seed : Sow broadcast as above (Clay Pea) 
mountain Crowder, or Blackeye ; or, better 
still, drill thinly in rows three feet apart, one 
or two workings will suffice. When the pods 
begin to ripen well (if small patch, pick by 
baud) cut as above, and when vines are dry, 
throw them on a loose door of rails and thia>h 
out with flails—then clean by fanning. 
Peas can be sown broadcast in the corn at 
the last working, or when tho corn is plauted 
they can bo dropped between too hills (in the 
corn rows) or in a. furrow eqwi-distant from 
the corn row?. Can lie gathered k by hands. 
The ‘‘chaps" —boys and girls—are generally 
eruploi ed for this purpose. Usually enough 
are saved foi seed, and the hogs and cattle are 
turned on the remainder after the corn is har¬ 
vested. 
Tiiepea can lie fed whole. When groundup 
info meal with equal parts of oat chop, the 
mixture makes an excellent ration for milch 
cows. The vines ere highly nutritious when 
well cured. 
MOMENTARY DEPOSITS IV PORK. 
•7 P. U., Pliny, Kans ., sends us a piece of 
the skin and adhering flesh of a young sow he 
had just killed. The piece is full of black 
specks lixe the roots of hail's, ancl our friend 
inquires to " hat these are due. 
A vs.—The black specks which seem like 
pieces of black hair, are deposits of black pig¬ 
ment granules in variously shaped masses. 
1 nder a microscope o' high power which was 
used to examine the specimen sent, these gran¬ 
ules are distinctly seen iu masses, and in 
places where they are not risible to the eve 
excepting as they give a sort of smutty tinge 
to the f.it. This is not by any means an ex¬ 
traordinary occurrence. The dark color of 
the skin of a negro is caused by a deposit of 
these pigmentary granules in the epidermis, 
and in all black-haired animals and also in 
black horns this pigment is abundant, being 
the source of the color of the hair and born. 
An interesting instance of the deposit of these 
pigment granules may ho found iu examining 
the eye of mi animal. T f this is boiled so as to 
coagulate and solidify the crystalline lens, and 
is then cut through the center, the iris w ill be 
found beautifully marked with these cells, 
which appear as very fine powder or minute 
granules. So the black skin of n. Berkshire or 
Essex pig Is colored by a. deposit of these pig¬ 
mentary granules in tho outer cuticle, while 
the inner one, or dermis, or true skin, has non 3 
excepting a few abnormally placed just as in 
•■be case under notice. We should say that 
the specimen is from a black pig, and the de¬ 
posit referred to is an abnormal secretion of 
pigment granules iu the fat close to the skin, 
perhaps so caused by their excessive supply, 
which was greater than the hair could take 
up. 
RUTTER I‘EL NTH. 
.17 B. P., Henderson, X. asks where can 
he get some nice butter prints—not high- 
priced, but suitable for a small farm dairy. 
A vs.—There is a variety of butter prints 
made and kept for sale at the wooden ware 
and dairy furnishing stores. They are made 
of all sixes, from one ounce to one pound. 
There arc also presses and molds made for this 
purpose, but these are costly. The common 
prints cost from 15 cents upwards. It is easy 
to make a handsome square print without ex¬ 
pending ono dollar, in the following manner: 
Take a piece of hard maple or birch plank 
three inches thick, and cut it nine by five 
inches. U it out an opening in this piece of 
plank five by three inches. This makes a frame 
having a central cavity, or box without a 
bottom, five inches long by three wide. A 
smooth piece of plank is cut larger than tho 
frame and smoothed on the surface. A piece 
of plank is made to fit the cavity, and the 
surface of this may be cut w ith ail angular 
gouge into grooves crossing each other at an 
oblique angle, and a line is also cut directly 
across the middle, dividing it into two equal 
halves. This is the mold for pressing the 
cake of blitter and ornamenting the top. Any 
device that may be desired may bo cut into 
this block or mold. Tho mold, frame and 
plank when used are steeped in cold water; 
the frame is laid on the plank: the cavity is 
tilled with butter winch is pressed down with 
a rammer, taking cure that the corners arc 
filled (it is well to have the corners rounded). 
Tho mold is then placed on the butter and is 
pressed down w ith force enough to stamp the 
device on t he butter. Tho mold will adhere 
to tho butter, and the whole may be reversed, 
when the frame being pressed down, the cake 
of butter is pushed out of it, and can be lifted 
off and set or n plate or dish 
RATIONS FOR STOCK. 
C. F. TP., West Charleston, 17,, makes 
butter for the Boston market from the milk 
of 20 cows, and, besides, he has oxen, work 
horses, and young stock. Hoy, mostly Tim¬ 
othy, is there worth >-10 per ton, with a pros¬ 
pect that it will be scarce. Cotton -seed meal and 
corn meal are, each, worth $S2 per ton ; coarse 
Spring wheat brau is worth $2','.00 per ton, and 
ottr trieud asks how from those feeds to com¬ 
pound a ration that would prove the most 
pi (»fitable for Ins stock. Re has also early cut 
hay—a mixture of Timothy, Red-top, and 
Red aiul White Clover—and he inquires how 
much of each would it be well to feed w ith the 
hay. He has a limited amount of buckwheat 
bran and swedes—could these be used in pre¬ 
paring the ration, and would it pay to add 
line middlings, at £27 per ton, to any of the 
feed mentioned : 
Ans. —The fine middlings would be better 
lor use than the wheat bran. To use these 
foods with the most economy, we would sug¬ 
gest that, the straw and hay be cut and used 
in equal portions, then moistened, and three 
or four quarts of tho feed, mixed as follows, 
added to it: 5 lbs. of the cut hay and straw 
would make a ration for one feed. The mix¬ 
ture for the feed should he as follows : 100 lb». 
middlings, 200 lbs. of corn meal, and 100 lbs. 
of cotton seed meal. One ton of straw with 
400 lbs. of this mixed feed, would be worth 
more than a ton of bay. A peck or less of 
swede turnips might be given for a noon feed. 
ALFALFA, ETC. 
L. P., San Marcos, Texas, asks 1, where can 
he get seeds of Alfalfa, and what is the best 
time for planting it in that place; 2, how to 
prepare -whitewash that will be reasonably 
durable for outbuildings, 
Avs.— I The seed of Alfalfa can be procured 
best, of 6 OUI 0 seedsman in California, as the 
kind grown there came originally from Chili, 
and has probably undergone some degree of 
acclimatization which may make it better 
adapted to your locality than the Lucerne 
which is grown in the Northern States. Alfalfa 
is the Spanish name of Lucerne. Lucerne seed 
can lie procured of any of the seedsmen whose 
names are found in our advertising columns. 
2. Common lime wash may bo made very dur 
able and water-proof by thinning the slaked 
lime to 1 he proper consistence or fluidity by 
adding skimmed milk. It may also be made 
more durable by cutting up a pound of com. 
mou hard soap into each five gallons of the best 
lime, and then thinning it down with hot 
water aud applying it hot. It is cheaper and 
more economical to give a fresh coat every 
Spring than to fuss with any of tho compli¬ 
cated mixtures of boiled ric», glue, etc., etc., 
which, after ali, soon begins to disappear and 
flake olf. The soup mixture is the simplest 
and easiest when one has not plenty of sweet* 
skimmed milk. 
SOIL FOR ALFALFA. 
V, .7 Lowell , A’, y., asks, 1, the name of 
some nurseryman who can furnish Black Wal¬ 
nut trees a year old ; 2, ou what kind of land 
does Alfalfa thrive best. 
Ans, Ellwanger and Barry, Rochester, N. A'. 
2, Alfalfa requires a thoroughly mellowed and 
cleanly cultivated soil, with a permeable sub¬ 
soil consisting of loam, sand or gravel, as its 
roots penetrate very deeply, having been 
traced to a depth of thirteen feet or more. 
The want, of a properly prepared soil has often 
led to a partial failure of Alfalfa; it never sue. 
reeds on thin soils, and languishes in a com¬ 
pact clay soil, while it refuses to flourish ou 
light soils lying over impermeable subsoils 
that hold the water and prevent the down¬ 
ward growth of the roots. As Alfalfa is a 
perennial, always yielding heavily on suitable 
land and always poorly on unsuitable soil, it 
is highly important that it should have a 
proper location. 
We sowed Alfalfa with oats as an experi¬ 
ment last Spring on light land. The catch 
was good and many plants grew' to the height 
of a foot or more. Unless injured by the Win¬ 
ter, Alfalfa will do far better the second year. 
COAL TAR FOR FRUIT TREES, 
.7 ll, D,, Huntingdon, Pa., referring to an 
article in the Rural for Decemlier 24, in 
which an application of coal tar to the trunks 
of peach trees is recommended as a protection 
against the borer, asks whether the tar is not 
too “caustic,” and therefore very likely to 
injure the trees. If this is the case, what is 
the best fluid to mix with it to lessen its caus¬ 
tic properties—bow would a solution of soda 
ash answer.' 
Ans,—W o have hail no experience in the 
use of coul tar as advised for the peach borer 
by Air. Root, in the article referred to on page 
si»0 of last years Rural. Air. B .. however, 
speaks very confidently of its safety, as well 
as of its efficacy; but we should want to try 
it first on one or two trees that we did not 
care much about. If it should prove “ too 
caustic,” as our inquirer seems to fear, we 
should not think it, would be made less so by 
the addition of a solution of soda ash, and we 
doubt if any watery solution could be made 
to finite With coal tar. If coal tar is a safe 
application to peach or apple trees, we should 
expect it to repel the borers. But we have an 
impression that it has proved unsafe, at least, 
in some cases. 
Miscellaneous. 
K. S. Ephralh, X. V., asks, 1, what variety 
of potato is most profitable, quality to be pri¬ 
marily considered—ha wants no more Early 
Rose; 2, what kind of corn is most profitable 
to raise for feeding stock in Winter: 3, how 
docs it. yield best—in drills or hills. 
Ans.— Wo know of no better early potato 
than Beauty of Hebron. For medium eariy 
the T\ hito Star is promising. The Eariy 
Ohio does well in some places. It is one of 
the very earliest in a sandy soil. < !b rk’s No. 
1 is also promising as an early kind—espe¬ 
cially in light 6oil. Early Vermont sod Ear¬ 
ly Snowflake may be tried. Mammoth Pearl 
and Magnum Bonura are good intermediate 
kinds. We may also commend for trial Sr.. 
Patrick. Pride of America, Duntuore. For 
names of dealers send for catalogues noticed 
in the Rural, 2. The Rural Thoroughbred 
Hint will be found for your climate o£ great 
value. 4\ ould recommend you to try Blount’s 
While Prolific if you can get the pure seed. 
Dr. E. Lewis Sturtovnnt’s Waushakum (yel¬ 
low flint) corn has produced good yields. 
We think in drills. 
A. H. B,, address mislaid, has a Short horn 
bull, nearly two years old, one of whose testi¬ 
cles is nearly double the size of the other ; he 
is always ready to do service, and our friend 
inquires whether this inequality in the size of 
the generative organs is likely to injure him 
8-s a sure calf getter. 
Ans. —A male breeding animal is not neces¬ 
sarily incapacitated for service fey an abnor¬ 
mal difference iu the size of the reproductive 
organs. One organ may in fact be wanting 
and yet the animal may not be disabled in the 
least. This is frequently observed to be the 
cas ? with horses in which one of the testicles 
may be beyond reach of the operator and has 
n .t been removed. If your bull isetfective in 
service, any abnormal structure of the organs 
in any pirt is of no consequence and may be 
wholly ignored. 
R. H. II., Clinton, Bus., asks if the artificial 
ear drums advertised by a New York City 
concern are what is represented in the adver¬ 
tisement. 
Ans. —We do not know these ear drums, nor 
do we know what is said of them in the partic¬ 
ular advertisement our friend has seen In 
cases of this sort the advertisement should be 
forwarded to us with the question relating to 
it, for we really do not deserve the implied 
compliment that we know everything. We 
have very little faith in the use of eardrums 
of any sort for those who are deaf enough to 
really need “ helps to bear.” While we have 
known of a few instances in which partially 
deaf pe >pla have professed to be aided by 
them, the general verdict appears to be 
“Humbug—no good.” Hence we have de¬ 
clined to advertise them. 
F. F. G., Alton. HI., asks which variety of 
new late potatoes is best for a field crop. 
ANS. —We cannot say which is best. That 
depends upon soil and climate. Henderson's 
St. Patrick, Ttaorburn’s Late Rose, J. H. 
Gregory's Dunmore, American Alaguum Bo- 
num, Belle, Mammoth Pearl, Vick's Prize, and 
Late Beaut y of Hebron are good W« have 
tried them all except Vick’s Prize. We do 
not mention the White Elephant, us all our 
readers know as to its merits. Now that its 
reputation is founded on thousands of trials, 
the White Elephant is no more to us than any 
other kind, beyond the interest one naturally 
feels iu the success of a good variety wLich he 
has disseminated. Other questions will be an¬ 
swered in due time. 
0, W. A"., Chrstertown, Md., ask?, I, what 
kind of flint or other corn would be likely to 
do better there than the sorts now commonly 
sown; 2, information about the Rural Free 
Seed Distribution. 
Ans.— 1. Among flints, Lax&waxen, Long¬ 
fellow, and Comptons are good kinds. AVe 
should advise you (for your section) to try 
the Chester Co. Mammoth (yellow dent) and 
Blount’s White Prolific (white dent). The two 
latter on good soil will average over 10 feet in 
hight and space accordingly must be given 
them. Bee reports from Rural Farm. Try 
the specimens of our present Free Seed Distri¬ 
bution. 2. See editorial page of last issue. 
.7 It , Union. X. U., asks which of the fol¬ 
lowing manures would be cheapest at the 
prices stated:—Hen manure at 12 V cents per 
bushel , horse, ditto, at £1 per two-horse load; 
tannery fleshings—hair, tnu ashes ai d ‘ill com 
posted three months—at $1 per two horse load. 
The manures are to be haul jd seven mil A- oy 
team. 
Ans.—A ll of these manures are cheap at 
the prices mentioned, and might very profita¬ 
bly and usefully bo mixed together in a heap 
or composted. The whole together would 
make a very valuable and rich manure, in 
which every desirable element would be found. 
The mixture would bo cheaper than any of 
the fertilizers at £fi0 per ton. 
IT. D. IV' , Chant. Co, X. lb, asks how to 
make a fence of wire by fastening it, to young 
maple trees. 1<> feet apart, without injury'to 
tho trees. 
Ans,— All tbs': is necessary is to stretch the 
wires and fasten them to the trees by means 
of the usual staples. In course of time the 
bark wili grow over the staples and wires aie • 
these will become imbedded in the trees. If 
this is objected to (though we do riot see why 
it should he), the staples would have to bo 
drawn and replaced every two or three yesire 
l here ould be no injury to the trees. 
H . P., A e> * 'ho, Mo,. asks, 1, where the Japan 
Chestuut ran bo had, and at what price; .. 
what istlie difference between Branching Sor 
ghum and Branching Dour*: :i, is the Cham 
pion qiuinee reliable 
Axs.—1. See other answers. 2. Dcuia 
(spelled many ways) i« a familiar name of eer 
tain kinds of sorghum. FGfore purchasing 
seeds of " Branching Sorghum,” or Dours, 
we should want to kno" whether it istlie same 
as that now called Rural Branching Sorghum 
3. It is a good quince, hut rather late in ripen 
mg at the Rural Ex. Grounds. 
A. B , G'airton,Mich., asks, 1, where ho can 
get fig trees; 2 .where those mentioned by Mr. 
Bailey in the Rural of January 7; 3, how to 
tike fare of the plants in Winter; 4. where* 
can he get a few of the Japan Chestnuts fm 
planting. 
Ans.— 1. Of Ellwanger <7 Barry, Rochester. 
N. A . 2. Wilt Mr. Bailey please answer : 
1 hey must be wintered under cover—say in 
the cellar. ) See “Ruraltsms” in this issue. 
IT. P. A’, Blaine. Fans , asks, 1 . wketho- 
thc Rural New-Yorker of to day is the 
same as Moore's Rural New-Yorker, published 
in Rochester. N.Y., before “ The War ” 2, is 
there another name for the Japan Quince 
spoken cf in our last “ Tree aud Shrub Num 
her.” He can’t find the tree in any catalogue 
under that name, 
Ans.— 1, Yes. 2. In catalogues look for 
Pyrus orCydonia Japonica. 
W. A. Me)., Fredericksburg, Va., asks 
which are the best deep-red and yellow Per¬ 
petual Roses for garden cult urn. 
Ans. —Dark: Chesbuni Hybrid, Duchess of 
Edinburg, Aline Sisley. Yellow: Bello Lyon 
naise, Isabella Sprunfc, Jean Fernet, Mad. 
Emilio Pupil}', Marie Van Houtte. 
FT. If. P.., Lexington, Ky., asks for a remedy 
for black knot on plum trees. It is killing all 
the trees thereabouts. 
A ns. —The onlywemedy we know of is to cut 
and burn the excrescences just as soon as thev 
appear. Wash the wounds with carbolic acid. 
sulphur and lime. 
T. S. L., Smith,field, l a., asks. 1, wkat will 
enough Bermuda Grass cuttings to set toi 
acres cost; 2. is there any seed drill that will 
plant peanuts without bruising them. 
Ans.— 1. Inquire of P. .T. Berckmaus. Au 
gusta, Ga. 2. Can any of our readers an 
swer ? 
M. L, W., Woodstock, T'a., asks what sort 
of corn sheller is best and most satisfactory 
Ans.— Address a postal card for circulars 
to Sandwich Mfg. Co., Sandwich, TIL, or to 
Treman. Waterman & Co., Ithaca, N. Y. 
“ASubscriber," Bowling Green, Ky., asks, 
where can he obtain Japan Chestnuts. 
Ans.— We think Storrs, Harrison & Co., of 
Painesville, Ohio, can furnish them. Also 
Parsons & Sons Co., Flushing, N. Y 
J. D., Sloansville, X, 17, asks where can he 
get Champlain and Defiance Wheats. 
Ant. —B. IC. Bliss & Sons, 34 Barclay Street. 
New York City, is headquarters for both. 
They are Spring varieties. 
Mrs, S .—We have none of the seeds of last 
year’s distribution. We hope you will trv 
our Winter wheats the same as if they were 
Spring kinds. 
L, S, It., Met amor o, HI., asks where can he 
find the Japan Chestnut for sale. 
Ans.—S ee other answers for this week. 
Pat,, Charlmont: Va , asks what variety of 
grape will make raisins; will it grow In Yir 
ginia, and how should it be treated. 
IP, G. Pattoyi, Tye.zev.ant,\Te,nn.,a&ks where 
can he get Narragansett turkeys. 
Communications Received for the Week Endtn s 
Saturday, Feb. II, 
x. f- o.-g. h. k-n. r. m.-n. o.-g. w.-f g.-n 
G.-A- St a. St. S.-M. B. J.—J. K. —J. S. C.-.B. C.-F 
A. 8.—J. W. VanVV.—J. E.-C. EL—W, SV.-O. B. D.- 
J W_U. w l „ thanks.—J. SI. O.-TI. S.-H.3. V. S. 
than**;. -\. U. II.—j. G. \v.-l l -P. G. si. 
J. P..T.-U. C.-V. :.\- Wm. W.-G. W. O— L.E.CK -1 
SL—Srrs. R. R. F. A. B.— J. B.—RS. N.—W J. SI.—11 
SI. S-F.H.-N. P.-F.CV. S.—E. J. C.-L. R-J. O. 
J. B. .T.-A. St. F.-W. SK‘C.-I>. B.-G. F. F.-J. L. L - 
T. C., thauks.-W. F. U- O. S. C.-L. 3L-I. B. W. Is. 
C. P.-A..K. SV..T. S R. P G.~ H T -V* \. Q.-R. L.G 
