THE BUBAL WEW-YOBKEB 
®{jt Querist. 
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
Shell Mart. 
T. (}., Naples, N. Y— Draining a piece of 
swamp land, a few weeks ago, I found, about 
twenty-four inches below the surface, a bed of 
marl (that is, a decomposition or small sheila), 
containing, I think, many thousands of tons. 
Will the It ukA n please to give mo some infor¬ 
mation in regard to the following points, vi 2 .: 
(1.) Is this marl of any commercial or mammal 
value ? (2.) Will it improve muck land, if put 
on in its natural state, or is it necessary to have 
it burnt ? (3.) Cau you tell mo of some easy or 
inexpensive way to burn it ? 
Ans.— 1. Yes. Such deposits of shells are 
often nearly pure carbonate of lime, and fre¬ 
quently contain, in addition, animal and vegeta¬ 
ble remains and soluble salts. They also generally 
contain silicious matter, chiefly derived from 
the shells or sheaths of infnsoriai animals, which 
absorb silica from the water in which they live, 
instead of lime. This is the moat valuable kind 
of marl. 
2. If applied alone to muck laud, its effect is 
beneficial, as it acts chemically upon the semi- 
decayed vegetable matters, which contain orouie 
aud gallic acids, giving the woody fiber Lighly 
antiseptic properties. The alkaline matter of 
the marl neutralizes these acids and thus hast¬ 
ens decomposition, (fenerally, on exposure to 
the air, marl of this description soon falls into 
very flue powder, like slaked lime, and can, 
therefore, be at once incorporated with either 
mnek, sandy or clayey soils, or else advantageous¬ 
ly oompostod with manure. 
3. It is only rarely that shell marl is burnt er 
oalciued, aud then it resembles quick- lime in 
itj* action. But aR all the valuable organic mat¬ 
ters are lost daring the calcining process, this 
mode of preparation is only advisable where 
shell-marl is intended to be used as a substitute 
for quick-lime, which is not generally the case. 
Probably as cheap a method of burning it as 
any, would be by the construction of an inex¬ 
pensive little lime-kiln for that purpose. 
Cas Lime. 
B. S. B. —Would the lime that is used by gas¬ 
works be of any use as a fertilizer ? I have 
asked a number of farmers; (bey tell mo it is of 
no use. They olaim tlmt the sulphnr that gets 
in the lime from the gas passing through it 
takes all the good qualities out of it. Please 
tell me through tlm Rural whether it still re¬ 
tains any fertilizing properties ? 
Ans.— As with many other fertilizers, the 
value of gas lime depouds on the manner of 
using it. As it loaves the purifier it is a mixture 
of sulphurot of calcium, with carbonate of lime 
and a variable quantity of unneutralized or 
caustio lime. In this condition it is mischiev¬ 
ously injurious to vegetation and should, there¬ 
fore, never bo employed in a fresh state. By 
exposure to the air the sulphuret of calcium ab¬ 
sorbs oxygon and beoomos sulphate of lime or 
gypsum, in whioh state it is innocuous, and may 
be beneficially applied under the same circum¬ 
stances hi which the applicatiou of piaster-of- 
Paris would be advantageous. In all oases it 
should be allowed to remain exposed to the air 
at least three months aud turned over occasion¬ 
ally. If composted for a few months with 
refuse matter, such as weeds, sods, leaves, chips, 
or other porous matter, chemical charges take 
place that will render it of considerable value. 
Applied to stiff, clayey soil it is mechanically 
beneficial by opeuing it up. In no case, 
however, can it bo more than about half as 
valuable for agricultural purposes, as freshly 
burned lime ; and this should be taken into con¬ 
sideration before inclining the expense of pur¬ 
chasing and carting it. 
Will “ A Victim" send his name and address ? 
not for publication, hut as a guarantee. We 
cannot seriously consider charges made anony¬ 
mously. 
Subscriber, Lynchburg, 7a .—I see very many 
valuable aud interesting answers to questions in 
your paper. Can you give me any preventive 
or cure for a horse that is gradually going blind ? 
He is a young horse—only four years old—aud 
has never been injured by work in any way, and 
seems to be quite healthy in other respects. Ilis 
sight is not gone very rnuoh yet. Can you tell 
me the cause of his losing it while so young ? 
Ans.—T he colt has not had sufficient exercise, 
and had too much feed. Feed less but regularly, 
and give it regular and plenty of exerciso. 
I). C. P. —I was told by au acquaintance that 
there was a catalogue published in New York 
City of all unclaimed estates in Europe. Can 
the Rural give me its name and the address at 
whioh it is published ? 
Ans.—T he Herald Almanac has always pub¬ 
lished a list of heii'B wanted, and as most of 
such announcements appear in the advertising 
columns of that paper, the list is generally 
pretty complete and is probably that referred to. 
At any rate we know of no other. 
N. E. M., Morris Co., N. ./.—'What book on 
poultry can you recommend as a full and com¬ 
plete guide to an amateur who is investing in 
poultry as a business just to make money. I 
would prefer a recent work if as full and re¬ 
liable. 
Ans.- We have answered the above questions 
several times within the year, and now again say 
that the work of Mr. Stoddart advertised in our 
columns, is as good as any with which wo arc 
acquainted. 
N. B.—L. F. Abbott would oblige editor by 
sending his address. 
L. P. Moore, Danville, Pa .—Can the Rural 
give me the P. O. address of its correspondent, 
Q. It. Drake? 
Ans. —We do not feel privileged to give the 
addresses of our correspondents. This is insert¬ 
ed so that Mr. Drake can comply wit h tho above 
request. 
John Parkhill, Fayette Co., Pa .—Can the Ru¬ 
ral give me any information in regard to Pul- 
vermacher Chain Bolts or Galvanic Co.—are 
they a humbug or not? Their addreaB is 212 
Broadway, corner Fulton Ht., N. Y. 
Ans.—T he Pnlvermacher Co. is quite trust¬ 
worthy, and wo believe the belt is a good tbiug ; 
it is said to be so by good doctors. 
Communications beobivbd for the week endino 
Monday, Jan. 2$th. 
Van’s Views—E. II., rat,her hard to answer, but 
will try- Carrie 11.—L. II.—W. C.L. D.—It. W. II.— 
E. C. L— X Y "John Hardy”—“ Carolus”— 
S. W. ■&—KubRcrlber—W. II. N.—H. P. — K. M. — 
A. B.,thequestions are. not of general Interest, and 
It would require hair a day to obtain the Informa¬ 
tion and answ er by letter— G. M. C.—“ Prom the 
Mountains”—J. D. — w, h. w, — J. p. it.—c. F.— 
L. A. R .- U D.—W. J. F.—Mrs. V. D. C—F. U. ■).— 
W. J. T’., uot, yet received -A. L. J.—J. J. VV.— 
<* Vlelie”—0. T.—S. B. P.—“ Alonzo”—" M. 8. 8.”— 
“ Hector Bertram” — K. D. c. — R. H. C. — B. — 
c. if. T —o. B.—Ed. E. K — L. it., thanks always— 
K.—" Rye” 
Efius of tijf 
CONDENSED NEW YORK TELEGRAMS. 
Tuesday, Jan. 22.—The House refused to pass 
a Bill to pay the customs In greenbacks. Air. 
Hewitt proposes to abolish the diplomatic serv¬ 
ice, assigning t.he duties of Ministers to Consuls. 
Long discussion In the .Senate about remonetiza¬ 
tion of silver. 
Trains from Adrlanople are overcrowded with 
Moslem fugitives. Tho Servians havo captured 
Pristina and Kurschumll—Turkish loss, 400 killed 
and wounded and 450 captured. In the latV'r 
town 2-1 Servian soldiers and two oillcers were 
round impaled. The Turkish peace, plenipoten¬ 
tiaries have at length arrived at Kezanllk. 
Wednesday, Jan. 28,—A grand Requiem Mass 
was celebrated at Washington, for the soul of 
Victor Emmanuel. The President, Cabinet, and 
Diplomatic Corps, and many Senators and Rep¬ 
resentatives were present. A part of the Nez 
Perces are reported to havo again started on the 
war-path. Some more murders ou the Rio Grande 
by rangers and unknown outlaws. 
Austria Is satisfied with the Russian terms of 
peace, and has waived her objection to a Musco¬ 
vite occupation of Constantinople. There is a 
general panic In tho latter city, and It Is said the 
Turks have resolved lo accept any terms that may 
be offered, regardless of British and other outside 
interests. Suleiman Pasha has arrived at the sea- 
coast at Drama, with the bulk of his army, and 
will thence embark Ms forces for Gallipoli, which 
ho will defend to the last extremity. The Rus¬ 
sians havo gained a considerable victory near 
J rzeroum in Armenia, Up to January 10 , the 
Russian loss amounted to 62,105 men. The Chi¬ 
nese have captured Kashgar. More English 
troops are needed to suppress the revolt In South 
Africa, 
Thursday, Jan. 2b—Grave charges have been 
made against Mr. Seward, Minister to China, by 
Meyer, late Consul at Shanghai, and these have 
been referred to the House Committee on Foreign 
Affairs, Gen, Sherman has written a very com¬ 
plimentary letter to J. Q,. Smith, ex-Commls- 
slonrr or Indian Affairs, saying that he has 
proved the most efficient officer In that position 
during the last ten years. Schuiz, who has just 
removed Smith for I ueffielcncy is by no means 
pleas "d. 
Peace parleying has begun at Kezanllk, but the 
Russians have postponed staling their conditions 
until Tuesday, They are reported to have ar¬ 
rived at Keshan, 2fi miles from GaUlpoll. Tho 
Italian fleet has been ordered to tho Levant. Ger¬ 
many and Austria are evidently lu substantial 
accord wltiiKussta. The Grand Duke Nicholas, 
will bo In Adrlanople on Sunday. The marriage 
of King Alphonsowlth Mercedes, third daughter 
of the Duke of Montpensler, was celebrated with 
great splendor st Madrid yesterday. 
FRIDAY, Jan. 25.—Senator Lamar delivered yes¬ 
terday a very able speech against the remoneti¬ 
zation of silver. Ex-Secrotary Bristow was given 
a complimentary dinner last evening by Pres. 
Hayes. Numerous bankruptcies and merchanUle 
suspensions, notably of leather dealers m Phila¬ 
delphia. 
Russia has submitted the terms of peace to 
Germany and Austria, and exacted a promise 
from Turkey not to disclose their nature. Eng¬ 
land Is highly indignant at having been excluded 
from tho confidence. If the Russians attack 
Gallipoli or Constantinople, England will cer¬ 
tainly go to war, to prevent the capture of Uioho 
points. Austria is satisfied that her Interests will 
not be endangered, but believes that those ol 
England will be affected sufficiently to cause her 
to Interfere, and therefore Is urging a modifica¬ 
tion of terms, in the event of certain informa¬ 
tion of the Russians advancing against Gallipoli, 
the commander of the British licet In the MedIt- 
eranean has been ordered to land enough ot 
marines and sailors to save the town from cap¬ 
ture. In the late bat ties Gen. Gourkho captured 
2000 wagons and 97 guns belonging to Suleiman 
Pasha’s army, and split this force of -f0,000 mem 
In two. one part under Faua Pasha, fled Into 
the mountains, and the other under Suleiman 
Pasha, retreated towads Haskol pursued by Gen, 
Skebelofl and liar/,off. Groat, commotion In Eng¬ 
land, and Indeed throughout Europe. 
Saturday, Jan. 28.—The Mathews Resolution, 
favoring the remonetization of sliver, passed tine 
Senate by 43 votes against 22. 
Tho Turkish delegates have been ordered to 
sign peace preliminaries. Besides an addition of 
territory, Russia claims $ 100 , 000,000 or Its equiva¬ 
lent In territory. The Earls of Carnarvon and 
Derby have resigned from tho British Cabinet,, ou 
account of its belligerent attitude. Resignation 
of former accepted, that of latter withdrawn. In 
spite of England’s bluster, there Is little prospect 
of her going to war. 
Sunday, Jan., 27.— Anderson, Kenner and Cas- 
cnave. of the La., " Returning Board," who soma 
days ago took refuge In the New Orleans Custom 
House to avoid arrest for their action In return¬ 
ing the election ot President Hayes, have been 
surrendered to the Sheriff by order of Attorney 
Gen. Devons end are now lodged In prison: Welln 
Is not to be found. Talk, talk, talk, and noth lay 
else In Congress. 
Tho British fleet having been ordered to Con¬ 
stantinople, received a counter-order on reach¬ 
ing the mouth of the Dasanclles, and h. s return¬ 
ed to Beslka Hay. No news of an annlsllce yet. 
Austria and Germany intimate that the peace 
conditions should be submitted to the European 
Powers, as all are Interested In them. Tho Greeks 
are clamoring for war, as they now feed that harl 
they gone to war earlier they would now receive 
an increase or territory. An appalling famine 
Is raging throughout four Provinces In the north 
of China. Nine million peopleBtarvIng 1 . Children 
publicly sold In the market places for food. As¬ 
sistance begged. 
Monday, January 28 .—A United States force 
bas boon Invited by a Mexican officer In passover 
Into Mexico In pursuit of cattle thieves. 
The preliminaries of peace between the Turk 
and Muscovite have been signed. Terms: Bul¬ 
garia to have a governor appointed by the Porto, 
forces of latter to he withdrawn to stipulated lo¬ 
calities; independence of Roumanla; local au¬ 
tonomy of Boznla and Herzegovina; Indepen¬ 
dence of Servla, with compensation of territory ; 
Montenegro to retain all she has gained during 
the war. Russia to possess Batounj, and receive 
an Indemnity In money or territory. British Min¬ 
istry still persists In asking for 210,000,000 supple¬ 
mentary credit to prepare ror eventualities. The 
Pope Is again prostrated. 
-» « » 
HOME NEWS PARAGRAPHS. 
There are over 300 artesian wells In Santa Clara 
Valley, Cal. 
Vermont has 75,200 horses, valued at $5,329,429,- 
00 . Average valuation, $70,so v, each. 
The French trials have resulted In giving Gen¬ 
eral Fremont a complete release from all obliga¬ 
tions. 
A hog was killed at Beloit, Wisconsin, t he 
other day which weighed nine hundred and sixty 
pounds. 
Throughout tho cotton-producing States, the 
average yield of cotton per acre is 1 78^ pounds, 
valued at $19.04. 
One cent per bushel makes a difference of $ 10 ,- 
000,000 In the value of tho annual crop of corn In 
the United .States. 
The Legislature of Washington Territory has a 
young lady ougrosslng clerk. She engrosses not 
only the bills, but the attention ol' several sus¬ 
ceptible legislators. 
Agricultural labor accuples 306 women in N. V. 
state; one woman is a bee-raiser ; 49 are dairy 
women ; 2,139 are farmers on their own account; 
5.8 are florists and 60 are gardeners. 
At a recent farmers’ meeting in Massachusetts, 
a speaker gave a receipt for making farming pay, 
as follows:—" llave but one business and get up 
in the morning and aoe to it yourself.” 
The Murpliyltes havo taken the town of Louisi¬ 
ana in Missouri by storm, over 2.000 persons, 
half the population of tho town, havo donned the 
blue ribbon, and BtlU the work goes on. 
The value ol' tho ore reduced and marketed in 
the Black Hills In isTT Is estimated at $ 1 , 500 , 000 . 
The yield of the placer claims has been loss than 
last year, aud will not probably exceed $1,000,000. 
TI 1 I 9 makes the total product of the Black Hills 
for 1877 about one-fourth as much as that of Cali¬ 
fornia. 
It was Rochefoucauld who said “ Tho common 
foible of women w r ho have been handsome Is to 
I forget that they are no longer so.” And the same 
I cynical philosopher advised : " Treat your friend 
as though he might one day become your enemy, 
and your enemy as If he might one day become 
your- friend. 
There Is said to be a difference ot opinion be 
tween General Sherman and his wife on the sub¬ 
ject, or dancing. The lady cannot convert htrn to 
her opinions. When he goes lo balls ho dances 
incessantly and merrily. But It Is not asserted 
that ho indulges In the waltz, otherwise than tlio 
"danceof death.” 
During the past year the consumption of cotton 
reached the highest point ever attained In the 
States, while the value of the cotton fabrics ex¬ 
ported has, despite low prices, Increased $ 0 , 000 ,ono 
within two years, or from $ 4 , 000,000 for the fiscal 
year ended .June so, 1875, or $10,180,000 for the fls 
cal year ended JUDO 80, is?t. 
After the (allure of tho Spragues of Rhode Is¬ 
land, about Tour years ago, for $ 8 , 500 , 000 , the cred¬ 
itors accepted notes bearing Interest, and paya¬ 
ble lu three years. The Interest was paid for two 
years, but since then the creditors have received 
nothing. They have formed an association for 
the purpose of concerted action. 
or the 88,239 arrests made by the police of New 
York City last year, ot.955 were males and of 
these 44.201 wero unmarried. Tho ripest age for 
disorder and crime with both sexes, was from 
twenty to thirty. Persons between those ex¬ 
tremes arrested, numbered 29,259, against 21,599 
under twenty, and 20 , 21 s between thirty and 
forty. 
Governor Wado Hampton has written to Col¬ 
onel Leo Crandall, president ol the National 
Immigration Bureaiqof this city,commending that 
enterprise as far-reaehlug In its scope and one 
that cannot tall to bo of great service. He says 
“ It should bo fostered by the agricultural bu¬ 
reaus of every State and Territory, and I shall 
endeavor to keep It before the people.” 
A statistical report to the Montgomery County, 
Ohio, Horticultural Society, on tho 12th Inst., 
shows that 880,000 acres In the State are in apple 
trees, yielding an annual average of 12 , 000,000 
bushels; that tho State averaged 100,000 bushels 
of pears annuallj r ; and that 10,000 acres are lu 
grapes, producing an. annual average of 9,000,000 
pounds, yielding 700,000 gallons of wine. 
Tho Imports at New York for l«77 were $329,800,- 
000, or about $si,ooo,ooo advance on last year’s, 
but less than for any or,her year or tho previous 
six, and a hundred millions less than for tho year 
1872. Tlio Imports of specie wero $15,000,000 
against$20, 000,000 the previous year. The exports 
were $320,451,000 for tho year, an Increase of about 
$8,000,000. The export of specie was $ 27 , 000 , 000 , 
against $43, 000,000 in JS76, and $«7,5no,ooo In 1875. 
From 1850 to 1S71, 215,000,000 acres ot public 
lands were granted by Congress to States and 
corporations tor railroad purposes; 150,000,000 of 
this to the Pacific roads, and nearly 5, 000,000 acres 
have been granted for canal purposes; forthe 
Pacific roads a debt of $ 21 , 000,000 was assumed, 
now swollen to $92,000,000, and promising to ex¬ 
ceed $ 1 50,iiiio, 000 ; and the largest grantee propos¬ 
es to pay the government by practically borrow¬ 
ing anew from It. 
The L'nltcd fitates Senate gams another hand- 
some man l u General J. S. alias "Cerro Gordo,” 
Williams, Kentucky’s new Senator-elect, lie Is 
filly-four years old, six feet four in bight, and 
large In proportion, carries himself with a certain 
careless grace, aud la the picture of a dashing 
cavalier. Though a Union muu before the rebel¬ 
lion, lie joined the Confederacy Immediately on 
he outbreak of the war, and became a Brigadier- 
General. His oratorical powers are highly com¬ 
mended. 
-- 
FOREIGN NOTES. 
When victor Emmanuel became Sovereign of 
Sardinia In 1649, bis territory had an area of 28,76 
square miles and a population of 5,107,642. Ho 
has left a kingdom whose area is 114,295 square 
miles, with a population of 20,801,154. 
Mr. Mecht, the famous scientific farmer of En 
gland, estimates that fifteen huudred sheep folded 
on an acre of land for twenty-four hours, or one 
hundred sheep for tirteen days, would manure the 
land sufficiently to carry it through a four years 
rotation. 
Lleut.-C’ol. Playfair, British Consul-General in 
Algeria, reports that the changed condition of 
Tunis Is due to the extensive destruction ot for¬ 
ests which has taken place since ancient days 
Vast plains now covered by arid sands were for¬ 
merly well wooded. 
The “ blue glass” mania has reached England, 
and rages fiercely. There are the usual number 
of wonderful stories of cures, especially or the In¬ 
sane. As In this country, one species of Insanity 
Is very quickly cured by a few trials, aud that Is 
the blue-gla-83 lunacy Itself. 
"Hog-guesslng” is an amusement which has 
recently broken out In the rur al districts of En¬ 
gland. It dlllcrs greatly from the crude guessing 
at old-time Slaughterings. Then dumb-luck ruled. 
Now It. Is reduced to a science, the guesses being 
made from computations based ou careful meas¬ 
urements and records kept of the weight of ani¬ 
mals previously slaughtered, aud even the matter 
of the kind or feed the hog may havo been fatten¬ 
ed on, Is taken Into account. Tho best guess wins 
the hog. 
-♦ ♦ » 
Happy tidings for nervous sufferers, and those 
who have been dosed, drugged and quacked. Pul- 
vermocher’s Kloclrlc Bella effectually cure pre- 
rnaturo doblltty, weakness and de,oay. Book and 
Journal, with Information worth thousands, mail¬ 
ed free. Address Pulykkmaoilbr Galvanic Co. 
Cincinnati, Ohio. 
