THE RURAL HEW-YORKER. 
JULY 20 
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
The best Breed of Cows for Milk. 
M. N. Richards, Newton Co., Ind. , asks which 
is the best breed of oowa for milk. 
Ans. —The answer will, in a measure, depend 
on the use made of the milk. Farmers who sell 
milk and earo nothing for its quality, patronize 
mostly Short-Horn grades out of good-milking 
common cows. Those who make cheese or but¬ 
ter prefer Ayrshire or Ayrshire grades. Those 
who aim chiefly at fancy butter, or who wish 
very rich tniik for special customers or for then 1 
own table, havo a preference for Jerseys. Great 
milkers occur occasionally in all breeds. The 
Devons, too, give a ureat deal of rich milk, 
while the Holstein, or Dutch, cows have likewise 
a great name rh very heavy milkers. In Franoe 
also, there are several native breeds whioh are 
highly prized, but whose names are hardly known 
to even the skillful stockmen of this country. 
What is Muck 7 
n. R. Clemens, Bradford Co., Pa., asks what 
is meant by the term " muck,” as he sometimes 
sees it applied to substances which, according to 
his opinion, are by no means included under it. 
Ans.— Muck is manure, in English parlance, 
and embraces pretty nearly everything in that 
line that is soft or moist and pasty. In this 
country the word, iu agricultural technology, is 
almost exclusively applied to the partly decayed 
vegetable matter of swamps aud peat mosses, 
sometimes even to pe it lit for fuel, if it is used 
as manure or an absorbent in cattle stalls. 
St eam-Plowing. 
W. L. Walker , Sedgwick Co., Kans., asks 
whether steam-plowing is found profitable 
among farmers iu England, or whether its use 
there is confined merely to amateurs ? 
Ans.— Certainly steam-plowing is decidedly 
profitable on laud suitably level among the best 
kind of practical farmers across the Atlantic, 
not only in Great Britain, bifc also here and there 
on the Continent, in India and in the cotton 
fields of Egypt, and its use is yearly becoming 
more common. The cost is still high, from .£100 
to £750. The average area of grass laud turned 
under iu a d*y’s work is about ten acres, while 
of stubble land fully twenty-five acres are 
thoroughly broken up to a depth of nine or ten 
inches with the grubber or cultivator, which is 
considered to do better work than the turning 
plow used for grass lauds. Oar western prairies 
are excellently suited for this kind of cultiva¬ 
tion, and despite tho c omparative scarcity of 
fuel in some places, and the lower price of hor6e 
labor everywhere, still there is little doubt 
but that steam-plowing would there prove profit¬ 
able. Indeed the plows have been used with 
satisfaction in several parts of this country, 
notably in New Jersey, Illinois and Louisiana,' 
and have been on exmbitiou at several of our 
fairs. 
Destroying the Canada Thistle. 
R. H. 8., LineeviUe 8tcUion , Pa., asks for the 
shortest, surest and best means of destroying 
the Canada thistle ? 
AssThe more persistent ary evil, the great¬ 
er the number of “infallible” remedies for it; r 
and so it is with the Oansda thistle—so many 
methods of “ certainly" eradicating it have been 
given, that it is a trifle strange it should still be 
a pest to the farmer. The three that answer 
most oiosely to the above requirements are, 
First: Cat Canada thistles iu the summer, after 
they have thrown up their flower stalk, but be¬ 
fore they have bloomed, and if a pinch of salt 
be dropped into the hollow stems, they will soon 
die. Second: When the thistles are cut fre¬ 
quently with a spud or other tool just at or be¬ 
low the surface, they rapidly disappear. Third: 
If a Binall quantity of ooal oil is applied to them 
whenever they show themselves, there will be 
an end of them; but as coal oil kills other plants 
with which it is brought into contact as well as 
weeds, and may prevent the growth of vegeta¬ 
tion on the same spot for a considerable time, 
oare must be taken in using it. 
Salt petering Stumps. 
8. M. Smith, St■ Louis Co., Minn., writes: “I 
saw it stated some time ago in the Bckal that, if 
& quantity of saltpeter, together with some water, 
be inserted in a hole bored in the top of a stump! 
and the hole be then plugged up, the saltpeter 
will enter every root and fiber of the stomp, so 
that in dry time next spring, it can be easily 
burnt and destroyed. In this woodland country, 
where many are engaged iu clearing land, if such 
a simple device were really practicable, it would 
be a great help to hundreds of us.” Aud he re- 
gussta that some reader of the 11 do ax, New- 
Yorker who has actually tested the matter, will 
state through these columns the real result of 
his experiment or labor. 
The Wiegela. 
AT. F. COmd. N. Y., a.-ks the correct mode 
of spelling the name of a shrub whioh he has 
seen spelt in several different ways. 
Ans. It is Wiegela, after the Latinized name 
of a German botanist who lived toward tho end 
Of last century. Botanists have sinoe, however, 
placed it in the older genus Diervilla, after a 
Fx-enoh surgeon named Dierville; but the name 
Wiegela has become so well established that it 
still remains the common, or English, name for 
this beautiful shrub, originally imported from 
Japan. 
Frapagating tho Wistaria. 
Mrs. Minnie Ellis, Eaton Co., Mich., asks 
how and when to propagate the Wistaria Vine. 
Ans. By cuttiDgs and layers. Layers may be 
made now or later. Take the long sboots'and 
bury them six inches deep and press the earth 
firmly over the buried parts. Next year the 
stems connecting tbe buried and parent stems 
may be severed, and the rooted cuttingB trans¬ 
planted. 
Miscellaneous. 
Mrs. //. IF. Burton, Lincoln Co., N. C., asks 
what is the matter with her Apple Geraniums. 
They appear to be very flourishing, and, all at 
once, they begin to wilt; the leaves commence 
to turn yellow until all fall off, Haviug taken 
them up, she can find no cause for the mishap. 
Ans.—I f kept in pots, it may be that they are 
watered too much or too little ; if out-of-doors, 
the situation may be too hot and dry. Other¬ 
wise, if free of insects, as you say, we can not 
guess at the cause. 
planting may as well be done at one time as at 
another. The Early Rose with me is all the 
time growing, and reproducing itself, and the 
patch once plauted, ia never rid of volunteers ; 
but these volunteers beoome watery, and it is 
best to get new seed once a year from the North. 
These notes are applicable to Georgia and lati¬ 
tudes similar, or south of it, and are not expected 
to benefit tbe grower where seasons are so short 
as in the New England and Middle States. 
J. G. Rhea. 
FRIEND SAM’S MISHAP. 
Communications received for the week ending 
Saturday, July 13tii : 
“ Hector Bertram E. J. 8.—M. L. D.—S. L.— 
J. G. R.—S. B. P.—A. L. .J.—J. S. G.—P. A.—L. & 
M.—W. F.— U. M. S , thanks—O. A. G., thanks— 
L. W. S —J. o. D.—“ Hawaii-net— R. T.— J. B —F. 
M. S.-‘* Madcap Mollle ”—T. T. L„ thanks-J. F." 
—M. B. F.—J. E. McC.— \V. P. B.—F. H D —D M 
J.-B. P. M.-W. T. M.-K.-M. P. 
GEORGIA NOTES. 
Griffin, Ga., July 3d, 1ST8: 
I have have just planted my second crop of 
Early Rose potatoes from seed that were planted 
on the 20th of last February, and which, by tbe 
10th of May, were of good size for table use, and, 
the vines being dry on the 10th of June, were 
dug and stored away in sand, to keep through 
the hot weather. Of course, they are etoi ed in 
the shade. The small ones were kept out and 
allowed to dry off for a second plautmg. I 
planted in this way last year with such marked 
suocess that I am led to try it again, and iu ex¬ 
actly the same way. In the hope that it may 
lead some other reader of tbe Rural to try the 
experiment, I will give in detail how, as " Uncle 
Archie,” my old oolored gardener, says I make 
my garden patches do double duty both summer 
and wiuter. 
First: the ground is covered with a good coat 
of manure from the compost heap; then it is 
deeply spaded and pulverized ; laid off in rows 
three feet apart, and, at least, six inohes deep. 
In the bottom of these furiows I plant tbe Bmall- 
sized potatoes, without cutting, Bay about four 
to six inches iu the drill. These I cover by run¬ 
ning the “plow-hoe,” my most indispensable 
garden tool, on each side of tho drill, covering 
the potatoes up to a level with the surface and 
leaving a shallow opening, or light drill, imme¬ 
diately over the potatoes. Next, I fill this shal¬ 
low drill with “Dwarf German Black Wax 
Beans,” covering them with the rake, and then 
patting down the dirt so as to “firm it,” as the 
gardeners say, and the work is done, leaving 
two crops planted in the same drill, one about 
four inches above the other. 
Now, will the two crops grow off and mature, 
each as well as if planted alone ? I say they 
will, and think I oaa prove it by tbe first of Oc¬ 
tober, when I expect to have all the bean haulm 
pulled up and thrown on the manure heap, and 
a flno crop of young potatoes in good growing- 
condition. I will state, as a reason for this 
practice, that the Wax Bean comes up readily 
and grows off, maturing in eight weeks with me. 
It is tropical in growth, delighting in hot sum¬ 
mer weather, grows shallow in the ground, 
with comparatively few roots, and will not inter¬ 
fere with the potatoes. The potatoes, being 
planted whole, will not sprout bo readily, and, 
being deep in the soil, will remain sound until 
the rains in the latter part of August, and the 
approaching cool weather will cause them to 
come up about the time tbe beans are in full 
bearing, then if the beans are so thiok as to in¬ 
terfere with the potatoes coming up, just pick 
and market them and pull out the bunches, aud 
give the potatoes a good working over, and all 
will go on well with thembut if they dou’t 
come until the September rains, all the better— 
they will then be able to stand the frost iu six 
weeks, aud that never comes until the 10th of 
November, after whioh dig and store away the 
potatoes. 
I had fine suocess with both the beans and 
potatoes Jast year, and hope to have the like this, 
I take two chances of getting a orop on the ground 
and can, at any time, removo the beaus if in the 
way of the potatoes; if not sure of a good crop 
of both. The potatoes might be planted later, 
but with me they keep better in the ground than 
out after they are dried off, aud the labor of 
Or, Farming at a Disadvantage. 
The other day I met a gentleman who is such 
a.complete example of a certain olass in the 
South, that I must give you a sketch of him, 
for preservation as a typical specimen. 
Sam Capel’s father was a large slave-owner 
and had. besides, two farms of considerable 
proportions. Sam was brought up to expect 
riches, and to forestall any personal exertion he 
might be disposed to make, be bad negro boys 
always at bis beck and call, to amuse him, to 
wait upon him, aDd to talk to him. Tte war 
ruined Sun's expectations; for, not only were 
the slaves set free, but his father’s land had to 
be sold for security debts. Now Sam’s only 
accomplishment, in an agricultural point of view, 
lay in bis ability to “ get work out of the dark¬ 
eys.” To do this he had only to ride round and 
talk to them, for they were very fond of their 
generous, good-natured, young master. Thrown 
upon bis own resources, Sam rented land and 
hired hinds to work it, but this plan resulted 
badly, bringing him out behind eveiy year. As 
fast as he built up in one way he would lose 
ground in another, and this notwithstanding 
that he had become the happy possessor of an 
intelligent, helpful little wife, who economized 
judiciously and mangedhis housekeeping to the 
best advantuge. The poor fellow finally de¬ 
cided to take Horace Greeley's advice, and 
“ go West.” 
To bear him tell bis tribulations sinoe he 
came out here, is pitiful and funny too. “ I 
spent fifteen dollars last winter,” says he, “to 
get my wheat plowed in and now won’t make 
enough for a barrel of flour. The wretched 
crop took the rust 1 I had tbe most serious time 
getting “ hands” this year I ever had ; picked 
np a red-headed vagrant hailing from Missouri, 
aud kept him a fortnight, didn’t get two good 
days’ work out of him. He would lie down in 
a furrow and let his horse aud plow stand for 
hours at a time. My next make-shift was a 
man who talked and walked so fast that I con¬ 
cluded he must be a tip-top worker, but he soon 
proved a “ perfect stick,” and a nuisance for 
his unreasonable demands aud impertinence;_ 
would get out to bis work about nine o’olock in 
the fresh spring morniugs, take out at eleven, 
and not go back till three. 
‘ Why, Mr. Sam, I’m astonished that you 
should have kept such a fellow !’ 
“ Well, you Bee, I was afraid I’d have his orop 
on my bauds, and I’m too stout to work long in 
the hot sun, I got rid of him at last, and by 
dint of extra managing got his crop cleaned, 
had a fair prospect for a good orop of corn and 
cotton, when—what do you think happened ?— 
Why a nogro that I had “ picked up” to do a few 
days’ hoeing, came back in the night and stole 
my best horse out of my stable, bridle, saddle, 
aud even saddle-blanket.” 
I never heard of such a oonntry as this for 
horse thieves. Tlioir general plan is to take 
the stolen horse to the city, lie out with him a 
few (lays, till the excitement of his loss subsides, 
then sell him, and run off with the money. 
Happy husbandman indeed, mourning dog- 
slaughtered sheep, cholera-killed hogs, rust- 
eaten crops, and mysterious disappearance of 
horses, with such fancy touohos as “ billious 
spells' “chills” aud “typhoid malarial” to 
serve as mile-posts along his route. 
A word of advice iu your ear, friend Sam: 
plant a smaller acreage, hire less help, don’t eat 
so much hog meat, and take a hand yourself 
every day; maybe then your luck will turn. 
Mbs. Y. D. Covington. 
Be Soto Co., Miss. 
The cereals, especially wheat and oats, are 
grown in great quantities, with almost no prepar¬ 
ation of the soil whatever. Corn is planted very 
often without previous breaking or preparation 
of tbe land after tbe previous crop, and pretty 
fair returns are withal produced. Although 
orchards, consisting largely of seedlings of acci¬ 
dental or spontaneous growth, like all other 
things, receive but little or no attention in re¬ 
gard to pruning or cultivation, yet tnr land 
abounds in fruit, much of which ia equal, or 
even superior in quality, to that grown in the 
Old States. 
I do not desire, however, to be understood as 
saying that we have no good farmers, gardeners 
and stock-raisers, or fine orchards and nurseries 
of the ohoiceBt selections of all kind of fruits 
Buited to our climate. Our finest Apples, and 
some of our finest Peaches are native seedlings. 
Or Apples, the Shannon, the Stevenson Tippin, 
the Red Reserve, the Red Banana, the Peerless, 
the Arkansas Queen and some others, are all 
choice early and late winter fruit. Tho Shan¬ 
non, which I am very certain ia an Arkansas 
seedling, I find confounded with the Ohio Pip- 
pin, by Doctor W arder, in his able work on 
pomology. The fruits of the two varieties, 
when compared by sight alone, resemble each 
other very closely ; but try them by the palate, 
and the difference is uot hard to distinguish. 
With regard to the Shannon apple, it is the ex¬ 
pressed opinion of every one that I have yet 
seen and conversed with who had eaten it in 
its prime, that it has few if any equals, and 
no superiors in the world. Its iarge size, its 
oboonio form, its rich, golden color, together 
with its creamy pulp, its high flavor and spright¬ 
ly juice oan hardly be surpassed by any one ap¬ 
ple in America. I have promised Mr. Charles 
Downing, of Newburgh, N. Y , to Bend him some 
speoi <ien Shannon and other Arkansas seed¬ 
lings, and shall bo very much disappointed if he 
does not report favorably of them. 
Myself and others forwarded a few barrels of 
our fine apples to the Centennial; among them 
the Shannon aud Stevenson Pippin, our finest 
varieties. But, unfortunately for us, they reached 
there in bad order, and were not, of oourBe, cal¬ 
culated to attract attention. Very nearly all of 
western Arkansas is a broken, rolling, billy 
country, and none of it is too poor to produce 
choice AppleB, Pears, Peaches, Grapes, Plums, 
Cherries, etc. Aud yet it is absolutely necessary 
to plant certain varieties of each and every kind 
of fruit trees, if success is obtained. 
Richard Thurston. 
Northumberland Co., Ontario, July 4 . 
Seeing accounts of the crops from all parts of 
the States, I thought I would give you some from 
Canada. Fall wheat is looking splendid and be¬ 
ginning to color. Clawson is looking the best. 
All varieties have rusted somewhat. Of spring 
wheat, the greatest amount I have ever known 
has been sown. It has been injured some by 
the fly but is generally good. Of barley 50 per 
cent lesB has been sown ; injured some by frost, 
but Btill a fair crop. Hay is good, potatoes 
looking well, but the bug crop is looking better 
than I have ever seen it. Potatoes will be 
destroyed if not attended to. We have had 
very hot weather for the last week, the ther¬ 
mometer ranging from 80 to 90 in the shade to 120 
in the sun. We have several varieties of spring 
wheat 80 wu. Pringle’B Defiance looking splen- 
James Ford. 
Pitcher, Chen. Co., N. Y., July 7th, 1878. 
The weather here is dry and warm. On July 
3d we had a very peculiar shower. Two miles 
north of us, they had the heaviest shower of the 
season. Clouds stood nearly still, and poured 
for nearly three hours. It rained & little hero, 
while a short distance south, tho sky was clear. 
The warm weather of late has changed the size 
and oomplexion of corn very much. Potato bugs 
are extremely plentiful, and tbe warmer the 
weather the better their appetite. l. w. s. 
RURAL SPECIAL REPORTS. 
Crawford Co., Ark., July 3d, 1878. 
We of the Wjst, are not a reading people. 
Fann work is poorly done, as a general rule, 
while our plows and all farming implements are 
of inferior quality; horticulture is much neg¬ 
lected, and what there is of it, is done in a sloven¬ 
ly manner. Had we not the most genial climate 
and a highly productive soil, with good water, 
fine timber, aud broad ranges for stock, our 
people could not afford to negleot their farms, 
their gardeus and orchards, as they now do. 
The lazy man is fortunate that finds his way into 
western Arkansas, and it would Beem that many 
a one has struck the lucky path that has led to 
this laud of easy plenty. Literally speaking, this 
is the easiest country for a poor man to livo in 
while indulging his lazy habits, that exists in 
America. For, notwithstanding all her draw¬ 
backs, our country abounds in the greatest 
abundance of food, with an immense oheap sur¬ 
plus. 
Higganum, conn., July 9. 
It has been very warm and dry up to the 4th, 
when we had a splendid rain; we had another 
heavy shower to-day. Rye and oats are looking 
well and promise a heavy yield. We have a fine 
crop of hay. Farmers in this section cut their 
grass very late. We will have a fair orop of 
apples, but not as good as two years ago. 
l. o. M. 
Rural Grounds, July 13 , 
Fob these grounds we are having too much 
rain, though in sandier soil, a mile distant, the 
weather is just what ia needed. We have just 
completed setting out Celery plants and late 
Cabbages. 
Botanic Garden, Cambridge, mass., July 8, ’78. 
We are having very warm and dry weather. 
Maximum temperature, 92° to 97 < > in the shade. 
Grass and shallow-rooting plants are suffering 
badly. Strawberries are about used up. w. i\ 
Pasadena Co., Cal., June 26. 
We are Laving very fine weather now. Barley 
orop below average; cora looks splendid; will 
have a good orop of peaches, apricots, nectarines, 
and apples & c . P. \y. Hollingsworth. 
