaned them oft. The 
brush and other waste were piled about the 
stumps and burned to prevent sprouts from 
starting. That was ten years ago or more, 
but from that day to this the crops raised 
about those stumps a-e better than on other 
portions of the field—the tffect of the ashes he 
supposes. We have more than once observed 
the same tfleets from similar causes and have 
heard several farmers say the same thing. . . 
.... It is pleasant to find the carnation, and 
its near allies, the pink and the picotee, says 
the London Chronicle, keeping their hold on 
the sometimes fickle taste of ihe public. For 
variety, purity and delicacy of color, eymme- 
tiy of form, freedom of bloom, and in many 
cases rich fragrance, there are not many gar¬ 
den flowers that surpass them; and then they 
are in a sense everybody’s flowers. But we 
think that this delightful class of flowers has 
never been fairly appreciated here in America, 
and we hope tho Ruka.l'8 last distribution will 
greatly aid to change this. We should feel 
obliged if our readers would send ns any spec¬ 
imens from the Rural seed, which they deem 
specially tiandsome.“ Not here?” 
said the man from the County Court, “ where’s 
he gone to?” “I can’t say: he's dead.” , . . 
. . . Ue wire grass lubs a lazy nigger. 
Twelve er clock nebber is in a hurry. 
Nebber depend too much on de blackberry 
blossoms—Aphorisms in Scribner. 
It is the young city clerk who draws a week’s 
salary in advance, and re'mains at a country 
resort over Sunday, who acts as if he owned 
the whole establishment and all its surround¬ 
ings.Louisville Courier-Journal :— 
" Public school play-grounds and ihe streets 
would demoralize little angels, much less little 
boys.”."Is there anything fit to 
eat?” asks the N. Y. Herald.We 
can’t all think alike. The horse thinks one 
thing and the man who rides him thinks anoth¬ 
er. The rider thinks it is easy to get over the 
road in that way, but the horse differs from 
him.Lwaler said, what it will do 
us no barm to ponder upon, that he who 
purposely cheats his friend would cheat his 
God if he could.. . There Is many a 
man who threatens to cut off bis son with a 
shilling who would have to borrow the money 
in order to accomplish the threat. 
It is very easy to believe that we are in every 
way equal to those who are above us and very 
hard to believe that those below us are in any 
way equal to us.A practical farmer 
sbjs that he always applies manure as a top- 
dressiog for a wheat crop, and derives double 
the benefit from it used in that way. The 
growing season for wheat in the Fall being a 
short one, it 1 b advisable to apply the manure 
in such a way that its effect will be Immediate. 
It should be finely pulverized, says the N. Y. 
Herald.Mr. Paidy, in his Fruit Re¬ 
corder, reminds his readers that this is the time 
to layer grapes to get good roots for setting 
next Spring. Bend down the joints of new 
growth into a trench and fasten them with 
little crotched sticks.One cane of 
six to eight feet in length will make three or 
fonr layers, by laying in the soil near the old 
plant aDd then out and over a small stone and 
then in agalu, and so on to end of cane. 
(glKrgtojjcrt 
BUBAL SPECIAL BEPOBTS. 
Maryland. 
Floyd, Garrett Co., Aug. 8—The R. B~ 
Sorghum came up first-rate. It now has from 
15 to 26 branches from each seed. The Wash¬ 
ington Otts have done splendidly. They grew 
five feet high and the heads are 14 inches long. 
The flower seeds came up finely and are now 
the most beautiful I ever saw. I had bad luck 
with the White Elephant Potato—the bug* ate 
it up so completely that I shall hardly bo able 
to save seed. The asparagus seeds 1 shall try 
next year. I hadn’t & fair chance with the 
seeds this year, for I had just begun to clear 
np a farm right in the woods and the land 
did not yield as well as it will In the course 
of a few years. Still I have corn 18 feet 
high that is earing first-rate. All crops are 
tolerably goo^ In this section. A. r. 
cltlgan. 
Howell’s, L'vingstouc Co , August 15.—On 
April 28 I planted one While Elephant Potato 
cut into eli-ven pieces ; it yielded half a bushel. 
O^eE irly Rose cut into eleven pieces, yielded 
not quite a quarter of a peck. Two Snowflakes 
ent into eleven pieces, gave 1| peck. This is 
the first time 8uowflake ever yielded more 
than Early Rose with me. Two tubers of 
Brownell’s Bsaniy cut into eleven pieces 
yielded nothing—-ets rotted. One Lite Ro*e 
cut into eleven pieces yielded peck. All 
were planted in a row, one foot apart, and 
received the same care, being kept free from 
weeds. If the W. E is as good to eat as it is 
to yield, it will be j ust the thing wanted. Tbe 
W. Oats are very large—some of them six feet 
three Inches. The R. B. Sorghum by Ju’y 10, 
had all grown four feet high. Then I begai 
to cut it for feed ; where cut first it is now 
three feet high. T p- &R- 
Trowbridge, Allegan Co., Aug. 7— Of the 
Branching Smghum nearly every seed came 
up and the plants are about four feet high, 
with 28 stalks in some hills. The soil is a 
clay loam, having a clover Bod plowed under 
with no manure. My White Elephant weighed 
four ounces. I cut it into 12 pieces and 
planted them as you directed. We had to 
fight the bugs to save theru ; but feel well re¬ 
paid. We dog a hill this morning and got 
three pounds and one ounce of nice, large 
tubers. We would not take what the Rural 
cost for them alone. We did not do so well 
by the Washington Oats as we would like ob 
account of sickness. Taey were not sowed 
till late, but th.y grew 22 large heads from one 
seed and five or six from almost every one ; 
but, being late, they rusted. Our asparagus 
did well and looks nice. s o. a. 
New York. 
Rutland Center, Jeff jrson Co., Aug. 10 — 
I have 17 hills of the Wnite E.ephant Potato 
planted on Jane 5, and as they are all doing 
well and there are no bugs, I espect a large 
yield. The Washington Oats were sown in 
drills on the same date ; the ears are well 
filled; but the oats are very rusty. R. B S >r- 
ghum has been doing well for the last two 
weeks. Hay is very good, and so are small 
grains. Corn, however, will not be much of a 
crop this year. o. l. v. k. 
Vernon Oneida Co., Aug. 12 —I dag to-day 
the White E ephant Potatoes grown from the 
seed received from the Rural Free Seed D.s- 
tribntion last Spring. I had 49^ pounds in 
aclual weight. I consider this a very good 
yield, and they are large and fine though this 
is not considered a very good season for pota¬ 
toes by people here on account of the w.nt of 
rain. Icau't say how large they woald have 
been with plenty of water, but am pleased 
with the results. l. a. g. 
Ohio. 
Scott, Marion Co., Aug. 10.—In this county 
there is the poorest prospect for crops possible. 
Spring was late ; the last week of March had 
snow from two to three feet deep, which went 
off slowly and made plowing late. Com came 
up badly and had to be replanted. It grew 
slowly owing to the cold weather. Early in 
July we had the hottest of weather, which 
rolled up the com like cigars. This la-ted for 
two weeks; then for a week we had flooding 
rains, which ran the greund together hard be¬ 
fore dry enough to plow. Harvest then came 
on; hence half a corn crop. Wheat was 
"likely’' in the early Spring, but the fly, with 
other causes, cut it to half acrc p, with inferior 
grain. Potatoes were first scalded, then burnt 
up by the hot wea'her ; late crop, poor ; early, 
good. At this time the weather is cool. Hay 
is about all in the stack. w. j. v. 
Oregon, 
Monument, Gram Co., Aug. 12.—The agri¬ 
cultural resources of the country are veiy lim¬ 
ited. It is chit fly a 6tock country and very 
rough—not adapted to farming. Fruit trees 
and smalL fruits do wtU where tried. Most 
vegetables do well, but the nights are rather 
too cold for corn. a k. 
Tcnneaaee. 
Lincoln. Lmcoln Co., Aug. 10.—We are suf¬ 
fering severely from drought; have had no 
rain of account in six weeks. Com will be 
nearly a failure ; cotton a scant half crop. 
A great deal of the millet that was sown has 
failed to come np on account of the drought, 
and what has come up wbi be very light. 
Oats were a good crop, but wheat was not 
so much better tbau last year as it promised 
just before harvest. w 8. 
<3% <$ wrist, 
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
[Every query must be acoompanted by the name 
and address ot the writer to insure attention.] 
“PreMn'iDg” Crab*, ei*. 
F., Delaware , Wis., asks the best method of 
utilizing ihe Siberian crabB which bear fair 
crops of fruit this year while there is a great 
scarcity of choice eating apples, cherries, tame 
plums and blackberries. N itlve crabs, how¬ 
ever, alsogive fair crops and so do wild plums 
and wild grapes, and our friend iuquircs 
whether all these will not make good j-llv and 
how can they be best put up for next Winter. 
A»s.—Of course it hardly need be remarked 
that Winter crabs should be carefully put 
away for u«e at maturing; and that several 
kinds, like Hyslop, and perhaps some of the 
newer ones, may be easily kept for a consider¬ 
able period in the fresh state. Siberian crabs 
make a superior jelly: and this is so easily 
manufactured that almost every housewife 
will be familiar with the process. This would 
seem to aff ird the most ready means of utiliz¬ 
ing much of the crop (or use iu the farniy; 
while our cities and villages supply an almost 
unlimited demand for any surplus that may be 
produced, if neatly and conveniently put up. 
Forthis purpose the fruit should be used when 
fully mature—not over-ripe, nor yet unripe, if 
the best results are to be attained A few 
simple and cheap appliances will greatly ex¬ 
pedite and economize the process, if it is to be 
concincti d on an extensive scale. 
Another and a very satisfactory mode of 
utilizing a surplus of this fruit, is in the man¬ 
ufacture of marmalade, which is done by re¬ 
moving the calices, cookiog it thoroughly and 
forcing it tnroogh a sieve to separate ihe 
seels, cores, stems and skin from the pulp, 
which is then prepared with sugar enough to 
prevent feimentation and put up in aDy 
convenient manner for keepiug till wanted. 
The refuse of the crop will yield a very super¬ 
ior cider, whether for use as a beverage or for 
conversion into vinegar. The small eize of 
nearly all the crabs constitutes a serious ob- 
j action to their use for drying. There is yet 
another procesB to which this fruit is well 
adapted—that of canning—which, if properly 
done, leaves it with more of its natural davor 
as well as beau y of appearauce than can be 
retaint d by auy other process. We fancy, 
moreover, that the verdict of an immense ma- 
j jrity*of ihe housewives of the land, has long 
since determined that with the modern glas~, 
self-sealing can the summum bonum is reached, 
so far as the preservation of perishable fruits 
for home use is concerned. For this purpose 
the fruit should not be pared; only the calyx 
should be removed. Tbe stems, whicn are 
always long and slender, may be left as a con¬ 
venience, not to the purveyor only, but also*to 
the partaker. 
Breeding Tor Beef. 
A. H C., Beatrice, „ eh , wishing to breed for 
beef stock, asks, 1 whether a pure-bred Here¬ 
ford ball calf which its dam dropped before 
she was two years old, would be a suitable 
sire for beef stock—both have good pedi¬ 
grees ; 2, the breeding value of a bull calf 
out of a pure-bred Durham cow by a pure¬ 
bred Durham bull; tne cow is a deep milker, 
but she looks very homely and raw boned, 
and has no pedigree; 3 would it be advisa¬ 
ble to breed beifeis for beef stock as early as 
nine or ten months, as Mr. Stewart advises 
breeding them for dairy cows. 
Ans —1. Such a H-reford bull as above de¬ 
scribed would doubtless make an excellent 
stock animal. The precocity of the dam 
would be an advantage rather than a detri¬ 
ment. 2. The Durham (Short-horn) calf would 
not be a d< sirable animal to use for breeding 
for beef. The character of the dam id ot j ic- 
tiouable; it is quite probable that she may 
be a good dairy cow, as a good milker is apt 
to be raw-boned and tbe reverse of a beef 
animal in appearance- A large bull is by no 
means desirable for breeding purposes simp’y 
because it is large. The bull which founded 
the best families of Short-horn*, the renowned 
Hubback, was a small bull. It is quality and 
not size that is required in a stock bull; * ! za 
can always be gained by feed ng YonrHere- 
foi d bull might be made of good size by good 
and judicious feedi g, notwithstanding he is 
the first calf of a young heifer. 8 Mr Stew¬ 
art recommends breeding dairy cows only a! 
the age of uina or teu months, and does not 
reftr to beef animals. Hj gives a good rea¬ 
son tor it, viz., that tbe cows come into profit 
sooner. With grazing animals the case is 
different. Sz: is neerssary, and the heifer 
should be at least two ywars old before she 
is bred. A beef animal, properly fed, will 
reach a good size and become mature at two 
years. 
Plowing Uoder Plover, . 
J. B. T- W, St. Chares. Id, asks when 
should he plow under a field of clover that wa* 
seeded in the Spring of ’80 and from which he 
has taken one crop oE hay. Tae 6oil is clay, 
with a little sand and a gravel subsoil. To ob 
tain the best results for a crop of corn, should 
it be plowed with a breaking or a 6tubhle plow. 
Should it be too dry to plow in tbe F ill, what 
would be the ntxt best thing to do with it ? 
Ans — As a rule, it is better to plow a clover 
sod upon clay soils is the Fall, and upon light 
soils in the Spring, for the reason that the 
Winter weather has a beneficial effect upon 
fall-plowed heavy soli, but a contrary iffect 
upon light soil. The plowing should be done 
as late as possible iu both cases. This is be¬ 
cause corn succeeds beet upon a freshly plow¬ 
ed clover sod and upon fresh, moist, mellow 
soil. Iu this special case it would doubtiess 
be best to plow tbe ground in October, when 
the Fall rains have softened the soil, and leave 
the surface rough until Spring, when it may 
be worked fine with a cultivator and prepared 
for planting without a second plowing. A 
stubble plow which will turn the furrows on 
edge and lap them should be. used. 
To Turify Sorghum Molas.e*, etc. 
J. B. F-, no address. 1, atk* what is tbe best 
method of purifying tort hum molasses;2, 
what kind of fish it best for a small pond. 
Ans — If it has b°en made from cane grow¬ 
ing on bottom lard where no limestone 
abounds, or has a bitter taste from not being 
properly defecat d, put it into a pan «nd di¬ 
lute it with water until it stands 12 2 Biune 
Bring it to 160 3 Fab* - , ai d add sufficient milk 
of lime to destroy any acid taste. The heat 
may be raised to 212 3 F*hr, perhaps with 
benefit Then allow it to cool and settle one 
hour; draw off and cook down to a thick 
sirup. It sorghum molasses contains other 
impurities, then it must be purified ry passing 
through a bone charcoal filter. Always bear 
in mind that iron pans or evaporators and too 
much lime lend to produce d*>k-colored mo¬ 
lasses. Where cane grows on limestr ne soil, 
lime is never needed at all. 2 European 
Carp. See article on it elsewhere iu this 
issue. 
Miscellaneous. 
J, E. 8., Welloiile, Va., a-ks, 1, whether 
there is any grass that will grow in an oak atd 
hickory grove, so as to make a good sod—so 1 
light, study ; 2, what sort of millet is mo*t 
forward foi feeding in the Spring; when 
should it be sown; and would it be well to sow 
grass seed with it 3 Ha has some land on 
which h< wishes to sow wh*at, seeding it to 
grass at the same time, and desiring to plant 
pear atd apple trees on it, he asks what should 
be tbe distance between the trees and whether 
they Bhonld be set out in F ill or 8pring. 
Ans.—Q lack and Orchard Gra*s are the best 
that we can suggest. 2 H ingmau G ass. 
May 10 h, we sowed ours. Y:s ; grass seed 
might advantageously he sowed with it. The 
Hungarian requires but 60 days to mature 
sufficiently f r cutting, 3 Plant the apple 
tr«?es 30 feet apart each way; the pears not 
less than 20. F.>r ypur climate we should 
prefer Fall. 
W Q A., Wes'JUld Mass , asks, l, doe3 it 
improve sweet corn to top it; 2 what is the 
best liquid manure for celery—wou d hen ma¬ 
nure do. 
Ans —1, The ears of a given stalk might be 
iruprov d by cutting off the tas-et. so long as 
there were plenty of poll -n from other tassels 
to pollinate the silk. 2 Y j s. admirable—a 
gill of pure ben manure to a gallon of water. 
P rhaps no liquid manure is bettor than barn¬ 
yard—a teacupful or so to a gallon. The 
apples are not yet received. 
SBC, Batesville Miss , says he sends a 
specimen of a bean and leaf to see if it is the 
Catalpa bignonioides. tar speeiosa, which 
Western railroads are reported to be setting 
out extensively for ties, one set being reported 
to outlast three of white oak. 
Ans —Tbe spe ini^n does not seem to have 
come to hand, though t>os iblv it will be found 
among our whpat specimens. The wood of 
the Catalpa speciosa has hepu proven very du¬ 
rable. Later Tt is C. biguonioiles. Cannot 
say as to speciosa. 
A K M , McKenzie T nn, ask* what would 
be a good b dge Plant for that section. 
Ans —The Privet should do well with you. 
These grow more r* adPy from cuttings and 
young plants may be bough', of any nursery¬ 
man for a small sum per thomm^d —probably 
$5 60. Tbe J apan Q lince Is a fin* shrub for 
hedges and may he bought for $5 00 per hun¬ 
dred. L Nik in the catalogues for Cydonia or 
Pyns J aponica. 
• E N. B . Bedford , IV. T.. save: "I would 
like to hear the i-xoerie ice ot some one who 
has used oat or wheat ch-ff for packing ice or 
for lining an ice hou«e. In the latter capacity 
world it be mo. e or less like'y to rot than saw¬ 
dust?” 
( harles Couch 8chohr rie. ZV Y asks where 
can he purchase some good Duroc or J-rst y 
Rrdpies—pure-bred s with registered pedigree, 
from four to six months old. 
Mrs R. J, Utica. Ik, asks whether Ihe 
Great London T-* Company of B >ston, which 
advertise* in the Rural is trustworthy. 
Ans—Q aito so. 
J H. Marshall Cordova , III , say3 he wants 
200 calves for feeders. 
Communications rv rived for the week end¬ 
ing Saturday, Aug 20. 
TT. S — n. J R —F H S -S B. P —O. E. P. — E. 
M, B.—W T S (Iowa) thanks. The Dead does not 
speak well for - Golden Grain 8. * P—S. R. 
c. — Win Heps, thank*.-P. S.—U £.S-F D. C.— 
G W. P —C. v R.-E W K . bulbs not received, 
unless they bare been placed with our wheats— 
c . A . « _H. C —A. A. B.—A. J. C.—T. P R — 
O. S R —E. P. P-—J L. B —I. W. M.-G A. G . Jr. 
-SO A.-A M. W—W. W.-R O.—E R. P.— 
W F.—J. B. O.— V R. (Floyd), thanks—I. If.—C. 
L. F. K.—M T. —E. K. B.-1I 8 —S. B. U —8. B. 
A._G. W P— T.T\—U M. G —8 R. M.—F. H. 8.— 
E. W. K —T. D. E.—I. W. H.—T. P. R —J. G E.— 
P. U. W — A. A. S.—O. W. D.—S C. G.—F. R. M.— 
A. K, J.-A. F. II.—M. W.-G. W. F.-J. H.. S. 
