THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
trees, while still others claim that even roots, 
grass, etc., grown on certain andraiued soils, will 
produce it. As prevention, keep the animals 
from unimproved pastures till the grass is well 
started, and feed on sound, bright grain and 
fodder, free from acrid weeds. As medical treat¬ 
ment, give a purgative (Glauber salts, 2 lbs; 
ginger, 2 ounoes) ; or, if there is colic and other 
signs of an irritated condition of the bowels, the 
treatment must be restricted to a laxative, such 
as olive or linseed oil. If sigus of weakness and 
siuking are shown, give diffusible stimulants 
(sweet spirits of niter) and tonics (tincture of 
iron); food should consist of gruels and other 
easily digested substances. 
Fistula in Horses. 
W. Wright, Benton Go., Mo., having already 
lost a couple of horses by fistula, is naturally 
anxious with regard to auother now afflicted 
with the same disoase, and asks for a remedy. 
Ans —The great point in treating fistula is to 
make an opening from the lowest part down¬ 
wards to the outside to allow the pus to esoape; 
in suoh cases a surgeon is almost indispensable. 
A probe must be introduced into the tubeB or 
sinuses, which are often three to six inches deep; 
the probe must then be cut down upon at its 
lowest point, and a seton inserted to keep an 
opening below till healed above. The wound 
Bhould then be dressed once a day, and an 
astringent solution applied ; this may consist of 
acetate of lead % drachm, water % pint, or 
acetate of lead and sulphate of zme, of each % 
drachm, and water % pint. 
ncnttftc aittr Iscful 
♦ 
COMPOSITION AND DECOMPOSITION. 
S. BUFUS MASON. 
The title of this article indicates the two 
powers or forces which are the primary causes 
of life aDd death. All creation is governed by 
them; they are the beginning and ending of all 
things. I propose to consider their influence 
and aotion in the vegetable kingdom, in the in¬ 
terests of the cultivator, and to show that unless 
it is well understood and taken advantage of, no 
crops can be grown successfully, except by 
accident or by fortuitous seasons. 
Composition is that property by which every 
living thing grows up to its maturity; and de¬ 
composition is the process commencing at ma¬ 
turity, which finally reduces it to its first princi¬ 
ples. As auimal life is forced into activity and 
motion by a chemical combination, and then be¬ 
gins to form or compose itself with the aid of 
food, warmth and moisture, so the vegetable 
embryo, its energies awakened bv the chemical 
action of heat, light aud moisture, at once begins 
to compose or form itself into the adult plant, 
producing, in time, the seed or future embryo. 
This is the first phenomeuou of life. 
Decomposition, or death, is the destruction, by 
a natural process, of the adult plant, the final 
end of that particular embryo, aB far as its in¬ 
creasing period of life extends, and this is the 
last phenomenon of life. 
Composition is the result of a cloBe affinity 
between the embryo and the surrouuding in¬ 
fluences necessary to it, and decomposition is 
the result of a gradual decline of this aflioity, 
produced by the natural changes of the season— 
heat ohanging to cold, light decreasing in inten¬ 
sity, aud moisture giving way to autumnal 
drought. These are the principal agents, anil 
the active principles of life and death, and it is 
evident that to insure a perfect life, all the at¬ 
tending circumstances must be not only in har¬ 
mony with each other, but particularly so with 
the embryo to be acted upon. 
In reality, there is no suoh thing as death, 
but in plaoe of it, ouly a cessation of growth or 
increase, passing to a decrease of bulk and into 
another form of life called destructive fermenta¬ 
tion, ending in the living body taking the form 
of food suitable for a new living body, and this 
is Nature’s mode of maintaining the fertility of 
the earth. 
We see, then, that without life there oan be 
nothing to die, aud without death, no food for 
the living. These processes are simple, regular 
in their aotion, necessary to development, and 
form the fundamental principles of the laws of 
nature. They cannot be evaded without certain 
punishment, hut they can be improved by the 
farmer, always to his profit. As all plant life in 
nature is governed by these laws, it is evident 
that modes aud times of tillage must conform to 
them, and that if decomposition is also conduct¬ 
ed in accordance with the same laws, the pro¬ 
duce of the laud can only suffer from violent or 
untimely changea of the atmospheric influences. 
Ohemieal action begins ouly when all the agents 
act in uni-ion, and natural growth is always due 
to the uninterrupted influence of all the agents. 
Any irregularity of either ouO not only deprives 
the plant of that special influence, but checks 
the effect of the other’s. 
Here we notice the secondary laws ; and these 
again are governed by all the different qualities, 
conditions and fitnesses of the soils, as well as 
by the conditions of the atmosphere. No tw > 
crops demand exactly the same amount of 
the essential elements, and thus wa Bee the ne¬ 
cessity of a perfect knowledge of each one’s 
habits. The sood, the average amount of heat, 
light and moisture, an 1 the length of the season, 
arc fixed; the farmer has no control over either ; 
but the soil, its fitness, its preparation and its 
condition during the season, are entirely under 
his control. As to the soil, its good qualities 
must be utilized, its bn 1 ones corrected by cul¬ 
tivation and enrichment, while even the amount 
of light, heat and moisture may, to a certain ap¬ 
preciable extent, be increased or decreased by 
close or distant planting, or by deep or shallow 
cultivation. Here is the measure of the farm¬ 
er’s braia capacity and skill. 
Prom the germination to formation of seed 
comprises the first stage of composition, and if 
carried through successfully, has allowed uo 
signs of decomposition or death, such as dead 
leaves. After gathering the crop, the next duty 
of the farmer is to prepare for a regular and 
thorough decomposition in time for the next 
crop. Thi8 final act of the season takes place 
under precisely the same influences as compo¬ 
sition, hut in a vastly diminished degree of in¬ 
tensity of os oh. It is the most important work 
of the season—the preparation of food for the 
laud which has become weakened by its efforts 
in growing food for the farmer. 
Again the laws of nature assert themselves, 
as food is only beneficial when properly prepared 
and timely administered. These agents of plant 
growth never cease their action upon vegt table 
matter, and as we have no other tools to work 
with, it is of the last importance to know how 
to handle them. As composition and decompo¬ 
sition are aotive alternately—one in the growing, 
and one in the se i son of comparative rest—they 
never interfere, thus giving the farmer ample 
opportunity to assist both. 
A study of the subjeot will prove that nothing 
dies; that what is called death merely a 
a change from the composition of fruit and seed 
to the composition of manure, and that these 
processes are absolutely necessary to accomplish 
two purposes : one, that of preventing the earth 
from being encumbered with dead herbage ; and 
the other of changing it to plant-food. Thus 
nature, always in a state of preparation, ad¬ 
monishes the cultivator of the soil to “go and 
do likewise.” 
GETTING RID OF THE CUT-WORM, &C. 
B. PICKMAN MANN. 
On page 341 of the Bubal New-Yobkeb, 
Joslyn's method of getting rid of the out-worm 
iB Baid to be “just about as sensible as many 
methods of destroying inseots which are pub¬ 
lished in these enlightened days." which kind 
of comment has the appearance of indicating 
a contempt for the method, but on page 266, in 
an answer to a correspondent, essentially the 
same remedy is recommended as the only one 
known. 
In an answer to a correspondent on page 266 
of the Rdbai, New-Yobkeb, the respondent says, 
referring to the cut-worm. “ We presume our 
inquirer refers to the greasy, ash-gray cater¬ 
pillars that cut off young plants duriug June 
aud July”(Tho emphasis is my own.) May I ask 
which is the cut worm ? Is it what Mr. Riuev 
calls the ’’Variegated cut-worm ? (Agrotis iner- 
mis), or is it the ” W-maikod cut-worm” (Noc- 
tua clandestina), or the “Greasy cut-worm” 
(Agrotis telit'era), or the “ Wtstern striped cut¬ 
worm" (Agrotis herilis), or the “ Dingy cut¬ 
worm” (Agrotis subgothica?) all of which are 
distinct kinds of “ greasy, ask-gray caterpillars 
that cut off tender young plants daring June 
and July.” Will farmers and gardeners soon 
learn that it is no more sensible for them to 
ask what to do with the cut-worm or the cur¬ 
rent-worm or the wire-worm or the potato- 
beetle or the weevil than to ask their physi¬ 
cian what do for the fever or the head¬ 
ache or the indisposition ? In Mr. Grote’s 
last list of the moths known tc entomologists as 
Nootuidie, over two hundred and fifty different 
kinds of what may generally be called cut-worms 
are named. 
I think it is a pity, considering the dense ig¬ 
norance of entomology which still exists in 
many minds, to rely upon the power of irony 
alone to combat suoh absuxd recommendations 
as those given for “ Death to the curculio” on 
page 268 of the Rural New Yobkeb. There 
can hardly be any doubt that very many of the 
readers will recognize as readily as the editor 
does, this absurdity, yet it is made plain by a 
sad experience that recommendations no more 
sensible find acceptance in many minds, if they 
are not plainly discredited at every turn. See 
rather the remarks upon the curculio on page 
248. 
On page 162 I referred, in a partial answer 
to J. J. D., to some valuable observations made 
by Mr. Walter Faxon upon the injury caused 
to hides by certain mites. I have just received 
from Mr. Faxon a copy of his article, whioh is 
published as No. 2 of vol. 5 of the Bulletin of 
the Museum of Comparative Zoology, at Har¬ 
vard College, Cambridge, Mass. This com¬ 
prises six pages, beside a plate and a page of 
explanations, and is entitled: “On the pres¬ 
ence of Demodex folliculorum in the skin of 
the ox.” “In the parts about the neck and 
shoulders, especially, the skins presented nu¬ 
merous slight swellings, which under pressure 
emitted a quantity of soft, whitish matter. 
After being tanned and split, the leather ap¬ 
peared di-figured with pits whioh in many cases 
penetrated nearly through the thickness of the 
leather.” These cavities were found to be 
immensely enlarged, aud they were filled with 
a fatty substance containing multitudes of the 
same mites which live iu the little black-headed, 
worm-like maBaes that may be squeezed out of 
the face of a man, woman or child. The same 
mite is found in the skin of the cat, dog, fox, 
bat, ox, horse and sheep, and perhaps oocnrs in 
animals generally. In dogs it causes the mange. 
It is not known whether it makes hair fall from 
the skin of the ox or not. Fresh specimens of 
skin, preserved in rum, alcohol or whiskey, are 
needed to determine this question. The method 
of treatment is described. 
RURAL SPECIAL REPORTS. 
Harris Co., Texas, JunelGtli, 1878. 
The severe drought we have had here ever 
since early spring, has been terminated by plenty 
of very heavy rains. Sweet-potato planting, 
which had to be delayed on account of the dry 
weather, is being pushed rapidly. There is a 
general want of plants aud slips this year, which 
will, to a oertain degree, limit the area of this 
crop, usually so stive aud remunerative. To¬ 
matoes and water-melons are plentiful; the 
drought caused the latter to be smaller than 
usual. Peaches are mostly curcnlio-stung and 
rotting on the trees. This fruit does not suc¬ 
ceed as well as iu former years, down here in 
lower Texas. Grapes are ripening. The mock¬ 
ing birds and other members of the feathered 
tribes are in for their lion’s share. 
In flower-gardens Crape-myrtles are in full 
bloom ; so are the Althmas and Hibiscus muta- 
bilis. I never have seen these two last-men¬ 
tioned plants bloom so soon in the season, as 
they are properly fall-flowering. The Mignon¬ 
ette tree is loaded with flowers which shed their 
powerful perfume profusely. It is a pity that 
this shrub is not entirely hardy here. Peren¬ 
nial Phloxes exhibit tbeir flower-trusses ; they 
are not so plentiful in flower-gardens abont here 
as they deserve to be, being comparatively little 
known and owned only by a few. Dahlias, too, 
make a flue show, after those few rainy days. 
They are apt to deteriorate in this climate, es¬ 
pecially iu a^treng aud heavily-manured ground. 
It is preferable to raise new tubers by cuttings 
every year, than to save the old ones; which 
latter get, on account of the long season, over¬ 
grown, carious and inclined to rot, producing 
flowers inferior both in color aud fallness. 
G- Marti. 
Rural Farm, -Tune 29, 
The hottest day of the season. Men have 
been obliged to quit the fields and to keep quiet 
under the shade of trees. During suoh “heated 
terms ” it is wise to do all the work that can be 
done before the sun has full power in the morn¬ 
ing, or to w T ait until the cooler part of tne after¬ 
noon. To work through the heat of such days 
is the pooi’est kind of ecouomy aud results too 
often in sickness and death. 
Cedar Mills, Meeker Co., Minn. JuneU 1878. 
Caors of all kinds are looking very well, in¬ 
deed, especially the small grain which never 
looked Better. Some fields are heading out 
already, and an early harvest is expected. 
We have been having an abundance of rain 
for the last four weeks. Immigration is pour¬ 
ing iuto the State at a rate never before equal¬ 
ed, and still there is room for more. Every¬ 
body seems prosperous and happy, and times 
are better than for several years. 
M. E. B. 
Warren Oo„ N. C., June 10 . 
The oldest inhabitant says, “ We never had so 
cool a May and so far in June.” We can rake 
and bind our fifty dozen of wheat, with “ nary ” 
a perspiration. Wheat is fine, the rust used 
but little lOBS. Cotton is doing nothing. A 
good stand, July aud August, may make a crop. 
Severe storms of wind, rain and hail have done 
considerable damage to fruit and other crops in 
some localities, some fields of wheat being 
literally threshed in the field. M. B. Prince. 
PoranTowN, Chester Co., Pa., June 27, 1878. 
We are busy making hay which is a largo 
crop. Wheat will be cut this corniug week ; it 
looks well and so do outs. Fruit will bo a short 
crop. Hay sells at £6 per ton: wheat, $1.15; 
corn, 60o. per bushel; butter, 18c. per pound. 
Dr. HaiN9. 
Dk Rcytek, Madison Co., N. Y. 
I have a hive of bees from which have issued 
four swarms within the thirteen days past. 
M- h. 
(Mutational. 
tW Please mention Rural, when address¬ 
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International S. S. Lessons, 3d and 4th Quarters. 1878. 
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The Gospel of St. Luke, 
Containing the Original Greek Text, with a 
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