274 
APRIL 22 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
also forbid Lira to use it himself in any form 
he may please. * 
Ans, —The Revised Regulations concerning 
Taxes on Tobacco, Snuff and Cigars, on page 
4 says this: “Manufacturers of tobacco or 
snuff are required to pay a special tax of $1C. 
Every person whose business it is to manu¬ 
facture tobacco or snuff for himself, or who 
employs others to manufacture tobacco or 
snuff, whether such manufacture be by cut¬ 
ting, pressing, grinding, crushing, or rubbing 
of any raw or leaf-tobacco, or otherwise pre¬ 
paring raw or leaf tobacco, or manufac¬ 
tured, or partially manufactured tobacco 
or snuff, or the putting up for use or con¬ 
sumption of scraps, waste, clippings, stems, 
or deposits of tobacco, resulting from any 
process of handling tobacco, or by the 
working or preparation of leaf-tobacco, 
tobacco-stems, scraps, dippings, or waste, by 
sifting, twisting, screening, or any other pro¬ 
cess, shall be regarded as a manufacturer of 
tobacco.” On page 19 we find this : “ The 
Revised Statutes as amended impose a tax of 
16 cents per pound on all tobacco twisted by 
hand, or reduced from leaf, into a condition 
to be consumed, or in aby manner other than 
the ordinary mode of drying and curing, 
prepared for sale or consumption, even if pre¬ 
pared without the use of any machine or in¬ 
strument, and without being pressed or sweet¬ 
ened. The law' does not require that there 
shall be any radical change in the natural 
leaf, or any extended mode of preparation, or 
any process of reduction which cannot be per¬ 
formed by hand and w ithout the aid of any 
machine or instrument. Therefore all tobac¬ 
co twisted by hand, or prepared by any pro¬ 
cess, however simple, for consumption or use, 
must be packed as prescribed by law for man¬ 
ufactured tobacco, and the tax of 16 cents 
per pound paid thereon.” 
It is therefore evident that it is illegal for 
the tobacco grower to prepare leaf tobacco in 
anyway even for his own use. In the debate 
* in Congress alluded to iu our Editorial of 
March 18, Mr. Emory Speer, of Georgia, re¬ 
lated a case where a tobacco grower had 
been dragged more than 100 miles away from 
home, before a U. S. Court, “ for having 
twisted a few tobacco leaves together and put 
them on a fence to dry.” 
REFUSE FROM FLAX MILL, ETC. 
F. II. Ji,, Perry, N. 3*.—1, Is the refuse of 
a flax mill of any value as a manure ? It con¬ 
sists of shives (outer covering of flax straw), 
chaff and sweepings which have accumulated 
for years and are quite rotten. 2, What poi¬ 
son is best for destroying woodchucks ? 3, 
What is a remedy for bronchial trouble in a 
horse ? 4, In opening a sand bank, which side 
should be opened first—north, south, east or 
west ? 
Ans. —1, The refuse of a flax mill contains 
the only valuable part of the stem for fertil¬ 
izing purposes, the lint being almost pure car¬ 
bonaceous matter, with very little mineral 
matter. A thousand pounds of flax Btalks 
free from the fiber, contain 29.14 pounds ot' 
ash, consisting of 9.372 pounds of potash, and 
3.864 of phosphoric acid. This renders it a 
very valuable material for manure. The fresh 
refuse would make the best litter for stock. 
2, A very light dusting of Paris-green on a 
young cabbage leaf placed near their holes, 
would probably be a good method of destroy¬ 
ing these pests. As they are quite fond of 
young cabbage, they would easily take the 
bait. 3, We can suggest no remedy without 
knowing the precise trouble, or at least a par¬ 
ticular description of the symptoms. It is 
dangerous to prescribe remedies in such a hap¬ 
hazard manner as you desire. 4, The south 
side is the best, because it will be open later in 
the Fall and earlier in the Spring, and will 
always be drier. 
RYE, ETC. 
E. D. H,, Freeport, III. 1. What proportion 
of the corn, rye and barley raised in the 
United States is converted into spirituous or 
malt liquors 1 2. To what other uses is rye 
put ? 3. What is its value as feed for domesti. • 
animals as compared with corn and oats ? 
Ans, —1. It is impossible to tell with any 
sort of precision. It has been stated thatmore 
than 100 million bushels of corn are used in 
distilling and brewing; there is not nearly as 
much rye thus used, as most of the “old rye” 
is really “young corn” whiskey, aged by 
means of chemical substances; nearly all the 
barley grown is used for brewing, and some 
oats besides. A considerable quantity of 
wheat is used for distilliug. The larger part 
of corn thus used is for the manufacture of 
alcohol for trade and industrial purposes, and 
not for liquor. 2. Rye meal is an ingredient 
in the New England brown bread, the other 
ingredients being an equal or larger amount 
of corn meal. A mush made from rye meal 
is good for those troubled with constipation, 
as it is laxative. Roasted rye grains ha ve long 
been used as an adulterant of, or substitute for, 
coffee. Iu Russia, a spirit called quass is dis¬ 
tilled from rye; in Holland it is employed, to¬ 
gether with malt, to make gin; it is largely 
used for bread among the peasantry of North- 
i ern Europe, especially in Sweden. 3. Rye is a 
valuable food for stock, the bran is worth more 
; than wheat bran, and the grain is worth about 
i 50 per cent, more than oats or corn; it is an 
r excellent grain to mix with corn, and the mix¬ 
ture is a far better food th:m either alone. 
SHEEP AND LAMB QUERIES. 
\ M. G. II., Millerton, N. Y. —1, What is the 
best good-sized breed of coarse-wooled sheep 
for general purposes? 2, How are lambs raised 
’ by hand. 3, What is the best time to have 
lambs dropped for profit? 
Ans. —1. Of the coarse wooled sheep there is 
but one breed that is worth keeping, and that 
is the Cotswold. The Lincoln is too large and 
' too great a feeder for profit and is not hardy; 
the Leicester is altogether too tender for our 
climate. The Cotswold, when well cared for, 
is one of the most profitable sheep for wool or 
muttoD, and its grades or crosses on native 
! sheep are equally good. 2, Lambs are raised 
by hand upon the milk of a fresh cow. To 
get the lamb to take the milk, get a new pint 
oil-can with a long spout. Fasten to the spout 
a piece of sponge wrapped around it with the 
end of the spout in the ceuter of the sponge, 
and cover the sponge and spout with a piece 
of cotton cloth, so as to form a teat which 
the Iamb will suck. After the first lesson the 
lamb will suck very readily and after a few 
trials will bleat for its meal when it sees its 
foster-mother. Care must be taken not to 
give too much milk at first. This is an ex¬ 
cellent way to force lambs that are with their 
dams. 3 When the lambs can be well taken 
care of and warm pens are provided for them 
and the ewes, January is the best time. A 
January lamb may be made to weigh 60 
pounds by May. 
FOWL-HOUSE AND PIG PEN, ETC 
J- W. II, N. Y, City. —1, Would a hen house 
built under the same roof as a pig-peu and 
alongside of it, be unhealthful for fowls ? 
What would be the best plan for the two com¬ 
bined ? 2, What would be the best paint for a 
barn ? 
Ans. —1, No; if the bouses were kept as clean 
as they should be; but otherwise there would 
soon be a very sick flock of hens If one de¬ 
termines to keep the j>ens clean, the best ar 
rangement w ould bo to have the poultry on the 
south side of the house, as being the warmest, 
aud the arrangement should be such that the 
fowls cannot get over into the pigs'quarters- 
otherwise the pigs would kill and devour them. 
For two or three pigs a house 10x12 would be 
large enough ; this might be made with an 
upper floor 0 feet above the first, and the hens 
might be kept up above, having sash on the 
south side to let in the sun in the Winter time. 
This will be cheaper and better in some re¬ 
spects; a broad passage- way, made of two 
boards with cleats four inches apart, would 
serve for the fowls to get “ up-stairs.” 2, We 
have found the brow n iron oxide paint, with 
raw linseed oil, the best for all farm buildings. 
It is a rich deep browm, hides the dirt of a 
barnyard, is very durable, dries very hard, 
and is cheap as to its first cost. 
CORNS IN A HORSE'S FOOT. 
J. S. II., Clinton Co., Ia .—What will cure 
corns in a horse’s foot? 
Ans. —Corns in a horse’s foot are not such 
corns as are so troublesome in the human feet. 
But they are tender spots in thesoleof the hoof 
caused by blows of stones in traveling. These 
blows bruise the tender tissue under the so/e 
and cause blood blisters. As there is no escape 
for this extravasated blood, it remains and 
causes serious inflammation and tenderness. 
The cure is to pare down the sole and let out 
this blood or serum, and then to prevent the 
injury from happening again by using a sole- 
leather sole under the shoe. Some horses, 
having flat feet, are always having corns and 
should be protected by this leather sole. 
Others have corns because the frog is cut 
away, which lets the sole down so low as to be 
hurt by every small stone the horse steps 
upon; and some horses have corns because the 
Bhoea do not fit well but press too hard upon 
one spot in the sole. So that no one special 
cure or remedy can be given, but when the 
cause and nature of the corns are known pre¬ 
cautions may be taken against them. 
SIZE OF PRIZE CORN PLOTS. 
“ Subscriber ,” Bedford St a , N. Y.— Just one 
question more about the Prize Corn plot;— 
Will it be considered fair to plant the corn at 
the limits of the plot? He who does this will 
have the oenefit of about 65 square feet more 
of ground than he who follows the suggestion 
of eight rows four feet apart, which would 
leave a six-inch margin around the plot. 
These 65 feet would be capable of yielding 
about a peck of corn. 
Ans. —That is why the number of grains 
is so limited. We say within a plot 33 feet 
square. There will uofc be enough sound ker¬ 
nels to plant on the limits of the plot unless 
the rows or hills are made needlessly far 
apart. 
APPLE-TREE BORER. 
L. W. L., Houston, HI. I have a young ( 
apple orchard—trees one-and-one-half inch in 
diameter. In the heart of the stem of nearly 
i every tree are one or more apple-tree borers. 
How can I get rid of the pests otherwise 
than by diggiug up the trees and burning 
them ? 
Ans. —One method suggested is to cut 
through the bark at the upper eud of the bor¬ 
ings and pour in hot water. This is im¬ 
practicable. Examine the bark and dig out 
the young worms that have batched. Some¬ 
times a small wire can be introduced in¬ 
to the burrows to kill the borers. The best 
way is to prevent them from entering the 
trees in the first place. A good wash for 
trees is made of a teaspoonful of powdered 
aloes, a tablespoonful of flowers of sulphur in a 
gallon of water. A little tobacco water, salt or 
even hellebore or Paris-green may be added. 
The wash is offensive to the insect. 
MISCELLANEOUS. • 
J. B., Nvnda, N. Y. 1, Does the Rural’s 
hollyhock blossom the first year? 2 , Are the 
Early red sweet potato recommended by Peter 
Henderson, auu the Early Nansemond iden¬ 
tical, and where can they be obtained? 3 
Should the viues be allowed to take root, like 
the strawberry? 4. Will the large mammoth 
corn lately advertised in the Rural mature 
in this part of N. Y? 
Ans. —1, If started in the house in Winter, 
it will often bloom in the Summer. 2, No, 
the Nansemond is sweeter and has a yellow 
skin. There is also a Red Nansemond. You 
will have^to buy the plants of seedsmen now. 
Price about. 75 cents per 100. 3, These plants 
are set a foot or so apart on well manured 
ridges formed by throwing several furrows 
together. The vines cover the ground for 
three feet or more on every side and they roust 
not be permitted to tuke root, as they will do 
if undisturbed. A pitchfork or rake may be 
used to raise them now aud again after the 
vines have begun to run. 4, We do not know 
what mammoth corn is referred to. The 
Chester Co. Mammoth would,with you,require 
the whole of a favorable season to mature 
fully. 
J. F. C., Dead wood, Dakota. —Dopstbe Ru¬ 
ral know of a grain called the .Mammoth or 
White Spring Rye; if so, has it any superior 
qualities; where and when did it originate, 
and where can the seed be obtained ? 
Ans. —We have had specimens of this grain 
sent to us, off aud ou, for years. It is a long 
kernel, nearly twice as long as the Clawson- 
amber cc'Ior. hard aud heavy. Its appearance 
captivates the eye of every grain grower who 
sees it for the first time. The heads are beard- 
ed, large and coarse chaff, and look more like 
rye than wheat. From time to time it has 
been offered under manj r different names by 
irresponsible traveling seed peddlers. Dia¬ 
mond Wheat, Mammoth Egyptian Rye, Ne¬ 
vada Rye, Wheat of Taos are among those 
names. It is probably the Polish Wheat—or 
a variety of it—as this species is prone to vary 
greatly—Triticum Polonicum. We have it 
growing in our Experiment Grounds, and shall 
| he able to report next Summer as to its growth. 
We have never beard that it proved of much 
value anywhere. 
W. A. C., Temple, Texas. 1. Will it do 
Irish potatoes good or harm to cut the vines 
back ? 2. Will it injure sweet potatoes to cut 
the vines off? 3. My Mississippi Red Plum, 
set out four years on black prairie 6oil, has not 
blossomed yet—what's the matter with it ? 4. 
Are the premiums for the Rural corn for the 
heaviest yield, regardless of quantity planted ? 
5. What are the Rural’s wheat prizes for? 
Ans.— 1. It will do them harm. 2. No. 3. 
Nothing is the matter with it. Give it time. 
If it is growing too vigorously, root-prune it 
by cutting the soil to the depth of a spade 
three feet from the stem all around it. 4. We 
have only to request our contestants to report 
the number of kernels planted, weight of corn 
produced (as will be explained later), manure 
used, how planted and cultivated. 5. For the 
heaviest yield of grain of the Fultzo-Clawson, 
and for the heaviest five heads of the Surprise. 
F. O. M., Ogdensbury, N. Y.—What is the 
very best of the new kinds of potatoes to grow 
tor market, productiveness, freedom from 
blight and rot, and table qualities all consid¬ 
ered. I wish to know from those who have 
had experience rather than from those who 
simply have potatoes to sell. 
Ans. —For the Rural we will answer:—Our 
respected friend should know that no trust¬ 
worthy answer can be given for all places. 
The Beauty of Hebron is the best early potato 
known to-day; the White Elephant the best 
late. have no potatoes for sale, or any 
interest in one potato more than another. 
Andrews’ White Rose is of excellent quality 
and very productive in some parts Other 
excellent potatois which we have tested are 
the following: Pride of America, Rose Mag¬ 
num Bonum, Belle, Mammoth Pearl, White 
Star. 
J. McL., Altoona, Kan. —What is the best 
plan to get straw, now tramped down by 
cattle around the straw stack, rotted so that 1 
it can be hauled out next July t ? , 
Ans. —If you can procure some lime, turn 
over the straw and mix the lime among it, 
first letting the lime slack down by exposing 
it to a shower or two until it is fine. If the 
straw is wet, it will soon heat up and rot in 
this way. 
N. H. T., Ellsworth, III. How can lice on 
apple trees bo destroyed ? The trees are fully 
budded, but the buds are covered with green 
lice. 
Ans —There is no way that is practicable. 
Syringing them with tobacco water, hellebore 
water, or Paris-green or London purple, is the 
only suggestion we can make. The Rural 
would be glad to hear from experienced po- 
mologists on this subject, as the Rural Grounds 
suffer in the same way. 
W. M. L., Abbyrille, Fiat, Intending to 
compete for the premiums for the best yields 
from the Rural seeds, please give instructions 
for planting them. 
Ans. —Full instructions as to planting of all 
our seeds, especially of the premium seeds, 
have already been given several times within 
the last two or three months. We hope that 
those who have overlooked them, will kindly 
refer to back numbers. 
C. H. C., North Creek, N. Y. 1, Are the 
Fultzo-Clawson and Shumaker Winter 
wheats ? 2, Is the Perfect Gem Squash a 
Summer variety? 
Ans. —1, They are. 2, It ig a fine variety for 
either Summer or Winter use—the best per¬ 
haps for Winter. 
T. J, L,, Lowville, N. Y., sends leaves of 
three sorts of plants, for name. 
Ans, —One, No. 1. is an acacia, we cannot 
give the specific name. We must request you 
to send flowers as well as leaves, otherwise we 
cannot determine the names of plants. 
J. G. M., Brookfield. What is a preventive 
of mold on gooseberries ? 
Ans. —Sulphur sifted upon the mildewed 
leaves will sometimes help. But there is no 
preveutiveor remedy for mildew in the foreign 
varieties. 
W. C., San Juan Island, Wash. Ter .— 
Where can I get a reliable work ou vinous, 
acetous and putrefactive fermentation ? 
Ans. —Pasteur’s Fermentation, to be had of 
D. Van Nostraud, 23 Warren Street, N. Y. 
City—price, $6. 
C. M. II., Saranac, Mich. Will the Rural 
flint com yield as much as the Rural dent 
on a beech and maple farm in this section ? 
Ans.—T he flint, with you, will probably 
yield more. The dent would scarcely mature. 
F. G. B., Hem nor e, Maine. —Where can I 
get the report of the Eusilage Cougress that 
lately met in New York. 
Anh.— From J. B. Brown, 55 Beekmau St. 
this city. Price, 30 cts. 
II O. II., Harrison, Montana. My Wash¬ 
ington oats smutted badly, yet I want to try 
them again. Will blue vitriol kill smut on oats 
the same as it does in wheat ? 
Ans.—Y es. 
W. O. M., Fairchance, Fa. What is the 
character of the Thomas Smoothing and Pul¬ 
verizing Harrow ? 
Ans.— Excellent. We use it at the farm. 
J. M L., Prairie, Win. —Where can I get 
Fowl Meadow Grass seed and, at what price ? 
Ans. —It is advertised by D. M. Ferry & Co., 
of Detroit, Mich., at $3 per bushel. 
E. K., Kewanna, Ind. What kind of onion 
should be planted to produce bottom sets i 
Ans.— See articles on glowing onion sets in 
Rural of late dates. 
L. E. C., Aplington, Ia. What is the ad¬ 
dress of the makers of Lamb's Knitting Ma¬ 
chine ? 
Ans. — Chicopee Falls, Mass. 
A, T. P.—We think they are Cow Peas. 
There are so many varieties, we cannot give 
the name. 
W.II.A., Westfield, Mass. —It is too late 
now r to prune fruit trees. Black, dead patches 
on young fruit trees are often caused by not 
cutting off tbe twigs of the trees early enough. 
The branches cut are too large, and the bark 
never grows over them. The “lower part” of 
the trees is usually tbe stock from which the 
bark exfoliates, as does the bark of all trees 
after it reaches a certain age, varying with 
the species. Other questions will be answered 
shortly. 
Communications Received fob the Week Ending 
Saturday, April 15.1882. 
It. J. M.—S. E. &-A. P.—L. B.-F. R.-N. R.-F. A. W. 
H. S.—A. L. Y.—L. M.—E. M.—L L. S.—G. S.—F. S.—P 
B.—J. S.—B. 8.-G. B.-A. S. H.-H. Y.-A. S. V.-.T. a! 
P.—D. M —W. A. C, M. II.-E. E. B. S.—W. D.-W. A. 
It.—W. E. W.—H. G.-J. M S., answer by mall.—G. P. 
L —E. M. Howard, don’t buy until you hear from the 
Rural - Jos. dreethurst, thanks for the corn —J. F. 
T., seeds received.—A. T. -M.8,—C. M. S—C E. P.— 
D. S. M.—W. H. B., thanks for corn. Edw. Nixon, 
plants received.—W. 8.—H. B. Williams.—H, Natley, 
peas received ; thanks—very large. Wliat Is the name? 
—P. E. Hudson, Md., thanks for com.—A. B. A.—'IJ„ 
W, C.-W. A. C.-F. K. M.-J. G.-H. 8,-N. 1L T.-A. 
B. A.—J. McC.-J. tV. R —J. N. Tbo White Klephnut 
is generally as white ns any potato.—A. L. J.-M. E. 
A.—W. McL. we are always glad to hear from our 
subscribers. Tbe Rubai. Is tbe spider for It. 
