(ilic Querist, 
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
A Gumer. —I wish to auk a few questions 
through your valuable paper : (1) I want to lay 
about a mile of water-pipe—what is the best 
and cheapest pipe to lay, and where can it be ob¬ 
tained. (2) How much fall is necessary in order 
to have the pipe clear itself of any dirt or 
sand that might get into it. (3) Have you a 
commission house for selling butter, cheese and 
farmers’produce in general, connected with your 
business. If not, please refer us to some good 
responsible company in New York City, and 
oblige a subscriber. 
Ans.— To obtain a satisfactory answer to a 
question it is absolutely necessary to be particu¬ 
lar in shaping the inquiry. Here neither the 
object of the work, the size of the pipe, nor the 
lay of the ground is mentioned, nor is it stated 
whether the drain or pipe is to be laid in a con¬ 
tinuous line—all important considerations in 
giving beneficial advice. Tiles are, on the whole, 
the moat serviceable for draining purposes, as 
well as for conveying water for long distances 
under ordinary circumstances. Of these, ex¬ 
perience has shown that the best is the most 
economical, and that the best hetherto invented 
is the pipe or round tile and collar. Round tiles 
of all sizes for drainage purposes should not 
be laid without collars, as these hold them per¬ 
fectly in plaos, prevent the settling in of dirt- 
in laying, and give twioe the space for the in¬ 
trance of water at the joints. They are from 
twelve to fourteen inches long with an interior 
diameter of from one to eight inches, and a thick¬ 
ness of wall of from one-quarter of an inch to 
more than an inch. After allowing for break¬ 
age, it will take about sixteen tiles and sixteen 
collars to lay a rod in length of drain, the cost 
of which will depend in a great measure on the 
nearness of a tile-kiln and the expense of trans¬ 
portation. Ordinarily they should uot cost, de¬ 
livered, more than eight dollars per thousand 
for 134 inch tiles, and four dollars per thousand 
for the collars, making a total of twelve dol¬ 
lars, equal to nineteen cents per rod. The lay- 
iug of the tiles should not cost more than two 
cents per rod, based ou a skilled man laying 100 
rods daily, and receiving two dollars per day. 
(2) Whenever practicable, without too great 
a cost, it is desirable to have a fall of one foot 
in one hundred feet, though six inches 
the same length will be quite sufficient, if the 
work is oarefully executed. The least rate of 
fall which it is prudeut to give to a drain, 
is three inches in 100 foot, and to make 
this effective requires very careful work. 
The danger that, unless properly laid and 
made, drams may become obstructed by silt 
—earth washed iu with the water of the soil—by 
vermin or by roots is great, and the expense of 
removing the obstructions, by taking up, clear¬ 
ing out. and relaying the tiles, is often nearly as 
heavy as the original cost. The best precaution 
agaiuHt Huch a misfortune is that the fall, along 
the whole length of the drain, should be at a 
uniform rate, lest the diminished velocity at any 
part shouLd cause a disposition of silt to choke 
up the tile, au effect likewise produced by a sin¬ 
gle badly laid tile or imperfect joint. Dr increas¬ 
ing the fall, oitves in the pipe are always advis¬ 
able, but whenever it is absolutely necessary to 
decrease it., so as to continue the drain with the 
least possible fall over level grouud. the change 
should be made by an angle. By making an ab¬ 
solute angle at the point of depression, the silt 
can be eaugbt there in a chambor—in size, pro¬ 
portionate to the quautity of water flowing 
through the pipe—and removed as occasion may 
require. We are not acquainted with any deal¬ 
ers iu drain pipe in your vicinity, and it is a mat¬ 
ter of importance that the pipe should be pur¬ 
chased as near as possible to tbe place where it 
is used, as considerable saving of freight can iu 
this way be effected. You can readily ascer¬ 
tain who are the manufacturers nearest to you 
by inquiries in the next town. 
(3) We have no other business besides than that 
of publishing the Rulal. In connection with 
this, we used to publish works on agriculture 
and kindred subjects, but this branch of the 
business has for some years been abandoned, as 
we found it advisable to devote our entire atten¬ 
tion to the production of a first-class family pa¬ 
per. Walter Carr A Co , Pearl street. N. Y-, 
are a reliable Commission House, for the sale of 
butter &c. 
I. A. Young. —In the Rural of January 5th 
was an iuquiry under the above signature, about 
a cheap and substantial fence which can be re¬ 
moved every fall and replaced evexy spiing, on 
bottom land subject to overflow. I have found 
a fence of the following kind useful in a similar 
situation, and also in other places where a por¬ 
table fonoe has been needed. Take four or five 
hoards, 1 by 6 inches, and from 12 to 16 feet 
long, then two pieces 1 by 4, five feet long ; nail 
together within six inches of the end. just as if 
making a gate ; then take another piece 1 by 3 
inches and so long that if nailed even at the top 
it will come dowu 12 inches below the bottom 
board ; sharpen its lower end with au axe and 
s : nk it into the ground to strengthen the middle 
of the boards. Then take a length of pine, or 
other convenient timber, five or six inches in 
diameter, lay it on the ground and make a notoh 
two inches wide, in the middle ; slip the end of 
each pannel into notches of this kind, and fasten 
together with a nail. Then take two pieces 1 by 
I >5 or 2 iuches and five feet long, and nail the 
upper ends of these, one at each side, to the 
piece 1 by 4 , at the top, just under the top hoard, 
then nail the other end to the post lying on the 
ground for a brace. A very strong and conve¬ 
nient fence of any required length can be made 
in sections of this kind. Here wood is cheap 
and plentiful; aud, of course, modifications 
must be made in accordance with local condi¬ 
tions in other places, but the principle is excel¬ 
lent. When required to be moved, the sections 
can be loaded in a wagon and hauled anywhere. 
Mleh. xv, b. 
M. V. B. S .—Which is the cheapest, all thiugs 
considered, for farm purposes, wind-mill, cal- 
orio or steam engine. 
Ans.—T he question of M. V. B. S. cannot be 
satisfactorily auswered as he puts it. There are 
some uses to which a steam engine can alone he 
put, while on the other hand it can perform the 
work of all other farm motors as commonly un¬ 
derstood. Caloric engines we consider of no ac¬ 
count—noisy, pounding affairs that give no 
power iu proportion to their bulk. If the farm 
is conveniently situated for the use of a wiud- 
mill you have one of the cheapest aud best pow¬ 
ers devised for farmers’ use. They have been 
brought to such a state of perfection by reoont 
improvements and attachments, that they will 
pump, grind, and do almost all ordinary work very 
satisfactorily at the minimum of expense and 
risk. We would suggest that “ Inquirer" look 
into the subject carefully beforo deoidiug. Data 
which he has at baud will enable him to judge 
more correctly than we cau advise. 
Mrs. G. LI. A.. New Haven, Conn .—Returns 
her grateful thauks for the seeds sent, and feels 
a little puzzled how to treat the little Diosooreas 
(1) Should they be kept like seeds, or put in the 
cellar, or placed in some dry earth till spring ? 
( 2 ) Will you please tell me which is best for 
hard wooded plants, a light or dark cellar. 
Also for Geraniums aud the like. Please answer 
in notices to correspondents. 
Axs.—(1) The bulblets of Dioscoi ea very soon 
shifivel unless kept in sand. If you cau, it 
would be best to plant them now. (2) If it is de¬ 
sired to keep them dormaut, a dark cellar is to be 
preferred, withholding all moisture- 
Mendham, N. ./.—Please inform me through 
the Rural which is better lor an eightryear old 
pear orchard that has always been cultivated 
with gardeu truck, to contiuue doing so or put 
it down to grass. s. 
Ans.—W e should prefer to continue the gar¬ 
den truck. 
COMMUNICATIONS RECEIVED FOR THE WEEK ENDING 
Monday Jan. util 
C. T.—11. II.—A. C. W.—A. W. IL—L. E. K. T.— 
F. S. T.—L. H. R.—G. W. C.-W. F.—H. F. P.— 
“Canada.” — G. F. P., we never sell seeds or 
plants—G. C.-T. B. P. — K. G.—W. J. F. — 
A. W. M. — G. K. — M. A. K. — W. F. - A. L. J.— 
M. W.—F. S. T.—L. B, C.—II. M. O. — K.—A. M. C. 
—Subscriber, nut at present — Amateur — B. — 
D. B. — G. B. K. —VV. J. M. — W. J. B. - S. B. L., 
thauks—C. A. G. T., will reply as beat we may.— 
S. B. L. 
ilrtos of tjjr jjUth. 
CONDENSED NEW YORK TELEGRAMS. 
Tuesday, January 8. — From present appoar- 
i»nct s, there seems a strong likelihood that the 
Electoral Count will be investigated either by the 
Senate or the House, malcontents of both parties 
uniting in the support of the measure. Some of 
the Mexican uewspapers—they Uave such evi¬ 
dences of civilization even in Mexico—are bragging 
of the ease with which the “greasers ” could put 
mole Sam to rout. The report Just made by the 
Board of Iuquiry Into Indian Affairs, Is a record 
of fraud, Inefficiency and favoritism. 
The left luog and pleura of Victor Emmanuel 
are affected, lu addition to his having malarial 
fever. Same symptoms as in 1872. Accounts of 
his condition conflicting; “ no danger” some say ; 
“great danger,” others. Russia Insists that her 
sacrifices and successes have given her the right 
to deal directly with her enemy, though she mag¬ 
nanimously concedes to others the privilege of 
being pleased or displeased with the terms she 
may exact. Ou the capture of Sofia, the Russians 
found therein s,ooo wounded Turks. 
Wednesday, January 9,—The New Y'ork Legis¬ 
lature has re-assembled after holiday recess. 
The liquor dealers are pressing for the passage of 
an excise bill favorable to their Interest, and 
Tweed’s counsel la trylDg hard to secure the re¬ 
lease of the old reprobate from prison. Good 
news! That foul, dishonest Department^the 
Indian service Is about to be purified by the dis¬ 
missal of a number of corrupt officials. Capt. 
Eads having compiled with the requirements of 
his contract,lu making a channel 22 feet deep and 
200 feet long at the mouth of the Mississippi, Is to 
be paid another Installment of $500,000. 
The Turks report two severe defeats of the 
Serviaus. The Russian forces, despite the 
Intense cold are still advancing, having just 
occupied Slalltza and Petilcbevo. War is a 
cruelty even to the victors. England has ad¬ 
vised the Porte to sue direct for a truce. Victor 
Emmanuel is still In danger though the pleuritic 
patu has almost ceased. His sons, Humbert, lieir- 
apparent, Amedeus, ex-King of Spain, and his 
daughters, the Queen of Portugal and Princess 
Cloibllde, wlfeol Prince Napoleon, are hastening 
to his bed-side. Diaz has opened negotiations 
with France for a resumption of diplomatic re¬ 
lations suspended since the death of Maximilian. 
Thursday January 10.— Congress reassembled 
yesterday; much anxiety as to attitude of 
parties towards the President. The plan for 
making the Government the depository of sav¬ 
ings, by Issuing small bonds purchasable at the 
Post-offices Is being pressed, In expectation of 
thereby popularizing the lour per cent loan. 
Victor Emanuel, first monarch of United Italy 
since the days of the Cffi.sars, Is dead, having been 
born on March 14th, 1820. On Uls death-bed 
friendly relations were re-established between 
him and the Pope, and they are reported to have 
always admired each other personally. Hum¬ 
bert, 1, Is now king of Italy—a younger counter¬ 
part, It Is sail, of his father. The Turks, acting, 
on England’s advice, appointed Mehemet All to 
arrange an armistice with the Russians. The 
latter have captured the Trojan Pass In the 
Balkans. Gourkha has S5,ooo men south of that 
mountain range. Roauf Pasha will probably re. 
place Sulleman Pasha lu command of the Turk¬ 
ish forces. The Cretans are in arms against the 
Turks, and England has sent a mau-of-w T ar to 
look after her interests there. 
Friday, Jan. 11.—Goo. II. Pendleton has been 
nominated senator by the Ohio Democracy, to 
succeed Stanley Mathews; nomination equal to 
election. Senator Conkllng has secured the pas¬ 
sage of a resolution to investigate the cases of 
Kuiikle and Draper restored, as It is c'almed. Il¬ 
legally by the President, to their former ranks In 
t he army and navy respectively, u oin wuich they 
were expelled for misconduct—the former under 
Grant’s administration, the latter during the war 
—considered a move still hostile to the President. 
Senator Edmunds has Introduced an amendment 
to the Constitution, prohibiting any religious test 
being required for office In any State, from aDy 
one on account of religious belief, aud also tor- 
bidding all municipal or State aid to any denomi¬ 
nation. 
The Russians have gained a crowning victory 
by the oapture of all the Turkish forces and ma¬ 
terial lu tne Slxlpka Pass, thus securing a safe 
passago across the Balkans and Isolating the 
quadrilateral—the Turkish rorces in which are 
besiege! by detachments of the Muscovite army. 
This gives them immense advantage lu negotiat¬ 
ing terms of armistice or peace. English support 
Is claimed to be Impossible, and would be ineffec¬ 
tual if given. Turkey has asked a six weeks’ truce, 
and the Grand Duke Nicholas has referred the 
matter to St. Petersburg, but still keeps pressing 
on vigorously. Despite reports of the conclusion 
of the actual armistice, there is not. much hopes 
of one, at least until further - Russian triumphs 
shall enable them to dictate terms. There is fear 
that, the Russian military party may prove too 
strong for the diplomats, and contiuue the war 
until Constantinople is captured. Suleiman Pasha 
has been deprived of hlacominajid and summoned 
to Constantinople. Gambetta counsels extreme 
moderation lor the French Republicans until 
isso, when McMahon’s term of office expires. 
Gen. Garnler, iavorable to the Republic, has re¬ 
placed Gen, Duerot, Bonapartlst,, in command of 
the Eighth Army Corps. The Government ware¬ 
houses have beeu destroyed by lire lu Honolulu; 
loss, $250,000. 
Saturday January 12.—Senator Edmunds has 
written a letter on civil Service appointments 
favorable to the views of the President, and there 
are hopes that lie will become the leader of the 
President’s party In the Senate. A Committee of 
the House has been appointed to Investigate all 
tbe Governmental Departments. Severe gale and 
many disasters along the Coast. 
Recent Turkish defeats prove pretty conclu¬ 
sively that tlie Ottoman power of resistance Is 
completely broken down. England appreciates 
dow this unexpected disaster, and the war fever 
there Is red hot. A few days will tell whether 
Grata Britain feels that any force she can send to 
1 ,he support of theTurks can prevent final defeat; 
distrust of success can alone restrain her In her 
present alarm. On the capture of Shlpka Psss, 
2 S,ot,o men, 1,000 horses, 12 mortars, 12 setge guns 
and so field-pieces fell into the hands of the Rus¬ 
sians. At tbe Trojan Pass 300 dead Turks were 
left In the works The Russians have occupied 
Eskl-Sagra and Jenl-Sagra. The Servians have 
captured Nlseb and 8,01111 men, 90 cannon and 12,- 
000 rliles, The Montenegrins nave taken Antl- 
varl and are pressing on towards .Scutari. Greece 
is at fever heat. The Russian military authori¬ 
ties, feeling confident ol speedy and complete 
triumph, are opposed to peace or an armistice. 
No definite terms for either have been yet agreed 
upon. Turkey wants a statu quo, Russia insists on 
the surrender of Adrlanople, aud a strip of 
northern Roumelia. All agree that severe condi¬ 
tions will be Imposed by the victors. Victor 
Emmanuel’s remains will be probably Interred In 
the basilica of Santa Marla Maggiore at Rome, 
Instead ot In Milan, with those of his ancestors. 
Dls last words were of respect for the Pope, per¬ 
sonally, and of his adherence to the Roman 
Church. The Pope Is in excellent health, and 
surprised that the King, so much younger and 
stronger, should have been taken before him. 
Sunday, Jan. 13.— The strong-minded women 
have had a glorious time of It. the last two days, 
urging upon the U. S. Senate the passage of an 
amendment to the Constitution granting female 
suffrage. The strongest reason for their demands 
seems to be that they have been unsuccessful 
elsewhere. 
The Turks have burnt the town of Ichtlman, 
and Intend to burn all other towns they are forced 
to abandon. Hitherto they have never Injured 
the country they abandoned, although military 
considerations would have led them to lay It 
waste, especially as It belonged to a hostile popu¬ 
lation; and Russia In a well-known ease set them 
such an example. Throughout Turkey there is a 
great panic. Although Adrlanople can hardly be 
defended, civilians have been ordered to quit It, 
and 10,000 ot them are on their way, through the 
snow, to Constantinople. 
Monday, Julyll.—The Grand Duke Nicholas Is 
at Gabrova ou the point or crossing the Balkan^, 
and has sent word to the Porte that he la willing 
to see envoys at Kaserllk to discuss armstlce con¬ 
ditions, but declines to mention what they may be 
although Insisting that the Ottoman envoys 
shouLd have full powers to treat. The Porte has 
appointed two plenipotentiaries to try and ar¬ 
range a truce on the best obtainable conditions, 
Germany and Italy have warned England that If 
her fleet opens the Dardanelles by golog to Con¬ 
stantinople, theirs will go also. Accordingly, the 
only way England can now help Turkey Is by ac¬ 
tually going to war. A transport with troops 
from India and another on the way out, have 
been detained at Malta, and It looks not a little as 
If Great Britain would take a hand In the conflict, 
for it can bardly be supposed that she Is trying 
“ bluff.” The Pope has removed all ecclesiastical 
difficulties In the way ol the burial of Victor Em¬ 
manuel lu the Pantheon and ordered requiem 
masses to be celebrated for the deunct mon¬ 
arch. 
--- 
HOME NEWS PARAGRAPHS. 
For the manufacture of Bessemer steel there 
are now ninety-seven forges, with 317 convert¬ 
ers, eleven forgers and two converters In this 
country. They can produce 3,170,000 tons of steel 
annually, but Only one-half of the amount is 
needed. 
The sixteen starch factories of A roo stock County 
Me., used, this fall, from 20,000 to 100,000 bushels of 
potatoes each, the price paid at the factory being 
from twenty to twenty-live cents a bushel. 
Many farmers In the county have from 500 to 1,000 
bushels stored In their cellars. 
The average steer In Texas Is worth $9.24. 
Suppose he can be reared at a nominal cost, It 
seems he la worth but little when matured. The 
average steer in Massachusetts is worth $40.81; 
tn New York, $33.15; hence the Eastern farmer 
can afford to feed and house his cattle. 
Nearly the worst managed financial concern 
thus far Is the Miners’ Trust Company of Potts- 
vllle, Pa. One cent on the dollar Is all that is 
left. But a bank In this city beat tills hollow, as 
the receiver used up all the assets, and, In addi¬ 
tion, has presented a bill for services rendered. 
The failures for the year in this city were very 
heavy, in all, 874, with liabilities amounting to 
nearly $ 55 , 000,000 and assets about $ 21 , 000 , 000 . 
Manufacturers, numbering 41, head the list, 
followed by 35 bankers and brokers wbo went 
down uuder a heavy load of more than $o,ouo,000. 
The record ot the coroners' office. In this city, 
for the past year. Is a dismal one. alt hough, forlu- 
nately, not as bad as lu 1870. In all 1,166 cases 
were brought under Its supervision as against 
1,239 the preceding year. Tho suicides, 162 , were 
ten more than in 1S76, aud the deaths Horn acci¬ 
dents, 652, fourteen more. 
The Georgia farmer who has carried off the 
palm this year is Mr. James It. Booker. He 
raised sixty bales of cotton, twelve hundred 
bushels ot corn, five hundred of potatoes, a thou¬ 
sand ol oats and wheat, and twenty-five hogs. 
The newspapers clixonlcle this as the greatest 
harvest by any one man since the war. 
It is estimated by British authorities that ono- 
half their stock of sheep la annually slaughtered 
for food, numbering at least 16 , 000,000 animals, 
averaging flfty-slx pounds per head. This gives 
an annual supply of nearly 1 , 000 , 000,000 pounds 
of mutton through the home supply, In addition 
to which, 1 , 000,000 imported animals give about 
50,000,000 pounds more. 
A three-master, the Ritchie, Is now loading at 
New Orleans, for Boston, which attracts much 
attention by the beauty or her lines. She Is the 
old revenue cutter Harriet Lane, in 1862 she was 
captured by the. confederates at Galveston, then 
became a blockade runner, and finally, belDg 
given up by the Spanish authorities In Havana, 
was sold and converted Into a merchant vessel. 
■-m- 
Happy tidings for nervous sufferers, and those 
who Uave been dosed, drugged and quacked. Pul- 
vermacher's Electric Belts effectually cure pre¬ 
mature debility, weakness and decay. Book and 
Journal, with Information worth thousands, mail¬ 
ed free. Address Pulvkrmachkr Galvanic Co. 
Cincinnati, Ohio. 
