82S 
TUI RURAL HIW-YORKIR. 
MAY 43 
on both sides. The requirements are 
less stringent in others. A man seeking 
to have his beast entered in any of them, 
should find out from the person from whom 
he has bought his cow or bull where and how 
it was recorded, and then write to the Secre¬ 
tary or Editor of that particular Herd Book 
for blanks of registry, etc. In answer to a 
note of inquiry full particulars will be fur¬ 
nished as to cost of entry, requirements, etc. 
2. We cannot name the wheat. 
OVER-STRAINING OR OVER-FEEDING A COLT, 
ETC. 
J. S. B., Stanton , Ta. 1. My colt was put to 
hard work a few days ago; the shoulders have 
become very stiff and the animal acts as if it 
were foundered, but although its gait is rather 
staggering it eats well—what should I do for 
it ? 2. Lately 1 have had a great many boils, 
what should I do to get rid of them and 
avoid others? 
Ans. —L The colt has probably been over¬ 
heated or has Iteen sprained, or it may have 
been over-fed. Not knowing how it has been 
used and fed, of course we cannot give an opin¬ 
ion “as is an opinion,” or one that would be con¬ 
clusive. But one or other of these causes has no 
doubt produced the result. It would be quite 
safe, and doubtless of use, to give the animal 
a gentle laxative, as a pint of linseed oil and 
repeat it the second day, to feed cut hay 
with bran and linseed meal, the whole moist¬ 
ened with warm water. Press the shoulders 
with the hand in places, and if a tender spot 
is found rub some turpentine into it with gen¬ 
tle pressure and a kneading of the part. Give 
the colt a good soft bed and nurse it well and 
let it rest for a few days. 2. The best thing to 
cake would be the advice of a doctor; but if 
that is not convenient, lake a gentle cooling 
purgative, as one ounce of Epsom salts, re¬ 
peated the second day after it, and avoid cold. 
Such eruptions may be avoided by taking 
laxative medicine occasionally and guarding 
against costiveness. 
LICE ON SHEER, ETC. 
J. T. S., Fountain Green, III. 1, What will 
kill lice on sheep? 2, Will different varieties 
of potatoes “mix ” if planted alongside each 
other? 3, Has the Rural ever tested the 
White Alabama Potato? 4, Does it know 
anything about the Longfellow field corn?. 
Ans. —1, The treatment mentioned for ticks 
on sheep on page 253 of the Plural for April 
15 last would free the sheep from this pest 
also. The sheep tick is Melophagus ovinus and 
the sheep louse isTrichodectes ovis. The head of 
the latter is of a red color and the body a pale 
yellow. It chiefly infests the side of the neck 
of sheep and the inside of the thighs and arms. 
The pest is rarely found on yolky sheep,but it 
often causes much irritation and mischief in 
drier-wooled sheep. A convenient remedy is 
to rub the parts mentioned with a preparation 
made as follows: Lard, one pound, flowers 
of sulphur, two ounces; creosote, 20 drops, a 
pint of Bweet oil may be substituted for the 
lard. A very effectual remedy for lice, ticks, 
mange and all such diseases due to parasites 
on sheep, horses, cattle, dogs, etc., is an appli¬ 
cation of Little’s Chemical Sheep Dip, This is 
already prepared, and if kept on hand an 
early application would save the afflicted 
animals from great irritation and their owners 
frequently from considerable loss. 2, No, it 
is Impossible, they can mix only through the 
flowers. 3, No. 4, We know it to be a good 
variety of flint. It is an eight rowed yellow, 
if we remember it rightly. 
SCROFULOUS TUMOR IN A HORSE. 
W. A. II., Ralston, Tam. — For two or 
three years my horse has had a tumor, about 
twice the size of a pea, near the root of one of 
his ears, and every week or ten days it dis¬ 
charges a thick, white, ropy matter resem¬ 
bling the white of an egg; after which the 
orifice closes for another woek or ten days. 
He also bus an enlarged pastern joint, caused 
by resting his foot for a long time while snag¬ 
ged. What is the eause of the tumor and 
what should be the treatment of that and the 
pastern joint ? 
Ans. —This is an indication of a scrofulous 
habit or constitution, of which this kind of 
tumor and the swellingof the joints from slight 
injuries are common symptoms. Furcy and 
glanders often finally result in such eases, but 
this has not yet progressed to that extent. 
Give the horse one ounce of hyposulphite of 
soda daily for two or three weeks; inject into 
the tumor, when it opens, a little warm water 
to which one-fortieth part of carbolic acid 
has been added, using a small glass syringe. 
Feed only the soundest food and give occa¬ 
sionally a bran mash, to keep the bowels soft 
and regular. It would not be safe to disturb 
the swelling on the pastern at present; as soon 
as the tumor on the ear disappears and the 
horse is free from all tendency to eruptive dis¬ 
charges, apply iodine ointment to the swelling, 
once a day, rubbing in with the hand a piece 
as large as a white bean. 
STOPPED TEAT IN A COW. 
D. B. B., Schaghticoke, N. Y. At the out¬ 
set milk wouldn’t come from one of the teats 
of my Jersey heifer; for a time the introduc¬ 
tion of a coarse knitting-needle and afterwards 
of a goose-quill caused a bigger flow; but 
now the end of the teat has become hard and 
swollen, and the heifer will hardly allow it to 
be touched. How shall I treat it ? 
Ans. —The insertion of these rough sub¬ 
stances has irritated the teat. When any ope¬ 
ration of this kind is performed, the teat 
should first be relaxed by fomenting with 
warm water and gentle kneading; then the 
instrument to be inserted should be oiled. A 
silver milking tube should be used in such 
cases, and one should be kept in readiness for 
such emergencies bv every owner of, a cow. 
Now the teat should be bathed with warm 
water and then anointed with glycerine, and 
milked very gently. The milk must be drawn, 
if the cow has to be tied while it is done. Do 
this, however, very gently. When the milk 
is drawn out, insert a very smooth, blunt plug 
of hard bone or ivory (such as is illustrated in 
the Rural of February 11, page 93) shaped 
with a file, to fit the inside of the teat; make 
it a little bulging in the middle, so that it will 
stay in, and make a knob on the end so that it 
will not go in further than is required; or keep 
the milking tube in thi teat and stop the open¬ 
ing until milking time. 
INFLAMMATION OF THE KIDNEYS IN A HORSE. 
E. B., Eau Claire, Mich. My three-year- 
old cult, once down, can't get up unless he]ped; 
in walking he moves as if the small of his back 
were broken near the kidneys. He is stiff in 
his hind legs which are badly swollen near 
the gambrel joints—what ails him and how 
should he be treated? 
Ans, —These symptoms are those of infiam 
mation of the kidneys. The treatment of this 
disease should be as follows: Give a pint of 
raw linseed oil, also warm drinks of linseed 
gruel or slippery elm bark infusion; apply a 
hot fomentation to the loins by dippiug a 
folded blanket in hot water and binding this 
on with a surcingle and coveriug with another 
blanket. Sweating should be encouraged and 
the action of the kidneys quieted in every 
way. This disease is too often caused by 
bad feeding, and only sound hay and grain 
should be given, carefully avoiding musty or 
smutty food or fodder which is a most frequent 
provocative of this trouble. The food should 
be soft so as to keep the bowels loose; warm 
bran mash, steeped oats and cut hay with 
bran and linseed meal, should be used and 
water only moderately. Diuretics, as rosin 
and saltpeter, are very injurious. 
FREEZING OF WATER IN PIPES. 
C. T. K. If a steam pipe rilled with water 
freezes solid at 20 deg. above zero without 
bu rating, w ould it break if the cold increased 
say, to 10 deg. below zero? 
Ans.—I f the w ater in the pipe froze solid 
at 20 degrees the pipe would burst, but it 
would not freeze solid at that temperature in 
a short time. The act of freezing is not sud¬ 
den. At first noedlo like crystals form from 
the pipe and meet in the center of the water, 
leaving many interstices in which the water 
is not frozen, and unless the cold is very in¬ 
tense and sudden, the compression of the water 
by expansion by the freezing forces it out by 
the pipe and so relieves the pressure. If there 
is an escape for the water, the gradual, slow 
freezing of a pipe tilled with water will rarely 
burst it. But if the cold is iutenseuud sudden 
and the water cannot escape, bursting is in¬ 
evitable. During continued freezing these 
spiculoe or needle-like crystals gradually in- 
ereuse in number until they form a solid mass, 
but if the water can escape and the pressure 
be relieved, the ice is porous and honey¬ 
combed and tb6 pipe will not burst, or may 
not, however great the cold may be. Water 
expands one ninth in freezing with a power 
that is irresistible. 
LEGAL RATE OF INTEREST IN NEW YORK 
STATE. 
A. P., Germantovm, N. Y. A mortgage was 
given in August, 1879, conditioned on the pay¬ 
ment of a certain sum iu five years, vnlh legal 
interest. Cau seven per cent, be demanded 
after January, 1880, when no particular rate 
is mentioned ? 
Ans —Such a mortgage draws legal interest 
—legal interest is now six per cent. The in¬ 
ference is obvious. The question offers some 
points of construction of language which 
might serve to provoke a dispute to be decided 
in a court; but the moral obligation is un¬ 
questionably in favor of paying and receiving 
legal interest only. As the penalty for taking 
more than legal interest is very severe—viz., 
forfeiture of the debt and interest, and fine or 
imprisonment—it would be extremely risky 
in such a case as this to encounter the decision 
of a jury or a court. ThiH particular ques¬ 
tion, we believe, has not yer, been decided in 
a court, hut the decision, w r e think can scarcely 
be doubted, would be that six per cent., which 
is legal interest, only could be recovered. 
Had the mortgage called for seven per cent., 
there would be no question either of law or 
equity. 
RATIONS FOR “FARM-HAND,” ETO. 
S, T. P., Silcott's Springs, Va, 1, What 
should be the rations allowed a farm hand 
boarding himself for one year? 2, How can 
the nests of sitting hens be kept free from 
lice? 
Ans. —1, It depends upon the kind of hand. 
If a negro laborer,corn meal and bacon are gen¬ 
erally furnished—a peck of corn meal and five 
pounds of bacon per week are usually allowed 
as rations, with a sufficent quantity of salt 
and the produce of a small garden patch. 
Some hands demand more than this, but a 
reasonable quantity of food should be supplied 
or the “hand” will make up the deficiency from 
the farm in some way. If a white man, the 
quantity of rations would be and is a matter 
for special agreement. 2, The nests are best 
made in shallow wooden boxes about 14 or 1(5 
inches square and the best way to keep these 
free from lice is to steep them in boiling water 
for an hour or two and then pour kerosene oil 
around the joints inside. Sprinkle some sul¬ 
phur then on the box, make the nest and dust 
a little sulphur on that; then set the hen. 
Never use the nest box a second time without 
scalding and oiling it, and burn the nest. 
CRUDE PETROLEUM FOR FENCES AND OUT¬ 
BUILDINGS. 
II. A. W., Fluvanna, N. Y. Can crude pe¬ 
troleum be used to paint fences and rough 
out-buildings; if so, what should be mixed 
with it ? 
Ans.— Crude petroleum has long been used 
for painting barns and fences. As the oil 
sinks into the wood very rapidly, no coloring 
matter could be used with it, as it would be 
left dry on the surface and rub or be washed 
off. But no coloring matter is required, as it 
leaves the timber of a brow nish color that is 
agreeable, and hides the dirt w hich usually 
gathers on a barn. The effect of the petro¬ 
leum is to saturate the timber and not to form 
a coat on it, so that it adds greatly to its du¬ 
rability, and also makes the very best priming 
coat upon which to lay a second coat of oil 
and mineral paint, which is the very best cov¬ 
ering for farm buiidings, being durable, fire¬ 
proof, cheap, and of a desirable brown color. 
This mineral paint is oxide of iron, and it 
forms a chemical combination with the linseed 
oil as that dries and oxidizes, and this makes 
it so durable and permanent. 
ROPY MILK. 
D. T. P., Blaine, Ohio. What is the cause 
of, and what is the remedy for, ropy milk? It 
becomes ropy only after landing about 12 
hours. All my cows seem to give this sort of 
milk, and I have been much troubled in this 
way at different times. 
Ans.— Are you sure the trouble is not with 
your milk pans, not being perfectly cleaned, 
or is the air of your milk room perfec tly pure? 
If not, either of these would affect the milk iu 
this way. It is strange that all the cows 
should be so affected. The milk of one, how¬ 
ever, if mixed with that of the others would 
affect the whole. If the trouble is with the 
cows, something is wrong with the water or 
the feed. For this careful search should lie 
made. It may be of use to give two drachms 
of saltpeter to each cow, and to dissolve four 
ounces of saltpeter iu two quarts of water, 
decant the clear solution, and put one tea¬ 
spoonful into each pan of milk of four quarts. 
We shall be glad to hear the result. 
ICE CELLAR AND MILK CELLAR, ETC. 
C. W. L., Davenport , la. 1, Is it practical 
to regulate the temperature of a milk-cellar 
by opening a door between it and an adjoin¬ 
ing ice cellar, whenever needed? 2, Is the 
Velvet Chaff Wheat, so highly recommended 
for rich soils, suitable for sowing in Spring? 
Ans. —No, such a plan will not work. It 
has frequently been tried and has always 
failed. It wastes the ice without cooling the 
milk. The best plan is to set the milk, in 
deep pails, in a cistern, trough or pool covered 
from the air, and use the ice in the ordinary 
way to cool the milk directly. A water-tight 
box of plank lined with tin wili answer well 
for this purpose. Many times more ice would 
be needed to coo l the air of the milk cellar than 
to cool the milk itself. Fifty pounds of ice 
will cool 200 pounds of milk to 45 deg. iu a 
close, non conducting box or refrigerator. 2. 
Probably not. We are not aware it has ever 
been tried as a Spring wheat. 
OIL MEAL FOR HORSES. 
L., Sewickley, Pa. What effect will oil meal 
have on horses; how much should be fed and 
how often ? 
Ans. —1, What sort of oil meal is referred 
to ? If linseed oil meal, that is wholesome 
and beneficial if fed moderately, as a 
quart at a feed with the usual other feed. 
It is specially useful for colts. But cotton¬ 
seed oil meal is quite a different affair, 
and has not been found safe food for horses 
(or pigs) in even small quantities. It has a 
costive effect and is not so digestible as lin¬ 
seed meal. It has been fed to mules in the 
South, or rather the whole seed has, but then 
a mule is not a horse and will survive what 
would kill several horses. 2. Queries about 
Rural seeds have been answered over and 
over again, so we must really refer our friend 
to ba6k numbers. 
SPECIAL POTATO FERTILIZER. 
T. A. IF., Fluvanna, N. Y. I intend to 
plant potatoes on a gravely loam the sod of 
which was turned under last year and sown 
to buckwheat. It is in fine tilth and good, 
strong land—would it pay to use Mapes 
Potato Fertilizer; what is the price per ton and 
how should it be applied? 
Ans. —We use potato fertilisers at the rate 
of from 300 to 1,500 pounds per acre With our 
present light, we prefer to sow at the rate of say 
400 pounds per acre in the drills, the seed 
pieces being first slightly covered with soil. 
Then sow broadcast after the drills are covered, 
and harrow’ once with an inclined-tooth 
smoothing harrow. In most cases the use of 
such fertilizers pays. In specific cases, there 
may be causes which render the outlay quite 
unavailing. The price is about $50.00 per ton. 
THE RURAL PREMIUM CORN. 
IF. .1. H.. Galway, N. F I, In planting the 
Rural prize corn would it be right to plant 
100 hills three feet apart each way, io a meas¬ 
ured plot of 33 feet square? 2, Would it be 
necessary that a justice should witness the 
the matter? 3, Can I c ultivate and manure as 
I please? 
Ans.—1, Yes, if you so prefer. 2, No, we 
will attend to that. We want the statement 
of each contestant as to number of kernels 
planted, etc., as previously explained. Those 
who draw premiums will be visited by Rural 
agents afterwards or requested to make sworn 
statements. We desire to make it easy and 
comfortable for all. 3, Just as you please— 
only keep the record. 
MISCELLANEOUS. 
/>’. IT,, Waubeck, Minn., 1, Is it healthful 
to stew fruit in “agate” or granite-ware? 
2, Where is the Christian Weekly published ? 
3, Is the American Book Exchange a reliable 
firm now’ ? 4. Can those w’ho raised a few 
White Elephants last year get the biggest 
yield this year by cutting them to singleeyes ? 
Ans. —1. Yes. 2, Illustrated Christian 
Weekly, Saturdays, subscription price $2 50. 
American Tract Society, 150 Nassau St., N. 
Y, 3, The American Book Exchange has 
“gone where the woodbine twineth,” after 
leaving a very dishonest name behind It. The 
Universal Knowledge Co., largely advertised 
by circulars, etc., is conducted principally by 
those who gave a “bad name” to the other 
concern. 4. Yes. Single eyes will unques¬ 
tionably produce more potatoes if planted at 
suitable distances apart. If we wanted to 
produce the greatest weight of potatoes, wo 
should cut to more than one eye in a piece. 
A. L. Columbus, Ohio. 1. Is any peri¬ 
odical devoted exclusively to pigeons ? 2. Can 
Dutch bulbs be as profitably raised here as in 
Holland; how should they be handled for 
flowering ? 3. Are rabbits profitable, and what 
are they good for ? 
Ans —1. We do not know of any; hut the 
Fanciers’ Journal, of Springfield, Mass.; the 
Poultry Monthly, of this city; the Poultry 
Journal, of Chicago, and most other poultry 
papers have pigeon departments. 2. What 
sort of bulbs is meant—hyacinths ? Tell us 
and we’ll tellyou. 3. Rabbitsare an unprofit¬ 
able sort of livestock. The mischief they do 
on the farm more than counterbalances their 
value in the market or on the domestic table. 
Of course, Johnnie’s and Susie’s pets are not 
included in this condemnation, especially 
Jolmnie’s; because that playful youngster 
stands more in need of tbe “humanizing” in¬ 
fluence of pets than his kind-hearted little 
sister. 
Several inquirers ask us to send catalogues 
“noticed” in the Rural and circulars of 
implements advertised therein. This we can¬ 
not do. Those who wish to get these must 
write for them to the parties who get them 
up, and who will promptly send them on ap¬ 
plication. Others ask us to tend (hem or sell 
them seeds of past Free Seed Distributions. 
We have frequently said that after the distri¬ 
bution is completed we have absolutely noth¬ 
ing more to do with the seeds and plants in¬ 
cluded in it. Dealers advertize some of them 
in our columns; the others are not for sale in 
this count ry. In no case and under no cir¬ 
cumstances can we furnish them. We never 
sell anj’ seeds or plants or anything else ex¬ 
cept the Rural New-Yorker, To old sub¬ 
scribers statements like this must be getting 
a trifle wearisome; yet every week from 
two to half u dozen inquiries of the kind 
reach us. 
New Subscriber, Toledo, Ohio. Is the Rural 
Branching Sorghum as desirable as corn for. 
winter fodder for cows, and is the yield un¬ 
der the same circumstances as large? 
Ans.— Where the R. B. Sorghum thrives 
well, the reports show' that it yields far more 
heavily than corn and that stock ure more fond 
of it. In your section, however, we would prefer 
to grow corn for winter feed, if for no other 
reason than because growing the R. B. Sor- 
