Growing Peanuts. 
E. W. K. Westfield, N. F.. wants to know 
how to raise peanuts in western New York, 
what kind of seed to get, what soil they re¬ 
quire, and just how to go to work. 
Anb.—I n the first place you cannot raise 
peauuls successfully in western New York. 
The peanut is a Southern product and it re¬ 
quires a Southern sun to bring it to such 
perfection that it can bo grown with profit. 
If, however, you are determined to try the 
cultivation of peanuts, begin on a small 
scale. Select a rich sandy loam, manure 
with well rotted stable manure, if a fertili¬ 
zer should bo needed, and in addition apply 
shell lime to the patch at the rate of 40 or 
50 bushels per acre. There are two varieties 
of the nut recognized—the Virginia and 
the Carolina; the Virginia will probably 
give best satisfaction, Mark out rows each 
way about three feet apart and at each in¬ 
tersection plant two sound nuts an inch 
and a half deep. Tbo planting should not 
lake place before near the end of May or in 
the beginning ot June; if planted too early 
the nuts are liable to rot in the ground. 
Germination will be facilitated if the shells 
are cracked or entirely removed before 
planting, but tbo kernels must not bo 
bruised in the cracking. Although the pea¬ 
nut is a fruit, the result of a flower, it is 
developed under ground, the pods in grow¬ 
ing being pushed into the surface soil. This 
peculiar habit necessitates that the top 
soil should be loose and mellow. Cultivate 
frequently and thoroughly during rhe sea¬ 
son and lot the crop continue to grow until 
killed b.v the first frosts. Then the nuts 
should be dug, dried and picked,when they 
will he ready for market. The yield ranges 
in the South from 20 to 100 bushels per acre, 
and the price from <81 to $2.50 per bushel. 
Postage Stamps. 
E. B. B„ Long Tom, Oregon, asks the date of 
the first introduction of postage stamps and 
an account of their changes, 
An 8.—The system of prepaying postage 
by means of small adhesive labels, to be sold 
to the public and received by the post-office 
as evidence of payment when attached to 
letters, was first advocated by Rowland 
Hill in L837. and was adopted by the British 
Post-Office in 1840, the stamps being first 
used on May 6 of tbu A year. The designs on 
the stamp have varied greatly with the 
time at which they were issued and the 
nations Avho have need them. The first ad¬ 
hesive stamp issued by Great Britain was 
the profile of the Queen, with the word 
postago above and the value below it; but 
this was objected to on account of the 
blackening—in cancellation—of the sover¬ 
eign’s portrait. Brazil, the second country 
to adopt the system, used first the simple 
figure of value aud afterwards a portrait 
of the Emperor. The various German 
States seem to prefer numerals of value 
surrounded by inscriptions printed in color¬ 
ed inks. Many countries lutve adopted the 
national arms as the principal design in 
postage stamps. More varieties of postage 
stamps have been issued and a greater num¬ 
ber have been used at one time in the 
United States than in any ot her country, 
162 varieties having been issued here and 
127 used at one time, while England has 
used only 32 kinds aud France 60. Postage- 
stamp collecting is called “philately,” on 
which several articles appeared in the Bu¬ 
bal about six months ago. 
marking CliiclceiiH. 
D. D. C'„ 1//. Union, la,, asks for some good 
plan for so marking young chickens that 
they can ho distinguished from one’s neigh¬ 
bors’ of the same brood. 
An 8.—Chickens can be marked by a very 
simple method, undin quite a number of dif¬ 
ferent ways, by punching a hole in the web 
of the foot between the toes, by means of a 
small steel spring punch such as is used by 
boot-makers. The accompanying cut ex¬ 
plains the matter. One hole may bo be- 
CIIlOKKNs’ FEET MARKUP,—FIG. 149. 
tween the middle and outside toes, or be¬ 
tween the inside aud middle toes, or in 
both these places, in either foot or in both ; 
or two boles can bo made instead of one in 
either or all of these places, so that the 
number of changes that can be made in 
marking according to this simple way is 
quite large. Of course, a record should be 
kept of the markings. The punch should 
have a sharp edge, and the marking may be 
done as soon as the chicks are hatched; but 
it is better to wait until they are a few 
weeks old; for otherwise it may be neces¬ 
sary to repeat the operation when they 
grow larger. 
Eradicating Stumps. 
II. B. Greenville, <5. G„ asks for the cheap¬ 
est and best way of getting rid of stumps 
in a field. 
A ns.— The cheapest and most e Hoc live 
way is to blast them out will) cartridges of 
giant powder. This explosive is a prepara¬ 
tion of nitroglycerine, many times as pow¬ 
erful as common powder, and its great 
force, being very sadden in its action, tears 
the stumps to fragments so that but little, 
if any, after-cutting is required to dispose, 
of them. The giant powder is put up in 
cartridges about 10 inches long by 1 1-2 in 
diameter, and these, being of the consist¬ 
ence of cheese, can be cut into pieces, of 
the sizo required, with a knife. A niece 
i wo inches long is sufficient to throw out a 
good-sized stump. A hole is punched under 
the stump with a crow-bar: the explosive, 
with the proper fuse aud fulminating cap 
attached, is put in the hole, water is poured 
iu as tamping, and the fuse is fired. The 
explosion throws the stump out in several 
pieces, leaving the hole to be filled up af¬ 
terwards. Experts have taken out 100 
stumps in a day in this manner. 
Heaves—Uroken Wind—In Horses. 
»S. F, B„ Bethel, Oregon, has a seven-year- 
old horse that has had little or no work 
moBt of the time, and never any heavy 
work, while be is well fed iu winter on oats, 
timothy hav, carrots, aud occasionally 
straw aud brail for a change; a year ago, 
on driving liim at a fair gait, it was no¬ 
ticed that ho breathed loudly ; no treat¬ 
ment was given, and now he has grown 
worse. At ordinary gaits this sort of breath- 
ing does not injure him, but brisk driving or 
heavy pulliug necessitates freqnent, short 
halts,after which he goes on as before. A 
little excitement causes liim to breathe 
still louder, aud our friend asks, 1, what 
ails him; 3, the name of a good work on 
the treatment of ordinary diseases in horses 
and other domesticated animals. 
Ans.—K eeping horses on feed of a bulky 
character, distending the abdominal cavity 
at the expense of tbo thoracic, will cause, 
on inspiration, a rupture of the wall of the 
air cells of the lungs from over-distention. 
As a certain amount of air is taken into the 
lungs at every inspirat ion, if from any cause 
a part of the lung will not dilate, then 
other parts are over-distended, hence rup¬ 
ture. There is no certain cure ; but horses 
with this infirmity will, if fed properly,do a 
great deal of service. As treatment, feed on 
dry grain, carrots, turnips, and a little hay 
at night.—very little water. Do not use for 
two hours after being fed or watered. Arse¬ 
nic in small doses is a favorite remedy wit h 
dealers; doses— begin with three grains a 
day; increase to live in a week. Continue 
for a month. 2, Law’s Farmers’ Veterinary 
Adviser; price $3, to be had of the Ameri¬ 
can News Co., Chambers St., N. Y. 
Selecting Seed Corn. 
W. S, M„in Rural of April 14, asks: “wliat 
kind of ears are best for seed among the 
varieties of corn grown by him, etc.” The 
only way to measure the capacity of any 
grain is by the product of one grain and not 
bv the acre. This is a point too often over¬ 
looked by farmers, because it is—L su pposu ’ 
—on too small a scale. If W. $. M. will 
take one stalk of each variety and, after as¬ 
certaining its product iu ounces together 
with the stover it. took to feed it, he will 
soon conclude which is “best.” If he de¬ 
sires an eight-rowed variety, ho must breed 
to it tiie same us ono Avon Id breed stock 
to a color or any other quality. As iu the 
animal kingdom so in tho vegetable—one 
is as susceptible of improvement bv breed¬ 
ing as the other. Always select even-rowed 
ears and ears whoso rows are straight, not 
irregular on tho cob. Ears that taper are 
best becauso better protected by the husk ; 
and then, too, the silk—the female part of 
tho plaut— remains alive longer. My reason 
for selecting the top ear for seed is that it 
is always more fully developed, more uni¬ 
form and more vigorous in its gerraiuatimi, 
having been better fertilized when in the 
silk. A. E. Blount, 
The Wild Onion. 
L. //., Jericho, N. F., asks how shall he 
got rid of this vile weed, it is a great nuis¬ 
ance in his pastures, so strongly flavoring 
the milk of the cows feeding there, that it 
can’t be drank iu tho family, nor the cream 
used for making butter. Thus lie has to 
keepliis oiws out of the pasture till the 
tops of the onions become so dry in June, 
that the cows will not touch them. 
Ans.—T he only way is to get a suitable, 
close three-tined fork, and dig out every 
root by band, which can be rapidly done b.v 
children ; or else rdow up the pasture and 
put it into hoed crops. The wild onion 
spreads with great rapidity. We find it on 
gentlemen’s lawns in various places, and 
they resort to the hand fork to get rid of it. 
Perhaps pouring a teaspoonful of oil of 
vitriol ou each plant, as in the case of this 
ties, may kill the onion. This can be bought 
at a cheap rate by the gallon, but the per¬ 
son using it must bo very careful not to let 
any of it drop oil bis clothes, for if so, 
wherever it touches, it will make a hole 
through the cloth. 
Miscellaneous. 
M. A, L„ Preston, N. asks, 1, where can 
King Philip’s anil Improved Dent corn be 
obtained, and will they thrive in this lo¬ 
cality; 2. what ails his Flowering Maple— 
the leaves look all right when they first 
appear, and later on become spotted, like a 
sample sent; 3, are there any books pub¬ 
lished on the Kindergarten method of 
teaching; and if so, what books would we 
recommend for a young teacher who desires 
to teach by that method J 
An 8.—King Philip is an Eastern variety, 
and will, no doubt, do well in tbo above lo¬ 
cality; as for the Dent, Ave cannot say liovv 
well it may succeed, but it is worth a trial. 
Both varieties can bo had from any large 
seedsman advertising in the Rural. 2. 
The leaf sent is that of an Abutilon. The 
spots are natural and not indicative of any 
disease. 3. Though there have been several 
books published on the subject, none of 
them can impart a thorough knowledge of 
the system to a solitary student; one must 
he regularly trained. Kindergarten Cul¬ 
ture, by W. N. Hailmau, and Paradise of 
Childhood, by W. E. Wiebo, are boobs that 
Avill give an insight of the system. The 
American Kindergarten is kept at 93 East 
10th St., N. Y. city. 
B. F., Beckwith, 'Venn, has live one-year- 
old mules, all fillies; their fare-legs are 
sprung in the knee-joints, inclining in¬ 
wards; otherwise they are in prime condi¬ 
tion, having been well fed and sheltered, 
and he asks whether there is any remedy 
for the ailment. 
Ans.—T his sounds like one of tho many 
forms in which “ osteo-porosis” or “ big 
bead,” as it is commonly called, attacks 
young animals ; but tbo description of the 
symptoms are not full enough to enable us 
to decide tho question definitely. Will our 
friend please answer the followiog ques¬ 
tions, that Ave may reply in a satisfactory 
manner. 1st, How many animals are ou his 
farm ? 2d. flow sheltered and fed '■ 3rd. 
Are any of these mules lame, and where ? 
4th. Arc all of them a (footed in the same 
way, or are some lame behind ? 5th. Have 
any of them enlargements about the lower 
jaw or face ? 6th. How is their appetite f 
7tli. Is there any pain on pressure of the 
bones of the. affected limbs ? 
M. A., Cumberland. Md., asks if it would 
be advisable to use Paris-green on curious 
and encumbers as a remedy for the cueuni 
ber beetle aud other insects. 
Axs.—No, Paris-green is too dangerous a 
material to use indiscriminately on plants 
whose fruit or foliage is eaten. Not long 
since Ave noticed the poisoniug of a whole 
family in Canada, b.v eating cabbage on 
Avhieli it had been sprinkled as a remedy 
for the cabbage worm. One such example 
ought to teach an impressive lesson in re¬ 
gard to the danger that attends its use. 
To sprinkle Ihis poison on cucumber vines is to 
jeopardize life. 
17. 5. G.. Fulton, jV. F., has bought some 
potatoes under the name of Beauty of He 
bron, of a prominent seedsmau, but they 
are so small and white in color that bo 
doubts their being true to name, and 
therefore sends a specimen to us for iden¬ 
tification. 
Ans.—T he potato sent is .so imperfectly 
developed that even professional potato 
experts cannot identity it. It certainly 
does not look like the Beuutv of Hebron. 
Its somewhat pale color is not an absolute 
proof that it is not what it purports to be ; 
tho color may chauge to some extent with 
tho kind of soil iu which the tuber is grown 
T. J. E, Pleasanton, Texas, asks how 
many cows can a bull serve, ttio coavs to 
run loose in a pasture or to be horded ; tho 
bull to stay with (hem all the time. 
Ans.—T hat depends on the age and vigor 
of the bull. While 35 would he enough for 
a yearling animal, a full-grown bull could 
serve double, or even three times tho num¬ 
ber. 
-» »♦ - 
Communications received fob thb week ending 
Saturday, April 30tn. 
t. n. n.—w. i. c.—s. c. g.—d. ii. m —w. m.— 
15. B.—M. W. — W. J. B.—M. M.—W. S. — W. AV 
I).—A Subscriber—F,. S. S.—D. M. J. - A. B. A.— 
A. L. J.-J. P. R.—A. K 15.—«T_ A. M.-L. V. R.— 
It. R.—U. N. S.-T. K.-L. It. C.—F. H R.-S. H. 
Y.—T. B. H.-J. «. G.-L, J —T J. K„ no.-M. S. 
K. —F. H. ,A1.-S. R. O —L. At.—11. It., thanks-H. 
R.T.-W. S.N.—A. E. M. C.-O AV. D —M. B — 
M. A. C.—P. G. S.—U. G. - E. E. A..—F.—E V. H.— 
A. S.—L. K—M. It — L, At n -8. D.—T. S. R.— 
N. B.—Mrs A. 8.—N. B.-L. K. 8.—L. B.—B. 8.— 
J.M.T.—n. \\ M —A It. L.-L. F.—R. P.—H. O 
H.-M. W.—L. AV.—D. L.-D 8—J. I. C.—K. M. It 
—U. AV— M. E. T.—J. P. - It. J. 8.—M. 8.—AV. II. 
B. F. — J. J. I). — J. J. ,J.—I, 8 \V.—. 1 . 8.. thanks— 
It. A. N., thanks—A. J. 8.. No-H, j. •—,T. <>.— 
L. —11. It. M.-S. S.-D. O. L.—VV. B.—H. G. E.— 
\V. M. 8.—II. AV. T.—II. O. K.—L. P. D. 
BULLETIN 38.-April 24, 1880. 
FERTILIZER ANALYSES. 
376. Mapes’ Potato Manure, Guarantee, 
Ammonia 45-5 per cent., Plios. Acid. 8-10 
per cent. Potash sulphate and muriate one 
half of each, 6-8 per cent. 
377. Mapes’ Grass and Grain Spring. 
Top-dressing. Guarantee. Ammonia 5-7 per 
cent Plios. Acid. 6-8 per ceut., Potash, in 
form of sulphate aud muriate, one half of 
each. 5-7 per cent. 
378. Mapes’ Complete Manure (“A”Brand) 
Guarantee Ammonia 3-4 par cent., avail¬ 
able Phos. Acid. 10-12 per cent.. Insoluble 
Phos. Acid. 2-4 per cent., Potash as Muriate 
2 1-43 1-2 per cept. 
379. Mapes’ Corn Manure. Guarantee, 
Ammonia 4 1-2 5 per cent,, Phos. Acid. 
10-13 per cent., Potash as Muriate 6-7 per 
cent. 
The above were manufactured by tho 
Mapes’Formula and Peruvian Guauo Co., 
New York, and sold by Albertixs N. Clark, 
Milford. 
380. Superphosphate made by Russel 
Coe, Linden, N. J., and sold by E. B. Clark, 
Agent,. 
381. Superphosphate made by Lister 
Bios., Newark, N. J.. and sold by Albertus 
N. Clark, Millford. Guarantee, Ammonia, 
3.85—3.25, Available Phos; Acid, 10-12 per 
cent. Insoluble Phos. Acid, 1-3 per cent. 
384. Ammoniated Bone Superphosphate 
made by the Geo. W. Miles Co., Milford, aud 
bought from Manufacturers. 
The above three were sampled and sent to 
the Station, March 23, 1880, by Joseph W. 
Nettleton, Milford. 
386. Mapes* Complete Manure (“A” Brand) 
same as 378) sold an the Hartford Branch of 
Mapes' Formula Co., sampled and sent to 
the Station, April 3, by L. S. Wells, Ncav 
Britain. 
382. Ground Bono made by Lister Bros., 
Newark, N. J., aud sold by Albertus N. 
Clark, Milfard, Guarantee, Nitrogen, 2.50- 
3.09 per cent., Phos, Acid 11.50-L3.50 per 
cent, 
383. Ground Bone made by Peter Cooper, 
New York, and sold by E. B. Clark, agent, 
Milford. 
Both the above were sampled and sent 
to the Station by Joseph W, Nettleton, Mil¬ 
ford. 
388. Bone Meal from Mapes’ Co., Hart¬ 
ford, Guarantee, Ammonia 4-5, Phos. Acid 
20-36 per cent. 
Sampled and sent April 5, by L. S. Wells, 
New Britain, as were also the following ; 
390. St. Louis Castor Pomace made by 
Collius Co., sold by F. Ellsworth. 
387. Muriate of Potash, 80 per cent 
Mapes’ Co. 
389. Sulphate of Potash, 70 per cent, 
Mapes’ C.o 
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382 
3 61 
CASTOR FOMCE AND POTASH 
SALTS. 
383 388 390 387 389 
I 12 3 00 
5 75 
27 39 25 13 
1 79 
1 29 
50 27 
35 68 
$3 97 
$4 19 
Nitrogen, 
Phospuorie 
Acid, 
Potash. 
Cost of Potash 
per 10(1 lbs., 
Est. value of 
fertilizers 
per ton. $29 63 $12 36 $45 97 $28 02 $45 83 $53 52 
Cost ot fertiliz¬ 
ers per ton, $30 00 $32 00 $42 00 $20 00 $40 00 $65 00 
382. Contains 15 percent, of salt cake or 
sulphate of soda, soluble in water. 
388. The potash equals 79.8 per cent, of 
muriate of potash. 
3S9. The potash corresponds to 66 per cent 
of sulphate of potash, but there is present 
7.56per cent, of chlorine, which is equiva¬ 
lent to 15.9 per cent, muriate of potash. 
Correction.— The per cent, of salt in 
“ Refuse Salt Washings” No. 357, misprint¬ 
ed in last Bulletin. 67.02 per cent, should 
have been 67.92 per cent. The ner cent, 
of salt iu • Kiln Refuse” No. 358. print¬ 
ed 92.30 per cent., should have been 97.20 
percent, S, W. Johnson, Director, 
