JUNE 24 
it 
THE RURAL WEW-YORKER. 
423 
and the back is crossed between the segments 
by transverse lines of the same color. When 
full-grown it draws together several leaves of 
the tree upon which it has fed, fastens them 
with silk and then begins to spin its cocoon, in¬ 
side of which it cbauges to a chrysalis. The 
caterpillar, when full grown, is nearly as 
large as the thumb and three or four inches 
long. The moth that issues from the chry¬ 
salis at about this season of the year, is slug¬ 
gish in the day time and is often found cling¬ 
ing to the body of some small tree or shrub 
near the ground. The silk of the coccon of 
this species is of but little value, as it is too 
compact to be readily unwound. 
GRUB IN-THK-HEAD IN SHEEP. 
W. L. M., Newark, Ohio —What is the 
cause of grub-in-th6-head in sheep, and how 
should it be treated, 
Ans. —This malady is due to the presence 
of “bots” in the nasal sinuses or cavities. The 
“bots” are the larv.e of the sheep gad-fly— 
tcstrus ovis. This is a slender, bee-like in¬ 
sect that lays its eggs in the sheep’s nostrils 
in July, August and September. When 
hatched from the egg the grub crawls up the 
nostrils and lodges in the cavities or sinuses 
of the head where it remains till the following 
Spring, feeding on the mucus secreted by the 
membranes. In entering the nostrils and 
leaving them the grubs cause a great deal 
of irritation to the sheep. At the right season 
the fly should bo prevented from depositing 
its eggs in sheeps’ nostrils. This may be done 
by smearing the nose with tar diluted with 
grease, butter, glycerine or molasses. This 
either deters the flies from laying theireggs or 
destroys the eggs. It would be well also to 
plow a few furrows in the pasture and the 
sheep will instinctively stick their noses into 
the loose soil, and this prevents the young 
grubs from climbing up their nostrils, as they 
cannot adhere to the dust, but fall to the 
ground. When the grubs are crawling down 
the nostrils in Spring they may be easily dis¬ 
lodged by blowing tobacco tmoke into the nose 
through a pipe. 
DESTROYING CANADA THISTLES. 
A. S., Vevay, Ind. What is the best way to 
eradicate Canada thistles ? I propose to plant 
the infested gronud three or four inches deep, 
and from the furrow pick the roots out and 
gather up the tops as cleanly as possible; then 
lit the land for corn and plant this, so that the 
hills will show before the blades come up. 
Cultivate os soon as the corn is planted with 
a cultivator so made that nothing can pass 
between the teeth without being cut, pulling 
or hoeing up all thistles in and around the 
hills, always cutting them oif so soon as they 
appear above ground, or pulling them out by 
baud if they appear in the hill. Is there a 
better way ? 
Ans.— The best way to destroy this pest is- 
to plow them under just as they are about to 
bloom, and to cover them up as deeply as pos¬ 
sible. Then destroy every new green shoot as 
it appears and as much of the roots as possi¬ 
ble. We have, luckily, had no experience 
with the Canada thistle, but have read much 
that has been written as to the best method of 
destroying them, and the above is the conclu¬ 
sion at which we have arrived. Your plan is 
essentially the same—only see to it that your 
vigilance never ceases. 
SELECT FRUITS FOR SOUTHEASTERN TEXAS. 
11. B,, Wharton, Co., Texas.: 1. What are 
five or six of the best kinds of early peaches 
to plant here; soil, sanuy loam, under cultiva¬ 
tion four years ? 2. Your opinion about the 
Downing, Sanders, Musser, and Wilder 
Peaches ? 3. Six of the best kinds of straw¬ 
berries to plant, three early kinds, and the 
rest in succession ? 4. Five of the best kinds 
of grapes ? 5. In planting strawberries would 
you advise plauting pot grown plants or 
ground layers? 
Ans.— 1. Alexander, Early Rivers, Hale’s 
Early, Early York, Mountain Rose. 3. These 
new kiuds ripen with Alexander and, so far 
as they have been tested, are not superior in 
any important respect. We do uot know 
anything about the Musser, however. S. We 
can only mention—we cannot commend kiuds 
of strawberries for given places; iu truth a 
trial can alone determine which are best- 
Wo may name Crystal City, Cumberland Tri¬ 
umph, Wilson, Sharpless, Charles Downing, 
Miner’s Prolific, Bidwell and Kentucky. 4. 
Ilerbemont, Agawam, Concord, Delaware, 
Iona, Israella, Massusoit, Merrimack. 5. The 
advantage of pot-grown plants is simply that 
they bear more fruit the next Summer. But 
they must be well grown aud shipped in good 
order. 
WINTER-KILLED RASPBERRIES. 
W. B., Heading, Mass. 1. Last Fall I 
set out 100 Cuthbert Raspberries, two Caro¬ 
lines, and three Greggs; the tops of all have 
been winter-killed, ami many of the roots; 
ought I to pull them all up ? 2. Some of my 
Turners and most of my Ganarguas have uot 
started well; my 1’hi la del phi as are all dead, 
root aud branch; lots of young plants are 
starting between the rows, should they be set 
out ? 
Ans. —1. If your soil Is damp or not well 
drained, you cannot in your climate raise 
rasphert ies successfully. The Caroline is one 
of the hardiest berries, the Cuthbert, fairly 
hardy. The Gregg is not hardy enough to 
stand the climate of the Rural Grounds, 
Bergen Co., New Jersey. The Turner is a 
hardy berry—the Philadelphia variable. 
Sometimes with us it is not harmed at all; 
sometimes killed to the ground, as in the past 
season. 2. We should advise you to again 
try strong suckers from the Caroline, Cuth¬ 
bert, Souhegan and Turner. 
COWS IN STABLE. 
J. P,, Corunna, Mick,: l. Would it be 
healthy for cattle and horses to be kept in the 
same stable? 2. How many cows can be kept 
in an IS foot stable in staochious? 
Ans. —1. It is perfectly healthy for horses 
and cattle to be kept in the same stable to¬ 
gether. 2. For small cows, like the Devon, Ayr¬ 
shire, and Jersey, stalls three feet apart will 
do. Still even for these we think it rather 
close, and would prefer three-and-a half feet. 
For large cows, like the Short-horn, Hereford, 
or Polled Angus, stalls ought to be four feet 
apart. But when putin stanchions, there is 
no necessity of partitioning the stable into 
stalls, aud in this case it does not require so 
much space for a given number. If our 
friend’s cow? are of moderate size, he can put 
six in his 18-foot stable. We hope his stable 
will be well ventilated; if so, it may be made 
cool in Summer and warm and comfortable in 
Winter. This adds greatly to the health of 
cattle. 
REMEDY FOR CHICKEN CHOLERA. 
D. J. C., New York. —l, What is a remedy 
for chicken cholera? 2, To whom must [ap¬ 
ply for seeds to be obtained from the De 
partmeut of Agriculture? 
Ans. —1, Cures have been effected by 
feeding with cooked meal in which 
red pepper, gunpowder and turpentine 
have been mixed, or also by dissolving bi- 
sulpbate of soda in water in the 
proportion of an ounce to a gallon and giving 
this to the fowls to drink. But when a fowl 
is discovered with this disease it had better be 
killed and the healthy fowls removed to other 
quarters, but in killing care should be taken 
not to leave any blood where other fowls 
can get at it, and the diseased bird should be 
at ouce buried. Infected manure or feathers, 
are liable to convey the disease. 2, To the 
Congressman from your district. 
CHEAP ROOF FOR BARN. 
J. D. E., Fulton, Mo. I am putting up a 
dairy barn, 60 x 06 feat, with nine feet stone 
basement. I wish to put on the central por¬ 
tion a rather flat roof. What is the best 
material to use, taking moderate cost into 
consideration ? 
Ans.— The cheapest roof would be one of 
matched pine boards, thoroughly coated with 
hot tar, and then battened with narrow strips 
well nailed with wrought nails and clinched; 
these strips should be also coated with tar. 
The boards should be about six inches wide, 
and the strips three inches. After the roof is 
on a second coat of tar may be given, and the 
hot tar covered with flue sand or water lime. 
The latter will harden with the tar almost like 
stone. This roof will bo light aud air-tight, as 
well as water-proof. Gas tar, costing about 
a dollar per barrel, should be used. 
THRASHING GRASS SEED. 
B. It., Cadiz, Ohio. How is Orchard Grass 
seed harvested and thrashed ? 
Ans.— Orchard Grass seed, or indeed any 
grass seed, maybe harvested and thrashed by 
cutting the grass when the seed is ripe, and 
thrashing it as it is drawn off from the 
ground, or afterwards at any time, either by 
the flail or ny machine. The seed is cleaned 
by screening if it is light, as Red Top, Blue 
Grass, or Orchard Grass; and by the wind mill 
or clealler, if it is heavy, as Timothy. Orchard 
Grass is light and chaffy seed and should be 
cleaned by screening it in a fanning mill with 
a very light draft; but it is usually sold aud 
sown in the chaff. 
Miscellaneous. 
T. H. IF., Oberlin, Ohio. —1, What are the 
three best strawberries and raspberries for a 
farmer’s home use? 2, What is the most fra¬ 
grant climbing honeysuckle? 3, What is the 
best wash for out-door work ? 
Ans.— 1, Raspberries: Cuthbert, Caroline 
and Turner. Strawberries: Cumberland 
Triumph, Charles Downing and Sharp¬ 
less. 2, TheBeigian Honeysuckle. 3, An ex¬ 
cellent paint for fences and rough out-build¬ 
ings is crude petroleum. With it no coloring 
matter is needed, as it leaves the timl*er of 
an agreeable, brownish color, which hides the 
dirt that commonly gathers on a barn. As it 
saturates the timber it adds greatly to its du¬ 
rability, and makes a fine priming for a 
second coat of oil and mineral paint, which is 
the best covering for farm buildings, as it is 
durable, cheap, fire-proof and of a handsome 
color. The oxide of iron composing the paint 
forms a chemical combination with the linseed 
oil as the latter dries, and this makes it more 
durable. 
H. D. E., Allegan, Mich. A milk tube to 
be inserted in the obstructed teat of a cow, is 
described in the Rural of May 27; where 
can it be obtained, arid at what price ? 
Ans,— The use of the milking tube must be 
continued so long as the difficulty remains, or 
until the milk can be drawn easily. To hasten 
this result apply iodine ointment to the teat 
over the obstruction; gently work and squeeze 
the lump so as to favor its dispersion or its 
rupture and discharge. These milking tubes 
can be procured by any local surgeon through 
the surgical instrument makers. One. a very 
good one, is mads by Kolbe, of Chestnut 
Street, Philadelphia; but no doubt your 
family doctor would oblige you by procuring 
one. The cost is fifty cents for a short one 
ami $ 1 for a long one. The short one is about 
two inches long, and the long one three inches. 
S. M., Kelli/ Beach, TFis., 1 Wishing to 
plant a row of evergreens to protect a young 
orchard from the north wind, would Balsam 
Firs and White Spruces taken from a low 
swamp thrive on a high, sandy loam ? 2. 
When should they be taken up ? ?>. When 
should they be planted ! 4. How high should 
they be to grow most thriftily when trans¬ 
planted ? 
Ans.— 1. Should prefer the Spruce. Yes. 
2. Early Spring. 3. As soon after taking 
them up as possible, being careful meanwhile, 
not to expose the roots to sun or wind. 4. 
As they have not been transplanted, we 
should select them not over a foot high, pre¬ 
serving all the roots possible. 
F. IT. TF., Ford, Iowa. 1. How can one 
tell when watermelons are ripe ? 2. What 
kind of a watermelon is the Black Italian ? 
Ans. —1. There are several methods recom¬ 
mended—the best of which, according to our 
thinking, is by pressing upon them gently, 
with the ear near the melou, aad observing 
the sound which results. If the flesh crack 
readily, it is ripe. A little experience will 
guide one unfailingly. Thumping the melon 
and the dying of the tendril near the melon 
are other good methods. 2. We have never 
raised it. Our inquiries lead to the opinion 
that it is nothing extra. 
Dr. McC., Youngstown, Ohio. I expect to 
plow under a crop of clover in the latter part 
of June as a preparation for sowing wheat; 
would it be well to apply burnt lime then, or 
should I wait until next Fall just before sow¬ 
ing the wheat ? 
Ans. If the clover is plowed in in June, the 
land should lie until September, being well 
harrowed two or three times in the interval. 
In September cross-plow and then spread the 
lime and harrow it in and then drill iu the 
wheat. 
T. A. TF., Fishers N. Y. How can 1 make a 
potato cellar that will be warm enough in 
Winter, ind cool enough in Summer? 
Ans. —Our own cellar answers the purpose 
very well indeed. The floor (cement) is teu 
feet below the surface—the walls brick. The 
ceiling—above which is a carriage house—is 
two feet above thegroim i, and iu this are two 
windows to lie opened or closed as u ieded. 
Our readers are requested to state a better 
plan. 
II. S. C.,Balso, Ind., 1, asks how many silk 
cocoons must be raised in order to find sale ; 2, 
how much do they bring per pound ? 
Ans. —1. The North American Silk Ex¬ 
change. 27 Bond Street, this city, will bus as 
small a quantity as a pound, but expressage 
or freight on even so small a quantity of co¬ 
coons would take off the profits. 2. Cocoons 
bring from a dollar to a dollar and-a half per 
pouud, according to quality. 
TF. It. T., Reedsville, Pa., asks if there is 
a company called the New York Seed Com¬ 
pany growing one hundred acres of a Russian 
variety of seed wheat, in the Genesee Valley. 
There are men here representing such selling 
it at five dollars per bushel. 
Ans. —We have made inquiries concerning 
such a company but have failed to learn of 
its existence. 
D. A. II., Edgar, lenn. If I should suc¬ 
ceed in growing a sucker to each of my stalks 
of premium corn, and each sucker makes an 
ear, will the corn so made count towards a 
premium ? Is it allowable to replant with 
what Rural corn I have left J 
Ans. —Yes to both questious. It is only ne¬ 
cessary to state how many kernels grow. This 
is what will guide us iu the awarding of pre¬ 
miums. 
G, W. Rock Falls, III., sends specimens of 
double-flowering crab apple blossoms and 
asks whether they are rare. 
Ans. —Double and semi double flowering 
crabs are not uncommon. You will find 
several kinds iu most nurserymen’s catalogue. 
It is the same with peaches, plums, blackber¬ 
ries, cherries and others. No doubt the 
flowers will prove permanently double. 
J. M., New Texas, Pa. What was the 
effect of plowing daisies under in July on the 
Rur.al farm ? 
Ans. —We cannot tell. The entire field was 
plowed the next Spring and is now in wheat 
seeded to Timothy and clover. We can 
answer the question next year. We are glad 
of any evidence that our readers are so in¬ 
terested in our experiments. 
“ Subscriber ” address not stated, asks: 1, 
when celery should be sown to be trans¬ 
planted the middle of July; 2, will squashes 
mature if planted in July? 
Ans. 1, From middle of March to middle 
of April. 2, This will depend on your loca¬ 
tion, but even with a long season the early 
varieties only will mature when planted so 
late. 
J. TF., Floyd, N. Y. Where in Central New 
York can I get pure bred Large Yorkshire 
swine ? 
Ans. —James Brodie & Son, Rural Hill, 
Jefferson Co., N. Y. , are the only parties we 
know of who sell this breed. 
C. E., Pontiac, Mich., sends for name 
specimens of beans which, be says, surpasses 
in yield any beans he has ever raised. 
Ans. —They are samples of the Soja Bean— 
S. hispida—described and illustrated in a late 
Rural. 
TF. N. M ., Colorado Springs, Col. What is 
a good book on poultry and the price? 
Ans. —Lewis’s Practical Poultry Book, $1.50 
Wright’s Practical Poultry Book, $2. Either 
can be obtained through the nearest book¬ 
seller. 
TF. J. S., Albion, N. Y .—Is the Army- 
worm likely to visit Western New York. 
Ans. —See Professor Riley’s article in tho 
Rural of June 10. We should say it is not 
likely to visit Western New York this season. 
J. II., Detroit, Mich. What are the fertil¬ 
izing properties of leaehed ashes ? 
Ans. —Leached ashes are mostly carbonate 
of lime; aud they are worth about as much as 
that lime for fertilizing purposes. 
J. II. S., Logansport, Ind. What is the 
address of Mr. W. Z. Hutchinson, who writes 
for the Apiarian Department of the Rural ? 
Ans. —W. Z. Hutchinson, Rogersville, Gene¬ 
see Co., Mich. 
A. A. R., Spring Grove, Minn. Please re¬ 
commend a nursery where I can get stock to 
start a nursery here. 
Ans. Robert Douglas & Son, Waukegan, 
Illinois. 
M. TF., Pembroke, Ont. How can wind be 
expelled from the stomach and acid neutral¬ 
ized there? 
Ans.—A dose of bicarbonate of soda will 
effect both objects. 
J. B., Boston Mass. Is there any way to 
rid grass of sorrel without plowing and re¬ 
sowing. 
Ans.—N ot that we know of. 
M. C. S., Berkshire, Vt. Where can I ob¬ 
tain millet seed ? 
Ans.—F rom any large seedsman. 
Miss M. M. B. It. We do not know of the 
plant as we read your card. 
F. G. Mansfield, Plainville, Conn., asks 
where can he get a press for forcing the oil 
out of sunflowers. 
TF. F. Kernan, {La.) This splendid speci¬ 
men of a potato, weighing just 17 ounces, re¬ 
sembles the Beauty of Hebron. We cannot 
undertake to say what it is for sure. 
The most Satisfactory Rake.—I n reply 
to an inquiry on this subject in a late Rural. 
I may state that a rake com billing the self 
dump aud hand dump has given me most satis¬ 
faction. I have used the Eagle, made by 
Wheeler, Meliek & Co,, and find it an excel¬ 
lent machine, both as a hand and self dump, 
eaeh dump being entirely independent of the 
other. j. m. 
Wheelersburgh, Ohio. 
E. C. O., Indianapolis, Ind., inquires re¬ 
specting the directions, in the article on pre¬ 
paration of the, soil, for the tree plantation, 
aud wauts to know how this can be applied to 
steep hill-sides. 
Ans.—S ee article under Arboriculture on 
page 419. 
COMauTNic.iTio.s8 Received fob tub Week Ending 
Saturday. June 17,1883. 
H. D. E -J. B. Nagleroost. thanks—R, W. F.—F. H. 
—Jas. Hocker, thanks. We have forwarded the 
communication—J. B.—C. E. 1’.—M. M. B. K.—s. M.— 
A. J. C.—A. II. A.—It. G„ thanks for Fair No.—* A 
Farmer’s Boy." thanks—H. S.—A. L. J.—J. J. H. G.— 
W. J. B.-C. L. H -Mrs, C. B., thanks—C. D.-E. H. N. 
E. F. R.-M.D. C.-.I. B. L.—A. B. A.-W. F. Kernan 
thanks f <r tlu* potato not yet arrived—D. H.—S. & P. 
F. D. C.—M. I* W , many thanks-X. A. W.-J. B. 
thanks-S. A. S.-j, T C.-B. P. D. -F. L..K.-S. H. 
