© 
202 
THE RURAL 
MARCH 25 
and flowers that have originated in and about 
Boston are referred to; the author has grown 
1,200 varieties of fruits in his own garden and 
has exhibited at one time 404 varieties of 
pears. The vicinity of Boston is divided into 
districts, as Dorchester, Roxbnry and Cam¬ 
bridge, and the notable gardens of the same, 
past and present, are individually dealt with. 
Annual Report of Commissioner of 
Agriculture for 1880. The fourth annual 
report of Commissioner LeDuc is at hand. It 
is a ponderous volume of 638 pages, comprising 
the reports of the Commissioner, the Chemist, 
the Statistician, the Entomologist, and Botan¬ 
ist. Besides these, Dr. D. E. Salmon, Dr. 
James Law, and Dr. H. J. Detmars contribute 
valuable articles on the Swine Plague; Dr. 
Chas. P. Lyman writes on Pleuro-pneumonia: 
Prof. Williams, on Bronchitis in Cattle, while 
the Foot-md-Mout.h Disease and Texas 
Cattle Fever are treated at considerable 
length. The Commissioner, after making his 
usual routine report closes, with an appeal to 
the Government for increased appropriations, 
especially for salaries of officers and clerks of 
the Department. His figures show that the 
Chemist of the Department receives less than 
do a score or more of mere clerks in other 
branches of the government. He claims that 
the salaries should be increased as an “ act of 
pure justice,’” considering the amount of work 
done by the Department. Among the illus¬ 
trations in this report are several of Sugar— 
(Sorghum) canes; numerous insects, mostly 
the scales which infest the orange and the 
olive: 24 plates of grasses, and several colored 
plates illustrating the Texas Cattle Fever, 
Foot-and-Mouth Disease, Swine Plague, etc. 
Report of the Secretary of the Mich. 
State Hort. Society. Chas. W. Garfield, 
Secretary, Grand Rapids. This is one of the 
verv best works of its kind. It is a large book 
of 380 pages, filled with interesting and instruc¬ 
tive matter. The Secretary’s Portfolio is a. 
collection of the best articles anywhere pub¬ 
lished during the vear. Michigan is a leading 
State in horticulture, and Sec. Garfield’s 
reports are fully abreast with her enterprise. 
A. W. Livingston’s Sons, Columbus, Ohio. 
Des “riptive and illustrated catalogue and price 
list of seed, potatoes and implements. Direc¬ 
tions for making hot-beds, cold-frames, culti¬ 
vation of vegetables. Mr. Livingston is the 
originator of the popular Acme Tomato. He 
now offers the Perfection Tomato, which be 
says is somewhat larger than the Acme and is 
free from rot, while in other respects it is the 
Acme’s equal or superior. 
F. R Pierson, Tarrytown, N. Y. Catalo¬ 
gue of seeds, plants and garden supplies of all 
kinds for Country Homes. It offers the new 
early tomato,Mayflower,which is described as 
the earliest large tomato in cultivation. It is 
said to lie larger than the Acme, with solid 
flesh of a pure rich flavor and a firm, smooth 
skin. A showy colored plate of the Manches¬ 
ter Strawberry accompanies the catalogue. 
Free to all applicants. 
P. J. Berckmans, Augusta, Ga. Catalogue 
(No. 2) of greenhouse, bedding and new 
plants cultivated and for sale at the Fruitland 
Nurseries. We take pleasure in commending 
this establishment to our readers. Mr. Berek- 
ma is will deal honorably with all his patrons. 
Catalogue gratis to applicants. 
William Parry, Parry P. O. New Jersey. 
Catalogue of strawberries, raspberries, black¬ 
berries, grapes, currants, gooseberries; rhu¬ 
barb and asparagus — apple, peach, pear, 
cherry and ornamental trees and shrubbery. 
Report of the Experimental Work and 
other work of the School of Agriculture, 
Horticulture and B .tany of the University of 
Tennessee, By Professor John M, McBryde. 
A very valuable work of 208 pages. 
G. H. & J. H. Hale, South Glastonbury, 
Conn. Elm Fruit-farm catalogue of the cream 
of small fruit plants for 1882. All interested 
in small fruits should send for it. It is alive 
with our most promising novelties. 
Tuisco Greiner, Naples, N. Y. Garden 
Talks—an illustrated quarterly horticultural 
catalogue and guide for the home and market 
garden. Lists of vegetable and flower seeds, 
potatoes, etc. 
John S. Carter, Syracuse, N. Y. Circu¬ 
lar of improved apparatus for cheese factories, 
creameries, butter factories and dairies. Com¬ 
plete outfits a specialty. Sent free to appli¬ 
cants. 
W. B. Jones, Herndon, Ga. “Acclimated” 
field and garden seeds. Specialties: Jones’s 
Improved Prolific Herlong cotton ; corn, 
lucerne, millet, amber cone, chufas, etc. 
Protection of Forests a Necessity By 
S. Von Dorrien. This pamphlet of 33 pages 
may be obtained of B. Westerma nn & Co., 
83S Broadway, New York. 
Ellis Brothers, Keene, N. H. Illustrated 
Catalogue of specialties for the season, plants, 
seeds, grape-vines, potatoes, small fruits. 
Free. 
Sidney Tuttle, Bloomington, UL Catal¬ 
ogue of plant novelties, roses, bulbs, green¬ 
houses and bedding plants, etc. Free. 
National & International Crop Re¬ 
ports, by W. I. Chamberlain, Sec’y Ohio 
State Board of Agriculture. 
F. E. Fasset & Bro. , Ashtabula, Ohio. Il¬ 
lustrated plant catalogue. Roses, geraniums, 
fuchsias, novelties, etc. 
Central and Western Nebraska and the 
experiences of its stock growers. By J. T. 
Allan, Omaha, Neb. 
Catalogue of Harvesting Machines 
manufactured by the Johnston Harvester Co. 
Broekport, N. Y. 
Blymkr Manufacturing Co., Cincinnati, 
O. Price-list of Sugar Cane machinery— 
illustrated. 
Farmer’s Guide to Northern Colorado. 
By Wm. E. Pabor, Denver, Col. Price 25 
cents. 
S. B. & W. F. Parish, San Bemadino, Cal. 
Catalogue of plants of Southern California. 
Western Nebraska, and the experience of 
its actual settlers. By J. T. Allan. 
RURAL SPECIAL REPORTS. 
Kansas. 
Harlan, Smith Co., March 12—Winter has 
been exceptionally mild and pleasant. Plow¬ 
ing has been done every month except Janu¬ 
ary. Fall wheat and rye look well. Every¬ 
body here is confident of good crops the com¬ 
ing season. Digging a pit for hot-bed a Gw 
days since, unearthed numbers of Colorado 
beetles. All those I observed, in situ lav on 
their backs. Whether they are more comfort¬ 
able in that position I cannot say, lint it struck 
me as a carious circumstance. They all ap¬ 
peared in excellent health. F. e. h. 
Norton, Norton Co., March 10. Hare had a 
fine Winter: mercurv not been down to zero, 
three degrees above being the coldest. Some 
have recently been plowing and seeding: but 
February 20 checked their ardor, for it was the 
worst day of this Winter, snowing and blow¬ 
ing. I think about eight inches of snow fell, 
but it soon melted. Ground been bare nearly all 
Winter. A great scarcity of seeds of all kinds 
—garden and field. But few are fortunate in 
having any small grain, and those who, by 
rigid economy, are able to buv any seed will 
plant largely to com, chiefly because the least 
money will cover the most ground. Many 
are talking of trying broom com, some quite 
extensively—for a new country. Sorghum 
will also receive a good share of attention 
this season. A creamery will be started. 
This is a splendid stock country; what we 
need is capital to stock it. d. e. s. 
Ohio. 
Camden, Preble Co., March 8. —We have 
had a very open Winter with lots of mud 
and bad roads. Wheat has been growing 
most of the Winter and looks fine. Some 
Finlay Wheat from the Department of Agri¬ 
culture, sown Nov., 1, last looks highly prom¬ 
ising. W. M. 
Newton Falls, Trumbull Couuty. March 
3, 1882.—A very mild, open Winter: plenty 
of mud; roads almost impassable. Prospect 
for the maple sugar maker is not very flat er- 
ing; it is very rarely we have two sugar sea¬ 
sons in succession; last Spring was an excep¬ 
tionally good one; a gr at deal of simp was 
made in this countv and sold at from $1.00 to 
$1.50 per gallon. Wheat is looking well for 
so open a Winter. No. 1 wheat is worth $1.35; 
oats, 49c.; corn, 75c.; potatoes, $1.00 to $1.25 
and very scarce; apples, green, 75c. to $1 25 
per bushel; dressed hogs, 7c. per pound; but¬ 
ter, 27c., and not abundant. Stock of every 
kind, especially sheep, wintered well. The 
stockmen are introducing some very fine Per- 
chercn and Clydesdale horses. Thero is a 
growing demand for a class of heavy draft 
horses. The best roadsters we have are the 
Hambeltonians. The Dane Hill strain of horses 
have been largely bred in Eastern Ohio, and 
have proved good draft horse* and first-class 
roadsters. They are very scarce, however, and 
worth from $180 to $250. Eastern buyers 
have secured about all of the best. Prime fat 
cattle are scarce, but very few men are stall- 
feeding, com is so high they dare not venture 
to do so. Fresh milch cows are selling at good 
prices—$50 to $80 each. The prospect for 
fruit is good; our dry Fall ripened the woo 1 
of peach and apple trees, so they (re well 
protected; the fruit buds are yet dormant; the 
warm rains in October caused a premature 
growth of some varieties of small fruits, espec¬ 
ially of raspberries, and the few hard freezes 
harmed them somewhat. Fruit growing is 
attracting the attention of a great many in 
Eastern Ohio. What we want is a more gen¬ 
eral dissemination of publications devoted to 
horticulture. The Rural is doing a good 
work in that way, K. w. T. 
Pennsylvania. 
Chambkrsburg, Franklin Co., My two- 
ounce W. Elephant, cut in seven pieces, 
yielded 76 tubers. On this yield I drew a pre¬ 
mium of $1. at our county fair last October for 
most potatoes raised from one. The Washing¬ 
ton Oats grew rankly and rusted badly. The 
asparagus did well. Flowers very nice: two 
plots of very nice blooms. R. B. Sorghum did 
not germinate. I consider seeds received 
worth more than the price for Rural, t. g. z. 
<TI)C Owerisi 
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
[Every query must be accompanied by the name 
and address of the writer to Insure attention 1 
FRUITS FOR CENTRAL TEXAS, ETC. 
P. B. T., Austin, Texas. 1, What are the 
best varieties of apples and pears for this sec¬ 
tion on black soil and elevated land) 2, All 
tests of raspberries having failed here, is the 
failure due to heat, drought or the nature of 
the plant? 3. What is the correct name of the 
evergreen a sprig of which is inclosed f 
Ans.—1. Apples. —Ben Davis,Benoni, Caro¬ 
lina Red June, Dyer, Early Harvest, Graven- 
stein, Horse, Julian, Nickajack, Red Astra- 
chan, Robinson’s Superb, Shockley, Twenty 
Ounce and Willow Twig. Pears. —Bartlett, 
Beurre Diel, Beurre Goubalt Doyenne d’Ete, 
Duehesse d'Angouleme, Howell, Flemish 
Beauty, St. Michael Archange, Seckel, Des 
Nonnes (Beurre de Brignais) and Edmonds. 
On upland, if not much exposed to sun and 
wind and the soil is not very sandy, thin and 
dry, pears mav do fairly,but apples are not to 
be recommended. On black, waxy soil 
neither pears nor apples are likely to prosper; 
ou black sandy soil, if somewhat moist and 
the position sheltered and the surface of the 
ground around the trees is mulched for a few 
years, both may do well. Apples love a cool 
soil and have a strong liking for red clay 
lands,—like those of Anderson Couuty. Pears 
grow well in Texas in some pluees where 
apples are an absolute failure; but they, too, 
show a decided preference for the clay and 
cleared timber lands. 2. So far south as Travis 
County raspberries are very uncertain, the 
protracted heat and drought are too much for 
them, but in cool, moist and sheltered land, 
such for instance as the patches selected by 
some of your neighbors for strawberry-grow¬ 
ing, raspberries with a Summer mulching 
may be coaxed to thrive and bear fruit. 
Wild blackberries grow abundantly in some 
parts of Middle and Southern Texas, and in 
such places as they occupy, raspberries should 
be likely to thrive. 3. Berberis trifoliate. It is 
a native of your part of Texas and forms a 
handsome evergreen shrub for the garden; 
but although it is hardy in the South, it is not 
hardy in the North. 
fertilizer queries. 
A. G., Westover, Mel. , asks, 1, what is the ratio 
of value of clover, corn and peas for green 
manuring; 2, at what period of their growth 
should they be plowed under; 3, whi :h of the 
following fertilizers would it pay best to ap¬ 
ply to a heavy loam soil—different grades of 
ground bone, phosphates, potash. 
Ans.— 1. Clover and peas do not differ much 
in regard to their value for green manuring. 
They are both leguminous plants, and rich in 
nitrogen. Corn will make a heavier growth 
and will furnish more vegetable matter to Lie 
plowed under, but it will not be so rich in ni¬ 
trogen as the clover or peas. No other crop 
approaches elover in this respect. 2. The 
beneficial effect of fertilizers depends very 
much upon the condition of the soil, and this 
is so difficult, or even impossible, to discover 
except by repeated experiments, that it is 
safest always to apply a complete fertilizer— 
that is, one containing nitrogen, or ammonia, 
which is practically the same thing, together 
with potash and phosphoric acid. A complete 
fertilizer might therefore be made up of Peru¬ 
vian guano, 10 per cent, ammonia, superphos¬ 
phate of lime, and potash. But as all of these 
are entirely different in character, and are 
not subject to comparison, no one can say 
which would be mo it profitable to apply alone. 
The trouble is that if all are needed, which is 
generally th - case, any one or two would be i 
of very little effect. We refer you to the ac¬ 
count of corn experiments, on page 124 (Feb. 
25), which are worthy of very careful study 
in this regard. 
remedy for lice in stock, etc. 
D. E. S,, Norton Co , Kansas, asks why are 
hornlass cattle called “polls” or “polled”— 
as he understands polls to mean heads, 
shouldn’t polled cattle be headed cattle; 2, 
a remedy for lice on cattle. 
Ans. —1. The term means more. It is said 
of animals that have cast their horns—of the 
stag, for example. It is also used in the 
sense of “cropped,” and is said of a person 
who is bald. It is used in the sense of “ lop¬ 
ped,” as of trees. 2. A large number of re¬ 
cipes for this purpose can be found in back 
numbers of the Rural. Of these we con¬ 
dense here a couple of the best. Our long¬ 
time friend, S. B. Peck, of Michigan, has 
found that rubbing dry earth, preferably 
sand, vigorously into the skin among the 
vermin is a sure remedy. If not successful 
on the first application it may be repeated 
several times. Col. F. D. Curtis thinks the 
following recipe the best:—Melt hog’s lard or 
any hot grease and in it dissolve salt to the 
extent of one-third of the bulk of the grease; 
take as much of this grease as will be re¬ 
quired to smear an animal all over and into 
this mixture pour kerosene oil and stir the 
whole up. Two gills of kerosene would suf¬ 
fice for a cow of ordinary size. With him 
one application cured a most stubborn case of 
lice on a hog. It leaves the skin smooth and 
clean, removing the scurf and healing the ir¬ 
ritation caused by parasites. It is also, the 
Colonel savs, excellent for galls and sores. 
seeding to grass a dried lake bottom. 
O. A. R, Fort Benton. Montana, has a lake 
bottom of heavy clay loam covered by a strong 
growth of rushes, and wishing to seed it to 
Timothy, he asks how to proceed and how 
much seed per acre would be needed. 
Ans. —No good grass can be grown on such 
laud nor can the rushes be got rid of without 
draining. If this ground were properly 
drained and fitted, no doubt it would make a 
good permanent meadow; but not with Timo¬ 
thy alone. About six quarts of Timothy, or 
ten pounds, per acre, would make good seed¬ 
ing, but in this instance mixed grasses would 
be more permanent; for instance, 5 pounds 
of’Timothy; 10 pounds of Red Top; 5 pounds 
of Fowl Meadow Grass, and 5 pounds of Tall 
Fescue. This would suit the place and the cli¬ 
mate very well. 
THE HORSE-CHESTNUT. 
C. E. C., Eorestville, Del., asks, 1, what is 
the Horse-chestnut—is it the Ohio Buckeye; 2, 
would the Kieffer Hybrid Pear be hardy and 
prolific in that section. 
Ans. —1, There are various kinds of Horse- 
chestnuts, among them the Common (ffiom 
Asia), Fetid or Ohio Buckeye (Pennsylvania 
and Kentucky to Michigan), Sweet Buckeye 
and Red Buckeye (Middle and Southern 
States). The botanical name is JEseulus, and 
they belong to the Soapberry Famil_,, or Sa- 
pindaoeae. Some of the nuts are uo larger 
than the common chestnut, others, as the 
Common Horse chestnut, at least twice as 
large. The common or edible chestnut be¬ 
longs to the Oak Family. 2. We have one 
report from Middle Iowa that it has thus far 
proven hardy there. 
GERMAN CARP. 
W. F., Bice, Texas, asks from whom can he 
get German carp. 
Ans. —To get German carp you must apply 
to the representative iu Congress from jour 
district and he will send you a form of appli¬ 
cation to the United States Fish Commission. 
If he will indorse on this that jou are a proper 
person to be entrusted with such an import¬ 
ant charge, you will be furnished gratis with 
21 small carp about three inches long, in a 
three quart tin pail with several holes punched 
in the cover; all of which you have helped to 
pay for in your taxes. They will be sent by 
express, aud the charges to Texas will 
probably be about five dollars or more, as the 
charges amount to $1.75 for a distance of 250 
miles. You will not get the fish either unless 
j r our pond has a muddy bottom and is not 
connected with a stream of water. 
POTASH FOR TOBACCO. 
J. H., Detroit, Mich., asks whether hard- 
w T ood leached ashes could be profitably used 
on land intended for tobacco. 
Ans. —By all means. There is no other 
fertilizer more valuable for tobacco than pot¬ 
ash, in which this plant is unusually rich; 
1,000 pounds of tobacco contain 30 pounds of 
potash and 63 pounds of lime, and 100 pounds 
of leached wood ashes contain pounds of 
potash and 24>$ pounds of lime in the best of 
all conditions for use as plant food. 
Miscellaneous. 
N. T. E., Ord, III., wishing to start a fish 
pond asks from whom German carp and in¬ 
struction how to rear them can be obtained. 
Ans. —A four-column, profusely illustrated 
article on carp culture, w-as published in the 
Rural of August 27, last, giving very full in¬ 
structions on carp raising and treatment. We 
must refer our friend to this article for infor¬ 
mation as to how to raise this excellent fish, 
as it is too soon to treat of the matter here 
again. Prof. Spencer F. Baird, Chief Fish 
Commissioner, Washington, D. C., will supply 
fish, or they may be obtained on application 
by letter or otherwise to the Fish Commis¬ 
sion, Springfield, Ill. 
T.P., Charleston, W. Fa—Which is the 
best laud for tobacco—uew r or old? 2, What 
variety is best! 3, Where can the best seeds 
be got? 4, How many Republicans and Dem¬ 
ocrats in Congress? 
Ans.— 1. Tobacco needs a rich soil made 
