A US I 
§4i 
will be light. Owing to the unfavorable 
weather in the Spring, however, it will hardly 
make a good crop, but the prospects are very 
fair. Wheat was very good—a very fair 
average crop. Oats are good—rather above 
the average unless damaged now before stack¬ 
ing by wet weather. Hay very good also. 
Plenty of potatoes, fruits and garden veget¬ 
ables. ». j. s. 
New York. 
Afton, Chenango Co., July 18.—I am not 
having very good success with the Rural 
seeds. Three of the beans came up, but the 
cold, wet weather was too much for them, 
and they all died. There were 158 kernels of 
the corn, and only 77 grew, It is growing 
well now, but does not show tassels yet. Only 
three of the squash seeds germinated, and the 
bugs went for them so lively that one is dead 
and the rest don’t grow much. I never knew 
the striped bug so destructive as it is this 
Summer. The pests have taken all of my cu¬ 
cumbers and melons, and my neighbors are 
just as badly off. Rags dipped in kerosene 
don’t drive them away, and they don’t “stay 
killed” worth a cent. w. H. h. 
Cornino, Steuben Co., July 8. —The Rural 
seeds were pla ited as follows: March 17th I 
sowed the wheat, as directed, a foot apart; it 
came up well, but did not grow fast. It til¬ 
lered very much; some hills had as high as 
106 stalks from a siugle seed, and scarcely one 
less than 70. When it was about eight inches 
high it was attacked by rust and stopped 
growing. Now it is about all dead; there 
will not be any of it to bead out. The corn was 
planted on May 16. Only about half of it 
came up, aud the mice took all but 23 stalks 
of what did come up. On June 25 there was 
a hail and wind storm that beat down my 
entire crop and ruined my wheat, so that it 
will not pay for cutting. J. M. R. 
SiNCLAtRVtLLK, Cbautaqua Co., July 10,— 
The average farmer has commenced “hay¬ 
ing” and the crop is fully an average one, if 
not more. Potatoes are now suffering severe¬ 
ly from the ravages of the beetle, but the 
usual dose of Puris-green is about the only 
remedy in use in this section. Both grass and 
email grains, wheat, etc., are looking fine, 
and corn will come on well should the rain 
and cold weather “let up” pretty soon. Dairy 
products are flourishing hereabouts. Large 
sales both of cheese and butter are made at 
this place through the Central Chautauqua 
Board of Trade. This is chiefly a daily sec¬ 
tion, aud the dairyman is the “salt of the 
earth” in a true sense of the word, so far as 
Chautauqua County is concerned. Farmers, 
I believe, were never in a more prosperous 
condition in this county, as a whole, than at 
the present time. The fruit crop will proba¬ 
bly be short. Strawberries are not over and 
above plenty, and prices are somewhat 
higher than usual. Garden truck is coming 
on well. D - 
Pennsylvania, 
East Bethlehem, Washington Co., July 
11.—The harvest is being gathered. Wheat is 
a good crop—better than for many years; 
acreage about an average with former years. 
Corn short on account of late planting; but 
growing vigorously and it promises a good 
crop. Oats and potatoes are extra-good; there 
is at least 50 per cent more potatoes than we 
have ever seen in this part of Pennsylvania. 
Peaches, cherries, plums and apples are almost 
a failure here. J. L. w. 
Carpenter, Lycoming Co., July 15.— Hay¬ 
ing has commenced; not so good a yield as 
expected, owiug to some pasturing in Spring 
and Fall in addition to last year’s drought and 
the effects of frost last Winter. Wheat goofl. 
Oats splendid. Corn good, but backward. 
Potatoes looking splendid. Fruit good. 
Buckwheat up and looking well. Frequent 
rains have kept everything growing nicely 
here. »• w. L. 
Lehigh Co., July 17.—Crops look well: 
grain is all cut and about half brought in. 
Wheat an average crop. Rye extra good. 
Oats will not be as good as last year. Corn 
and potatoes never looked better. Meadow 
hay was very good, field hay an average 
crop. Cherries and apples are below an aver¬ 
age crop. Weather very fine—rain enough 
for the growing crops, and fair weather 
enough for gathering the ripe. H. k, e. r. 
Texas, 
Coryell, Coryell Co., July 18.—Wheat 
turning out welt in quality and quantity 
Oats injured by the rust. Millet good. Early 
corn very good; late will now make a fair 
average crop. Cotton backward. Stock doiug 
well. Pruirie grass very good. Water plen¬ 
tiful. Wheat nearly all thrashed ; yield from 
15 to 25 bushels per acre; Mediterranean, 90 
to95 cents; Nicaragua, 60 cents. Oats, 80 to85 
cents. Spring wheat very poor. Labor very 
scarce. Health good. W. e. 
Vlrslnla. 
Taylortown, Loudoun Co., July 17.— 
Wheat crop the largest for several years; 
yield from 20 to 80 bushels per acre. Rye, 
none grown to speak of; only enough to fur¬ 
nish straw to bind corn-fodder. Oats a fair 
crop. An average acreage of corn. It is well 
advanced, strong in stalk, of good color and 
the prospect is good for a large yield. Pota¬ 
toes over an average acreage. They have 
had a good season. The early potatoes have 
yielded welL Sweet potatoes look very prom¬ 
ising. Grass an average crop. Apples not 
over half a crop. The Rural New-"5( orker 
is the best agricultural journal I know of. I 
would not do without it. e. c. s. 
Lynhaven, Princess Anne Co., July 13.— 
Our last Beauty of Hebrons are being dug, 
and certainly they are superior in yield and 
flavor to our usual crop, the E. Rose. In a 
short time we will plant the small ones for 
another crop for our next Spring seed pota¬ 
toes. We bank them as we do sweet potatoes; 
part of ours were not dug until this Spring, 
hands being scarce in the Fall, and they were 
all right. We have used no poison, only hav¬ 
ing to knock the bugs off twice by hand into 
pans, and burn them. Hebrons are not much 
used here; but we nave sold many of our culls 
to our commission merchant that bought 
them for planting on his own farm. Our 
truckers have had a good season, good prices 
and a larger crop than usual. Kale, spinach, 
cabbage, peas, strawberries, snaps, etc., have 
been disposed of and peaches and apples are 
now going in with good prospects. Corn is 
backward, as we had a long, cold, wet Spring; 
but it seems to make rapid strides, some of 
ours has tasseled; weeds are a month behind, 
fortunately. In oats the acreage is larger 
than usual; prospects good. Not much wheat 
raised. We have been in a transition state 
since the " War,” but slowly and surely the 
reaction has been going on; new roads, shell 
and railroad, have been opened. We have 
everything but good labor—our labor is a 
nuisance. Many Northern men have bought 
and are buying around us. We hear no com¬ 
plaints from settlers as to society. Health 
generally good; but of course, we have malaria 
sometimes. We need canning and evapora¬ 
ting factories among us, as well as many new 
industries. M. s. m. 
. West Virginia. 
Huttonsville, Randolph Co., July 16.—In 
this part of the valley wheat is not more than 
half a crop. Corn is a good stand, and the 
outlook is fully an average one. Oats not 
good—rusted; one-third of a crop. Grass the 
best I have seen for twenty years at least, or 
as good as we ever get. It will average two 
tons per acre. Fruit Dearly all killed by late 
frost, with the exception of small fruits, such 
as raspberries, blackberries, and cranberries. 
Our currant bushes are nearly ruiued by a 
worm that eats the foliage. m. o. 
Wisconsin. 
Brodhead, Green Co., July 15. —Acreage 
of wheat, Spring and Winter, light; condition 
and prospect fair. Rye, oats and grasses, 
heavy; too much rain for lowland meadows— 
badly damaged. Corn very backward—too 
wet and cold; prospect not good. A large 
planting of potatoes; prospect never better. 
A fair crop of cherries, apples, berries and 
grapes. No plums. Pears not much raised. 
Gardens good. In fact prospects are good for 
everything but corn. T. A. J. 
Elkhorn, Walworth Co., July 15.—Our 
boy farmer planted 57 hills with the Rural 
corn, three kernels in a hill. I think only 
six kernels or so failed to grow. It looks very 
well, considering what a wet, cold season w r e 
are having. B. C. D. 
Ul)C (Querist. 
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
[Every query must be accompanied by the name 
and address of the writer to Insure attention 1 
A FRIEND OF THE CHERRY TREE. 
O. L. H., Dakota, Iowa, sends for name 
an insect which eats the roots of his cherry 
trees, and asks a remedy. 
Ans.— The insect found at the roots of 
cherry trees is the larva or grub of some 
species of Harpalus, perhaps H. Pennsylvan- 
icus. The fluder must be mistaken, however, 
as to its injuring the tree, for these beetles 
feed upon other insects, both in the grub and 
the perfect state. It is probable the Har¬ 
palus was there after the insect that was feed¬ 
ing on the roots of the tree, and had either 
destroyed it or it was so much smaller as to 
be overlooked. On account of their great 
numbers the species of Harpalus and allied 
genera do a great deal towards keeping in 
check the excessive multiplication of other 
insects. 
A. CONCERN TO BE AVOIDED. 
w. L. M„ Elkhart, Ind. Is the American 
Grain Company of Chicago under charge of 
W. T. Soule & Co., grain commission mer¬ 
chants, a trustworthy concern I Soule & Co., 
are flooding the country with circulars offer¬ 
ing shares of $25 each on which they guar in- 
tee 24^per cent annual*dividends. They offer 
to buy back the shares at par, whenever 
any one may wish to sell, and say that divi¬ 
dends of 300 to 500 can be paid. 
Ans. —We have lately received several of 
these circulars from inquiring Western friends 
and w rote editorially a! <out the matters in our 
last issue. There is not a shadow of doubt 
but that the nincompoops who entrust their 
money to these sharpers will lose the whole 
or the greater part of it. How any man with 
ordinary sense and ordinary knowledge of 
business can have any doubt as to the final 
outcome of the American Grain Company’s 
dealings with its dupes surpasses our under¬ 
standing. Of course, no reader of the Rural 
will be so foolish, but it might be well to warn 
less intelligent neighbors who might be dis¬ 
posed to throw away their money by entrust¬ 
ing it to W. T. Soule & Co., the Co., being 
known as G. W. Rumble in the present trans¬ 
action. 
the rose bug. 
C. J., St. Petersburg, Pa., sends for name 
a bug that has swarmed in immense numbers 
on his grape-vines and nearly ruined a 
splendid crop. 
Ans. —It is the Rose Bug. There is no 
remedy as yet known but hand picking. The 
use of mosquito nets and bagging grapes are 
impracticable in a large vineyard. In our 
own Grounds they have never been so de¬ 
structive. They have destroyed all of our ap¬ 
ples on French Paradise stock. Some seasons 
they prefer some plants, other seasons other 
plants. Strange to say, we havenotyet found 
them upon onr • grape-vines. We wish we 
could help you. 
Miscellaneous. 
W. B. A., N. Y. City.—I, Some of my po¬ 
tato vines bear a light lavender-colored 
flower, and the main stalks are russet-colored 
on the outside for about three quarters of the 
way up. The plants are in general of a dark 
color. Shape and appearance of tubers un¬ 
known. What variety are they! 2, How are 
the blossoms of the Early Ohio colored? 3, 
Why don’t my radishes bear seed pods? I 
have been unable for three seasons to make 
them produce anything but flowers and little 
immature pods, which fall off right after they 
blossom. Do they need rich or poor soil? 
Variety is the Long Scarlet, and some are six 
inches in diameter. Soil poor. 
Ans. — 1, We get no inkling as to the vari¬ 
ety from the above. Colored flowers usually 
show some pinkish tint upon the stems. 2, 
The Early Ohio has never bloomed with us. 
The blossoms, we are told, are white. 3, We 
cannot answer the question. Perhaps some 
of our readers can. 
R. D., Cooperstown, Pa. —1, Is S. G. 
Crookes, of Buffalo, N. Y., deafer in super¬ 
phosphates, reliable? 2, Would ic be well to 
cut off the tops of my strawberries and apply 
20t> pounds of superphosphate to the soil, plow 
with a double-shovel aad hoe them—the rows 
are 12x30 inches? 8, What, are saw mill ashes 
worth per bushel, and to what crops should 
they be applied? 4, On what crops has pure 
ground bone beneficial effects? 
Ans.— 1. The Arm has an excellent reputa¬ 
tion. 2, There is nothing gained by cutting 
the tops off. We approve of the rest. 3. 
That depends upon what kind of wood is 
burnt. Uuleached ashes are always valuable 
and give marked returns, unless the soil hap* 
pens to be full of potash. Potatoes of all the 
main farm crops are most helped by wood 
ashes, but all plants are benefltted by them. 
4, For all crops. Pure ground bone is worth 
from $35 to $40 per ton, according to fineness. 
C. IF. H., Lapeer, Mich.—I, How large 
should be the plot for the Rural wheat ? 2, 
What are the best kinds of grapes, strawber¬ 
ries, and Black Cap raspberries for this sec¬ 
tion. 3, Is hatching chickens in an incubator 
a reliable process ? 
Ans,— 1, On one-fortieth of an acre, or 33x33 
feet square, or any other proportions that will 
make one fortieth of an acre. The plot is to 
be marked one foot each way, and one seed 
placed in every intersection. 2, As there are 
three Lapeers in the country—one in N. Y. 
another in Vlich. and a third in Kansas— 
and our friend fails to mention his county or 
State, we cannot answer question 2. 3, You 
should read the two articles by Hon. C. S. 
Cooper in late numbers of the Rural New- 
Yorker. 
J. A. M., Howard Lake, Minn. —My Rural 
Flint Corn puzzles me. So many suckers come 
out that l am at a loss about pulling them out, 
as some are large and bid fair to have nice 
ears. Shall we pull the small ones aud leave 
the large to grow ? As many as five suckers 
come on many of the stalks, and from the fact 
that I had heard that pulling the suckers from 
corn would benefit it, I should have giveu 
directions to pull them off had I nob remem¬ 
bered the two feet distance from each kernel 
advised. I have concluded to leave all the large 
ones till I see the Rural again, and hope to 
see directions. 
Ans.—W e should not remove a sucker. 
R. A. T. and Bro., Fort Jesmp, La .— 
We have a flock of sheep which are more or 
less diseased. Our lambs all died, we thought 
from erysipelas, for which they were treated, 
but now we think they had scab. 
Ans. —This disease can hardly be scab, as it 
does not affect young lambs until they take 
it from the ewes, and the indications of the 
disease are so very prominent. Elsewhere 
you will find under “Sheep Husbandry" in 
this issue a description of the sheep scab. It 
is impossible to say what ails the lambs with¬ 
out more particular information. 
J. P., Corunna, Mich. —Why do some of my 
raspberry bushes turn yellow, aud how can 
their doing so be prevented ? 
Ans. —It is a peculiar phenomenon, and the 
cause is yet unknown; hence, of course, no 
remedy can be given. We presume reference 
is made to such plants as have bright, light 
yellow leaves, and present a variegated ap¬ 
pearance in contrast with the others. A 
slightly yellow cast throughout the planta¬ 
tion is usually the result either of a hard 
Winter or drought impairing the vigor and 
vitality of the plants. 
J. L. W., Washington Co., Pa. —1, Is the 
Weaver Plum worth cultivating. 2, Is the 
nursery firm of Powell & Co., Rochester, N. 
Y., trustworthy? 3, What are the best vari¬ 
eties of currants for extensive cultivation? 
4, What are the best varieties of gooseberries? 
Ans. —1, No, it is one of our wild plums; pro¬ 
ductive but of poor quality. It is of little 
value where fine kiuds can be raised. 2, Yes. 
3, Cherry, White Grape, Red Dutch. 4, Down¬ 
ing, Smith’s Improved and Houghton Seed¬ 
ling. 
J T ., Horn Browse, Pa. —Who is the largest 
manufacturer of reapers and mowers in the 
United States, and how many machines does 
the firm turn out per year ? 
Ans. —Walter A. Wood, M. & R. M. Co., 
Hoosick Falls, N. Y., made aud sold 40,4L3 
machines in 1881, and 45,000 in 1882. We 
know of no one who beats that number. 
T. C. E., Twin Bridges, M. T., sends for 
name a sample of grass that grows quite 
freely in his meadows. 
Ans. —It is Crested Koeleria—Kceleria 
cristata. It is a perennial grass from two to 
two-and-a half feet high, somewhat common 
on dry, gravelly places in Illinois and west¬ 
ward, It is not of much account. 
M. C., Huttonsoille, W. Fa., Our currant 
bushes are being destroyed by a worm that 
eats the foliage—what is it and how can we 
get rid of it ? 
Ans. —It is the currant worm. Use plenty 
of hellebore. 
E. K. T., Providence, Fla. —What are the 
addresses of the principal factories in the 
United States where cheese—not oleomarga¬ 
rine—is made. 
Ans.— See article by X. A. Willard under 
“Dairy Husbandry.” 
Ira B. Benton. Many thanks. We can¬ 
not recognize the Rural pinks or hollyhock 
as the specimens are quite dried up. 
R. P. Greenleaf. Thanks for so careful a 
report.* 
D. H. Richmond, Va.— What is the proper 
way to make a concrete wall impervious to 
water. 
Ans. —See article under Rural Architecture 
elsewhere in this issue. 
N. A. W., Alpowa, IF. T., sends a couple of 
plants for name. 
Ans.— That with flowers is the Philadel- 
phus or Mock Orange. The other is a Holly. 
L. H., Georgetown, Out., Canada. How can 
worms be kept from early radishes. 
Ans.—M ix plenty of wood ashes in the 
soil and a little salt. 
W. C. B., Jr., Danville, N. Y. —Where 
can I get short-faced Lancashire pigs? 
Ans.— From D. W. Groom, Groveport, 
Ohio. 
IF. IF. Wheeling, IF. Va. —Which is the 
better—the Mathews or Planet Junior seed 
drill? 
Ans.—B oth are excellent. 
COMMUNICATIONS HUCKIVKD SOB TUB WttKK ENDING 
Saturday, July . 1882. 
m b. p.—J. II- H.—J. R. E.—R. 34.—O. K. Rice 
please give yield and measurement of land.—C. H 
G., thanks.—J. J. N.—D. W. L.—See. G.—for The Truth 
About It —,T. J. D.—R. B.—B. H. Baum.—shall en¬ 
deavor.—N. R.-J. TL G—J. L. W.-B. C., In competi¬ 
tion for prizes ••Profitable Farming for a Poor Man.— 
F S. L.-0. H. T.-N- J. S.-S. A. M.-H. L. S.-A. S. S, 
51 _ X).—W. B. J-—H. S —H. & S.—J. J. B., thanks.—J 
A, W.—H. L. W.— J K. P.—A. B. C,—D. E. R., many 
thanks.—M. B. P., thanks.—Si. M. A—J. H H. thanks 
_ X, n. H-, good-—R. B. Jr.— F. &. P. B. — J. 1C. P —J. B. 
N.—T. L.-H. S.— D. S. M.-Subscriber.—R. P. G. 
thanks.—Medico.—C. W. H. —E 9.—W. G. W.—R. F. 
S„ Kalamazoo, thanks for the suggestion.—R. D. R.— 
W, I. C.— N. A. W —J. E. C.— J. C. L. —J. C- R.— M. A 
Me S.-W. H. O.- X. A. W.—K S.—E. C, S.-D. H. B.— 
C, W. G.—D. E. R.-F. 1C. P.-H. N. P.,1 thanks.-E. 
-G. H. F.— L R. & S. S. 
