jplement of the Rural 
Ids will be sent to all appli- 
It gives an account of the 
Worth of Presents 
Send for the Su 
New-Yorker. ' 
cants free of eharg 
three-and-a-half to four quarts will be needed. 
If the fruit is sun-dried or dried slowly by 
artificial heat, the juices are all evapor¬ 
ated, and from a pint to a quart more at 
least will be needed. 
A. G. H., Roanoke, hid., would like to 
know, 1, where and by whom the Davis Ver- 
tical-feed Sewing Machine is for sale;2, where 
he can get the Early Ohio Potato for seed; 3, 
would salt sown next Spring on Winter 
wheat destroy or drive away the Hessian fly; 
4, when and how often must sulphur be dusted 
on grape-vines to prevent mildew or grape- 
rot; ho has 500 grape-vines but has not had 
100 pounds of whole bunches in two years. 
Ans.— 1. Of the Davis Sewing Machine Co., 
Watertown, N. Y. 2. Of any seedsman, 3. 
No. 4. As often as the mildew appears. 
Other questions will be answered in due time. 
./. W. G., Chester, S. C., wishing to test 
good varieties of wheat in that section, asks 
us to send small quantities of Clawson, Sur¬ 
prise and other good sorts. 
Ans. —Clawson was distributed free by the 
Rural years ago. Surprise and Fultzo- 
Clawson will be distributed in our present 
seed distribution w r hich will be begun in a few 
weeks. We sell no Beeds or plants of any 
kind—have never sold them and do not ever 
propose to. The object of the Rural Free 
8eed Distributions is to introduce valuable 
new varieties without cost to the farmer or 
gardener. 
F. M. B., address mislaid, asks whether 
D. F. Beatty, of Washington, N. J., w ill fill 
orders sent to him for pianos; our inquirer sent 
One in before the late fire at Beatty’s factory 
and the instrument has not yet been forward¬ 
ed. 
Ans. —We referred the matter to Mr. 
Beatty and he assures us that since the fire he 
has lieen exerting himself as hard as possible 
to “ catch up ” with orders, and that he will 
fill every one so soon as he can. 
C. If’., Shell jP. O., W. Va., asks the lowest 
cash price for the Czar Revolver advertised in 
our Fair Number, and says he understands 
we guarantee the weapon to be equal to any 
made. 
Ans.—T he Rural New-Yorker sells noth¬ 
ing whatever except papers. We do not 
guarantee anything. 
W. IT. M., Beaver Crossing, Neb., asks 
where can “ listing” plows be obtained. 
Ans. —B. D. Buford & Co., Rock Island, Ill. 
G. C. DeB,, Penn, Yan, N. Y., asks for the 
address of A. W. Livingston, the originator of 
Livingston’s Perfection Tomato. 
Ans. —No. 705 Tenth Street, Des Moines, 
Iowa. 
M. V. C„ Gibbon, Neb., asks whether there 
is any periodical treating of veterinary prac¬ 
tice. 
Ans. —The Veterinary Review, a monthly, 
price $2 a year, published and edited by Prof. 
A. F. Liautard, M. D. V. S., 141 West 54th 
Street, New York, is the only thing of the sort 
we know of. 
E, B. S., Warren, Pa. —Skeletonized leaves 
are usually made by dissolving the succulent 
portions by a hot solution of caustic soda 
and then whitening the skeleton of fibers re¬ 
maining by bleaching powder—chloride of 
lime. “ Skeletons" may also be prepared by 
steeping vegetable matter in a mixture of 
chlorate of potash and dilute nitric acid for 
several days. 
J. M. Allen, Kansas, asks, in the Rural of 
Dec. 3, who has Oxfordshire Down sheep for 
sale, and E. W. M., Verdeu, 111., hereby in¬ 
forms him that Cooper, Maddox & Co., Read¬ 
ing, Ohio, have sheep of this breed for sale. 
Our friend bought a pair last Fall, and be¬ 
lieves they are the “ coming sheep” for profit 
both for w r ool and mutton. 
E. C. H., Hobart, Ind,, asks whether the “so- 
called hay loaders are serviceable devices, and 
if so, which would be of use to farmers. 
Ans. —Yes; hay loaders are certainly useful 
to farmers. Foust's hay loader, made by the 
Keystone Manufacturing Company, Sterling, 
Ill,, is a practical device highly recommended. 
H. R. R., Atlantic, Iowa, asks whether the 
Right Speedy Corn Sholler is what it claims 
to be. 
Ans. —It is a good cheap sheller, made by a 
reliable concern. 
Mrs. L. M, Hoffman, Madisonville, Ohio, 
asks where she can obtain Oxford Down 
sheep. 
thick or thin to show the proper quality of the 
milk tested. He also objects that it would re¬ 
quire very keen eyesight to distinguish the 
shades indicative of different grades. 
Ans. —The description given of the Pioscope 
should be sufficient to prevent any such mis¬ 
take regarding a boll. The vulcanite plate 
has a shallow cell about one-fortieth of an 
inch in depth. The glass cover laid over this 
presses out all the milk but the thin film that 
lies under it in this shallow cell, and the black 
substance of the vulcanite, of course, shows 
through the milk in proportion to its density 
or depth of colorand richness in cream. There 
is no difficulty about the shades of color. Any 
eye that can distinguish the color of a lemon 
from that of an orange can distinguish the 
shades of color in the milk. The instrument 
is very cheap, and, so far as the writer has 
experimented with it, it is as accurate a test 
of the quality of milk as can well be devised. 
SMUT IN THE WASHINGTON OATS. 
R. G., Ontario, Canada, asks whether the 
large amount of smut in the Washington Oats 
was due to faulty seed; and how to avoid it in 
the next oat crop raised from the seed saved 
from the Rural’s Free Seed Distribution. 
Ans. —Close breeding, in plants and animals 
alike, tends to produce constitutional weak 
ness and an aptness to become affected by 
diseases of various kinds. It is made worse 
by high feeding—and manuring is feeding. 
These oats have been got by selection of seed, 
which is dos > breeding, and have doubtless 
been well manured, which is high feeding. 
These are the causes of the tendency to smut 
in them. It is the same with corn, wheat, 
potatoes, and other plants which gradually 
weaken and become diseased, and fail in 
course of time. To remedy it we would steep 
the seed in a solution of sulphate of copper, 
four ounces to the gallon of water and use 
mineral fertilizers only. Lime would be ad¬ 
visable also. This would destroy the smut 
spores and tend to strengthen the constitution 
of the plant. 
ROUP IN POULTRY. 
A Subscriber, Maspeth, N. Y., lias some 
chickens thus affecteda corner of one of the 
eyes of [each and the roof of the mouth are 
filled with hard, yellow matter; the eye is 
closed with scales of the “ stuff ” which hold 
the lids together, while a watery substance 
runs from them. The fowls sit still, moving 
only when driven. 
Ans. —This is a case of roup or malignant 
catarrh. The cause may be cold or diseased 
blood from want of ventilation or other insan¬ 
itary causes. The cure is to wash the eyes 
with warm water in which a small pinch of 
sulphate of zinc is dissolved. Do this by in¬ 
jecting the wash with a small syringe. Also 
wash the mouth and thoroughly cleanse it 
with the same solution. Then drop a pinch 
of chlorate of potash down the throat and 
give the fowls some warm, soft food, bread 
and milk or corn-meal mush, for a few days. 
Keep the house perfectly clean and fumigate 
it with burned sulphur. 
Miscellaneous. 
J. W. F., Daretown, N. J., rays; “ What are 
your prices for Perfection Golden Heartwell 
Celery and Challenger Lima Bean ?” 
Ans. —The above is an instance of many 
similar applications which come to the Rural 
New-Yorker. The Perfection Heartwell 
Celery and Challenger Lima Bean are not yet 
for sale. If they prove superior to other kinds 
of celery aud Lima beans they will, of course, 
be offered by seedsmen. But the Rural never 
sells seeds or plants under any circumstances 
whatever. We are obliged to make this rule 
imperative. If we were to sell seeds and 
plants, we should no longer hope to command 
the confidence of our readers iu our professed 
disinterestedness in the Ru&alTs Free Seed 
Distribution. 
O. H ., Golden City, Mo., asks what straw¬ 
berries would be likely to do best there; 2, 
where can the two cherries, Montmorency Or¬ 
dinaire and Montmorency Large-fruited, 
spoken of by Mr. W. C. Barry iu the Fair 
Number, be obtained; 3, what is a good, 
cheap early potato; 4, the best early field 
corn. 
Ans. 1. It would be mere guesswork for us 
to give a list of strawberries that would 
thrive iu a given locality. The only way is 
to procure the best kinds in small lots and test 
them. 2. Of Ellwangor & Barry, Rochester, 
N. Y., we presume. 3. Beauty of Hebron, 
Early Rose, Early Ohio, Early Vermoiu. 4. 
The eight-vowed yellow flint. 
G. W„ Ithaca, N. Y., asks how many 
quarts of raspberries are required to make a 
pound of dried ones. 
Ans.— That doponds very much on the con¬ 
dition of the fruit ami the manner of drying 
them. Of Black Caps, if cured iu an improved, 
quick-drying evaporator, the proportion is as 
follows ;—Davidson’s Thornless aud Mam¬ 
moth Cluster three-aud-a-half quarts ; Doolit- 
ill 111 offered to all subscribers 
? who produce the best yields 
from our Free Seed. Distribution of 1882. 
ear of its present Management—S2nd year 
For the North, South, East, West 
IT KNOWS NO SECTIONAL PREJUDICES. 
The first journal to have established an Ex¬ 
periment Farm conducted in the 
interests of its readers. 
The first to have made regular free seed and plant 
distributions among its subscribers. In this way it 
is conceded to have introduced many of the most 
valuable farm and garden plants in cultivation. 
The Rural New-Yorker is acknowledged to have worked a new era in rural jour¬ 
nalism, and to have accomplished incalculable good to the agricultural interests of 
our country. 
5Q0 Original Illustrations Annually, try, Milk, Butter, Cheese, Diseases 
of AunnuU; Bees, Injurious Insects, Grain, Grass, Small Fruits, all Ornamental and 
Useful Trees and Shrubs are among the prominent subjects treated in its columns. 
THE BEST WRITERS IN THE WORLD. 
Everybody who is interested in a garden, vineyard, orchard or farm; in new plants; 
in farm or garden implements; everybody who is interested in Horticulture and that 
seeks through such means to increase the happiness of life and home, should Sub¬ 
scribe, The Rural New-Yorker is the earnest friend of all who love nature and her 
works. 
The Rural New-Yorker has no other than the true interests of agriculture to sub¬ 
serve. It has neither seeds nor plants nor books nor anytime whatever to sell. It 
is conducted purely in the interests of Agriculture and Hoiticul ure and Stock-Keep¬ 
ing. Its tests of plants, seeds, manures, implements, are maim regardless of individ¬ 
ual interests or those of advertising patrons. It holds the interests of land culture 
as above all others, and its aim is to benefit all who occupy themselves in the culture 
of land and its attendant industries, either for pleasure, profit or support. 
No matter where you live, you cannot afford to be without the Rural New-Yorker. 
It is the progressive, aggressive, alert, original, conscientious rural journal of the 
age. Thousands of testimonials to this effect. Our Everywhere Reports are 
invaluable to the Farmer aud Horticulturist. They have proven of great value to 
them in determining the best time to 15uy or Sell. Our market reports are correct¬ 
ed by a special reporter up to the time of going to press. Our agricultural and 
general news embraces everything of interest to intelligent readers. Correspondents 
everywhere. Try it —Try it — Try it —for one year! It will cost you but $2.00. It 
may save you hundreds. Try it as a measure of Economy. 
The obiects of the Experiment Farm of the Rural New-Yorker are to test all kinds 
Dr. J. B. Laweg,.. ...Rothamsted. F.ngland. 
Pro*. .1. P. SheliloU, Hunts. .4 Wilts. A«l. Col.. 
William Ho bin son, F. It. 8., Editor aud Found¬ 
er ol i be London Harden.—. 
Prof. S. W. Johnson, Sheffield Scientific 
School, Yale College. Conn. 
Gen. W. H. N.-hlt-. " 
Prof. F. il. Storer, Hussey Institute. Mass. 
Levi StoeklmdKo, Pres. Agr'l Col. 
Hon. Marshall P. Wilder, Boston. 
William Falconer, Cambridge University. * 
Richard Goodman, Pros. J. C. C. 
Richard Goodman, Jr. ' 
Prof. W. J. lfc-al, Agricultural CoUege. Mich. 
Prest. T. T. Lyon, Pom. Society. “ 
Sec’y C. A. Garfield,..... 
C. K. Thonie, Farm Manager State Ag'l Coi... Ohio. 
Dr. John X Warder.. '* 
W. 1. Chamberlain... 
Waldo F. Brown..., 
B. F. Johnson. .. IlUnols. 
Prof. G. E. Morrow, State Ag’l Col. 
Prof. Cyrus Thomas. 
Prof. G. W. French... „ 
Prof. K. M. Shelton, Agricultural College. Kan. 
Prof. Elbruigr Gale " 
Prof. Thomas Meehan, Author of Native 
Flowers and Ferns . Pa. 
Mrs. Mary Wager Fisher.. 
W. G. Waring, 8r r . “ 
Heury Stewart, It. D. N. J. 
E. Williams. 
CoL H. Cl W eld . " 
James Taplln.. . 
Ex-Gov, Robert W. Furnas. Neb. 
S. Rufus Mason.-. „ “ 
Prof. C. C. Georgeson, Agr’l CoUege . Texas 
Iowa, 
N. Y. 
ol the garden aud of trees and shrubs about the home ; to increase the comforts, 
refinement, health, and the general welfare of all who own aud cultivate land. It 
tests all new vegetables, and makes known their value. It tells how to raise thorn iu 
the greatest perfection. Shrubs and trees, flowers, plants of every description, the 
methods of cultivation to suit the varied and ever-changing conditions which arise, 
constitute prominent departments. 
The insect enemies which infest our field crops, which seem to be rapidly in 
creasing, and entomology in general are treated iu our columus by the ablest spe 
cialists in the country. To aid in 
The Progress and Development of American Horticulture 
and Agriculture 
is always our earnest endeavor. Such efforts as these have brought the Rural New 
Yorker to the position it now occupies. The Price of the Rural New-Yorkei 
is $2.00 a Year, payable invariably in advance. We have no club or secom 
price. It is alike to all. 
Address RURAL NEW-YORKER, 
34 Park Row, New York. 
Communications Receivkd for the Week Ending 
Saturday, Dec. 17,1881. 
M. W. K.—J. L. B.—S. P. Jr.—J. C. B.—H. A. M.-E. 
B.-O. V. R.-W B. D.- J. W. C.-W. J. R.-L. W. II.- 
W. S.-O. H.-H. T. (Mansfield, Minn.) No, thank you— 
we have tried It.—S, K. P.—8. II. M.—W. L. D.—T. H. H. 
-J. W. F.— W. R.—J. A, S.—A. K.—A. C.-Muy Maple, 
thanks always.— W. B. X.—M. B. MeL. S. If. P.—D. K. 
-C. A. G.—D. E. S.—U. G. B.-F. G. T.—W. Z. H.-G. 
W. C.—SL E K.—T. MeC.—D. J.—E J. G.—E. JL—C. E. 
W.—I. M. C.—F. J—A. D. C.—31. C.—F.L. Jr.-J. E. B.— 
M. 8. K.—J. J. R-R. J. C-— J. E. A.—F. G. M.—B. W. C. 
E. L. D,-I. J. D.-W. 0. L.-0. F. C.-0. W. M.-W. 8. D. 
