SEPT iS 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
are being brought into market every day. It 
is the best for home market, but t no thin and 
tender in rind to ship long distances. There 
are two colors—dark green and very light 
green, almost white; other qualities the same. 
If you do not know the Icing you would do 
well to look into it. The New York seedsmen 
do not sell it. You could get a sample of 
Landreth—if you fail and want one here I 
shall be pleased to send you one, as by careful 
packing it might reach you in good order.— 
[Thanks. Ours is not the Icing.— Eds.] Sat¬ 
urday a customer brought in a load of Nut¬ 
meg melons. I weighed some of them: one 
weighed 12}.{ pounds and another 15 616 
pounds. I asked on what soil they were 
grown. “ On gravel,” said he. The season 
has been w»et and suited to such a soil. .t. l. f. 
New Hampshire. 
Pittsfield, Merrimack Co., Aug. 20.—One 
of the severest droughts ever experienced is 
prevailing. Little rain since since July 5. 
The hay crop was 3fi per ceut. more than that 
of 1881, four per cent, more than the average 
for the preceding 14 years. The corn crop 
will be less than half the average and a total 
failure in many fields. Early potatoes fair, 
late ones a failure. Wheat, oats and barley 
are fair. A good but not large crop of apples; 
few pears, no peaches; giapes less than the 
average. Garden truck all drying up. Brooks 
drying unprecedentedly. Wells holding out 
nicely. I. k. d. 
PcniiNylvania. 
Derby Church, Dauphin Co., Sept. 3.— 
We have harvested one of the best wheat 
crops that we have raised for some time. Oats 
were tolerably good and rye excellent. Corn 
that was planted early suffered somewhat 
on account of drought. On August 26 we had 
a very nice rain, which brings out late corn 
first rate. Hay crop abundant. Potatoes also 
yield largely. b. e. b. 
Wisconsin. 
Delevan, Walworth Co., Aug, 28.—Field 
corn is ripening fast; the most forward pieces 
are now in roasting ear. So far as I have 
observed, there seems this year very little 
corn smut. The potato crop and yield, aside 
from some appearances of rot, are fine, 
although the potato bugs are making a ter¬ 
rific onslaught on the late potatoes. Apples 
continue to drop so that 1 see no prospect of 
over one-third of a crop. Not a ripe water¬ 
melon of home growth have I beard of in this 
section and but very few ripe tomatoes. Of 
peaches, of course imported, I have seldom, if 
ever seen so poor a supply in the Northwest, 
while, as we hear, the Eastern markets are 
glutted. Shame on the railroad management 
that robs both produceraud consumer! Y. k. p. 
RURAL SEED REPORTS. 
Illinois. 
Mt. Palatine, Putnam Co.—The Rural 
squash may be a little gem, but I have vines 
over 10 feet long and still growing; oue squash 
is flat and over 2% inches wide. Of the ca- 
talpa seeds seven grew; largest plant27inches 
high; length of leaf, lOJS^inches, and 8 Xinches 
wide. Rural Dent corn made large growth, 
but the question is, will it get ripe ? c. G. 
Towlesville, Steuben Co.—The Rural 
corn that came up is looking nice. Part of it 
failed to come up. Washington Oats did well; 
they were ripe as soon as the two-rowed bar¬ 
ley. The W. E. Potatoes are growing finely. 
It was too dry, and there were too many 
bugs last year. I only had about four quarts 
then; only two large ones; the rest quite 
small. D. D. m. 
Indiana. 
Hall’s Corners, Allen Co., Aug 26.— The 
Rural seeds have done w ell thus far. The corn 
is growing finely, but something destroyed sev¬ 
eral hills of the Flint corn; one is very flue. 
There are as many as eight to ten additional 
stalks or suckers in some hills for each ker¬ 
nel planttd. The stalks are very large. I 
think it is hard to beat at this time, but it is 
only coming into roasiiog-ears. w. h. h. 
New H auiptliirc, 
Rainey, Clearfield Co., Aug. 28.— Of the 
Rural Flint corn I have 100 stalks, very 
large and thrifty, just coming into silk, and I 
have six hollyhocks. The squash the bugs de¬ 
stroyed and the wheat I kept over to sow 
this Fall. c. c. B. 
«II)c {Jhtmst. 
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
[Evrrv querv must be accompanied by the came 
and address cf the writer to insure attention.] 
ROAD MAKING. 
T. H., Lowell , Mich .—What is the best 
way to make a piece of the public highway a 
good road? For nearly 20 rods in front of my 
house the road is nearly level, and from it the 
ground rises sharply on both sides, and the 
road-bed is mucky. Plenty of fall for drain¬ 
age can be obtained. The “district” has 
kept it “turnpiked” np two feet or more, 
so that in Summer and dry weather my reach 
is good road, but in wet weather there are 
nearly two feet of black mud from fence to 
fence. We have plenty of stone from two to 
four inches in diameter, and abundance of 
gravel. I have two plans for “fixing” it. 
One is to make the road-bed of this stone and 
cover it with the gravel; the other, to put a 
tile drain about two feet deep under the cen¬ 
ter of the road—which would be the better 
plan? 
Ans.—W e would recommend that the road¬ 
bed be first thoroughly drained. This will 
be done best by a tile drain directly beneath 
the center of the road, and, in addition, by 
making the road of the usual turnpiked 
form. In both cases care should be taken 
that the ditches are so made that the water 
will pass off freely. Secondly, it will be 
necessary to put on some covering that will 
effectually prevent vehicles from cutting up 
the road. We do not believe that with the 
soil mentioned the road can be made good by 
drainage alone. The suggestion of paving 
with cobble-stone before applying gravel, is 
a good one, but care must be taken that the 
cobble-stones are so set that the traffic will 
not loosen them. If they are loose the ten¬ 
dency will be for the gravel to work beneath 
them, and they will rise to the surface and be 
continually in the way. Coarse and sharp 
gravel applied in sufficient quantities and at 
suoh season of the year that it will get packed 
before the road-bed gets soft, will make an 
excellent road even if used alone. The 
method suggested cf laying tile drains be¬ 
neath a road has been adopted in several in¬ 
stances on prairie roads with excellent results, 
and, considering the character of the soil in 
this case, we believe it should be adopted to 
secure the best results. Should a well-laid tile 
drain be placed beneath the center of the 
road, the readers of the Rural would be glad 
to hear if it did or did not give satisfaction. 
EVERGREENS FOR TEXAS, ETC. 
A. C., Beeville, Texas. Which are the best 
evergreens to plant in this hot, dry country ? 
2 , Where can I get some rice seed, and would 
it be likely to do well here ? 
Ans. —1. There are many evergreens that will 
do well in Texas, providing they are properly 
taken care of while they are ycuDg and until 
the v start fairly into vigorous growth; but 
even the evergreens that are indigenous to 
your own woods, for instance, the Wild 
Peach (1'runusCaroliniana), the Triple-leaved 
Barberry (Berberis trifoliata), and the Live 
Oaks will refuse to grow, if transplanted into 
hot, dry, sandy, aud fully-exposed to-sunsbine 
lands, unless you give them encouragement 
in the way of a little good soil to start in, a 
mulching to save their roots from the scorch¬ 
ing drought and a good soaking of water, 
now and again in prolonged dry weather; and 
if you stick in a few Live Oak or Cotton 
wood or other conie-bandy twigs about them 
to partly shelter them from the sunshine, it 
will do them a deal of good. Among other 
good evergreens for Texas are the Upright and 
Horizontal Cypresses, Chinese or Golden 
Arbor-vita 1 , Pittosporum Tobira, Japanese 
Euonymus, Japan Quince, Viburnum odor- 
atissimum, Magnoliagrandiflora, Pyraeantha, 
Tea Plaut, Oleander, Nandina domestica, 
Loquafc, Cape Jasmine, Japanese and Califor¬ 
nian Privets and Sophora speciosa. To these 
may be added pomegranate, youpou, and 
some others that are evergreen in Southern 
Texas though deciduous in the North; also 
evergreen honeysuckle, akebia, Stauntonia, 
and Cherokee, Bankesian and Tea-scented 
Roses as vines. 2, Rice seed cau be obtained 
through Galveston and Houston seedsmen. 
Upland rice would be the sort for you. Ex¬ 
periment alone can decide whether it will 
thrive or not. 
WHEN TO SEPARATE BREEDS OF POULTRY TO 
SECURE PURE BRED PROGENY. 
W. II D., Dansvtlle, N. Y .—Having several 
valuable breeds of poultry, that are now run- 
niug together in my park, how long before 
Spring “setting” should they be separated to 
avoid the risk of “mixing?" 
ANSWER BY C. S. COOPER. 
My practice is to separate the male from 
the female birds about the first of July of 
each year for two reasons: First, from that 
period scarcely any chicks are raised: second, 
the eggs are mostly used for culinary pur¬ 
poses. They do not require to be fertilized. 
The male and female have rest until about 
the first of February, when I mate them for 
the breeding season. I find the eggs are more 
fertile, and in case persons desire to procure 
good stock at a small cost after the breeding 
season, they will be disappointed in raising 
chicks from them. Breeders differ in opinion 
in regard to distinct varieties roaming to¬ 
gether at pleasure; some will believe that 
when once crossed the stock never becomes 
pure. Early last season a Plymouth Rock 
hen made a hole under the fence, and ran 
with my Light Brahmas perhaps half a day 
before being discovered. I confined her im¬ 
mediately for nine days and then turned her 
into her own pen; having sold her eggs, an 
inquiry came, “How is it your Plymouth 
Rocks have feathered legs?” I could notaccount 
for it until remembering the circumstance 
above related. I then wrote the facts to my 
inquirer and on examining the chicks the 
triple combs of the Light Brahmas were 
found on them. I am of the opinion that 
fowls should be mated and separated at 
least one month before the eggs for hatching 
are laid, if pure stock is required. There may 
be some hens that carry the cross for some 
time, at least until they lay three or four 
eggs. Should they all commence laj ing eggs 
about the same time a shorter period will 
answer; as a general rule some are tardy and 
therefore a longer time is required. 
ABOUT VEGETABLE HEEDS. 
IF. E. J., X. J. —1, When should cucumbers 
be gathered with a view to preserve the seed? 
2, Does it improve cucumbers to save the 
largest for seed? 3, Does it injure the produc¬ 
tiveness of bush beans to permit the pods to 
grow to full size? 4, How can I obtain seed 
from beets, carrots and chicory ? 
Ans. —In order to obtain seed that can be 
relied upon to vegetate it is absolutely essen¬ 
tial to allow the fruit to remain on the vine 
uutil it is thoroughly ripened. We permit 
ours to remain on the vine until they show 
signs of decay, when they are taken off, 
placed in a pail or box until the fruit has 
mostly decayed, when thes?ed should be care¬ 
fully and thoroughly washed; all pulp, etc. 
being removed, the seed is then dried and 
placed in a cool dry store room. 2. The seeds 
of cucumbers as well as those of all of our 
garden vegetables should be all saved from 
the most perfect and productive specimens, 
and in order to preserve the variety in all its 
purity, no other sort should be permitted to 
grow near it, 3. Yes; if even a few pods be¬ 
gin to ripen, young pods will not only cease 
to form, but those formed will cease to in¬ 
crease in size. 4. Beets and carrots should be 
carefully taken up before severe frost; the 
leaf stalks cut off to within an inch in length, 
and the roots buried in sand in a cool, dry 
cellar. After severe frost is over plant them 
out in the garden. When the flower stalk 
makes its appearance support it with a stake. 
The roots of chicory if left in the ground and 
not disturbed will survive the Winter and 
ripen seed freely another season. 
MISCELLANEOUS. 
D. L. B., Kunda, N. Y. —1. Is Taylor’s Pro¬ 
lific Blackberry as good in all respects as re¬ 
ported by the dealers in the plant? Would it 
be a desirable sort for Liviugston County 
How does it compare with Kittatinny? What 
is the best variety, and when should it be set? 
2. What is the best sour cherry and also white 
currant. 3 Which is the best Winter pear? 
Ans. —1. It is, we think, rather more prolific 
than Kittatinny, but the berries are scarcely 
more than half as large. The plants aie 
hardier with us than Kittatinny. The berries 
are rather sweeter. You may set in the Fall 
or Spring. If mulched and planted before 
November, we prefer Fall. 2, We do not 
know what would be the best sour cherry for 
you; try Montmorency Ordinaire. The old 
Dutch White and White Cherry Currant. 3, 
There is no one that is best iu all respects in a 
given locality. Dana’s Hovev, Easter Beurre, 
Josephine de Malines, Lawrence, Vicar of 
Winkfield, Winter Nelis. 
M. IF., Wheeling, W. Fa. : asks among 
other questions which will be answered later, 
1, where can strawberry seed be obtained 
and how long before the seedlings will bear 
fruit; 2, where can potato seed balls be had? 
Ans. —1. At this season only from plants 
forced under glass. Later (in the Winter) 
strawberries are offered for sale from the 
South by the fancy fruit dealers of the chief 
cities. If the seed be planted in January or 
February in the house, pricked out when they 
have made secoud leaves iuto three inch pots, 
they may then be transplanted in early Spring 
to the open ground. These plants, unless seri¬ 
ously harmed by drought or other causes, will 
bear fruit the next year. We shall give au 
article on this interesting subject ere long. 
2. Among your neighbors—or if seed balls do 
not form iu West Virginia this season, almost 
any friend cau furnish them from the North¬ 
ern States, as this season many kinds have 
fruited abundantly. 
D. D. M. , Loivlesville, N. Y. —How can I 
kill blackberry vines on a hill side which has 
been pastured for two years, and was sowed 
to oats last Spring? 2, Which is the best 
and cheapest grain drill, with fertilizer at¬ 
tachment, in the market. 
Ans. —1, We have the present season sub¬ 
dued the briars in just such a field as you de¬ 
scribe. It was well-fitted for corn and all the 
639 
vines were then pulled up that showed them¬ 
selves. Since then the cultivator and hoe 
have done the work effectually. 2, We have 
not tried them all, so we cannot decide which 
is the best; but those advertised in the Rural 
are good. Send for descriptive circulars. 
J. V. D. P.’ Plainville, N. J. Where can I 
get full information about building ponds 
for German carp? 
Ans. —Full information on this subject was 
given in a lengthy article in. the Rural for 
August 27, 1881, together with four illustra- 
tiom of carp ponds of different kinds. The 
subject is also treated of at length in the 
Report of the United States Commission of 
Fish and Fisheries for 1878; Spencer F. Baird, 
Commissioner, Washington, I). C. The Re¬ 
port of the Pennsylvania State Board of 
Agriculture for 1880 alsodiscussed the matter. 
A. IF., Jamestown, N. Y. Is it necessary 
for a tobacco grower to obtain a license to sell 
the tobacco he raises? 
Ans. —Yes, if he sells it to any person ex¬ 
cept to a licensed dealer in tobacco. A tobacco 
grower if he sells his product to a neighbor or to 
any one w ho is not a licensed dealer is liable 
to be taxed as a retail dealer, who is re¬ 
quired to pay a special tax of $500, and who, 
as defined by the law, is any person who sells 
tobacco in quantities less than the original 
hogshead, case, or bale. See Rural of April 
15 for full information. 
IF. E. M., Wellsville, Pa., finds that his 
Beauty of Hebron and White Elephant pota¬ 
toes are very much alike and asks whether 
the Elephants sent him were Beauties. 
Ans.— If they are from the potatoeswe sent 
out, they are without doubt White Elephants. 
Difference is soils, situations and even man¬ 
ures often cause change in color. For in¬ 
stance, we have Beauty of Hebron with a 
pinkish skin in one place and white, its usual 
color, in another. The same may be said as 
to shape. 
f. S. M., Tvsknlocwa., Ala.—Whore can I 
get the Hall’s Apple and the Marlboro Rasp¬ 
berry and what is a good nursery in the 
South? 
Ans.— Hall’s Apples may be purchased from 
theKissenaNurseries of Flushing.Long Island. 
The Marlboro Raspberry is not for sale yet, 
but soon will be, we presume. The Hansell is 
controlled by J. T. Lovett, of Little Silver, 
Monmouth County, New Jersey. Fora South¬ 
ern Nursery we commend you to P. J. Berck- 
mans, Augusta, Ga. 
A. D. B., Sterling Station, N. Y., sends 
some u heat for name. 
Ans.— We are nfraid to name it. We have 
beside us six w heats any one of which may 
be the same as youns. Wheat is so changed 
by soil and climate that unless it has some 
striking peculiarity (which your sample has 
not) it is only safe to give the name after the 
kinds have been grown side by side. 
II. IT., Bridgeport, Conn .—Where can 
information about garget in cows be obtained 
Ans. —Full information on this subject as 
to the causes, remedies, etc. etc., has often 
appeared in the Querist Department of late 
issues of the Rural. Dr. James Law r ’s Far¬ 
mers’ Veterinary Adviser, price $ 3 ; Clatter’s 
Cattle Doctor, price $ 6 , and ail works on dis¬ 
eases of cattle treat of the matter. 
J. T. J., Oakland, Oregon .—The Thorough- 
Flint corn is late here, while the yellow dent 
affords roasting ears. Why is this thus? The 
Gem squash vine is 10 feet long, but no 
squashes have set yet—why? 
Ans.— We cannot answer these questions. 
The Mint should be earlier than the white 
(not “yellow") dent. The squash is extremely 
prolific inmany places. 
H. S. K., Baring . Mich, sends section of 
raspberry cane with fungus growth; and asks 
information about it. 
Ans.— See article on “Fungus Growths on 
Raspberry Canes" on another page. 
C. H. B. M., Massey, Fa. Which is the 
better for land—ground limestone or burnt 
lime? 
Ans. —Lime. Ground limestone is inert and 
of little value on most soils. 
J. H. Jr ., Parry, N. J., asks where moss 
can be procured for use in shipping vines and 
plants. 
Ans.— W. C. Wilson, 12 Cortlandt St., N. Y., 
will supply it at $1 50 per barrel. 
COMMCJOCATIOXS RECEIVED FOR THE WKKK EjfDIXO 
Saturday, Sept 9 IHSa. 
C. E. 1\—A. A. Beeclier, thanks —A. L. J.—C. E. P 
thanks: hardly In time f r Fair No.—J. P.-O. N. S. 
a mistake: thanks —T. T. L.—F. C. L—H. B.-D J 
C-—E. K. S —\V. J B . thanks' Coo late for Fair No._ 
Ira B. Benton, many thunks —C Y. R.—L. S. E —J. G 
K , Mtchlsan. thanks for report. Our Fair No 
interfered with the publication of all reporta received 
previous to that Issne-H. D. A.—E. B. B.-S. G. R.— 
W, J. 8.—Mrs E. MeM , thanks.— EL S.—T. L. Grimes 
specimens of Bermuda Grass received —H I B —R. 
A, W.—M. R. VT.—D D M.—F, A. C.—G. G D.-P. S 
M.—H. E. A.—S. B, G.—E. L. 11.—“Hope,” for Poor 
Farm Competition.—N. R.—H. S.—D. W.—J. AcC.—E 
A.-C. S. J.-R. S. 
