234 
THE RURAL fiEW-YORKER 
3E 
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
Water Sprouts for Grafting. 
T. W. C., Jackson, Susq. Co., Pa., inquires 
whether cions cut from water sprouts, or sprouts 
that make out from the branches or trunk of a 
tree where it has been trimmed the year before, 
come into bearing as soon as cions taken from 
the ends of the branches. 
Ans. —Yes. If well matured and sound, the 
water sprouts will produce branches or tops 
which will bear as soon as the new growth of the 
graft is large enough to bear, or aB soon as it 
should be allowed to bear. The earliueBs of 
bearing of cions depends on several things : the 
varieties selected, the rapidity of growth, care of 
the tree, Boil, etc., etc. 
Starting Grape Cuttings. # 
Mrs. A. C. II,, Roanoke , Ind., saysWill 
the Rural please tell me how to start grape 
cuttings; when aud how to cut aud plant them; 
and what care and treatment they will require. 
Ans. —The best time to make the cuttings is in 
the fall or a little earlier than now for your 
climate and to plant them about the 1st of April. 
Prepare a bed a foot in depth of rich sandy soil. 
It cannot be too rich. If manure is used, it 
must be entirely decomposed or, in other words, 
it must have become soil. The cuttings may 
have three or four buds, aud had better be close- 
jointed. A heel of two-year-old wood may be 
cut out or a small section of it left when it is 
called a mallet cutting. Place these inclining a 
little in the bed so that one or two eyes are left 
above ground, and pack the earth firmly about 
them. Until frosty nights have passed, it is 
weli to cover lightly with hay or straw. Plant 
the cuttings six. inches apart in rows—the rows 
a foot apart. Allow but one-bud to push. 
Blood as a Fertilizer. 
C. F. Graham, Hamilton Co., Ohio, inquires 
what is the value of blood as a fertilizer, to 
what crops should it preferably be applied, and 
in what manner. 
Ans. —The value of blood as a fertilizer de¬ 
pends on the nitrogen it contains. Of fresh 
blood about 80 per cent, is water. A gallou of 
it weighs not far from eight pounds aud contains 
1.6 pound of dry matter of which 15 per cent, is 
nitrogen. Pour gallons therefore contain about 
a pound of nitrogen, which in this form is worth 
fully 18 cents, and that is accordingly very close 
to the mauuiial value in cash of four gallons of 
fresh blood. Its free application to corn, root 
cropa etc., as well as to all garden crops will 
prove highly beneficial. Mix it with dry muck 
or mold, say at the rate of a gallon to a peck, or 
even more liberally. The composition of air-dry 
blood aud flesh is almost identical, the former 
containing about five per oent. more water. 
About Sundry Plants. 
Jno. J. W., Jamestown, It. I .—I would like 
to avail myself of the benefit of the Rural’s 
Answers to Correspondents. I subscribed for it 
at the commencement of the present year. 
Since then I have sent for a number of cata¬ 
logues advertised therein, and from five of the 
firms they represent have ordered either seeds 
or plants from $1 upwards. From B. A. Elliot 
of Pittsburg, and the Dinger &, Conard Co. I 
have received my orders—nice plants with 
liberal extras. From Mr. John Saul of Wash¬ 
ington, I have ordered over 600 trees—grape¬ 
vines, rose bushes, shrubs aud green-house 
plants, and it is iu reference to some of these 
I ask for information: 1st. Are Chiuese Arbor- 
Vitas hardy where the thermometer is liable to 
fall ten degrees below zero ? 2d. Are Magnolia 
grandiflora and tripetala hardy in the same 
climate and how large trees do they make ? 
3d. How large does the Kilmarnock Willow 
grow ? 4th. Is the Wistaria surer to live in the 
shade? I have some, twenty-five feet high, that 
bloom well on the north side of large Norway 
Spruce and on the west of Austrian Pine where 
they get no sun until late in the afternoon, while 
I have failed three timeB with those set south of 
my piazza. 5th. Will Azalea anaemia which is 
marked hardy in the catalogues, stand the above- 
named cold ? 6th. I expect to receive my order 
from Mi’. Saul by the 10th of April of which there 
is to be quite a lot of Tea, Hybrid-perpetual 
Roses and Zunale Geraniums, will it do to plant 
any or all of them out at that time, if they aro 
covered with boxes by night ? Or would it be 
best to grow them in pots and boxes a few 
weeks ? By answering these questions you will 
confer a favor on one and I doubt not on many 
subscribers. 
Ans.— 1st. Yes, if by Chinese Arhor-Yitae 
Biota orientalis is meant. Varieties of this 
(Aurea e. g.) are harmed occasionally in this 
climate. 
2d. Magnolia grandiflora is not hardy even in 
the Middle States. M. iripetala will stand ten 
degrees below zero. The first is a large, the 
second a low tree. 
3d. We presume the weeping variety of Salix 
caprea iH referred to. It is usually grafted on 
stock of the species and grows downward in the 
form of an umbrella. Its hight, therefore, de¬ 
pends upon the hight of the stock. 
4th. The Wistaria Buffers less in the winter if 
shaded. 
5th. Azalea amrona is uot hardy in the Rural 
Grounds. 
Gth. We should prefer to wait until danger of 
severe frost is passed before putting out the 
Pelargoniums. 
Hedge Plants. 
Two years ago I bought hedge plantsfHoney Lo¬ 
cust) and set them out along the road ten inohes 
apart. They grew finely and I did not lose a single 
plant. Last spring, the first of April, I out them 
back, leaving only about three inches of the last 
year’s growth. Last summer they grew splen¬ 
didly, some shootB growing four feet long. To¬ 
day, March 29th, 1 have cut them back again, 
leaving about ton inches of last soason’s growth. 
In two years more 1 expect to have a hedge that 
will turn any kind of stock. I would advise 
J. N. Williams, of Crawford Co. Pa., whose 
letter appeared in Rural for March 30tli, to buy 
or raise Honey Locust plants in preference to 
Osage Orange. They are hardier, will grow 
faster, will make a bettor hedge and do not have 
to bo set so close together : ten inches is quite 
close enough. I would advise any one setting 
out any kind of hedge to sort their plants, keep¬ 
ing the large ones together aud the small ones 
together. If a small plant is set between two 
large ones it will be so shaded that it will not do 
well. Hedger & Ditcher. 
Crawford Co„ Pa. 
Applying Gypsum and Lime. 
T. L. E , York Co., Pa. wishes to learn the 
best way of applying gypsum and also lime, and 
the average quantity of the latter that should be 
used. 
Ans.—S ow gypsum early in the morning while 
the dew is on the ground and there is no wind. 
It may bo mixed w ith muck. 
Spread lime from small h- aps with a shovel or 
from the tail of a cart. The amount may vary 
from the least quantity that can be spread 
evenly to from 300 to 500 bushels per acre. The 
naturo of the soil must determine this point. 
Heavy lands of a moist or mucky character or 
those dark from vegetable mold will bear much 
mure than light soil6: from 50 to 100 bushels is 
an ordinary application. To apply small quan¬ 
tities it iB best to mix the lime with n uek or soil, 
especially in garden culture. Always remember 
that the effects of h i e on soil are the same as 
those it produces in the compost heap. 
Unhealthy Cyclamen. 
Mrs. C. MvC-, wishes to be told what ii the 
matter wirh her Cyclamen. It is now consider¬ 
ably older than four years, has had its soil 
changed every fall, and received the same loving 
care bestowed on her other floral pets, yet the 
ingrate is always dormant or nearly so, seldom 
gladdens her eyes in summer with more than a 
single leaf or happily two once iu a while; and 
even when placed in a sunny window, as cold ap¬ 
proaches, its only signs of gratitudo are a few 
long-stemmed, ecraggy-lookiug leaves with nover 
a blossom to give promise of a podsiblo offspring 
more healthy aud grateful than its progenitor. 
Ans.— From now till the first of June keep it 
moderately dry, then turn it out of its pot, shake 
away most of the old soil, and plant out in a 
somewhat shady part uf the garden, in free open 
soil, burying the oorm (•* bulb ”) nearly an inch. 
About the middle of next September lift it care¬ 
fully and put it into as small a pot as you can 
get it into without warn ping the roots, this time 
keeping the corn at the surface, and using a 
very free soil, say with a considerable admixture 
of sand and old loaf-soil or much decayed cow- 
manure. Keep shady for a day or two, expose 
gradually, aud before the advent of frost, pro¬ 
mote to a sunny place inside the window. Never 
give very much water, just keep moderately 
moist. 
Dead Animals as Manure. 
17. O. L., Herkimer Co., N. Y., wants to know 
a good way of using dead horses and other de- 
fuuot animals for manure. 
Ans.—A good way is to cover the carcasses 
with dry muck or rich soil, let them lie for a few 
mouths and work the mass over well when 
sufficiently decomposed to admit of ready fer¬ 
mentation, adding plenty of plaster. Use the 
compost liberally where needed. See answer to 
C. F. Graham for plants most benefited by the 
application. 
Miscellaneous. 
77. G. Touissant, Paraje, N. M., says 1. Where 
can I get a strong mowing machine, to cut Gama- 
grass, one for a two-horse machine, and I am 
ambiiiouB to own the best in the market, and am 
surprised that none is advertised in the Rural. 
2. Where oan I get Canary birds ; 3. Name of 
some cage-maker ; 4. When *doeB my subscrip¬ 
tion run out. 
Ans.—W rite to the Warrior Mower Co., Little 
Falls, N. Y.; Aultman, Miller & Co., Canton, O.; 
Bradley Mfg. Co., Syracuse, N. Y.; Eureka 
Mower Co., Towanda, Pa., and the Johnston 
Harvester Co., Brockport, N. Y. These firms 
make excellent machines, aud their circulars will 
give you the points of difference. It is uot 
quite the season for advertisements of Mowers 
to appear. 2. Any bird funnier in New York 
city (of whom there are numbers), will supply 
Canaries. This is the chief importing poiut. 3. 
Lindemaun & Co., 254 Pearl St., N. Y. 4. June 
1st, No. 1476. 
A Subscriber inquires whether the Sherman 
Telegraph Co. of Oberlin, Ohio, is a reliable in¬ 
stitution, 
Ans. —There haB been a change in the manage¬ 
ment of the institution, and we know nothing 
about its trustworthiness. 
Mrs. 1). B. M., New Haven Co., CL —We ac¬ 
knowledge all communications, whether publish¬ 
ed or not. 
T. G. D. JDetreville, Ya .—Where can I get a 
small metal check to be used iu the canning 
business : to pay by the piece—something that 
cannot be imitated, but very cheap ? 
Ans. —We should think that the best thing for 
your purpose would be a piece of tin of irregular 
shape, stamped with a peculiar device. You 
could cut the tiu to suit your fancy, or have a 
stamp made to do the work with precision. A 
die-sinker will supply the device. We advise 
you to write to the folluwing addresses, Btating 
your want: H. Wasdell, 193 William St., F. B. 
Smith <fc Horst, 95 Fulton St. and Kinsey & Co., 
143 Fulton St., New York. 
I). M., Pittsfield, IU .—Having Been an extract 
from the Rural relating to the evergreen 
White Thorn—Cratoogus Pyracantha—wishes to 
learn where he can get bouio. 
Ans.— Ellwanger A Barry, Rochester, N. Y.; 
8. B. Parsons, Flushing, Long Island. 
E. C. Stebbins, Hempstead, L. I .—“New Ro¬ 
chelle ” Raspberry is, we believe, a seedling of 
Catawissa. Mr. Carpenter advertises it in our 
columns. There are several excellent reports of 
it from good ihcd. It has not fruited with us. 
Communications received for the week ending 
Saturday, April, 6th. 
M. W. F.— D. II. F. — E. E.-J. W. G., Jr.—Mrs. 
J. E. Mt'C. -W. F.—S. E. II.—W. J. B.— A. L. J.— 
C. E.P. — M. B. II.— J. W. L.-E. W. 8.—II. & I'.— 
L. F. G. — Alex. MeC. W. - W. M. F. — S B. P., 
N. Y.—L. L. P., thanks — W. n. O. —“ Myrtle” — 
S. B. P., Michigan — O. W. M. — D. H. E. — G. M., 
thanks — W. J. B.—O. H.—B. A. G.-D. C. — Mrs. 
M. P.—Mrs. B. C. D.— M. B. P.—A. W. M., thanks 
—“ Rose Geranium”—D. H. E., box not received— 
C. H.—J. E. E.-M. G. R.—G. P.— L. A. R. 
NOTES FROM NORTH CAROLINA. 
Although there has been some very severe 
weather in the western part of our State, the 
winter has been very mild in the central por¬ 
tion. Here we have had but few really wintry 
days- But it has not been so warm as the win¬ 
ter of 1875 and ’7G. Then I remember to have 
fed green rye on one of the last days of January. 
This year, I began to cut aud feed to my cows 
on tho 9th of Maroh. 
About the 11th instant the peach trees began 
regularly to bioom, and in a day or two they 
were arrayed in full colors. I do uot remember 
over to have witnessed so sudden an appearance 
of blooms. They sprang forth as by magic. 
The Plums, Cherries and Apricots are also ad¬ 
venturous enough to he equally exposed. We 
fear that the frosts or tho northeast winds will 
blight them. For several days we have experi¬ 
enced a cool change, but the weather has mode¬ 
rated considerably, and wo are in good hope. I 
can recall one year when the fruit was not in¬ 
jured, although the Peaches were in bloom in 
February. The Apples are backward, not a tree 
yet showing a single open flower. They are j ust 
beginning, generally, to show their first buds. 
Noticing some of the trees that are indigenous 
to Asia, I have the opinion that they are rather 
peculiar iu that they show their buds aud blooms 
more in advance of tho loaves than many, at 
least, native to other lands. It is true of the 
Teach, partially so of the Pyrus Japonica, also 
of the China Tree, if I remember correctly. 
Does it apply to other varieties which you have 
observed ? 
Spring Heems to have opened now. In addi¬ 
tion to tho fruit trees, the Red-bud decks the 
forest, Hepatica has been blooming for some 
time, the wild Violets are beginning to open, the 
yellow Jonquil has blootueu and is fading, a 
species of Syrlnga iu my yard is covered with 
white flowers, aud a modest Lily is spreading 
itself to the bud. The clover aud grasB are rap¬ 
idly growing. A piece of rye ou my lot confirms 
me in the view that every farmer ought, in au¬ 
tumn, to seed at least a small quantity for early 
feed. Mine was tall enough to cut well on the 
9th of March. Now it is beginning to head. 
The cattle are very fond of it, and it is certainly 
a contributor to tho milk-pail. It is really a 
pleasant sight to see the cows feasting so early 
upon the succulent stems and blades, after being 
so long restricted to oured provender. They 
appear to be quite as fond of it as of clover. I 
do uot know whether your colder winters would 
suit it; but I do know, from repeated experi¬ 
ments, that it is a most desirable help here. It 
can be cut several times. It comes just in time 
to introduce tho green feeding and bridge the 
way to the clover. I think that any one who 
tries it once will be encouraged to repeat the 
experiment. I do not allow even a calf to graze 
upon it, at any time. When I need the ground 
for other crops. I have, in the stubble and the 
roots, a good deal of fertilizing material, that 
tends to make tho soil lighter or looser. Last 
yoar, after cutting off the rye, getting more than 
one stand, I also raised corn and then peas on 
the same ground. I know that tends to rapidly 
impoverish the soil, but I also know that the 
soil should he regarded as a machine to take, as 
often as possible, the raw material in manures 
and convert it into that wbioh is suited to our 
wants. Debts cannot be too heavy or expendi¬ 
tures hurtful, if plenty of money is furnished. 
So the exaction upon the soil cannot bo too 
heavy, if plenty of manure is added by way of 
compensation. 
There is quite an iucrease, I think, in the de¬ 
mand for clover and grass seed. A druggist iu 
our place who, two years ago, sold but two buBh- 
ela of clover seed aud but little orchard grass, 
has already disposed of several times the quan¬ 
tity of the former,—and after selling twelve 
bushels of tho grass seed, has ordered more. 
The grasses in demand here aro timothy, herd’s- 
graas and orchard grass. Tho last is the favor¬ 
ite for mixing with olover. It holds it up in the 
field aud renders it more easy to cure safely. 
There is also, I think, an increased demand upon 
the nurserymen for frnit trees. I have indulged, 
with much pleasure, iu amateur grafting, of 
which I may report before long. 
Our State Chemist having made an unfavor¬ 
able report upon the Popleiu fertilizer, the firm 
have furnished him a quantity of their brand for 
careful experiments by the side of popular com¬ 
pounds. Several intelligent aud trustworthy 
fanners have taken a lot for this purpose ; aud 
I hope to give yon the results. Perhaps some 
of your readers may uot have thought of the 
convenience and value of a compost heap, as 
near the house as health and cleauliness will 
allow. By heaping the leaves from my shade 
trees on a poor spot, I formed the beginning of 
such a heap, and during nearly the whole year I 
threw upon it. all tho litter and waste that came 
to hand. During the winter I found that what 
I had not already applied made a fine top-dress¬ 
ing for the adjacent clover and grass. I have 
started it again. It helps to keep my premises 
dean. m. 
Chapel Hill, N. C., March 13, 18 T 8 . 
- — ■ -»♦» ■ - 
RURAL SPECIAL REPORTS. 
Corning, N. Y. March 23. 
Like J. W. S. of North Carolina, I am much 
interested iu “ Everywhere," aud think that a 
few notes from this locality will not he out of 
place. We are having a very fine time to for¬ 
ward spring’s work. Roads are getting dried 
off, some fields are being plowed and somo 
farmers have sowed timothy aud clover seed; 
and all, or nearly all, are preparing for active 
service. Of course we have some farmers, just 
as all other places have, who “ take no thought 
of the morrow,” and, consequently are always 
behind time. We cau boast of a vory fine 
locality for farming. Onr river flats, on the 
Chemung, are very fertile, and produce large 
crops of wheat, com* tobacco, etc. Less atten¬ 
tion is given to the vile weed and more to wheat 
raising than a few years ago; aud if tobacco 
were abandoned and wheat and corn should take 
its place entirely, a far more useful production 
would be the result. As to the land on the hills 
three or four miles hack from the river, it is also 
very productive ; and with the same amount of 
oapital invested per acre, as on the river, I do 
not doubt but as good returns cau be received ; 
and, to my idea, the h 11 farm is to be preferred 
for a home, for I think it pleasanter ; we also 
have there a better atmosphere and escape the 
fogs of tho flats. On the hills can bo had some 
flue views of the flats—heir villages, farms, rail¬ 
roads, river, etc. 
Apples, pears, cherries, grapes, and the 
smaller fruits, do well here. There are Borne 
largo and very flue apple orchards around here, 
but as to the other fruits, they are not grown 
very extensively for market, although I see no 
reason why they should not bo. Last year 
some of the pear trees were affected by blight. 
Those whj did not dispose of their surplus 
P 
