FEB. 44 
.406 
THE BUBAL MEW-VOBKEB. 
(Sfttrjtojrm. 
RURAL SPECIAL REPORTS. 
III., Highland, Madison Co , Jan. 31.—We 
are having warm weather since the first of 
Jannary, except for a light froBt every now 
and then ; we have had light rains every few 
days. Roads are in a lair condition. *Urops 
for ’79 were ahont as follows : wheat a large 
crop, m many places averaging 30 to 40 bnshels 
to the acre..worth now $1.15, nearly aU sold: 
oats, a light yield from 20 to 80 bnshels to the 
acre; worth 31 cts.; corn, a large yield, worth 
30 cts.; hay, good in quality, but a very light 
yield, on account of dry weather; worth from 
$10 to $15 the ton. c. l. r. 
Kansas. Washington, Washington Co., Jan, 
27 ._We are having fine weather here at this 
time. We had very cold weather about 
Christmas ; but ainca that it. has been warm 
and pleasant. It was quite dry here last sea¬ 
son. Our wheat crop was light—about two- 
thirds of a crop: oats light; corn pretty fair; 
potatoes light. Wheat sells for S5c; corn, 
20c; oats 20c; potatoes, 40c. to 50c; hogs, 
live. $3 50 to 3.65 per 100 pounds. Fall wheat 
looks fine and everything prospering at pre¬ 
sent. B- 
Kan., La Cygne, Linn Co.. Jan. 30.—Wheat 
sells here for $1@1.10 ; corn. 20c.; oats, 25c.; 
potatoes, 80c.@$l; cattle, $2@$4; hogs, $3.70 
@3.75; butter, 15c.; eggs, 8@10e. m. c. b. 
Mo.. Rockville, Bates Co., Jan. 30.—We are 
having a dry, mild and very pleasant winter. 
Considerable plowing is being done. Wages 
arc now abont $13.00 per month, with board 
and washing. Wheat is worth 00c.; corn. 18c. 
Corn ha6 been 20c. until it dropped yesterday. 
Potatoes. 75e.; hogs, $3.50@3.G5 per 100 lbs, 
Crops of all kinds were good last year, except 
Irish potatoes and the fruit crop. Fruits of 
all kinds were nearly a total failure. There 
were a few apples and grapes. J. n. c. 
Fa.. Mcnno. Mifflin Co., Jan. 30.—We have 
had a very open winter so far, but two days’ 
sleighing and then not very good. We had a 
verv dry fall—drier than I have ever seen; 
but since some time in December, we have bad 
wet weatlier. plenty of mud and bad roads. 
Wheat is looking very well—I think a little 
over the average acreage has been sowed. 
Wheat sells for $1.15: corn, 45 c-ts.; oats. 35 
cts.; cattle, from $3 to $3.50; hogs $5, dressed; 
butter. 19 cts.; eggs. 15 cts.; potatoes, 40 ets.; 
horses and cows, no demaud. The thermom¬ 
eter has not been down to zero this winter yet. 
D. A. H. 
Yt., Randolph. Orange Co.. Jan. 30 —The 
winter, so far, has been uncommonly mild in 
Vermont. There have been some severe cold 
snaps.but they did not continue over 36 hours; 
very little snow has fallen, but a great amount 
of rain; and there is a firm pavement of iee all 
over the surface of the ground, that renders 
traveling neither safe nor agreeable. Market 
prices lumwnadc a slight advance from fall 
rates. Tramps have disappeared almost 
entirely, and a man who is willing to work for 
a fair price is not compelled to starve, or be 
idle- Contractors for lumber are more plenti¬ 
ful than for years past, and a large amount of 
lumber, both soft and hard wood, has been 
cut and piled, ready to be drawn to market 
stations when there is sufficient snow to make 
safe sledding. Farmers are more hopeful 
than in three years past, and are looking for 
better days. s * H - 
t Querist, 
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
Veterinary Study. 
J. I. L. B., Palmyra, N. Y., presents the 
case of a young man with a family and with 
bnt a limited income, who would like to study 
veterinary surgery, for which he has a natural 
taste. We are asked what course we would 
recommend for him to pursue under the cir¬ 
cumstances ; if he can study to advantage at 
home, and what books would he need. 
Ans. —Veterinary surgery is fast growing in 
Importance, and any young man who is mas¬ 
ter of the profession may reasonably expect as 
good an income aud a6 good social standing as 
can be reached by a doctor of medicine ; so if 
other circumstances permit, our advice would 
be to take up the study in good earnest. To 
complete the study without attending some 
veterinary institution will not be possible, but 
considerable progress can be made at home. 
We would call the attention of this young man 
to the American Veterinary College, in West 
54th St., N. Y., as being one of the best insti¬ 
tutions of the kind, and the only one in the 
Union, so far as we know, soloiy devoted to 
veterinary science. An able. corpB of professors 
under the leadership of the dean of the college, 
Dr, Liautard, who is well and favorably known 
as a veterinary surgeon, give instruction in all 
She branches of the profession. The curricu¬ 
lum provides for a thorough theoretical and 
practical education, comprehending the funda¬ 
mental medical sciences. The regular winter 
session opens October 1st aud closes the latter 
part of April, in which time about 450 lectures 
and clinics are delivered. The course of study 
is at present completed in two winter sessions, 
for which all expenses connected with the 
tuition are $110 and $135 respectively. A free 
scholarship is offered to the State Agricultural 
Society of each State in the Union, the appli¬ 
cations to be made to Dr. Liautard, by the 
Societies, before the 1st of September of each 
year. The young man in question can ascer¬ 
tain through the officers of the N. Y. State Ag’l 
Soc., or by addressing a letter to Dr. Liautard, 
if the scholarship for New York is now occu¬ 
pied. and when it will be vacated. Meanwhile 
he should study ail be can at home, especially 
anatomy and physiology. For the latter Foster's 
and Dalton’s are recommended, and Liautaid’s 
Vade-Mecum for the former. Eercival's Prac¬ 
tice, Bryant’s Surgery and Frey’s Histology 
should nexthe studied in their order. lie should 
also study chemical physics, of which Mi'ler’a 
and Pynchon’s are both good, and Attfield's 
General Chemistry. This, with a good general 
education, which every surgeon should have, 
will form a good foundation for a collegiate 
course. 
Jersey Red and Small Yorkshire Hogs, etc. 
J. E.P ., Well Co., III., asks, 1, what are the 
leading characteristics as regards weight and 
qualities, of the Jersey Red and Small White 
Yorkshire Logs, aud their merits or demerits 
generally; 2, what are the practical merits of 
the centrifugal creamer. 
An8.—1, There is a great deal of difference 
between the Small White Yorkshires aud the 
Jersey Reds. The former are much finer in 
the bone and in IhefieBli. They are fatt er, and 
have a much thinner skin. Their average 
weight is one-half less, or perhaps it will be 
nearer correct to say, one third less. Two or 
two-and-a-half Small Yorkshires can be kept 
and fatted on the same amount Of food re¬ 
quired for an average Jersey Red. The Jersey 
Reds are probably the most growlhy breed of 
hogs we have, aud require a longer time than 
the Yorkshires to mature. They have more 
lean mingled with their fat than the York¬ 
shires. The objections to both these breeds, 
or the "demerits," as our correspondentputs it, 
are that the Yorkshires arc too fat and, the 
Jersey Reds too coarse. The advantages are 
that the former will keep easily, mature quickly 
and fatten young, while the latter grow fast 
and large and have a long body which makes 
a large proportion of pork. They Irave strong 
appetites and are greedy eatere. A recent 
number of the Rural gives a full description 
of Yorkshires, aud a future number will give 
the history aud characteristics of the Jersey 
Reds. We will refer our correspondent to 
these articles for further particulars. 2. Messrs. 
Whitman and Burrel write us that this creamer 
has been tested with very satisfactory results. 
We have already given all ascertained infor¬ 
mation about it, and will soon give our readers 
the results of the practical tests now being 
made. Messrs. W. and B. expect to be able to 
sell all that can be manufactured the coming 
season. 
Potash. 
H. J.. Salisbury, Md., asks, 1, what is the 
relative value of sulphate of ammonia aud No. 
1 Peruvian guano; 2, which is the cheaper for 
ammoniating phosphate; 3, a good formula 
for a good phosphate; 4, which is the cheaper 
for potash—sulphate of potash, muriate of pot¬ 
ash or 8. C. rock; 5. what is the cheapest way 
to secure potash for the soil. 
Ans. _Sulphate of ammonia contains 25 per 
cent of ammonia and costs $100 pur ton. Peru¬ 
vian guano contains 10 per cent, and costs $00 
per ton. 2. The ammonia in the former costs 
20 cents a pound, aud in the latter 80 ecu is a 
pound. 3- You cannot make a good phosphate 
so cheaply as you can purchase it. The best is 
prepared by reducing bones with sulphuric 
acid; this is a troublesome aud dangerous 
business. 4. Sulphate of potash has 40 per 
cent of potash and costs four cents a pound; 
muriale has 50 per cent and coets two aud a 
half to three cent& a pound, so that the latter 
is the cheaper of the two. South Carolina 
rock has no potash; it is a mineral phosphate 
of lime. 5. The cheapest source of potash is 
the muriate in which the potash costs five or 
six cents a pound. This is cheaper than ii can 
be obtained from wood ashes. 
The Twig-Borer. 
TV. E. B., Covington, Neb,, sends us a twig 
of an apple tree, into which holes had oeen 
bored by an insect, and asks what insect it was 
and the remedy. 
Ans. _The insect that does this havoc is a 
small beetle, the Apple Twig Borer, (Boslri- 
cbu&bicandatus). In the case of most other 
beetles it is the larva that bores into the wood, 
but in this case it is the imago, or perfeetinseet 
that docs the damage. 11, bores into the twigs 
J just above a bud or small branch, aud goes 
downwards to the depth of an inch or an inch 
and a half, the hole being about one-tenth of 
an inch in diameter. Small twigs thns hollowed 
out lose their vitality and speedily wither. 
The beetle is narrow, almost cylindrical, and 
about three eighths of an inch long. The head 
is small, bent downwards and partly covered 
by the large thorax. The only successful 
remedy that has as yet been applied, so far as 
we know, is to cut off the twigs and burn them. 
To make this effectual, the search should be 
thorough from the start, and the twigs, cut off as 
soon as there are symptoms of the borer’s pres¬ 
ence. 
MUcellaneoiiN. 
B. O., Arftona, Chit., is about to build an all¬ 
purpose greenhouse, and asks, 1, what is the 
best, cheapest and most efficient way of erect¬ 
ing it; 2, if a boiler is needed, what boiler and 
by what maker; 3, what is the nearest approx¬ 
imate cost of furnishing aud heating a house, 
say 12 by 20 feet; 4, would we recommend 
sinking it three or four feet in the earth? 
Ans, —1, This is a comprehensive question, 
and will require too much Bpace to answer it 
fully. The best way to go to work, we should 
think, would be to make arrangements with 
a builder whose experience in building green¬ 
houses would assure you that he knows what 
he is about- From his knowledge of the cost 
of materials and cost of labor he can make a 
very accurate estimate. As for the dimensions 
and shape of the house and its arrangement 
inside, the fancy can be allowed considerable 
scope, certain fixed principles being, of course, 
complied with. A house of the dimensions 
given can be heated with a fine without trouble. 
A hot-water apparatus, however, is much to 
be preferred, if the extra cost will be of no 
great moment. For manufacturers of boilers 
we would refer to llitchings & Co., 233 Mercer 
St., N. \ r . city.; they will furnish all desired 
information. 3. A greenhouse 12 by 20 feet 
can be built very substantially for $300 to $350. 
4, If the site is much exposed to the wind we 
recommend to sink it about two feet in the 
ground, or three feet at the most. When thus 
sunk it need not be so high above ground aud 
will therefore not be so much exposed to the 
wind. If. the situation is sheltered, the house 
cau be built entirely above ground, and it will 
be somewhat more convenient and look better. 
J. P. P , Utica, Mich., asks 1, whether the 
Tulip tree would do well in that State, aud 
where can it be had; 2, whether the Cow-peas 
would be likely to ripen in Mich, and where 
they cau he obtained. 
Ans.— We suppose that the Tulip tree grows 
in your forests, although Michigan is stated 
by Gray a6 its northwestern limit. By send¬ 
ing for the catalogues announced iu the adver¬ 
tising columns of agricultural journals, it will 
be seen that most nurserymen offer it for sale. 
We would again call attention to the fact that 
success iu transplanting this beautiful tree will 
depend greatly upon cutting it back just above 
the roots, so that the roots and a few inches of 
stem only remain. We do not know whether 
Cow-peas will ripen in Michigan or not. 
Probably they will ripen iu the Southern part 
of the State. They are advertised in our col¬ 
umns. 
Ii. 0. J., Meadville. Pa., asks where ho can 
purchase Cow-peas; if we have decided whether 
we would offer them free to our subscribers; 
whether they will ripen with him aud whether 
we recommend them as a means of restoring 
fertility to poor soils. 
Ans.—W c find them advertised in our col¬ 
umns ; send for catalogue. We have decided to 
send them to our subscribers, but only in trial 
quantities of half a gill of mixed varieties. 
We hope that all of our subscribers will give 
them a careful trial. In this way trustworthy 
results may be arrived at. They will ripen 
seeds In Pa., having ripened at the Rural 
Farm which is situated on Long Island. We 
do recommend them us a means of restoring 
fertility to poor soils. 
P. W., Seattle, W. T., 1, asks how to cultivate 
sorghum, and where can seeds be obtained; 
2, where cau seed of Bermuda grass be got, 8, 
how to save cabbage in winter. 
Ans —1, Sorghum may be cultivated ex¬ 
actly like corn. Seeds cau be had iu any large 
seed store, such as D. M. Ferry & Co., De¬ 
troit. Mich. 2. Bermuda grass does not 6eed 
iii this country. It is propagated from root 
cuttings which can be had of Southern nursery¬ 
men. Apply to Dr. W. B. Jones. Herndon Ga., 
or to P. J. BerckmauB, Augusta Ga., orto 
Mark W. Johnson & Co.. Atlanta, Ga. 3. Cab¬ 
bage may be kept in a dry, frost-proof but 
not warm cellar, or the heads may be placed 
on the ground aud covered with earth and 
litter sufficient to keep frost out. 
A. K., Address mislaid, asks, 1, how to ger¬ 
minate the hardy shrub seeds scut out by the 
Rural last spring ; 2, which would be the bet¬ 
ter plan—to pay $00 per ton of 2,000 pounds 
for ground bone, or to get JLvcry-stablo manure 
for 50 cents per load, to he hauled three 
miles, for wheat or corn on clay or gravelly 
land. 
Ans. —We must refer our correspondent to 
back numbers of the Rural New-Yorker for 
instructions as to the hardy perennial seeds 
sent in last years' seed distribution. We shall 
soon give instructions as to the present dis¬ 
tribution which will answer his other request. 
2, We should prefer the stable-manure. 
TV. R. IV., Muskegan, Mich., asks whether 
coal ashes and refuse lime from gis-works are 
good to put, around fruit trees. 
Ans.— Coal ashes are of little value, except 
as they chunge the mechanical condition of the 
soil— make it looser and lighter. Gas lime in 
its fresh slate is iniurious to vegetation. After 
exposure for a considerable time to the influ¬ 
ence of the air, it is valuable for the same 
cause as gypsum or sulphate of lime. In that 
condition it is worth about half as much as 
freshly burned lime. 
A. B. B., Chelsea, Mass., has for a long time 
searched iu vain to find out the name of a 
plant in his possession, and scuds us a leaf for 
identification, with the request that we tell 
him how to make the plant blossom. 
Ans. —The leaf looks like that of Pereskia, a 
group of plauts closely related to the Cacti. 
It has no great value as an ornamental plant; 
but is used as a stock on which to graft the 
Epiphyllum. It isn't worth while to try to 
make the thing bloom. 
J. B.. SI. Catherine, Out, asks where he can 
get Mexican Sweet Corn. 
Aks.—A pply to any seedsman advertising in 
the Rural. 
COMMUNICATIONS KECEIVKU FOB THB WEEK ENDING 
Saturday, feu. 7th. 
S. n.R.—A. B. B—G. A. G., Jr.,—S. B.—C. L. 
R.-, (Feb. 3)—G. E. M—D. W. C.—V. F. W.—W. I. 
C.-I. P. R—J. S. H.—H. B—R. C.—E. M. D — 
C. R— U. S.— W. P.—C. V. R.—A. R. LeD.—“ Car- 
natlon”—B. F.—F. D. C.—A. J. P.— G. A. G., Jr — 
F. II. S.—O. H. ET. H. n.-M. Y r .-J. II. N.— P. 
C. S.—E. S. M —M. W.—F. D. C.—J. E. S. —N. B.— 
M. W—M. F. M. C.—,8. A. L.— A. H. & S.—C. H. 
E.—M. E. M.—B. G.—P. C. S.—B. & E. P.—J. F. C.— 
W. R. L. D.—N. M. B.—A. L. .T.—J. S.—J. B.—J. L. 
—T. G.-J. G. G.-F. H. D.—I. P. R.—D. S. II.- 
J. H. M.—O. S. B.—G. E. M.—D. S. M. —H. B. P. 
Ipscftofotts. 
WHAT OTHERS SAY. 
“ Wealth” says Horatio Seymour, "cannot 
grow in this way in Europe. There prices at 
which lauds arc bought aud sold vary but little 
in the course of a lifetime, and all that the 
owner gains is Ihe value of wbat he raises. He 
lias no estate growing up under him. He cannot, 
as is frequently ihe case with us, spend each 
year all he earns and then leave to his family 
land which has increased fifty or a hundred 
fold lu value sinen he became its owuer. It is 
this fact which gives our country its swift in¬ 
crease of wealth. . When the Pacific 
States get rid of their gold, there will be an¬ 
other development of agriculture more enrich¬ 
ing and beneficial than all that can be dug 
from mines. God’s blessings do not go with 
the gambling chances of finding lucre in the 
bowels of the earth, as it does with the indus¬ 
try wbieli works with Him in bringing forth 
the fruits of the soil. This system improves 
not only fanning, but the farmers as well. . . 
If all the statements I have made are correct, 
still the facts remain that the people of Europe 
have heretofore been able to raise most cf the 
food they need. Why can they not hereafter, 
with the same labor, on the same soil, raise 
enough to supply their wants, except for the 
small amount which they have heretofore im¬ 
ported? These questions bring into view some 
facts of great interests in many respects. Iu 
the first place, where farmers own their lands, 
as they do with us, all that thev cau get lor 
what they sell goes to those who labor upon 
the soil. But as a rule in Europe, aud par¬ 
ticularly in Great Britain, what is made upon 
fai ms must support at least two and sometimes 
four classes of persons—the tenant, who does 
the work, the landlords, aud usually some 
agents or middlemen, who hire and sublet to 
tenants. Church rates and many other charges 
must al&o be paid. Wheu our cheap grains 
reach their markets, as they will hereafter, 
and govern the price of produce, they disturb 
the existing arrangements. The tenant must 
have enough to live upon then as now, taxes 
aud tithes must be paid, and only what is left 
will go to the owners. This class are to suffer. 
The conflict is not between American andBrit- 
ish farmers, but American aud British land- 
loids. 11 the cost of produce falls, rents must 
come down, for tenants can pay no more aud 
landlords will get no more than prices will 
give. The tenants’ share cannot be less than 
it now is, and the loss must fall upon the 
owners. 
A big incubator is to be exhibited at the 
Poultry show at Springfield, Mass., this month. 
Last week it was charged ‘with 1 500 eggs, 
which it is now changing into chickens. The 
Springfield Republican savs the operation is so 
timed that they will hatch during the show, 
right before the eyes of the visitors. When 
the eggs have been under the heat of the in- 
