JULY 24 
475 
THE BUBAL ^EW-YOBKEB 
season is nearly over, and the yield is not over 
two bushels per acre, A good many fields are 
left uncut. The best yield is from land that 
was in cow-peas turned under, vine and all. 
Oats and rye rusted, and are Bhort crops, and 
but little of either has been gathered. Of 
tobacco only half a crop was planted, and it 
is very late. Cotton, corn and grass are about 
an average acreage, and give fair promises of 
an average yield, if the weather keeps season¬ 
able from this time on. The recent rain has 
revived the growing crops; gardens were fail¬ 
ing until then. Wheat stnbble is beiDg pre¬ 
pared for 6tock. A good many farmers have 
finished sowiug peas, and the land under this 
crop will, most of it, be sown with Fall wheat. 
Farmers will have to send to some other sec¬ 
tion for seed wheat, consequently there may not 
be as large a crop put in as usual. Three bad 
crops of wheat have disheartened a good many 
farmers. The cow-pea crop has excelled it so 
far as a paying crop; for peas sell readily at 
one dollar per bushel, and the vine that is left 
is a good fertilizer, and all other crops do well 
after peas. Apples, peaches and pears are each 
about half a crop. All small fruits are abun¬ 
dant. The potato beetle has made its appear¬ 
ance, and is devouring the crop, though the 
pest is a little too late to seriously inj ure the 
tubers, as they are pretty well made. But few 
are raised here for market, although our 
couuty will produce anything that is generally 
raised for the sustenance of man. We have 
rich grain and grass land, plenty of timber 
and water, as this county borders on Kentucky, 
midway between the Tennessee and Mississippi 
Rivers. p. a. c. 
Tbxas, Cross Plains, Callahan Co.—Owing 
to dry weather our wheat did not come up un¬ 
til ChristmaB, and part of it was much in¬ 
jured by rust, the white varieties suffering 
most. It will yield 13 or 16 bushels per acre. 
Oats were injured by late frosts. Several pieces 
of millet were sown this year, and will make a 
good return. Potatoes were taken by the Col¬ 
orado beetle. The few who are farming in 
thi6 part of the county have splendid prospects 
for corn. As to fruits we have none as yet. 
I am raising the Early Amber sugar-cane 
which is now ready to work up ; later varie¬ 
ties are looking well. Plenty of rain. f. p, 
Utah, Ogden City, Weber Co.—Wheat, oats, 
barley, rye, etc., in this county will only be 
about half a crop. There is also a very poor 
prospect for com. Sorghum is not grown 
as extensively as it was a few years ago. 
Potatoes and the root crops are the most favor¬ 
able, such as beets, carrots, etc. The peach 
and apricot are total failures in some places, 
but in a few locations a few may be raised. 
Apples, plums and pears are pretty good. 
Currants, strawberries and raspberries are 
very good—better than common, Gooseberries 
have been partly destroyed by mildew. Lu¬ 
cerne is abundantly grown here ; we often cut 
three crops a year; this is our best fodder 
plant. The poor condition of the crops i6 due 
almost wholly to a late Spring and severe 
drought; wo have ouly had one slight passing 
shower of rain in the last two months, making 
irrigation water very valuable. wm. j. h. 
Va., Dunnsville, Essex Co., July 7_We 
have had copious raius for ten days past, but 
we passed through the driest March, April, 
May aud early Juue kuownto the oldest people. 
Gardeus and early potatoes arc almost entire 
lailures. Wheat very short—not more than 
half our usual crop. Oats are nothing. Clover 
the same. Pastures very short, aud cattle 
have to depend on the much-abused wire grass, 
the only crop that could Btand the parching 
winds and drought. Corn is now looking first- 
rate, farmers have finiBheu working it, and 
pastures ure beginning to show their usual 
beauty at this season. Cattle, too, uru begin¬ 
ning to improve ; though this is not strictly a 
stock.section there is quite a number of sheep, 
on tile, horses, mules, and hogs raised for mar¬ 
ket. it is a first-rate sheep couutry ; all who 
engage in sheep husbandry and pay attention 
to it, double their capital every year, and 
some do a great deal better. Sheep cause very 
little expense here. South Downs seem be6t 
adapted to this section. The country is grad¬ 
ually recovering from losses, though there are 
6till complaints of hard times, which, I sup¬ 
pose, are to be heard In other sections perhaps 
more blessed than this. Wheat sells at $1.05 to 
$1.10; corn, 60c for home demand; oats, none 
for sale. “Hands” hire from $10 to $18 per 
mouth. Land sells at $3 to $30 per acre, ac¬ 
cording to location, improvements and natu¬ 
ral advantages. There is an abuudauce of fine 
streams. T ransportation is first-rate, and the 
country very cheap and healthy. Doctors all 
complain of hard, dull times. Omskkvhk. 
W. Va., Kearneysville, Jefferson Co.— 
Wheat here will make three-quarters of an 
average crop—Fultz, Long Berry and Lancas¬ 
ter ; average per acre 15 to 35 bushels. Com 
looks well and has a larger acreage thau last 
year. Potatoes look well, aud will make a full 
crop ; they are now worth $1.35 per bushel, in 
the market. Oats will not make more than 
the seed. Rye is very good. Plenty of cher¬ 
ries ; of peaches but a few ; apples a quarter 
of a crop ; grapes a full crop, ditto all small 
fruits. j. a. h. 
Wrs., Stephensville, Outagamie Co.—There 
is not very much winter wheat raised in this 
locality. What there is, was badly winter-killed- 
Spring wheat looks fine, and more was sown 
than usual. The prospect for oats is good. 
That for barley, extra-good, but not over a 
quarter as much is sown as last year. A small 
amount of sorghum has been planted this year 
asau experiment. The fruitcrop will be good. 
The crabs, Duchess of Oldenburgh, Red As- 
trachan, and other Russian apples have prov¬ 
en most successful. o. w. a. 
Wib., Fort Atkinson, Jefferson Co.—The 
wheat crop at this time promises to be the best 
for years. Winter wheat is being cut. Rye a 
good crop. Barley a heavy crop—better than 
for ten years. Acreage of small grain one- 
third more than nsnal. Sorghum is raised 
generally, nearly every farmer having from 
a quarter to a whole acre. There will be an 
abundance of apples. d. w. c. 
Wis, Cadiz, Green Co.—Wheat about half a 
crop—acreage about one-fourth larger than 
last year. Potatoes good—one-half more land 
planted to them than the year before. Oats, 
good—doable the usual acreage. Barley good ; 
area smalltr than in ’79. But little sorghum ; 
orchards young and not much fruit. a. b. 
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
[Every query must be accompanied by the name and 
address of the writer to insure attention.] 
N. J. B., Severy, Greenwood, Vo., Kan., has 
built a bee house to keep the moths from the 
bees. It is described as being about 4x6 feet, 
aud so arranged that the bees can occupy the 
whole spaee withiu. The entrance is about 
three feet from the ground, but still the moths 
are troublesome. Our correspondent asks for 
advice. 
Anb. —From this meagre description we can 
scarcely form an idea of the bouBe, but it does 
not seem to be at all practical. It appears to 
be one gigantic hive with a floor room of some 
34 square feet, and the entrance situated three 
feet from the ground. Such a structure would 
rather favor than counteract the instincts of 
the moth. The relative hight of the entrance 
is of but little consequence since the moth can 
fly. There is but one remedy for the bee-moth 
and this consists in keeping the colonies as 
populous aud vigorous as possible. A strong 
colony will repel the intruder and remove the 
larvie of the moth that may appear on the 
comb, while a weak one will remain passive to 
all operations of the bee-moth. There are no 
moth-proof bee-hives. All hives that pretend 
to be such are humbngs and our advice is to 
leave them severely alone. A good movable 
frame hive, filled with active, buzzing Italian 
bees, is not greatly in danger of being infested 
with bee-moths. The apiarist will, of course, 
remove any occasional larvie, that may be 
found on the combs, during the various oper¬ 
ations of the hive. 
Crossing Corn. 
E. D. B., Grundy Centre, Ioioa, asks if 
the White Prolific corn were crossed upon 
another variety with single ears, what would 
it make, and would the cross make more than 
one ear to the stalk. 
An s.—When stockmen breed to a color or 
quality they expect a cross of about half of 
each between two pure-bloods. For instance, 
a pure Short-horn crossed on a pure Jersey 
will give about u half Jersey and half Short¬ 
horn, This grade, or cross, naturally partakes 
of the qualities of both sire and dam in a 
greater or lees degree, the precise degree de- 
pendiug maiuly on the superior prepotency of 
one parent on the other. This natural law 
holds good In the vegetable kingdom as well. 
In crossing a pure variety of corn upon 
another, the grade, if we may use the term, 
partakes of the qualities of the grain that fur¬ 
nishes the pollen (male), aud also of the quali¬ 
ties of that possessing the silk (female) ; there¬ 
fore crossing the White Prolific* upon a one¬ 
eared variety will increase the number of ears; 
change the quality of the grain aud affeet that 
of the cob and fodder in proportion us one 
may be stronger and more vigorous than the 
other. 
BUter Creiun. 
A. W. K, Searsporl, Me., asks for the cause 
and remedy for bitter cream. All the cows 
are in fine health and have a good pasture. 
Ans.— Bitter cream may be caused by the 
cow eatmg bitter weeds, as rag weed, boneset, 
willow leaves and twigs, etc. Or it may be 
caused by the cow being injuriously affected 
by the hot weather, or by impure water. Or 
it may be caused by a fungus growth in the 
cream when kept In a cellar that is not well 
aired or has anything moldy in it. Or the 
cream may be kept too long, or the churning 
may be too long continued. If the bitterness 
is supposed to be from uny cause without the 
cow, a good pinch of saltpeter In each pun of 
milk may change it If it is within the cow 
give her half an ounce of saltpeter once a day, 
for two or three dayB ; this will help to carry 
off the impurities through the kidneys. Other 
causes may be removed or prevented. 
Miscellaneous. 
L. W. 8. Pitcher, N. Y., asks how to trim 
squash vines, and if they will produce better 
when trimmed ; 2, the name of a plant sent us. 
Ans. —Theoretically squash vines ought to 
do better when trimmed than when left to 
themselves. Pinch the tip of the young plant 
when it has four leaves. Spread the four 
branches that are thus produced at equal dis¬ 
tances from each other about the plant. Pinch 
them again when about a foot long, and allow 
not more than two squashes to set on each 
branch. By judicious trimming, which can 
hardly be explained upon paper, seek Lo direct 
the nourishment to the fruits instead of to the 
production of vines, and when the ground is 
covered, allow no vigorous shoot that has no 
fruit to expend the strength of the plant. These 
same directions are also applicable to the care 
of melons. The number of fruits that can be 
grown on one plant will, of course, vary with 
the vigor of the variety. It is by just such 
care that European gardeners are enabled to 
produce from five to eight handsome melons 
under a single hot-bed sash. 3. Leonurus 
Cardiaea, or the common motherwort. 
E. B., no address, asks where Seneea wheat 
originated, and whether it can be improved up 
to the standard of a specimen ear sent us, one 
he picked out of a lot; also, as to Fultz. 
Ans. —The Seneca wheat is better kuown by 
the name of Clawson, and originated on the 
farm of Stephen Clawson, hence irs name. 
Last year we planted Clawson (Seneca), one 
seed about a foot apart each way, aud culti¬ 
vated. The heads and grain were much larger 
and each plant tillered remarkably. We have 
raised Clawson for about seven or eight years, 
and our present crop, in spite of drought and 
Army-worm, is the best we have ever raised. 
We drill in 1} bushel per aere. Neither the 
grain nor the heads of Fultz are a6 large as 
those of Clawson, though more compact. It 
is no better In quality, though in many parts 
of the West it yields more than Clawson. We 
have them growing side by side, though both 
are so fine that it would be hard to determine 
before harvest which will yield most. 
I). J. A.. Moore'8 Store, Va., says that the 
rose-bug there destroyed all the bloom of 
grapes, and asks whether there is any pre¬ 
ventive or remedy, or any grapes that bloom 
earlier than the Concord or Catawba. 
Ans.— On a small scale of grape-growing, 
the bunches may be inclosed in bags of mos¬ 
quito netting, or other gauze, on the first ap¬ 
pearance of the rose-bug, and let them remain 
till danger from that source is over ; but on a 
large plantation this would, of course, involve 
too much labor, and would therefore be im¬ 
practical. The application of whale-oil soap, 
aud other remedies that are disagreeable to the 
insect, is of questionable advantage. These, 
as a general thing, do but little good as a pre¬ 
ventive against its ravages, and applications 
that would have effect on so hardened a crimi¬ 
nal as the rose-bug might work disaster to the 
delicate blossoms of the grape, and the remedy 
thus become worse thau the disease. The 
varities named are among the earliest to 
blossom. 
A. 8. 8., Waco, Texas asks for informatiou 
as to the be6t time and manner to harvest 
Egyptiun corn. 
Ans— The time to harvest it is when the seed 
is in the stiff dough slate. As to the most 
practical manner of doing the work we are not 
posted; for although we have grown several 
varieties of sorghum at the Rural Farm they 
have not been harvested with a view to econo¬ 
mize lime and labor. Will some of our Kansas 
friends who have had experience please auswer. 
L. J). Belmont, Nooa Scotia asks, t, the best 
way to apply lime to the land; 3. how far apart 
should tile drains be put iu sandy soil; 8, the 
cheapest place to buy agricultural books in 
New York 
Ans. —l. Sow it broadcast in the Spring: 
the most effective amount to apply depends 
oumuuy considerations but about 40 bushels to 
the acre are usually deemed sufficient, though 
in England they often use 300 to 400 bushels 
per acre. 3, It will depend upon the nature 
of the subsoil, aud upon how near the water 
6tauds to the surface. Under ordinary circum¬ 
stances ubout 40 feet would be close enough. 
3, We know of no difference In price in first- 
class book stores. Publishers will be able to 
sell as cheaply as anybody.—The recipe asked 
for has lately been given twice iu Domestic 
Economy Department. 
8. VF., Black Mountain, asks whether at¬ 
taching bells to the legs of turkeys would be 
likely to prevent cats aud foxes from attacking 
them. 
Ans. —Putting small bells on old turkeys 
might keep off foxes and wild cats. The idea 
is a good one and worth trying ; sleigh bells 
would do, But the difficulty vrith a flock of 
young turkeys would be that they would be 
hard to take care of unless fenced in till of a 
good size. 
G A. T., Warsaio, Ind., asks the names 
and use of a couple of specimen plants sent to 
us. 
Ans.— That bearing flowers is Poa compressa 
—the Blue grass of the North. The foliage is 
rather scanty, but it is very valuable, never¬ 
theless, thriving on poor land. It may readily 
be determined by its deep bluish-green color 
and compressed (flattened) stems. The other 
specimens, having no flowers, we cannot de¬ 
termine. 
E. If., West Granby, Hartford Co., Conn., 
sends a plant for name, which he says i 3 a 
good forage plant It is perennial, and grows 
in sandy soil. 
Ans.—T he name of this plant is Desmodium 
ciliare. It belongs to the Pulse Family, in 
which are classed so many of our useful culti¬ 
vated plants, like peas, beaus, clover, etc. It 
may have some value as a forage plant, but It 
is not cultivated for that purpose. 
H. L., Bedington, W. Va., sends a specimen 
of smooth wheat found in a field of bearded 
wheat, and asks whether it is a sport. 
Ans.—I t seems to be the same as the bearded. 
We have fouud bearded and smooth from the 
same root. Beards, however, are often eaten 
off by insects. Sometimes they decay and 
drop off. The rubbing of one head against 
another will sometimes rub the beards off. 
J. IF. M., Newark, N. J., asks for some 
remedy against the small black flies and long 
green maggots, with black and yellow stripes, 
that throDg hts grape vines. 
Ans.— Would require specimens of the 
“maggots.” Tobacco water will kill the 
aphides. They profer the tender tips of grow¬ 
ing vines. These may be dipped iuto the 
tobacco water. 
H. It. It., Atlantic, Iowa., wants to know, 1, 
when to sow honey locust seeds for a hedge ; 
2, the best time to sow Hungarian grass. 
Anb.— Gather the seed in the Fall as soon as 
ripe, put it iu layers with moist sand iu a 
box and bury the box. Sow the seed early the 
following Spring. 3. In the Spring ; for fall 
feed it should be sown at once. 
A. M., North Hector , N Y., sends a couple 
of heads of wheat, of a sort he picked out 
of lots of Clawson three years ago; last Fall 
he •planted seven bushels of it; it looks fine, 
and he asks its name. 
Ans.— It is nearer to Clawson than any 
other variety with which we can compare it 
If the grain and head were mature, we could 
determine better. 
R. J. 8., Ithaca Mich., asks for some remedy 
against the worms that destroyed his currants 
and gooseberries. 
Ans.— Shake and pick them off onto a sheet 
aud destroy them, or dust hellebore on the 
plants. This material is poisonous, and if used 
care should'be taken that none adheres to the 
fruit when gathered. 
G. E. N. Afton, N. Y., sends a grass for 
name, and he asks where the Cook evaporator 
is made. 
Ans —1, The grass is Meadow Fescue—Fes- 
tuca pratensis. It ripens seed very early and, 
of course, gives early pasturage. It does well 
on dry land. 3. The Blymyer M’f’g Co,, Cin¬ 
cinnati, O. 
F, K. P., Heleoan, Wis.. asks tor a remedy 
against the Cabbage worm. 
Ans. —We know of nothing better than hot 
water. This may be put in a watering pot, 
boiling-hot and sprinkled upon the plants 
through the rose. Pepper has been recom¬ 
mended. 
L. A., Port Claborne, Oni., Canada, asks 
whether Boyd s Electrie Pad is of any use for 
healing purposes, as claimed for it in numerous 
advertisements. 
Ans. —No; the thing is a downright hum¬ 
bug, as we have already stated here two or 
three times. 
C. A. B., Chelsea, Mass., asks if cow-peas 
are good for eating green. 
Ans. —Some varieties are used for that pur¬ 
pose in the South ; but they are not likely to 
be a popular food for the genus homo whore 
toothsome garden peas and beans are at home. 
F. E., Fairview, W. Fa., asks which is pre¬ 
ferable for sowing wheat—freshly plowed 
ground, or that which has been plowed some 
time. 
Ans. —We should prefer the former. 
COJOTOMCATIONS KKCKIVKD FOB THB WBBK BNB1NU 
Satukday, July 17th, 
W. C. L. D.—R. J. P.—J. C.-G. H.-I B. H.—0. 
14.—J. T.-H. A. T—G. K -E. W. B.-E. P.—H. C. 
T.—G. L. H. Guss.—F. M. B.—J. A. McK.—H. S- 
—H S.—W. W. C —J. A. McM.-R. R.—R. R.—E. 
C.—E. R. R.—W. S. IL—O. W. A.—F. H. S.—F. P. 
—E. R. R.-B. & T.—D. W C.-J. A.—R. J. B.— 
M. C. B.—T. T G.—H. It. H., thanks.—H. T. M.— 
E. A.—W. J. H.—B. F. J.—R. S.—O. C. A.—A. E. 
G.—H. A, R.—Fire-fly. 
