NOV 25 
801 
the rural niw-yoriir. 
is a choice squash for eating Imt a little late i 
for a Summer squash. o. B. f. 
Kansas. 
Paola, Miami Co., Nov. 6.—The Thorough¬ 
bred Flint Corn—143 grains—was planted 
April 26 on a plot 20 by 28 feet, of light prai¬ 
rie soil. Two wheelbarrow loads of barnyard 
manure were sowed broadcast; 120 grains 
grew eight to ten feet high. On Sept. 1,106 
ears and 32 small nubbins appeared. The ears 
weighed 55 pouuds; shelled 42 pounds thor¬ 
oughly dried. It was gathered Sept. 16. 
Cultivated four times and hoed twice. Had 
one ear 16 Inches long; on it there were 485 
grains. ' *• v - 8 * 
Michigan. 
Canton, Wayne Co., Nov. 3 —I planted the 
Dent corn in rows three feet apart, and one 
foot apart in the row, on a piece of ground 
that had been an old barnyard, so it did not 
need any manure. Only 73 kernels germi¬ 
nated. I cultivated it twice and hoed it twice, 
and cut it up after the frost had cut it. I 
husked 174 ears, besides several nubbins, and 
they weighed 174^£ pounds. The shelled corn 
weighed 72 pounds. Four of the largest ears 
weighed six pounds ten ounces. It did not 
mature enough for seed. I think. The Little 
Gem Squash is splendid. Only three plants 
came up, and I watched for squash bugs, but 
for some reason not a bug touched them, and 
without pinching they bore 40 nice squashes, e. 
Litchfield, Hillsdale Co., Nov. 9—My 
Rural Dent com grew very tall; some stalks 
had two large ears. It just efcaped the frost. 
It is a little too late and has too thick a cob 
for our county, otherwise it is large corn. g.k. 
Mississippi. 
Belmont, Tishomingo Co., Nov. 6.—My 
Rural Flint corn would have done better if it 
had not been for the Lady Bug, which com¬ 
menced its depredations just as the corn be. 
gan to silk. The pest’s way of doing damage 
was to suck the silk as fast as it came out. I 
don’t think I will get a premium, though 
there are so many chances; but I did all I 
could, and am satisfied. a. J. B. 
Nebraska. 
Lincoln, Lancaster Co., Nov. 7.—My Ru¬ 
ral Heavy Dent corn is the best I have. From 
80 odd grains that grew, I have 180 ears and 
nubbins— grains fine and large, and better 
filled than any other corn I have. Blount’s 
Prolific yields over 100 bushels of shelled com 
per acre, this year. The Gem Squash is the 
best I ever eat—only two vines grew. The 
Lima Beans all rotted. d. b. 
Ohio. 1 ; 
Painesville, Lake Co., Nov. 7.—On May 
24th, I planted 168 grains of the Rural Dent 
corn on a piece of land 33 feet square. It was 
a sandy soil, manured with hen manure. Of 
the seeds, 93 germinated. The ground was 
planted early, dragged once; seed planted two 
feet apart. The corn grew twelve feet eight 
inches in bight, and 7% inches in circumfer¬ 
ence. I had 144 ears; but the sheep broke in 
and destroyed 12. The ears weighed 115 
pounds, and the shelled corn 76 pounds. The 
corn was cultivated once, and hoed twice ; 
cut October 5. s - c - 
Camden, Preble Co., Nov. 3.—I have a cu¬ 
riosity in the way of a stalk ot my Rural 
Dent corn. One stalk forked about two feet 
from the ground, and each stalk, or branch, 
had a good ear of corn on it. w. M. 
Richfield Center, Lucas Co., Nov. 8.— 
The Beauty of Hebron is the best early potato 
I ever raised, all things considered. The 
White Elephant has done very well. Most of 
the Rural seeds have done well. The little 
Gem Squash is very good—75 from five vines. 
Hollyhocks look splendid; about two feet high. 
Celery did not come up. o. f. 
I'ennnylvnnltt, 
Carpenter, Lycoming Co. f Nov. 4.— The 
Gem Squash were “little gems,” indeed. 
Asparagus has made a fine growth. Flowers 
were splendid; they have “captured” all the 
ladies. Corn too late for our locality, d. w. l- 
New Castle, Lawrence Co., Nov. 4.—The 
Rural Thoroughbred Flint is scarcely ripe, 
yet enough of immense ears to afford seed, 
The Heavy Dent is earlier; 91 stalks grew 
nearly 100 ears. Fodder or stalks very high. 
Of the Perfect Gem Squash one vine fruited. 
Celery splendid—not excelled. Lima Beans 
rotted—planted too early. Of the hollyhocks 
there are about a dozen strong plants. J. w. o. 
and selling the milk, or raising grain and sell¬ 
ing it, assuming that no feed or fertilizers are 
purchased ? 
Ans.—D airying is the least exhaustive use 
to which the soil can be put. An equivalent 
product of milk removes from the soil less of 
all the valuable fertilizing constituents than 
grain does. The following figures show this: 
1,000 pounds of wheat remove 415^ pounds of 
nitrogen, 10 % pounds of potash and 16 pounds 
of phosphoric acid; and 2,000 pounds of straw 
remove pounds of nitrogen, 13 pounds of 
potash and pounds of phosphoric acid; 
while 6,000 pounds of milk remove 31 pounds 
of nitrogen, 9 pounds of potash and 10 pounds 
of phosphoric acid. Now, -33 bushels of wheat 
and a ton of straw are about equivalent to 
the feeding of one cow for a whole year, in 
which 6,000 pounds of milk might be pro¬ 
duced. Then, if we compare the figures we 
should have taken— 
Nitrogen. Potash. Plios. Acid. 
B.r the wheat... 51 lbs. 21.'^ lbs. 20J4 lbs. 
By the milk... 31 lbs. !> Ibs. 10 lbs. 
This will leave a large balance in favor of 
the milk. 
But then the cow would return in manure, 
if all was saved as it should be: 
just as if there were files on her ndder. Next J the manure would have the same effect, 
morning the teats were swollen and the hide j Muriate of potash and salt have no chemua 
©jf (dumsl. 
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
nSvery query must be accompanied by the nai 
kid address of the writer to Insure attention.] 
7,000 lbs.I 
In the solid— i 
20,000 lbs.| 
Nitrogen 
Potash. 
Phus. Acid. 
41 lbs. 
85 lbs. 
— 
58 lbs. 
20 lbs. 
84 lbs. 
99 lbs. 1 
r>5 lbs. 
3-1 lbs. 
LAND— 
WHICH 18 MORE EXHAUSTIVE TO LAND— 
DAIRV OR GRAIN FARMING? 
M. C., Cuyahoga Falls, O .—Which is the 
more exhausting to the land—keeping cows 
And this going back to the land increases the 
difference in favor of the cow. An acre of 
ground that will produce 33 bushels of wheat 
will easily keep a cow by raising soiiiog 
crops and roots; and if the cow is one 
of the right kind 6,000 pounds of milk, or 
2,700 quarts, could be produced just as easily. 
By comparing the figures above it is seen 
that if a farmer sells all his milk and produces 
notbiDg else he is returning to the soil three- 
fourths of what he takes from it. 
FENUGREEK. 
R. C., Uplands, Ont., Can.— What is fenu¬ 
greek ? What are its properties and uses? 
How is it cultivated, and can it be profitably 
cultivated in this section ? 
Ans.—F enugreek (Trigonella Foenum-Gras- 
cum) is a strong-scented forage and popular 
medicinal plaut with wedge-oblong leaflets, 
one or two nearly sessile small flowers in 
the axils, yellowish or white corolla, and a 
linear, long-pointed and somewhat curved 
pod, with veiny sides. It belongs to a genus 
of leguminous herbs very similar in habit and 
most of their characteristics to the species of 
the genus Medieago—Medick or Lucerne. The 
fenugreeks are widely diffused over the south 
of Europe, West and Central Asia and the 
north of A friea, and are represented also by 
several species in Australia. The common 
variety mentioned above, has long been used 
as fodder for cattle, and is indigenous to the 
Mediterranean region. It is also cultivated 
to some extent in Thuringia, Moravia, and 
its other parts of Europe, as well as in 
Morrocoo and largely In Egypt and In¬ 
dia. in India the fresh plant is employed as 
an esculent. The seed is an ingredient in 
curry powders and is used for flavoring cattle 
powders. It was formerly much esteemed as 
a medicine, and is still in repute Jn veterinary 
practice. It is grown in the same way as 
Lucerne, or Alfalfa. We do not know that it 
has ever been raised in this country except 
occasionally in gardens. Being adapted 
especially to southern latitudes, it is hardly 
likely that it can be profitably cultivated as 
far north as Canada. 
“BLACK TEETH” IN SWINE. 
W. A. H., Galway. N. Y.—I should like to 
get some information about “black teeth” 
in swiue. 
Ans.—S ickness in hogs from indigestion, 
sour stomach, deranged urinary secretions and 
general ill-condition, is sometimes attributed 
to an imaginary disease called “ black teeth.” 
The treatment usually adopted is to examine 
the teeth of the animal, and if one is found 
blacker than the others, it is supposed to be 
the cause of the disease and is hammered off 
even with the jaw, leaving the shattered roots 
and lacerated nerves of the tooth to increase 
the Buffering of the animal. In spite of the 
cruel treatment, however, the hog sometimes 
recovers, and probably it would have done so 
much sooner if let alone. In such cases the 
tooth is seldom diseased, but only stained by 
food or some other cause. The cruel practice 
of breaking off the tooth down to the nerve 
must ofteu cause disease, and, in connection 
with the real malady, produce the death of 
the hog. In cases of “ black teeth ” the prop¬ 
er treatment would be to wash the hog thor¬ 
oughly with soap and-water, and give It three 
or four ounces of castor oil; or a table spoon¬ 
ful each of sulphur and carbonate of soda for 
a week, and be careful uot to over-feed it. 
COW’S BAG POI80NED. 
J. W., Fayette, Mich—A few mornings 
> ago my cow was let out apparently in good 
i health, and returned in the evening kicking 
cracked. Now her teats look as if they had 
been burned with acid and on licking her bag 
her nose becomes sore. Her milk does not 
look healthful, what is the matter? 
Ans. —The cow has evidently been poisoned 
by some irritant plant; probably by poison 
snmac (Rhus venenata) or poison oak or ivy 
(Rhustoxicodendron.) Tbeformer isthemore 
poisonous and when cattle pass through the 
bushes the udder is the moat exposed to in¬ 
jury. The symptoms are precisely those of 
poisoning by this plant, which grows very 
abundantly in low groundsand damp, swampy 
woods. The treatment is to apply the common 
ammonia liniment, or Goulard’s Lotion, or In¬ 
stead of this, a solution of 10 grains of sugar 
of lead in one ounce of water. Apply with a 
sponge so as to moisten the skin aud leave 
it to dry on. 
BLACK-BEARDED CENTENNIAL AND GOLDEN 
GRAINS, ETC, 
G. K., Litchfield, Mich. —1. Is the Beauty 
of Hebron a red skinned or white-skinned 
potato, and what is its origin? 2. Last Fall I 
sowed a quart of Black-bearded Centennial 
Wheat; but on heading out one-third of it was 
rye; one-third a smooth-headed wheat, and 
one-third a long-bearded, white-grained 
wheat, a good yielder but too late for this 
latitude. I also had what was called Golden 
Grains which resembled the Centennial in all 
respects except the ralxtureof rye. How is this? 
Am— 1 . The Beauty of Hebron Is a seedling 
of the Chili Red. It is often pink about the 
eye3, varying in this respect as in the color of 
the skin with soil and climate. 2, The Black- 
bearded Centennial has never been distributed 
as such. The wheat sent out as “Golden 
Grains” was mixed with Black-bearded Cen¬ 
tennial and other kinds. Hence it is that the 
one was mistaken for the other. 
CELLAR FOR MILK ROOM. 
L. M. F., Marshall, la. — W >uld the tem¬ 
perature in a cellar 10 feet be low enough 
to raise all the cream in mil's i»t therein ? 
Ans. — No, it would not, without ice. It 
might be low enough in the Winter, but even 
then the temperature would be very change¬ 
able. It would be better to use the shallow 
paus in the Summer aud the deep pails in the 
Winter, and regulate the temperature by 
ventilation, which could be done without 
much trouble. The temperature for de»p 
pails should be 45 degrees, not any lower and 
not much higher; and for pans 62 to 65 de¬ 
grees. Where there is not a facility for keep¬ 
ing milk at a regular temperature without it; 
ice should be used with one of the deep pail 
creameries or a pool supplied from a well. 
The convenience and the comfort will soon re - 
pay the expense. 
BLIGHT IN PEAR TREES. 
C. W, Evanston, HI., sends leaves of -the 
Keiffer pear-trees, that have turned black, and 
he asks the cause and a remedy. 
Ans. —We suppose the leaf is from a pear- 
tree having blight. We do not take much 
stock in the idea that there are many sorts of 
pear blight. The causes of this blighting leaf 
were an work weeks before the leaf turned 
black. It is an old, old story. Thousands of 
experiments have been tried to discover a 
remedy. It is worth trying to see if we can¬ 
not inoculate or vaccinate trees with some 
virus to prevent blight, as we are learning to 
do with our chickens, cattle and horses. A 
pear-tree may be inoculated with a virus to 
cause blight—why not inoculate with virus in 
a mild form to keep blight off ? 
Miscellaneous. 
R. T. McN., Jackson, Mich. —In speaking of 
the use of muck by the publisher ot the N. Y. 
Sun, on page 747 of the Rural, was the muck 
allowed to freeze after being taken out of the 
swamp, and before it was spread on the land? 
2, How should muck be treated to fit it for 
profitable application on such land ? 3, How 
should muck be treated before it is used in 
planting trees and shrubs? 
Ans. —1, Yes, it was put in a large heap 
and there kept for two years, as we remem¬ 
ber. 2, It had better be composted as often 
described in this department. 8, If the muck 
is free from roots and bogs (i. e., mellow 
black soil), it may be used for shrubs and 
fruit trees at once. We have so used it 20 
times with good results. 
S. M. J., Cleveland, Ohio. —Will it change 
the phosphate of lime in bone meal to reverted 
phosphate to mix the meal with muriate of 
potash or common salt and cover it with 
heated manure for three or four weeks. 
Ans. —Phosphate of lime In bone is tri-calcic 
and cannot become i everted. Reverted phos¬ 
phate is the changed superphosphate which 
takes up lime and loses its character of super¬ 
phosphate. Reversion of this kind can only 
happen with manufactured superphosphate. 
Bone meal is not changed u any manner by 
the addition of potash ot any kind except 
that it is softened by caustic pc’•ash and made 
more easily decomposed in the soil. The heat of 
effect upon bone meal. 
G. F. W., Alexandria, Ohio. —What was 
the Rural’s success in raising cabbage by 
planting the seeds where .they were to remain ? 
2. How can I raise grape-vines from seed? 3. 
What’s the name of a mammoth pumpkin, 
and where can it be procured? 
Ans.— 1. We shall print our .tests with cab¬ 
bages .as .soon as we can find .time. 2. We 
prefer to plant the seeds at once in pots in the 
house—much the same as explained for potato 
seeds in the ^Rural of Nov. 4. The seeds, 
however, may be kept in sand in a cold place 
and planted in the Spring in the garden. 3. 
The Improved Mammoth, which can be ob¬ 
tained from any seedsman. 
D. B. M., Lincoln, Neb., asks for our method 
of flat culture of corn. 
Ans.—W e raise corn after gross. The sod 
is plowed as early in the Spring as the weath¬ 
er permits. We then use the Acme harrow 
both ways—first across the furrows and finish 
with a smoothing harrow. We then drill in 
the corn, dropping one grain about every foot 
—the drills four feet apart for tall-growing 
com. We then use a shallow, horizontal- 
blade cultivator, hoeing between the plants— 
by hand, of course, 
F. C. L, Timmonsville, S. C. —1, What is 
the earliest productive potato for the light, 
sandy soil of this section? 2, What would be 
the prudent maximum quantity of commercial 
fertilizer per acre for Irish potatoes in this sec¬ 
tion? 8, How should it be applied? 
Ans —1. We should try the Early Ohio and 
the Beauty of Hebron. 2. 600 pounds to the 
acre: 1,000 pounds might be used without fear 
of injury to the crop if the fertilizer does not 
touch the seed pieces. 3. Cover the seed with 
soil and broadcast it in the drills. 
N. S., Yorkshire Center, N. Y. —Last Spring 
I bought a barrel ot potatoes from a man who 
said they were White Elephants and that he 
had got the seed from the Rural New-York¬ 
er. Tney do not look at all like the White 
Elephants I have seen elsewhere. Has the 
Rural heard of similar cases 1 
Ans. —Yes, we have heard of many 3oeli 
cases. Spurious seed is often the cause of un¬ 
merited condemnation. 
F. B., Easton, Md. —1, sends sample of 
wheat for name; 2, and asks where the Rural 
Thoroughbred Fiint com can be bought 
in quantity. 
Ans. —1, The kernels closely resemble those 
of the B.-b. Centennial. 2, It will probably 
be offered for sale, hut the price will be very 
high. Notice will be given in due time. 
P. J. Q., Dwamish, W. Ter., sends for name 
a “new variety” of wheat which he says is 
hardy, disease-resisting and very prolific. 
Ans.—I t is the Seven-headed or Egyptian. 
We have raised it for three years as a Winter 
wheat, though it nearly fails—not being hardy 
enough to staud the climate. As a Spring 
wheat it floes well in a few places only. It was 
illustrated in the Rural Wheat Special. 
T. E, C„ Philo, 111 . I see the Rural offers 
27 prizes for corn, does the man who returns 
most pounds get all, or are they distributed 
among the competitors ? 
Ans.—T hey will be judiciously distributed. 
O. G. O., Rennselaer Falls, N. Y .—How 
can I prevent mildew on grapes ? 
Ans.—T he only way at present known ia to 
dust flowers of sulphur on the leaves as the 
mildew appears. 
D. B. M, Lincoln, Neb .—Where can I get 
the R.ukal’s Improved Blount’s com for seed? 
Ass—It has uot yet been offered for sale. 
We want to work at it a season or so longer. 
W. A. R., Ralston, Tenn., asks how to treat 
a balky horse. 
Ans —See article in “Horseman’s” De¬ 
partment. 
D. J. C., Everton, Mo .—Will the Rural tell 
Mr. H. W. Ravenel, of South Carolina, that I 
have IS pods of sweet potato seed, and would 
like to know how to plant and cultivate them. 
[We publish the above card, hoping it may 
meet Mr. Ravenel’s eye. The Rural would 
fain beg just one of those pods.—E ds.J 
Communications fob thb week Ekdin* 
Saturday, November 18. 
W. J. Ib—W. P. Woodworth, thanks—T. 3 . D.—A. 
F. K —McA. K.-F. B. S.— E. N.-A^ D. V., see Querist 
columns—F. D'C — J G , grain received— Mrs. L. H. 
thanks-J. B.-O. C. A -N. B -O. T. S.-W. H. C.-S. 
H. G.—J. C.—L. R. 6.—C. R.-H. N. P.-P M. A.-T. T. 
L.-H. W.-J. tV.—W. B. P.-C. F. H.—S. S. R -M. 8. 
W.-T. S.-A. M.-E. M.-W. B. P.-F. T. H.-1L P. W. 
D. S. M.-A.B. A.-S. M. J.—T F. M.-W. H. H., We 
want all to think that they cannot keep house with 
out the RcRAr.—X.F. J.-W.H. M.-J. R.—H. S.-T. F- 
B.—Sv O. J.-F. B —D. H.—H. R. B—W. H. B.-W. B- 
W.-W. H. R.-F D. C—A. S. M.-S F. W.-J. S.-E. J‘ 
B.-F. H H.-E C. K,—J. B. H.-E. W. R—A. M. S.— 
E. J. H.—O. V. Bralnard, thanks—E. L. C.—D. B. M.— 
P. H. C.-G. C. C.—J S. B.-P. and I. Q.-W. A. R.-A 
B. A.—0. W. C.—D. W. L.—A. F. Klelse, thanks for re. 
ports-W. H. Z -K- F.-E. N.-C. C.-W. L. T.-McA- 
K. —A. D. V.-J. R.-T. 3 . D.—A. A. B.-W. D.-J. G’ 
L. —F. C. L.-S. C.—G. A. M.—N. S. C.—J. S.—W. L* 
S.—V. P.- D. L.-J. M. M.-J. a—L. F. H.—A. F. 
