250 
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APRIL <7 
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ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
How to Prevent a Cow from Sucking Hernelf. 
G. H IF., Salem. PI , asks how to prevent a 
cow front fucking herself. 
Ans. —Two excellent devices for this pur¬ 
pose were described and illustrated in the Ru¬ 
bai. last year—one iu the issue of July 26 and 
other in that of Dec. 6. In the first a stout 
stick of tough wood Is suspended between the 
fore legs, one end being attached to a sur¬ 
cingle buckled about the animal's body, and 
the other fastened to a strap which is buckled 
to the halter. The strap uniting the stick to 
the halter should be at least 12 inches long to 
allow the necessary movement of the head to 
graze freely, while preventing the cow from 
bringing the head to the udder. For the bene¬ 
fit of our many new friends, we re-introduce 
the cut of the other device, redrawn from Prof. 
ANTI-9VCKXNG DEVICE—PIG. 118. 
J. P. Sheldon’s Dairy Farming, because a cut 
describes it better than words could, and be¬ 
cause it is vouched for as thoroughly effectual. 
This device is made out of a piece of oak board, 
eight inches long five wide and a quarter of 
an inch thick, shaped as in A. The cow’s 
nostrils should be sprung or bent until the 
piece is fitted a6 at B. Care should betaken 
not to make the two points too far asunder, as 
it would then easiiy slip off the nose. The 
points should be about half an inch apart, and 
nicely smoothed and rounded off, so as not to 
hurt the cow. 
The Wager Peach. 
E. II. 0 , Shppherdlown , Pa., wants some in¬ 
formation abouttbe Wager Peach. Heexpresses 
his doubt as to its ability to reproduce itself 
true from seed. 
Ans. —Having referred this question to Mr. 
Downing, he writes us as follows: “ I have not 
eaten or seen the Wager peach, and have 
only heard of it within tne past few seasons, 
but from theuotiecs given of it I would think 
it one of those hardy varieties that reproduce 
themselves lroux 6eed, like the Columbia, or 
ludian Peach of the 8ouih, and also like the 
Hill’s Chili and others of the North. The Hill's 
ChtU is sa d to be about eighty year6 old, and 
has reproduced itself from seed, or near’y so, 
Binee it was first introduced, and the Wager 
may „e a seedling of it, as the descriptions are 
very similar." Mr. William C. Barry, ol Roches¬ 
ter, N. Y., in a brief essay on new fruits, states 
that the “ Wager Peach was originated by Mr. 
Wager, of Miller’s Corners, Ontario Co., N. Y. 
It is a bright yellow peach, shaded with red on 
the sunny side; flesh, juicy aud sprightly, and 
of lair quality; free, very hardy aud produc¬ 
tive ; ripens about the same tune as the Oraw- 
foid." 
Selecting Seed Corn. 
W. 8. M-, Jjulcttess Go , N. Y., referring to 
Prof. Blount's remark in the Rukal of March 
6 , with regard to his White Prolific Corn:— 
“ The top ear only of those stalks that ripen 
first and are most uniform, should be used foi 
seed," asks what kind of ears are best to select 
for seed from the corn grown by him, the ears 
of which vaiy from eight to twelve rows each, 
the eight-rowed having a small cob and 
plump, solid and flinty grain; while the ten 
and twelve rowed have cobs from medium to 
large with long, dented grains. 
Ans _This corn has not yet established itself 
as a permanent variety, but it may probably 
be made to do eo by continued selection. The 
more rows that can be grown, the greater is 
the product, and it would occur to most 
people to select seed from those ears having 
the most rows. A twelve-rowed ear has 50 
per cent, more corn than au eight-rowed one, 
and if this excsss could be add.-d to the crop, 
60 bushelB would be increased to 90. This con¬ 
sideration might be worth study iu selecting 
seed. The top ear is selected by Professor 
Blount probably on account of its greater vigor 
and earliness. 
Apple Trees Dropping Frnit. 
]\f. B, J., Vineland. NT. J., asks how to treat 
an apple tree to make the fruit fair and pre- 
VeuL it from failing • ff before it is ripe. 
Ans —Same varieties of Apple have the con¬ 
stitutional fruit of dropping a considerable 
part of itn-ir cro;> bclo<e ripening Tne Te- 
tofskv will u-uaily drop three tourtha of its 
fruit in this way, though they usually hold on 
until large enough for pie fruit. When thi9 
defect is characteristic we know of no remedy, 
though we believe that picking off about half 
the apples when one-quarter grown will secure 
the ripening of the other half. In trees where 
the defect is not inherent liberal fertilization 
and cultivation will usually cure it. Even the 
Tetof.-ky does not drop quite so badly in the 
garden as in the orchard. As to making apples 
fair, all is done that can be done when good 
culture is given and the depredations of insects 
prevented. 
Remedy for the Apple nnd Peach Tree Borer 
J. E. DuJiais. Waverly, N. J., asks how to 
keep the borer from working in apple and 
peach trees. 
Ans. —We use a wash of lime, sulphur, soap 
and carbolic acid, colored with lamp-black and 
red mineral paint. The first wash is applied 
iu May and the trees are afterwards washed 
as they seem to need it. Placing tarred, oiled 
or painted paper or paste-board about the 
stem, and other remedies are advocated by 
mauy, but they are of doubtful value, all things 
considered. The peach grub work6 in the 
inner bark mostly, just at or a little above or 
below the surface of the ground. Its pres¬ 
ence is indicated by gummy exudations and 
It may easily be traced and killed with the 
point of a knife. An orchard examined iu 
this way in the spring and summer will not 
suffer seriously from this cause. 
Weok-leggpd Turkeys. 
IF. C. M , WaUsvWe, Pa., has a fleck of tur¬ 
keys that were hatched quite late last season, 
and some time ago be noticed that they did 
not eat well and were poor and lean. Some, of 
them walked on ibe ends of their toes and on 
looking for the cause he fouud an unnatural 
white excrescence resembling scaly legs ” in 
hens; he applied salpbur, spirits of turpen¬ 
tine and grease without any good effect, and 
he a6ks what treatment would be likely to 
benefit them. 
Ans. —Late-batched turkeys often become 
weak for the want of proper natural heat while 
growing; their legs from that cause become 
weak and swelled. Give them wa rn, nourish¬ 
ing food with chopped onions ; rub their legs 
with crude petrolenm. 
Miscellaneous. 
J. U. 8. GlenvitHe—one of eight in the Union— 
asks 1, will It pay to sow plaster on meadow— 
both on new and old—also on oats—the first 
year; 2, how to make vinegar from a barrel of 
cider that lay out-of-doors last year from June 
till frost; 3, another barrel of the same age is 
quite 60 ur, bat tastes bad; it has plenty of 
“mother" In it, but the latter is of a black 
color, and he asks can it be cleansed. 
Ans.— I. No one can say positively if it will 
pay to use plaster on any particular soil or 
crop. The probability is it would pay to use 
100 to lot) pouuds per acre on either grass, 
clover, or oats, as these crops are specialty 
bcucfiied by plaster. As the cost is very smalt, 
it would be desirable to try the plaster and 
note the result for future guidance. 2. If the 
cider was put into a clean barrel and is not 
moldy, it can be made into vinegar by keeping 
it in a warm place, aud putting a piece of 
brown paper spread with yeast into it to start 
fermentation. The bung hole should be cov¬ 
ered with gauze to admit air, while keeping 
out flies aud dust. 8. Draw off the vinegar 
into a clean, sweet barrel, leaving the “mother’ 
in the old barrel. What you think to be mother 
is probably a mass of floe apple pulp which 
was not strained out of the juice and has de¬ 
composed and become rotten. It may be 
necessary to filter the vinegar through pounded 
charcoal to tree it from the bad flavor. 
W. W. E., Pamprapo, N. J., says he is not 
a farmer, but he is anxious to buy a farm on 
which to make a comfortable home. He can 
command a capital of $3,000, and asks where, 
within easy reach of N. Y. City, can an eligible 
place be found for beginning moderately mixed 
farming with considerable attention to the 
raising of fane) poultry, pigs and small fruits. 
Ans — We would gladly give you the advice 
you ask. were we competent to do bo. We re¬ 
gard farming as a paying business—as a safe, 
dignified, noble pursuit. But there are thou¬ 
sands who fail in it the same as in other occu¬ 
pations. Success depends upon the man and 
upon the farm chosen. The sum ol $3,000 is a 
small amount to begin farming with, and un¬ 
less you are exceptionally well fitted for the 
work, you would fail. We would advise you 
to work for not less than one year under some 
intelligent, geneious farmer, who would give 
you a home and his advice for your services. 
L. E. McO., Ghent, Ky., received a bill of 
peach, apple and pear trees and Sharpless 
Strawberries, from TruettB' Son & Morgan, 
of Nashville, Tenn., which were set out with 
due care on the day they were received, but 
the Strawberries failed to show any signs of 
liie, and the trees righiuway beauu to turn 
black ami lUe bark to t-ll.j off as it they had 
been -c ilde<l. He cut off niuw of the brandies 
and mailed tliem to the dim, requesting them 
to reiuud ihe money or send souud trees aud 
plauts such as he had contracted for ; but no 
answer having been vouchsafed to this letter, 
he asks whether there is any means by which 
he can get back his money or its worth. 
Ans. —The firm should at least reply to your 
letter. If you can prove the above statements 
to be correct, you can recover. The trees 
etc., may have been delayed along the route, 
for which the firm could not be held respon¬ 
sible. 
G. G. B.. Manchester, Ff., asks 1, what i6 
the va’ue of the Iron-clad Manufacturing Com¬ 
pany’s metallic shingles; 2. do metallic spouts 
injure maple trees more than wooden ones ; 3, 
what would be the likelihood of success with 
blue grasB, orchard grass and red *op sown in 
the fall with winter grain. 
Ans —1. We cannot say from actual knowl¬ 
edge; but are inclined to think them much 
better than wood or slate. 2. No. 3. Spring 
sowing is preferable. There is too much risk 
in fall sowing, unless made as early as August 
15, with an open winter. Much of the winter’s 
seeding done last fall is killed outright by the 
open and changeable winter. 
IF. O. IF, Boston, Mass., asks, 1. for a re¬ 
liable nursery where he can get just what he 
orders; 2, where cau he get the Duchess 
Grape illustrated iu the Rubai, Dec. 6th, 1879 ? 
3 Name five varieties of Grapes that are like¬ 
ly to succeed in Massachusetts, besides the fol¬ 
lowing which he already has :—Concord, Hart¬ 
ford Prolific, Delaware, Diana aud Catawba. 
4. Name the best white Raspberry. 
Ans —1. We must refer you to our adver¬ 
tising columns. We advertise none but reliable 
firms. 2. Of Farley and Andersou, Union 
Springs, N. Y 3. Try Rogers's No. 9, Martha, 
Maxatawney, Rebecca, Walter. 4. White Ant¬ 
werp and American White. Both of them are 
surpassed by varieties of darker color. 
J. 8, TJrbana, Kans., says, “My peach trees 
have a gluey, waxy substance oozing out, 
light at the top of the ground ; on examining, I 
find a white worm working on them j ust beneath 
the surface of the ground. It looks much like 
a grub worm, only smaller. Will you please 
inform me through the Rubai, what the reme¬ 
dy is ?” 
Ans. —It is the peach borer. Paint the trunk 
with sulphur, lime, whale-oil 6oap. Paste¬ 
board around the stems and breaking lime 
about them are recommended. Wherever the 
gum exudes (or near it) a borer-grub will be 
found. Follow with a sharp knife aud destroy 
all found. 
F. B , Louisville, Ky , asks the price of Wil¬ 
lards Practical Diary Husbandry and Willard’s 
Batter Book, aud whether there is any later 
and better work on dairy matters. 
Ans. —Willard's Dairy Husbandry, $3; But¬ 
ter Book $1. Prof. Arnold has published a 
later work of which good reports have reached 
us. The latest, best aud in every way the 
finest work on the entire subject of dairy hus¬ 
bandry, however, is Dairy Farming, by Prof. 
J. P. Sheldon, now 'eing published in monthly 
numbers by Carseil, Petter, Gal pin & Co., of 
this city. Nine numbers have been already 
issued, price 40c. each, aud the work will be 
completed iu about 24 numbers. 
G. W, M., Greenville, O., asks, 1, what is a 
good work on tobacco culture, aDd, 2, whether 
there is any paper devoted to that industry. 
Ans. —Tobacco Culture by Fourteen Experi¬ 
enced Cultivators, 25c., is the only work on 
that particular branch of the subject we know 
of, though there is a large number of Euro¬ 
pean works that treat of the culture, manufac¬ 
ture and adulteratious of the weed. Tne Am. 
News Co., N. Y., will supply the above work. 
Almost every year all good agricultural papers 
tell the whole story. 2. The Tobacco Leaf, 142 
Fulton Street this city, a weekly, $4.20; the 
Commercial and Tobacco Leaf, Richmond, 
Va., a weekly, price $1 a year. 
H. C. B., Poteau, Ark., asks, 1, whether 
there is any cheap way of killing or getting rid 
of sassufras sprouts; 2, what it is the best 
kind of fertilizer to apply to corn in the hill, 
to give it a start; 3, what is the best means of 
restoring vigor to an apple tree—tree about 
15 or 20 years old. 
Ans. —1, We kuow of no cheaper way than 
by cutting them down a3 boou as they are in 
full leaf. 2, Fine bone flour; or hen manure, 
applied as often directed in these pages. 3, 
Cut out all dead branches and thin out where 
the branches are too thick. Then give the 
ground a generous spread of manure. 
E. 0., Cylone , Polk Co., Neb., and his 
neighbors have for three years given their 
strawberry beds the best care, the plants have 
blossomed freely, aDd still there has not even 
a sign of a berry. The plants were sold for 
Wilsons. He wants to know what can be the 
matter. 
Ans. —The plants are all stamiuate, that is, 
the flowers possess only the male element or 
Blamcus, while the pistil* are entirely wanting; 
a kind of bachelor tirothcrhood liorn which no 
fruit can be i xpected. The Wilson (Strawberry 
has perfect flowers. 
M. B. T., North Loup. Neb., would like to 
kuow the proper season to transplant ever¬ 
greens. 
Ans—E vergreens have been moved success¬ 
fully at almost every season of the year. Some 
persons advocate one period and others an¬ 
other. The early spring, however, seems to 
be the most favorablo time. Winter or late 
autumn is recommended for the removal of 
large trees. 8ome kinds admit of being moved 
at midsummer; but care must then bo taken 
lest the young growth droop. 
J. IF , Martins Ferry, O., is going into the 
gardening business, and more particularly, in 
the raising of strawberries, aspaiagus, rhu¬ 
barb, celery and grapes; but he complains 
that he doesn't know how to go to work, and 
asks information as to the details of the culti¬ 
vation of each. 
Ans.—W e would recommend an apprentice¬ 
ship of a couple of years with a first-class gar- 
deuer. The information we could offer on so* 
many broad subjects in the space here at ouar 
cotnmaml, would be of no advantage. 
J. K. M., Falmouth, Me., asks, 1, whether 
seedling plum trees will produce fruit like 
that of ihe parent, or should they be budded ; 
2, will Lucern and other gras* seeds “catch" 
when sown in sod or unplowed grounu. 
Ans. —1. Highly uncertain: budded. 2. The 
ground for Lucern should be thoroughly tilled. 
See History of a Poor Farm aud article by 
Prof. Beal in a late Issue for sowing other 
grasses. 
G. J). Carrin, Lockport, N. Y, asks which 
kind of fertilizer is the best and cheapest. 
Ans.—T hat will depend on the crop for 
which it is intended a good deal, but mainly 
upon the condition of the soil to which it is to 
be applied. The question is far too broad to 
admit of a satisfactory answer iu these limits. 
Barnyard manure is doubtless in most cases 
the be6t and cheapest. For commercial fertil¬ 
izers see our advertising columns and Market 
Reports. 
M. L E , West Salem, IFis., asks, 1, would 
the Japanese Maples be hardy there ; 3. can the 
Rhododeudron be grown iu the house the same 
a9 the Oleander; 3, he has tried the Cow-pea. 
there but it did not ripen. 
Ans.— 1, Perhaps 6ome of our Wisconsin 
friends can answer this question. We should' 
doubt it. 2. Not satisfactorily. 3. It is worlb» 
a good trial. 
G. O. T., White Plains, N . 1’.. referring to 
our statement iu Rubai, of Jan. 19, 1878, that 
we had two Bassett American Plum trees, 
asks whether they have borne fruit yet and if 
they are eurculio-proof. 
Ans.—Y es, they have fruited with us. The 
plums are very small aud not eurculio-proof. 
I. F IF, Palmyra, Neb., wants to know 
who manufacture the Centrifugal Creamer. 
Ans.—T here are two kinds ot centrifugal 
creamers—as stated in a late Rukal One is 
made by Whitman & Burrell, Little Falls, N. 
Y. ; we do not kuow who makes the other, 
if it is manufactured at all iu this country. 
E. F-, Kingston, N. T., asks how to raise 
Bouvardias and Azaleas. 
Ans.—B ouvardias and Azaleas require no 
special treatment. Mellow soil, a suuny win¬ 
dow and water—the same as Geraulums need 
—are their chief requirements. Most Azaleas 
are hardy. The Bouvardia may be used fov 
bedding purposes, from frost to frost- 
J. N. B., Worcester, Mass., asks where the- 
Ring Willow can be had. 
Ans—W e suppose our correspondent means 
Salix auuularis. It cau be had from The Par¬ 
sons Son’s Co., Flushing, L. I. 
F. A. M-, N. Y. City., asks whether it would 
be advisable to sow the flower seeds of the 
Free Seed Distribution in pots in the house 
instead of in a hot-bed during the warm 
weather. 
Ans.—Y es. 
Nell. Cameron's Mills, Pa., asks how to de¬ 
stroy the little white worms that infest the 
root6 of house plants. 
Ans.—U se tobacoo water. Lime water is ex¬ 
cellent. 
B. E. C., WaynesviUe , Ohio, asks how the 
seed of Cobtea ecandeus cau be obtained. 
Ans.— Plants started in the greenhouse and 
put out in May generally mature seed. 
J. M. B., Economowoc, IFis., asks whether 
the Canton Tea Company of this city is re¬ 
liable. 
Ani-.—Y es. 
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E. N. D—M. W. F.-A. M. G.—J. D.—C. A. B.— 
J. T—C. R — P. H. N.—W. L. U.—E. H. T.-S. T.— 
A._S, SJ. C.—B. G. 8.—G. F* B.—A. B. A.—T. 
H.-C. C. T.-A. O. L.-W. I. C.-U. R. O —M. V, 
F. B.—A Subscriber.—H. T. J. S. S.—E. H. C.—E. 
N. B.—G. n.—E. L. T.—Mrs. M. A.—M.—P.—C. R. 
&F. W. T.—H. A. T.—A. B.—C. L. H.—T. R.— 
M O. R.—E. D. S.-F. H. D.—A. K —VV. M. C.— 
G. G.— T. C.-K. M. O —M. L —W. F. K.—T. H. H. 
—S. B.-K. U. O.-T. K.-W. L. II.—A. R. It - 
Thanks.— E. U.— E. A. C.—U M — J. M.—C. 11. E. 
W. A. T.—8. T. 8 — V R.—E. B —J M. B—W. J. 
—H. S.-G. B. G—M. L. R.—W. M —A. J. F—U. 
8. E -J. A. P.—B, 8 G—A. T. P.-L. H. R.-I. W. 
K. -W- C, L- P.-A. B.-J. C. K.-J. A. 
