THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
MAY 41 
®|f (jurist, 
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
Adams Oo. Wis. 
II. B., Peoria, IU., askB for information about 
the climate, noil and state of society of Adams 
Co., Wisconsin, and its adaptability for farming 
purposes. 
Ans.— In reply our friend Mr. 8 B Peck, who 
is extensively acquainted with the north-west, 
says: 
I know little about Adams County, Wis., but 
have an idea that it is a fair farming county, but 
I can tell H. B. that the same latitude in this 
State hart manydeoided and important advau 1 ages 
over the region of which ho speaks. Among 
those are its special adaptation to fruit in all the 
Lake Shore oonntieH and to w inter wheat all over 
the State, there being a ditferenoe in favor of 
the east side of Lake Mich., over the west side, 
in the extremes of winter’s cold and early and 
late frosts, of from 10 to 20 degrees of Pah. We 
never have floods or tornadoes, and though we 
have fewer rainy days, we have also loss droughts 
in these Lako Shore counties than east or west of 
us. Furthermore, the fact that the counties of 
Muskegon, Oceana, Mason, Manistee, Benzie and 
Grand Traverse are engaged mainly in lumber¬ 
ing has a two-fold tendency; first, to cheapen 
the price of lands for agricultural purposes and, 
Bocoud, to raise the home market price of all 
farm produce. Now all the facts I mention aro 
not only susceptible of proof but of the most 
lncid explanation, but this jvotild take more 
time than t could sp ire and more room than the 
Bubal would allow mo. Those coming iuto 
these counties to settle in the farming LusineBB, 
must expect either to clear up their farms or pur¬ 
chase small and rather rude improvements, for 
what this country lacks most of all is practical 
farmers, and next, manufacturers in other in¬ 
dustries than lumber. Its shipping facilities 
are hardly equaled, its climate unequaled east 
of the Rocky Mountains in this latitude; its 
fruits of world wide renown, and its people 
remarkably healthy. Owing to the peculiar situ¬ 
ation of this country in regard to early thorough¬ 
fares of travel, it has. until within a very few 
years, been little known abroad. 
About tlie Arkansas Valley. 
Henry Oliver, Ballimorc Co., bid , asks 1. 
whether the lauds in the Arkansas Valley, along 
the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fo Hail Bond 
are good for farming; 2. whether there are any 
Government lands olose by; 3. what are the 
prices there of ordinary farm horses aud what 
are cows selling at- 
Ans. —Fiom a trustworthy source we learn 
that till) lauds along the A. T. & S. F. It. B. are 
as rich as cau well be found anywhere; excellent 
for all kinds of farming. 3. For Government 
lands, it will be necessary to go further west 
than old frontier settleis think it prudent to go. 
The further west, however, the dryer and more 
uncertain the climate. 3. Good horses suitable 
for farm work, cau be bought for from $75@125 ; 
good grade stock cows j ust now can bo got for 
about $25 a head. 
Strawberry Mixing. 
N- Williams, Montgomery Co., N. I"., asks 
whether two varieties of Strawberries planted 
side by side, mix so as to affect the varieties; in 
other words, will runners from each plant or 
variety be affected ? Will the fruit also mix ? 
Which is the best variety for garden or home 
use without regard to its adaptability for trans¬ 
portation. 
Ans. —No, except as they become entangled 
and it is difficult to tell “which is which." 
There is no mixing. Strawberries cau only be 
mixed (crossed) through the seed. Some flow¬ 
ers are perfect (i. e. possess both stamens aud 
pistils); some possess only pistils. These latter, 
if they form fruit, must receive pollen from 
other flowers which possess stamens as well. 
The edible portion of a strawberry is not the 
fruit properly speaking. It is a fleshy growth 
of the receptacle. What we call the seed is 
really the fruit. There is a general notion that 
melons and cucumbers mix. The seeds may. 
But the effect is shown only the next season in 
the fruit raised from the mixed seeds. In our 
own grounds we prefer Borden 30. But it may 
not do well with you. 
Lawn Mowers. 
L. D., Hempstead, L. I., makes certain in¬ 
quiries respecting lawn-mowers. 
Ans. —When your lawn becomes hard and the 
sod close and thick, a roller can do no good. 
Lawn-mowers with largo iron rollers are excel¬ 
lent for seedling grass, at least for the first 
year and also for sodded lawns until the sod is 
established and has become level. Otherwise a 
light-running machine without an iron r Her 
would answer your purpose. The “Philadelphia" 
is as good as any we know of, and the 18-inch 
may bo managed by a strong boy twelve years 
old. It is a simple contrivance and except that 
it should be oiled often, may be regulated once 
for the entire season. 2. This is the lawn- 
mower which was used upon the lawns at the 
Centennial. At least we saw it in use there and 
noticod no others. K. H. Allen & Co., 189 Water 
St. are agents for this city. 
A Cheap Green-House. 
E. A. Beadle. Will Co., IU.. says: I have 
taken the Bubal for several years, and although 
only a mechanic, I am much interested in it 
especially in its designs for houses. I wonld 
aHk as a favor, that it would tell me how to con¬ 
struct a small green-house on a cheap soale, as 
I have at present more time than money, and 
could do the work myself. 
ANS : IJY MBS. ANNIE L. JACK. 
Knowing that our contributor, Mrs Jack, 
had constructed a green house in an economi¬ 
cal mauner, we submitted the above question 
to her and aud here give her answer: 
For years we have gathered every summer a 
few choice plants, and last season one of the 
Bubal editors sent us a box of green-house 
plants, so fresh and lovely that wo were a 
family of exclamation points. But the winter 
bo long and severe, with the uueqnal beat of 
our sitting room, the coal gas, and dry atmos¬ 
phere, had a direful effect on our pretty treas¬ 
ures, and this spring I hinted to the head of 
the honse-hold my desiro for a miniature green¬ 
house of my own—not expensive, of course, but 
suitable for our needs. I left home for a few 
days, before the spring work began, and on my 
return, a new and unusal noise at the back door 
caused me to prooeed thither. 
It was the “guidmon” and all the boys at 
work in an excavation, six feet below gronud. 
the length of the kitchen, and altogether 21 
foot long by 12 feet wide. This cellar-like place 
was built round with stone, gathered at times 
on the farm and laid aside to be utilized as 
building-Btone whenever needed. The lime 
cost about $1 50, the sand was obtained near¬ 
by, and the work so far was done by the will¬ 
ing hands of the household. About six inches 
of stone above ground, aud two panes of glass 
on the straight, then a slope over one of the 
kitchen windows, giving 14 feet of glass. This 
window was cut down to form a door half glass, 
and from the kitchen range wo intend to place 
a pipe for hot water to heat the building in the 
coldest weather, while the heat from the kitchen 
will be sufficient in moderate winter weather; 
but this is a matter to bo decided only by close 
observance of the thermometer. A door 
at the south end is useful as a passage¬ 
way through which to carry the plants 
out aud in and, in the summer, wo intend to 
train a couple of Black Hamburg grape-vines 
over the rafters. These are to be planted 
outside andtaken in through holes left for tho 
purpose in the wall. The carpenter’s work 
was such as any mechanic could do, the children 
being able to assist with glazing, and helping in 
many ways. There arc seven liaud-made sashes, 
14 feet long by three wide costing, each, two 
dollars. Tho wood for rafters and plate cost three 
dollars- Tho glass, seven by nine, can bo pro¬ 
cured cheaper in many places than with tis. 
The carpenter’s work of framing, outer door, 
aud steps, amounted to ten dollars, aud the ben¬ 
ches and stands we make at homo. This green¬ 
house is specially constructed to suit our cold 
climate, the depth below ground causing it to 
be easily kept warm. It is suitable for greeu- 
house but not for stove plants, and any mechanic 
having time to sparo, oan save everything but 
the actual cost of material. 
The "Cricket ” Again. 
C. E. M., Spring Hill, inquires whether in 
case of his sending a dollar, he oould get a 
“ Cricket Clock.” 
Ans. —The offer of the Clock was made to in- 
duco old subscribers to influence others to take 
tho Bubal, aud to give them a valuable con¬ 
sideration for their efforts. All along the effect 
intended has been to increase the number of our 
readers. If C. E. M. will send us five dollars in 
payment for two new subscribers, he will have 
aided our efforts to this end, and be handsomely 
rewarded with a gift of a “ Cricket Clock.” We 
could not accede to his proposition without 
violating onr contract and, moreover, losing 
money. Our maiu object, we repeat, is an 
addition to onr subscribers, not to onr coffers. 
Could we consistently do so, it would give ns 
pleasure to gratify him and hundreds of others 
who have made a similar request. 
Blue Stone, Blue Vitriol and Copperas. 
Charles Mtmgham, LambtonCo., Ontario, asks 
what is the difference between blue stone, blue 
vitriol and copperas. 
Ans.— Bine stone and bine vitriol aro two 
names for the same substance, sulphate of cop¬ 
per. It is host proparod by dissolving oxide of 
copper with dilute Bulphuric acid ; a large quan¬ 
tity is also produced in the process of roasting 
copper ores. Tho salt crystalizes in large, pris- 
matic^jrystalB, which contain almost exactly 
one-fourth their weight in metallic oopper. It is 
used in dyeing, preparing various pigments, in 
medicine as an emetic, and also to destroy the 
germs of smut in wheat, by soaking the grain in 
a solution of the salt. Cojtebas, known also 
as green vitriol, is sulphate of iron, and forms 
green, transparent, prismatic crystals, readily 
soluble in water. It is largely obtained by the 
decomposition of iron pyrites as well as by dis¬ 
solving metallic iron in dilute sulphuric acid. It 
is used in dyeing, tanning, the manufacture of 
pigments, and making black ink, and in medi¬ 
cine as a tonic. The term copperas was formerly 
synonymous with vitriol and included blue, 
green and white vitriols, respectively the sul¬ 
phates of copper, iron and zinc : now, however, 
it is applied only to the sulphate of iron. 
Miscellaneous. 
IF. II. Ferry, Jefferson Co., A T eb., bemg 
entirely a novice on a farm, inquires for the 
name of a book of some kind that will help him 
iu learning “ how to farm it.” 
Ans. —There is no one book that will give you 
the information you need. Many topicB, snch 
as drainage, dairy, poultry, manures, cattle, etc., 
etc., all of which constitute important farm 
interests, arc treated separately and at length. 
If “ How to farm it could be treated exhaus¬ 
tively in ooe book, there would be littlo need of 
agricultural literature. The following books 
occur to us which, no doubt will render great 
assistance: 
Mason’s Agricultural Cyclopedia; Waring’s 
Elements of Agriculture; Johuson’s Elements 
of Agricultural Chemistry; Jacque's Manual 
of Garden, Farm and Barn Yard ; Bossingault's 
Bural Economy; How Crops Feed—How Crops 
grow, by I’rof. Johnson ; Allen's New American 
Form Book. 
Mrs. It. C. Kerr, Richmond Co., Ga., asks 
where the following plants cau ho purchased; 
1. Camphor; 2. Guava; 3. Coffee; 4. Pine¬ 
apple ; 5. mouse-colored Iris; G. Fine, large 
Pelargonium, snch as the old Lady Washington, 
now never advertised; 7. Sho also inquires 
whether she can get a Cricket, and 8. some of 
the plauts and flowers gratuitously offered by 
the Bubal. 
Ans. —1. The Camphoraoflicinarum (Camphor 
Tree) is an evergreen of large size. Dryobalo- 
nops camphora, a tree from which a far more 
costly article of Camphor is obtained, is a native 
of Sumatra, also a tree of largo growth. Do not 
know where they can be obtained. 
2. The one best kuown is Paidium gnaiava of 
which there are several varieties. This is a 
small tree, a native of the West Indies, and may 
be cultivated under glass for its pretty foliage 
and flowers as well as for itH fruit. Try Geo. 
Such, South Amboy, N. J. 
3. The botauieal name of tho coffee plant is 
Coffea Arabiea, a native of Abyssinia and 
Western Africa. It will uot stand frost and in 
this climate cau only be grown under glass. 
Perhaps Commissioner Le Due can supply yon 
with a plant. 
4. The pine-apple is Auanassasativa, probably 
a native of Brazil. The fruit may bo raised m 
any greenhouse in which the proper degree of 
moisture aud temperature can be maintained. 
Can be obtained of any florist that deals in stove 
plants. 
5. We do not know of any Iris of this name. 
There aro many varieties which might be called 
“mou'ie-colored.” Those of Iris Germauiea are 
very pretty. Wooleon & Co, Passaic, N. J.; 
Hoopes andllro. Thomas, West Chester, Pa. 
6. There are hundreds of varieties of what 
were once called “ Lady Washington.” Almost 
any florist can supply them. 
7. See answer to 0. E. M. 8. Our next seed 
distribution will be announced later iu the sea¬ 
son, when an application will be duly attended to. 
M. IF I<\. Bryn, Mxmr, Pa., would like to 
know Low and where to propagate such shrubs 
as Wiegela, Bpircoas, Tartarian Honeysuckle, 
Box—the evergreen shrub—and what is com¬ 
monly called “ Mist Tree ”—a handsome orna¬ 
mental shrub. 
Ans. —Wiegelas are best propagated from 
cuttings of the half-ripened wood in the fall, 
though cuttings of this aud tho others mentioned 
(except Mist Tree) may be struck from mature 
wood. Box is propagated freely by divisions of 
the plant or by cuttings. We would advise our 
inquirer to plant seeds of Wiegelas next fall. 
They germinate readily, making lino plants In a 
year and often ran into well-murked varieties. 
By “Mist Tree” we presume the old but beau¬ 
tiful Bhns Cotinus is lnuaufc. This is best in¬ 
creased by pegging down layers and covering 
them with earth. 
A. G., Beneca Falls, JV. Y., inquires where he 
cau procure President Lincoln, Gt. American 
and Downing Strawberries. 
Ans.— E. P. Itoe, Cornwall-ou-Hudson, T. B. 
Miner, Linden, N. J , E. & J. C. Williams, 
Mount Clair, N. J. 
F. K. G., He Golia, Pa., asks whether the 
name China Pink, given thereabouts to a tender 
biennial plant with very showy flowers, is the 
correct one, and sends us seeds from which to 
determine. 
Ans. —The seeds are, no doubt, those of the 
China Pink, Dianthns Chinensis. 
Communications received kok ras week ending 
Saturday, May, 4th. 
8 . A. L. — P. J. M. G. M., thanks — M. W. F.— 
J. B. J,.— C. II.—A. L. J., thanks—I. M. A.—J. C.~ 
“ Cornwall"—T.D.—A. R. C.—S. B. P.—E. M. A.— 
E. G. S. — A. C. — M. V. S. — F. D. C. — T. T. L. — 
C. W.MISS E. H. R.—W. F.-L. A. R.-A. L. J. 
—D.E. 8.—J. S.—P. H. — C. M. — A. I,. J., No. 2— 
R. E. O.-W. J. F.-F. II.—C. C.—N. 0. B.-P.M.- 
8. R. M. f thanks — W. W. li. — B. T. W. — E. 
thanks-K. S. B,—W.;G-L. D.—C.-L. A. R., No. 2 . 
RURAL SPECIAL REPORTS. 
St. Charles, Kane Co., 111., April 28 . 
The past week has been one of almost con¬ 
tinuous rain; consequently but little advance¬ 
ment was made in farming. A good deal of 
corn-planting would have been dono, had it not 
beeu so wot; but as it is. none has been plauted 
hereabouts as yet. Should (bis week prove as 
fair as tho preseut weather promises, most of 
the corn will have beeu planted by the middle of 
next wee 1 '. Bo far this country never had a 
better prospoct of an abundant yield of all her 
products than she has the present season. All the 
fruits promise exooediDgly large crops. All the 
farmers have to fear at present in this neighbor¬ 
hood is that the prices of milk, bntter, etc. will 
drop too low to leave any margin for dairy 
products; and just now it seems to me as 
though this would bo the case during the sum¬ 
mer mouths. As this country is eminently a 
dairying region, the prices of those products 
affect us more than those of all others. This is, 
iodeed, tho “ banner ” dairy county of this 
State, as some of the readers of the Rural 
mud, of course, well know. j. b. t. w. 
Harris Co., Texas, April 28,1ST8. 
Through the month of March-, and as far as 
the present in April, we have had but vory little 
rain, consequently the ground is dry. Irish po¬ 
tatoes are being dug. Though a fair crop, they 
would have yielded still moro had they had a 
little more rain. There has been an immense 
quantity of them planted here. Tho first ones 
sold for about half the price brought by Irish 
potatoes last year. Before the season is ovor, 
they will come down very- low, since we have no 
means here to preserve them any length of time. 
Plums and peaches are all curculio-sturig. Pears, 
though they have bloomed finely, did not Bet 
well on account of the dry weather during their 
time of blossoming. Figs and grapes look 
promising. Japanese Medlars are ripe. 
In flower gardens, Lilies, Amaryllis, Fuu- 
kias, Clematis, Allamandas, Meyenias, ltbin- 
cospermums, Chinese Hibiscus. CJerodeudrums, 
Pomegranates, Oleanders, Yuccas, Magnolias, 
Tecomas, besides a host of perennials and al¬ 
most all of the annuals are iu bloom, ltoses 
rest a little; they are through the first crop of 
flowers. Gladioli show their spikes. a. m. 
Santa Cruz Co., Cal., April 9th, 1873. 
I send you a packago of flower-seeds for dis¬ 
tribution, also a few Shell-Flowers Hoods, as I 
Baw a request iu tho Rural for all your friends 
had to spare. They aro not the seeds from 
those received from tho Rural Office last season, 
as those did uot germinate, but these are from 
flowers belougiug to a lady living in tho Valley. 
They were planted in the fore part of July and 
remaiued green till January, although we had 
several sharp frosts. The Aster 8o ;d are nearly 
all from very fiao flowers, and tho Pinks are 
from the bust strains that are cultivated, and 
of 10 or 12 colors, alt from double flowers and, 
in fact, they aro all from vory flue flowers. If 
you have auy sued of Tailby s Hybrid Cucum¬ 
bers 1 would like to bavo a few, as I can get 
noue from tho Beed stores. The seeds sent by 
the Rural cauio all right, for which accept 
many thanks. A. Culbertson. 
Reynolds, Rock Island Co., Ill,, Ap’l 20, qs. 
We have had a very mild winter, our heaviest 
snow, March 28 9, lasted but a short time. Ap¬ 
ple, Cherry and Plum trees are iu blussom. Com 
in the ear 23c. per bushel, shelled 20o; potatoes 
40o. per bushel; hay from $5@$6 per ton, 
Wheat aud oats up and looking flue. Some 
have plauted corn—most think it too early. 
Ground nearly all ready. Nearly all the youug 
men wear the bine ribbon. Temperance meet¬ 
ing every Friday evening. c. n. 
WESTERN ECHOES. 
Kittatinny and Lawton Blackberry briars 
have winter-killed with me badly every winter, 
despite all the cutting back, stockiness,and hard¬ 
ening of the branches I could render them, until 
this last winter when I gave them protection, 
and this spring upon raising them, they have 
withstood the winter well, which of course is not 
at all new, and I only refer to it to say that it 
pays one to give them space and auy care at 
all, to add a little more work, and lay them 
down and protect them. In this connection, I 
will say that from close observation of the re¬ 
ports of those throughout tho West, who are try¬ 
ing them, the Snyder is the Blackberry, all things 
considered. I came to this conoluBion after el¬ 
iminating the testimony of those who have the 
Snyder for sale. 
Since a groat deal is being said about the ger¬ 
mination of commission seeds, I will add that to 
test the matter for myself, last year I procured 
