426 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
JULY 6 
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
Cranberry Culture." 
P. G. Tracy, Hennepin Co., Minn., having a 
marsh of 25 or 30 acres, which, unimproved, 
bears a good stand of wild cranberry vines, 
wishes to learn the best method of improving, 
draining, flooding, and managing it as a culti¬ 
vated cranberry plantation. 
Ans. The most profitable sites for cranberry 
cultnre are boath ponds or low basins, places 
naturally flooded with water in winter; swamp 
lands in which deep dr.posits of muok are found .- 
savannaB or grounds lying between swamps and 
uplands; mill ponds whose water haB been drawn 
off. Although cranberries are not infrequently 
cultivated successfully on alluvial uplands, still 
such locations are generally less desirable than 
the low, damp sites just mentioned. The best 
soil is a mixture of coarse sand and muck, made 
by covering a deposit of muck with a layer of 
sand. Both soon became thoroughly incorpo¬ 
rated, forming a soil not unlike black sand 
An ahnndaut supply of water is necessary to 
profitable crnnberry growing, but as stagnant 
water is injurious to the J plant, the site of 
the plantation should be such as to permit 
of its drainage at least one foot below the sur¬ 
face. Another important material used in the 
preparation of cranberry beds is sand, which is 
spread over the surface of the ground to the 
depth of from two to eight inches, the amount 
being regulated by the compact or loope nature 
of the soil. This sand should he as pure as con¬ 
veniently possible, free from any admixture of 
clay or loam. 
In draining a swanipy patch for cranberry cul¬ 
ture, usually the first step is to dig a broad,'deep 
ditch around it, for the purpose of drawing off 
the surface water, so that the ground may be 
cleared. The excavated soil, if sufficiently com¬ 
pact, may bo used for embankments; otherwise, 
a firmer soil must be added or substituted. One 
or two main ditches should then be cut through 
it, and a number of Bide drains dug running into 
these, sufficient to drain all t arts of the meadow 
at least twelve inches, or better still, eighteen 
inches below the surface. 
The usual time for planting cranberries is in 
the spring from the first of April to the first 
of June, although the vine is sufficiently hardy 
to bear transplanting considerably later in the 
summer. Too much care cannot be taken in 
securing the plants from fruitful beds, as well 
as those that produce the largest and best fruit. 
They should be set in rows from eighteen inches 
to four feet apart according to the kind of plants 
obtained; the object being to mat the ground 
with their growth as soon as possible. There 
are several methods of planting, such as sod 
planting, hill planting, drill planting, plant 
ing by pressure, and sowing cuttings, for details 
of which space here is too limited. 
In cultivating a cranberry plantation the main 
object is too keep down weeds and grasses and 
thoroughly drain the meadow. 
To flood a meadow successfully; it is necessary 
to construct across the lower end of it a sub¬ 
stantial dam the higbt and strength of which 
must depend on the inclination of Ihe meadow 
and the amount of water required to flood it. 
The time for letting in the water will vary in 
different locations, hut it is a safe rule to apply 
it as soon as cold stops vegetation, and the vine’s 
commence to have a dull-red appearance. It 
should be kept on all winter, and until about, 
say, the first of May. Sometimes it is advisable 
to flood in summer, but then it is only necessary 
to apply water enough to give the soil a good 
soaking during a drought. 
As a cranberrv plantation is a permanent 
investment yielding returns for a life-time 
and needing a considerable preliminary outlav 
in its preparation, it is important that every 
precaution should be taken at the outset to ren¬ 
der it a succt HS. Sonnyimes the crop brings 
upwards of §1000 per acre and is nearly always 
remunerative. It would be well therefore, 
for a mau intending to embark in this 
branch of industry to thoroughly post himself 
on all its requirements, by visiting Horae success¬ 
ful plantation, and also by purchasing some 
one or more of the works in which the subject is 
discussed by adepts. A lengthy article on 
Cranberry Culture appeared in the Rural for 
December the 22nd last. 
Chufas. 
J. M. Butler , Jeffersonville, Arkansas, says: 
“ 0ur l&nds off from the river bottoms are what 
are here tanned piney-wood land. The growth 
of timber is pnncipally Yellow Pine and Black 
Oak. There are also some Shellbark, White 
Hickory, and Dog-wood. The soil is light and 
sandy, and without manure, will produce, on an 
average toe five years, twelve bushels of corn, 
250 pounds of lint cotton, or 125 l uahela of sweet 
potatoes per acre." Ho has never seen the Chu- 
fa there, but having noticed several references 
to it in the Rural, he inquiries if it would thrive 
in that latitude. 
Ah's.—Chufas would certainly do excellently 
in the above latitude; in fact, hitherto they have 
been cultivated more successfully about that 
latitude or a little farther south than elsewhere. 
It is too late, however, to plant them this 
year, as the usual season for planting them so 
far south, is in March or April, On poor piney- 
wood land the crop is reported to be about 150 
bushels per aore, increasing all the way up to 
500 bushels, as the land is naturally or artificially 
richer.. 
Gilliflowers. 
F. G. F., Roxbonwgh, N. O., asks whether 
there is any way to extract the pollen from the 
double Giilifiower and put it on the single flower, 
so that the seed from the same might produce a 
greater amount of (he double, ne finds that by 
planting the double and single varieties close 
together, the cross-fertilization is not very 
thorough. 
A>'s.—By removing tbo stamens of the single 
flowers, fertilization (if it occur at all) by tho 
pollen from tho double flowers will be insured. 
“Doublo” (lowers are those in which the an¬ 
thers are changed into petals. If, therefore, 
the flower is fully double, there is no polleu. If 
semi-double, pollen can be collected on a camel- 
hair brush and applied to the stigmas of the 
pistils of the single flowers. In this case the 
stamens of the latter should be removed to avoid 
self-fertilization. 
The Harlequin Potato. 
Mrs. M. F. McCloud, Beaver Co., Pa , asks 
whether the Harlequin potato has variegated 
foliage. She sent for a specimen for her flower- 
garden to D. M. Perry A Co. of Detroit, but tho 
top is green, just like that of the ordinary sorts ; 
and in answer to a note from her to the above 
firm, they write back that they sold her the gen¬ 
uine Harlequin variety and made no mistake. 
She wishes to know whether her opinion, that it 
should have variegated foliage, is correct; and 
where she can get a specimen of that kind. 
Ans.— We have this variety nine inches high. 
Every leaf is variegated with creamy-white. 
Our seed-potatoes were sent to our experimental 
farm by Messrs. B. K. Bliss A Son of this oity, 
among other things, to be tested. We should 
suppose that D. M. Ferry & Co. are not a con¬ 
cern liable to send plants or seeds not true to 
name. 
Drying Cows of their Milk. 
J, B. T. Wheeler, Kane Co., Ill , having a lot 
of cows coming in, in early fall, is anxious to dry 
them off, and asks if there is any preparation 
which, if applied internally or externally, would 
do so without injuring the animals. 
Ans.—W e know of no preparation of the kind. 
Iu drying off a cow, it is best to put the animal 
where pasture is Beauty, so that she will have to 
work hard to pick up a livelihood, and if there is 
no short pasture on the farm, then the cow 
should be kept in the yard and fed only on straw 
for a few days. The animal should be milked 
every third day to clear out the bag so as to 
prevent the milk from caking, which might 
cause injury to, or even the loss of, a teat next 
year. Mauy people draw a little milk daily from 
a cow, to relieve her; but this causes more to be 
secreted, and prolongs tho drying off. For 
a week before the actual drying off begins, 
it is well not to milk oftener than once a day. 
Physicking and bleeding cannot be recom¬ 
mended. Should a COW show any signs of in- 
flamation m the udder, it might be fomented 
with warm water as hot as the hand can bear ii, 
and give a pint of salts; but the milking out of 
the liquid will generally b© sufficient. Tho evil 
following tho drying of cows is usually caused 
by feeding them too well. It is well to notice 
the udders and tents for a week or two after the 
milk has ceased to flow, as sometimes one or 
two of the teats will require stripping. Wild 
animals often lose their vouug, yet they come 
round all right, and with cows the best way is 
uot to fuss too much. 
Aphides on Grapes. 
J. II. Roselle, asks whether the littlo brown 
aphides that are gradually covering the buuohes 
of young grapes, will do any harm and how to 
get rid ot them. He has used tobacco water and 
soft-soap with good effect on cherry trees and 
English beans, but is afraid it is too ctrong for 
the grapes. 
Ans. —These aphides are injurious to the 
fruit but far more so to the young shoots and 
tender leaves on which they feed so liberally 
aB to cause the parts they infest soon to wither 
and die. With regard to the best means of get¬ 
ting rid of them, wo have asked ourselves the 
question every day for the past week. All that 
we have done is to pinch off the ends of the 
shoots infested, collecting them in a basket and 
throwing them into the fire. 
Miscellaneous. 
J. Halcomb, Hartford Co., Conn., asks fer¬ 
tile name of the best work on botany and speaks 
of the artificial system of Linnieus. 
•4ns —The artificial system of Linnams is not 
used now. The elementary botany (How Plants 
Grow), by Professor Asa Gray, will serve his 
purpose as well as any. 
J. N. Whelmore, Rutland Co., Vt., wants to 
learn how to prevent mice from eating his har¬ 
ness. 
Ans.—N othing ocours to us that has not prob¬ 
ably been thought of by our correspondent. We 
should naturally reply: bang the harness up out 
of reach of the mice, or, if kept in a harness- 
room by the use of sheets of tin, it may be made 
mice or rat-proof. When our rats get over- 
troublosome, we use r j t-poison. 
X Y. Z., Nineveh, N. Y., having a cow 
troubled with “snuffles." asks for a remedy. 
Ans. —This inquiry is too indefinite to enable 
us to give a correct answer. When advice is 
sought, with regard to the maladies of cattle, 
it is necessary to give a description of the disoaso 
inquired about, for not only do names for dis¬ 
eases vary in different parts of the country, hut, 
to prescribe appropriately, it is also necessary to 
know the condition of tho afflicted animal, as well 
as the disease. 
C. E. P., Bay Ridge, L. I., N. X., sends us a 
defunct insect for a name, and 1. asks how best 
to get rid of it. Its living kindred are ruining 
bis verbena beds and destroying his Roses. 
Though he has scattered sulphur lib- rally on the 
plants, it seems to injure the flowers more than 
the bugs, 2. Lately be found a light-grayish 
toad, with a streak of gold down his hind legs, 
and around the eyes, and around the body a few 
black streaks like those found on marble, and he 
wishes to know whether it is a specimen of a dis¬ 
tinct species or merely a “ sport.’’ 
Ans.— 1. The insect is a Rose-bug, best got 
rid of by picking them off. Will somebody 
posted in toads please answer question No. 2. 
J. E. F., New York City, asks whether tbo 
Leghorns are the best fowls for laying and what 
breed is tbe most profitable for marketable 
young chickens. 
Ans.—T he White Leghorn is generally con¬ 
sidered second to no breed as layers, though 
Brahmas and Cochins are not without admirers 
who prefer them. These are also held by most 
poultry keepers to be as profitable as any for 
marketing young chickens. A cross between a 
Brahma cock and a Dorking hen also produces 
au excellent fowl for market. 
C. L. Toppert, Jefferson Co., Ky., asks for an 
article each on the culture of Peanuts and sweet 
potatoes. 
Ans. —A lengthy illustrated article on the pea¬ 
nut and its culture appeared in the Rural for 
Oct. 13, last year. Another on the culture of 
sweet potatoes will be published soon. 
Mrs. M. A. Poppino, Muskingham Co., Ohio, 
sends flower for name. 
Ans. —It is Lilium superbum. 
Communications received for the week ending 
-Saturday, .Iunk, 22d. 
S. II,—B. B — W. C. L. D,—Clyde — W. H. I. - 
J. E. — Nellie S. — F. D. C. — W. II. N. — S. P. - 
S. V. W. C.—G. ii. M, —M. O.—It. R. B.—J. A. S.— 
11. M. M.-E. B.-F. G. T.—L N.-.M. Lt.-S. It. M.- 
L. H.—A. W. M. 
Dcfmitanj 
MALADIES OF STOCK. 
INQUIRIES ANSWERED BY D. E. SALMON, D.V.M. 
Sprain of Horse’s Hip. 
Alex. Moore, Chickasaw Co., Miss., has a fine 
mare lame in her left hind leg for twelve months. 
After working Hhe walks on the tip of the hoof ; 
is more lame going up hill than on level ground. 
The hip lias recently shrunk ; the muscles seem 
drawn up from the stifle to the upper joint ; 
using her malms her much lamer and seems to 
oanse tho flesh to quiver between the stifle 
joint and tho point of the hip. He widhes, from 
this diagnosis, to learn the mare’s ailment and 
its treatment. 
Ass.—The symptoms enumerated indicate 
sprain of the tendon of the glutens maximus 
muscle at or near its insertion on the trochanter 
major of the femur. Tbe quivering of the 
muscles above the stifle is caused by the effort 
to keep tho limb raised and thus throw the in¬ 
jured muscle out of use. In most cases of this 
kind there is more or less swelling at the point 
of tho hip joint, i. e., over the trochanter 
m»jor; there should also be tenderness and 
fliuching from pressure at this point. What is 
known as a high-heeled shoe, should be put ou the 
foot of Ihe affected limb to relievo the strain ou 
the mnsoles; the joint should then he bathed with 
hot water (as hot as tho hand can bear) several 
times a day for a week (the oftener the bathing 
is repeated, and the longer it is continued at 
each time, the better); the affected part Hhould 
then be repeatedly blistered with cautharides 
(cantharidea 1 part, lard 4 parts), and if uot 
cured in this way, may be fired. Would.advise 
Mr. Moore to get Law’s Veterinary Adviser, and 
read up on blistering and general principles of 
treating lameness unless he has had experience. 
Paralysis in Swine. 
J. Winans, Crawford Co., Pa., has a barrow 
hog about fourteen months old, which he in¬ 
tended to kill last Christmas. The animal, how¬ 
ever, saved his lire by suddenly losing the use of 
his hind legs just a week before his intended in¬ 
troduction to the butcher. Although he came 
to the trough dragging his hind quarters after 
him, his appetite continued first-rate, and at 
first it was thought that he had merely strained 
his back aud would soon be all right again. As 
this didn’t happen, a neighbor thought it was 
“ kidney-worms ’’ that ailed him, and prescribed 
a pint of soft-soap in lus food once a day for five 
days. That hog, however, couldn’t be soft- 
soaped into good health. Another neighbor 
then prescribed a pound of pulverized indigo ; 
but tbe blue draught didn’t make a shade of dif¬ 
ference in bis condition. Every neighbor all 
around had a different remedy for the case, but 
not ore of them cured the animal, and, stranger 
still, all combined failed to kill him. So soon as 
folks ceased doctoring him the hog began to get 
better of his own accord, and soon became 
able to walk about in the pen. When the wea¬ 
ther began to get worm, he was let out into a 
pasture lot, under the impression that tho soft 
sod would be better for him than the hard floor. 
But here again the treatment failed of its antici¬ 
pated effects, for in a couple of weeks the ani¬ 
mal grew lame again, and is now as bad as when 
the subject of experimental doctoring. A name 
and a remedy are sought for the ailment. 
Ans,— This trouble may arise from different 
causes, and it is not always an easy matter to de¬ 
cide in regard to its exact nature; although it is 
generally ascribed by farmers to kidney worms, 
this is, perhaps, the least frequent cause. It 
maybe brought on by disordered states of (he 
digestive organs, liver or kidneys, and also by 
congestion of the spinal oord. It is best to clean 
out tbe bewela with three to five ounces Glauber 
salts, according to the size of tho animal; to 
apply irritants along the hack (mustard, oil of 
turpentine, ammonia); to give soft, easily-di¬ 
gested food, and to keep the bowels in a laxative 
condition, by giviDg one to two ounces of salts 
daily. If not successful in ten days, this may 
be followed by nux vomica, in five to ten-grain 
doses, twice a day. Do not allow access to stag¬ 
nant or muddy water, or musty food of any 
kind. 
Parturition Fever. 
W. H. Keplinger, Tuscarawas Co., Ohio, 
says; “Within the last few weeks, among our 
farmers aud especially our dairymen, quite a 
number of cows in good condition, and aparent- 
ly in good health, have died soon after dropping 
their calves. Nearly all seem to clean or pass the 
after-birth all right. In from ten to twenty-four 
hours after calving, the horns are found to be 
cold aud hollow. The cow is unable to remain 
on her feet and becomes very weak aud tender 
in the small of the back or across the kidneys. 
The spiue, in the region of the kidneys, is quite 
hot, and the points of the hip are cold in some 
cases. The cow at once becomes helpless and 
lies down all the time, showing by her repeated 
turnings of the head toward the sides and hip, 
and her constant moaning, that she is suffering 
great pain. The nose at times becomes very 
dry, and at others breaks out in a cold, clammy 
sweat. The animal generally lives from one to 
three days after getting down—only a few recov¬ 
er. I would like to know what is tho cause and 
the remedy, and if there is a way to treat the 
cow before calving to prevent the attack of this 
fatal disease ?" 
Ans. —This disease is known as milk fever, 
parturient apoplexy, parturition fever, etc., and 
is quite frequent in cows which Have been fed 
too well before oalving. The condition of the 
horns has nothing to do with the causation of 
the disease; it would seem that after boring 
the horns of cattle in all manner of diseases for 
over a oentury, our farmers would finally find 
out that the horns of all the cattle are 
naturally hollow after they reaob maturity. 
Cold horns, hips and limbs are merely symptoms 
of serious internal disease. Tbe trouble may be 
prevented by keeping the cows ou eery spare 
diet for ten or twelve days before calving, and 
for a week after. Treatment has never proved 
very satisfactory even iu the hands of veterina¬ 
rians. If the disease is recognized while the 
cow is still on her feet, and while tho pulse is 
full and hard, she may be bled to the amount of 
four or five quarts : after this period bleeding is 
injurious. Give as medicine two pounds of Ep¬ 
som or Glauber salts dissolved iu warm water ; 
just before administering, add to this half an 
ounce of carbonate of ammonia and half a 
drachm of nnx-vomica (powdered), and repeat 
the ammonia and nux-vomioa three times a day. 
A weak solution of carbolic acid injected into 
the uterus, two or three times a day, is of con¬ 
siderable assistance. Keep the milk drawn from 
the udder and apply bags of pounded ice to the 
head. 
Red Water. 
if. B., Andover had a cow taken sick. Her 
water and milk were part blood ; she soon lost 
her appetite, milk aud strength, aud died three 
days after the beginning ofthe attack. He asks 
tbe name of the disease, its cause, aud best 
treatment. 
Ans. —This affection, which is known in 
Europe as wood disease, only occurs where cattle 
pasture on unimproved lands, i. e., iu woods 
aud uncultivated meadows. It is said by some 
to be caused by various irritant plants (Ranun¬ 
culus, Colohicum and Asclepias). It is also said 
to be oaused by eating the branches of resinous 
