HOV. 2 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
688 
consequently we can make no other use of the 
surplus over the small amount required for next 
yoar’8 planting. Fruit-growers are preparing to 
plant more Peaches ; the fair crops and good 
priees of the two last seasons have encouraged , 
them. The Early Beatrice seems to be the 
moat popular sort just now, though aomo con¬ 
demn it for the tmall size of the fruit. Alexan¬ 
der is preferred by some, but has not been suffi¬ 
ciently disseminated as yet, to allow of a compe¬ 
tent decision aa to its merits for this local¬ 
ity. W. B. P. 
Bellefontaine, Logan Co,, Ohio, Oct. 18. 
This has been a remarkably productive year in 
this section of the Slate, and truly (he farmer 
lias no just reason for complaint; for he has 
been amply paid for his labors, notwithstanding 
the low price of produce. 
Wo have not had such a yield of wheat within 
my recollection Very little of the crop is below 
20 bushels to the acre, and some of it is as high 
as 45 bushels per acre. CLrn, which is now 
being gathered, is heavy, and of a good quality. 
The yield of oats is good; perhaps the only crop 
that has falleu below an average is potatoes. 
The apple crop is enormous, aud the price real¬ 
ized per bushel scarcely pays for gathering 
and marketing. Plums, pears, poaches and all 
small fruits are good. 
A large crop of wheat has been sown, and the 
timely rains and warm weather are giving it a 
a good start for the winter. 
Stock is doiug well, and will go into winter- 
quarters in good condition. Our pastures are 
good, as there has not been frost enough to 
check or stop growth. A few more weeks of 
good weather and our fall work will be done, and 
then we shall want about “ two Bubals a week." 
o. A. H. 
Bewdlet, Northumberland Co., Canada, Oct 19. 
On the 4th of July our crops had a Bplendid 
appearance, but two weeks before harvest the 
prospect changed. The spring wheat will not, I 
think, average, in this township, over eight 
bushels per aore. Pall wheat is very good ; that 
iB, Clawson and Silver Chaff; Soule's is badly 
shrunk. Barley is a fair crop; oats, good; 
peas, fair ; potatoes, none where the bugs wore 
allowed to take them; whore they were attended 
to, they are a fair crop ; they are worth 60 cts. 
per bushel, and will be scarce. Hay is plenti¬ 
ful ; of clover a great quantity has been left for 
seed; hut it will not yield one-third of a crop, 
and that of poor quality. I sowed one pouud of 
Pringle's Defiance wheat last spring, and I have 
fifty pounds from it, though I had considerable 
oss in harvesting it. It grows strong straw aud 
large ears, but it has shrunk. j. f. * 
Humboldt, Tenn., Oct. 19, 78. 
This morning wo have the first killiug froBt, 
and a little ice. Them. 31°. Thank God, we 
now feel safe, and a new lease for life. A strict 
quarantine has doubtloss protected our town 
from yellow foyer an d its awful ravages. From 
Memphis to Paris on tho Louisville Ii It., through 
West Tennessee, very few towns or stations have 
escaped entirely. Browusvillo has been very 
badly afflicted. Tho weather is favorable for 
plowing and gathering crops—only a fair aver¬ 
age with us. No late fruits, winter apples bear 
a good price. Oct. 20, another splendid frost. 
E. F- T. 
Sunshine, Boulder Co., Col., Oct. 15. 
We have a Cherry here, a native of the moun¬ 
tains, that is worth cultivating. We also have 
three or four varieties of Currants and red 
Raspberries hut I do not think they are worth 
cultivation. Tho currants aro large but they 
have an unpleasant flavor; the raspberries are 
fine but tho viuos will not boar cultivation here 
though they might do so East. Tho J uno or 
Serviceborry grows here, bat it is a more shrub, 
often not more thau from one to throe feet high ; 
but the berries are far superior to any I have 
ever seen in the East. a. c. s. 
Mendon, SC Joseph’s Co., Mich., Oct. 20. 
We have hereabouts a good 6oil devoted to a 
great variety of produots. Tho past season 
wheat and oats yielded largely. Corn is a me¬ 
dium crop. Beans, of winch a great quantity is 
raised here, wore a fair crop. They are worth 
$1 per bushel; wheat, 75c. to 30c.; corn, 35c.; 
oats, 23c.; Irish potatoes, 40c.; sweet potatoes, 
$1; hogs, $2.50 ; farm labor, 75o. per day. 
Q. A. A. 
Newport, Vt„ Oct. 21. 
Oub crops have been good in Vermont, except 
potatoes, and wo have had a good season for 
getting them in. Pricos are low for everything 
except potatoes which are now bringing 65c. per 
buBhel, with a prospect of a oousidei able advance. 
Already our local papers are beggiug tho far¬ 
mers to keep back at least enough for home 
consumption. t. h. u. 
Roanoke, Huntingdon Co., lnd., Oct. 22. 
Our crops hereabouts are light. Wheat 
yields from 12 to 15 bushels per acre; corn 25 
bushels; clover seed 14 bushel per aore. 
Priees we good. Farmers are all feeding hogs 
for November market. p. h. s. 
Blowing Rock, Watauga Co., N. C., Oct. 19. 
Last night we had a slight fall of snow, and 
this morning the air is crisp and cold, while the 
snow contrasts strangely with the green, yellow 
and brown shades of the autumnal foliage, for 
the trees have not yet shed their leaves. 
J. A. B. 
New Market, Shenandoah Co., Va., Oct. 22. 
Weather fine for seeding. Farmers have 
nearly all finished sowing hereabouts. Wheat { 
90c.; oorn, 50c.; butter,'15c. p. s. w. 
Racine, Wls., Oct. 22 . 
We had quite a severe storm this morning, 
and it has grown quite cold. c. l. h. 
WInona, Minn., Oct. 19,1S78. 
Crops hereabouts are poor this year. 
p. A. B. 
diic (fiuxist. 
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
About Bones.—1. Relative Value of Nitrogen and 
Phosphoric Ad/I in Superphosphates. 2 Ground 
Bone and Farmyard Manure —3. The Organic 
and Inorgan ic Materials Of Bones— 4. Manner 
of Manufacturing Superphosphate. 
E. R. Walmsley, Flint Co., Mich.., 9ays:--l. 
What is the money value of the nitrogen and 
phosphoric acid in superphosphate, and what is 
their relative fertilizing value ? 2. What is the 
comparative value, as fertilizers, of ground 
bone and farm-yard manure ? 3. As tones con¬ 
tain organio and inorganic materials, is there 
any easy way of obtaining these separately-, 
and, if so, what ? and what is the function of 
each of these constituents ? 4. Give some idea 
of how Superphosphate is made at the fac¬ 
tories. 
An 8.—1. There is only from two to four per 
cent, of nitrogen in raw-hone superphosphate— 
little cr none when the article is made of burnt 
or steamed bones, and none at all in mineral 
superphosphate. The nitrogen in the superphos¬ 
phate is worth 20 cents a pound, so that in every 
100 pounds of raw-bone superphosphate there 
is from 40 to 80 cents’ worth of nitrogen. 
The amount of phosphoric acid in superphos¬ 
phate varies, but a good article should contain 
at least from 15 to 18 per cent., and some manu¬ 
facturers guarantee as muoh as 20 per cent. 
The acid in that combination is worth 12,4 cents 
a pound, so that in a hundred pounds ol the 
superphosphate averaging 20 per oent. of 
phosphoric acid, $2.50 worth of that article is 
contained, and $1.67.4 cents' worth in 100 
pounds of superphosphate averaging only 15 per 
cent, of phosphoric acid. The comparative fer¬ 
tilizing value of nitrogen and phosphoric acid 
depends upou the amount of each in the soil and 
the kind of crops to which they are to be ap¬ 
plied-nitrogenous manures being of a forcing 
nature, and phosphate manures being grain- or 
Beed-forming. 
2. According to tho experience of good farm¬ 
ers in England, where bone-dust has been much 
more extensively used than here, and where ils 
effects have been more carefully noted, the total 
action of a owt. of finely pulverized bones is 
estimated to he equivalent to that of from 25 to 
30 cwt. of barn-yard manure. Bone-dust re¬ 
sembles, iu its chief constituents, the solid ex¬ 
crements of animals as well as straw, differing 
from them chiefly by being muoh richer in the 
more valuable parts of manure, as will be seen 
by the following comparison, taken from a high 
English authority:— 
Constituents. 
1000 lbs. of 
bone 
dust. 
1000 Iba of fresh 
cow or horse 
duntr. 
1000 lbs 
of 
I straw. 
NitroRen. 
(SO 
4 
4 
Phosphoric Acid 
240 
3 
2 
Lime.. 
330 
4 
4 
Thus it will be seen, by this approximate ex¬ 
hibit, that bone-dust contains about twelve 
times more of amiuonia-formiDg or forcing sub¬ 
stances, and from 80 to 100 more grain-forming 
materials than dry straw or the solid excrements 
of animals. 
3. Yes. If a hone be steeped in diluted muri¬ 
atic or nitric acid—generally obtainable at the 
nearest drug-store—the inorganio or earthy mat¬ 
ter is dissolved out, and the organic substance 
remains, retaining the original size and shape of 
bone, and capable of being easily bent. Then, 
again, if the bone be subjected to a strong heat, 
the organic or animal part 1 b burned out and the 
; earthy part remains, retaining its form, bnt 
| ready to crumble to pieces at the slightest touch. 
To the earthy part, which consists chiefly of 
phosphate aud carbonate of lime, the bone Owes 
its hardness, density, rigidness and white color; 
to the animal part, principally cartilage, or some 
form of gelatine, it owes its strength aud co¬ 
hesion. In childhood the animal matter forms 
nearly half the bone, accounting for its greater 
flexibility then, and its less liability to fracture; 
whereas in the old, the earthy matter in the 
hones amounts to about 84 per cent., which ex¬ 
plains the great brittleness of bones iu aged 
persons. 
4. The phosphatic materials, either bones or 
phof piratic minerals, are first ground to a very 
fine powder by mill-stones; the powder is then 
carried up, by meana of elevators, and discharg¬ 
ed continuously into a long iron oylinder having 
agitators revolving within it with great speed. 
A constant stream of sulphuric acid, haviDg a 
specific gravity of 1.66, enters the cylinder at 
the same time as the dry powder, and the mix¬ 
ture of the two flows oat at the other end in the 
form of thick mud, having taken from three to 
five minutes in passing through the machine. 
The quantity which such a machine can turn 
out daily is about 100 tons. The semi-fluid mass 
runs into covered pits 10 or 12 feet deep, each of 
sufficient size to hold the produce of one day’s 
work. In a few hours it becomes tolerably solid, 
but retains a high temperature for weeks or 
even months if left undisturbed. 
About Song Birds. 
Fred. Offier, Miami Co , Kansas, asks 
whether there is in this city a bird store kept 
by a party wUobb name ho gives; the names 
of some works treating of the best methods of 
raising Bong birds ; whether we know of any one 
who breeds mocking-birds or thrushes in cages ; 
a description of the nightingale, so that he could 
recognize it on Bight. 
Ans. —Wo cannot find the firm named, but 
Our Own Birds ($1.25), The American Bird 
Fancier (30o.) and Canary Birds (5He.) are books 
that deal largely with young birds. These can 
be had through this office. There is a gentle¬ 
man, we are told, in this city, who attempts to 
breed mocking-birds in cages, bat he has met 
with nothing but failure bo far. He does it in 
an amateur way, professional bird-raisers deem¬ 
ing the occupation impracticable. The night¬ 
ingale resembles somewhat some of the smaller 
thrushes in form and color as well as in the 
character of its song. It is very plainly colored ; 
the npper parts being a rich brown, with a red¬ 
dish tinge on the back and tail; below it is a 
grayish-brown with the throat and abdomen 
whitish; its length is inches ; the spread of 
wings, 104 inches with the first quill one-third 
the length of the second and the third the 
longest; the length of the bill is about 4 an 
inch. The tail is moderate, and rounded at the 
sides; the toes are very long and slender, the 
outer being longer than the inner and united at 
the base: the hind toe is long with a curved 
claw. The female is like the male in color, and 
is nearly of the same size. The males only 
sing, and like other migratory birds, never dur¬ 
ing the winter in cages, and not until after the 
spring molt. In oaptivity they are very short¬ 
lived, from being kept too warm and from im¬ 
proper food. From this, or indeed from any 
other description, it woutd be no easy task for 
our friend to recoguize a nightingale in Kan¬ 
sas ; for among the mnltitn liuous advantages 
of that State the presence of this bird cannot 
be counted; bat then in this respect it’s no 
worse off than than the rest of the U. S; inas¬ 
much as the nightingale is strictly an “Old 
Country” warbler. 
Destroying Borers. j 
R. C. K., Marietta , Ga., writes that the 
borers are killing the trees all through that part 
of the country, and asks, 1. How the pests can 
be destroyed ? 2. The price per dozen of the 
Sharpless Strawberries ? 3. Where can the seed 
1 of Alfalfa bo bought, and how much does it 
oost per bushel ? 
Ans.— 1. Offensive washes will, to some ex¬ 
tent, prevent the insects from depositing their 
eggs upon the bark. When the eggs hatch, the 
grubs bore Bmall holes in the tree which may be 
detected by the particles of wood thrown out. 
A wire may then be used to punch the peals to 
death. The wash we use consists of lime, soot, 
salt, sulphur, tobacco, etc., colored with lamp¬ 
black and red mineral paint mixed with water. 
The consistency should be that of white-wash. 
The quantity of the tobacco, salt, etc., is not 
material. 
2. Inquire of those who have advertised in 
the Rural. 8ee Strawberry number. 
3. Any prominent Beedsman. The price is 
about 30 cents per pound. 
Treatment of Raspberries. 
A. A. M., Auburn, If. Y., cultivates some red 
and orange Raspberries and has been in the 
habit of treating them to a variety of food in the 
shape of hen manure, autumn leaves, chip dirt 
from the wood-shed, ojean sawdust, Ac. Having 
a large heap of rotten apples our friend asks 
whether it would be beneficial to place them 
around the raspberry vines in the hope of stimu¬ 
lating them to A more bountiful yield by good 
treatment. 
Ans.— All the information asked by our friend 
was given in detail in our Raspberry number, 
Oct. 12. It would be better to rot the apples iu 
a compost heap before using them. Plow the 
ground deeply. Manure according to the rioh- 
ness of the soil with home manures, or if natur¬ 
ally rich, a thorough working of the soil will 
suffice. If planted this fall, cover the earth 
about the canes with fine manure. The rich¬ 
ness will find its way to the roots and stimulate 
an early, vigorous growth in the spring. Should 
the Raspberries be some of the semi-hardy Boris, 
it would be necessary to lay down the canes and 
cover them with earth or something else. 
Bermuda Grass. 
A. B. Cooper a«ks where is Bermnda-grass in¬ 
digenous ; is it so in the Bermudas, as its name 
seems to indicate, and can seed bo obtained 
from those islands ? 
Ans. —Bermuda-gross — Cynodon daotylon— 
ia indigenoua to British India, and was first 
bronght to tho Bermuda Islands in order that 
its tenacious growth might chock tho attrition 
of water which was wearing away the projecting 
mountain tops, which those islands really are. 
It was first introduced into the United States at 
St. Mary’s, Ga., and about the same time into 
Bonth Carolina. It does not seed in any part of 
the United States, or indeed outside the trop¬ 
ics, according to the best authorities. It is, 
therefore, a naturalized, not an indigenous pro¬ 
duct of tho Bermudas, as it has become in many 
parts of this country. 
Muhlenbergia Mexicans. 
James B. McKinnon, Logan Co , Ohio, asks 
for the botanical and ooinmon name of a ppecios 
of grass, a sample of which he sends us. It 
grows thickly in his orchard which he plowed in 
April and planted with corn, potatoes and other 
vegetables. 
Ans. —This grass is Muhlenbergia Mexicana. 
It has no common name, except a general one— 
Drop-seed. There are several others in this 
country. It often thrives in open woods. It is 
in no way related to Quack-grass. It is of poor 
quality, as the stems become hard, and the 
leaves and tops are very light. A little perse¬ 
vering work, especially in dry weather, we think 
will kill it, if the knd is properly dr ained. 
Cement Walks. 
E. S. M.. Mojitreal, Va., wants to get some 
idea of the coat of a cement walk; the amount 
of material required to make it, and how to use 
the cement. The grade of the walk is such that 
every rain washes the gravel off. 
Ans.— From our experience, we do not recom¬ 
mend cement walks. To do them properly the 
earth must be dug out at least two feet in depth 
and filled in with small stones. Then the 
cement should be used in the proportion of one 
part of cement to two of coarse sand. One 
barrel of cement would answer for about ten 
feet of walk three feet wide. 
Sell-Binders. 
W F. Walsh, Chippawa, Welland Co., 
Canada, asks where the self-bindiDg machine 
is made. 
Ans. —We suppose self-binding harvesters 
are referred to. If so, one is made bv the W. 
A. Wood, M. & R. Mach. Co., Hoosic Falls, N. 
Y. and another by the Johnston Harvester Co., 
Brockport, N. Y. The former uses wire; the 
latter, Btriug. 
Miscellaneous. 
77)0.8. McBride , Corunna, Mich., asks what 
would be the price of a well-matched team of 
heavy draught horses in the New York market. 
Ans. —In such a case as this, so much depends 
on the age, get, condition, appearance, temper 
and action of tho horses, that on the above data 
even an approximate estimate would be ex¬ 
tremely hazardous. The best answer we can 
give, under the circumstances, is from $300 to 
$1000 according to age, goodness and style. 
J. P. McC., Jamestown, Pa., sends specimen 
of grass the name of which he wishes to learn as 
well as its value for pastnre grass. 
Ans.—I t is Meadow Soft Grass, Velvet Grass, 
(Holcus lanatus). Cattle are not fond of it, and 
it is therefore of little value for pasture or hay. 
Except on poor, moist soils, it is not worth cul¬ 
tivating. 
L. Wilbur , La Fayetteville, N. Y., asks 
whether he could get a small Alden Fruit Dryer, 
just large enough to dry the fruit on a small 
farm. 
Ass.—The Alden Fruit Dryer is not designed 
for small operations. A dryer that would suit 
our friend’s purpose better, we think, iB made 
by the American Dryer Co., Chambersburg, Pa. 
J. M. N., Boonion, N. J., asks the best way 
to keep through the winter a collection of hen 
manure swept up from time to time from un¬ 
der the roosts. 
Ans.— See Brevities, editorial page. 
Mrs. Haynes Lord, West Brighton, Staten 
Island, asks where is the depot for the sale of 
the Cleveland Rubber Paint. 
Ass.—The^b Y. office is at 506 West St. 
P. P. M., asks the name of some periodical 
suitable for a boy just learning to read. 
Ans.— “ The Nursery.” Boston, Mass. 
J. T., Albion, IU., asks where can he get a 
set of tools for engraving wood-cuts. 
Ans.— C. E. Little, 57 Fulton St., N. Y. City. 
COMMUNICATIONS RECEIVED FOR THE WEEK ENDING 
Saturday, October 26th: 
A. L. J.—A. C.—D.—C. C„tbat Is out of our pow¬ 
er.—A. B. N.—F.D. C.—L. J. T.-J. J- T., many 
thanks.—J. W.-D. S. M.-J. W. G.-E. B. yes.— 
E. S—M. O. G.—L. A. R.—G. A.H.-J.F—S. R. M. 
welcome.—G. A. A.—B. M. P.—W. G. N.—B. F, T. 
—G. Me. G.—Fern Leaf.—R. C. K.—J. I. C.—R. W. 
F. thanRS.—V. J. E,—M. A. H.—M. O.—E. L. T.— 
j.T.—E. H.O.—A. L. J.-W. H. T.-“ Social Re¬ 
form" and others are reminded that full signa¬ 
ture is required*—H. S.—A. C.—W. J. F.—A. F. 
M.—W. R. B,—M. P —N. C.— 
