FEB 9 
through the skin on the left side of the beast, 
about eight inches below the level of the back 
and half way between the hip and the last 
rib, and should be pushed somewhat down¬ 
wards so as not t,o wound the kidneys, which 
are just above the spot. The opening goes 
into the stomach, and as the piu is drawn out, 
the tube is left and the gas escapes with ease, 
gj ving instant relief. In the absence of such 
an instrument, a small-bladed knife may be 
used in the same way. There is no risk in the 
operation: as soon as the bloating is over the 
wound heals rapidly. A dose of a quart of 
linseed oil. however, should be given, and the 
food should he scanty for a few days after¬ 
wards to permit the stomach to regain its 
tone. We have repeatedly advised all farm¬ 
ers to keep a troehar and canula always on 
hand against an emergency. The instrument 
costs about a dollar and can be obtained from 
any dairy supply firm or through any drug- 
gist. 
GUINEA FOWLS. ETC. 
//. //., Holton , Kftn, -I. How can a male 
Guinea fowl be distinguished from the female; 
How would it do to keep the hens cooped up 
so as to get their eggs? When do they begin 
to lay ? 2. What is the right tame to trans¬ 
plant. asparagus? 
Ans. —1. Until Guinea fowls are about six 
months old the e 3 r e cannot, without great ex¬ 
perience, distinguish the difference between 
the male and female. When pretty well 
grown the male bird will be found to be larger, 
though always of feminine appearance, and 
to have the horny, peg like appendage on the 
head larger than in the female. The wattles 
of the female are smaller than those of the 
male, and are red, while thosein the male are 
inclined to blue. There has been much dis¬ 
cussion in the past concerning the distinguish¬ 
ing points between the male and female 
Guinea fowl, but those which wo have given 
are perhaps the most clearly defined. The 
best way to get the hens to lay at home is to 
get them attached to their home when young, 
and they null not have so much of an inclina¬ 
tion to roam when older. Feed them regularly 
morning and evening. Guinea fow Is have a 
great love of liberty, and would uot do extra 
well in confinement. Keeping them shut up 
also injures the flavor of their meat. They 
begin to lay in May. and continue laying until 
August. 2 In the Spring. 
THB ROLLER. 
J. B- W., Leonurdsvdlc, N. Y. —1. What 
does the Rural think of the use of the roller? 
2. Is a cast-iron roller so much better than 
a home-made one as to justify the greater 
cost? 
Ans -1. Weat one time thought very highly 
of the use of the rollers. That they bring the 
soil in closer contact with the seed is not to be 
denied. That they assist in crushing lumps is 
true enough. Still we have never been able 
to sec the benefit from their use which such 
reasoning leads one to look for, though we 
have repeatedly rolled strips here and there¬ 
to note the difference between the crops grown 
on them and on unrolled land adjacent. We 
certainly do not approve of rolling land after 
sowing, and leaving the surface smooth. 
Especially is this true of Full sowing. As an 
implement to assist in putting land in order, 
the roller is good enough. 2. We should pre¬ 
fer the iron roller. 
MENDING RUBBER BOOTS. 
G. a., West, Point, Neb.— What is a recipe 
for mending rubber boots? 
Ans.— Get a piece of rubber—an old shoe 
will do, but vulcanized rubber will not dt 
and cut it into little bits. Put these into a 
bottle, and cover to twice the depth with spir¬ 
its of turpentine or refined coal-tar naptha— 
not petroleum naptha- 8top the bottle and 
set it on one side, shaking it frequently. The 
rubber will soon dissolve. Then take the 
shoe aud press the ripped or cut edges close to 
gether, and put on the rubber solution with a 
camel’s hair brush. Continue to apply as 
fast as it dries until a coating thick enough is 
formed. Spirits of turpentine are slowest in 
dissolving the rubber, but the cement formed 
by their means is most elastic. 
Miscellaneous. 
J. R, Wayne, Mich.- 1. What is the proper 
treatment for crib-biting in a horse? 2. How 
can hai-d soap be made from soft soap? 
Ans.— 1. For crib-biting in a horse see a 
three-quarter column article in “Querist" of 
December 15 last, page 836. 2, For directions 
for making haud soap see “Querist" for .Jan¬ 
uary 5 last, page 0, aud again “Querist" of 
February 3, page 72. We would respectfully 
remind our friends that we cannot, In justice 
to the great majority of our readers, take up 
space in the paper to repeat the same infor¬ 
mation week after week or even month after 
month, i It would be well if all kept their pa 
pers, and then by reference to the iudex 
which we publish every year, they could often 
obtain valuable information at once when it 
would be most needful. The information 
asked for in many of the veterinary inquiries 
sent to us must reach our friends too late to 
be of any practical use in the cases inquired 
about, whereas if they could refer at once to 
former answers they might often be able to 
save tlie life of a valuable animal 
Subscriber, Sanborn Co., Dak. —1. Howare 
the tubers of the Chufa preserved through the 
Wiuter at the Nor,h. so that they will ger¬ 
minate in the Spring? 2. Would Alsike Clov¬ 
er yield a crop of hay the first seasou if sown 
in the Spring? 3. How should it be managed 
for seed ? 4. Would the Fescues prove hardy 
here, particularly the Tall? Latitude, 41 de¬ 
grees; little snow, hut extremely cold; 25 de¬ 
grees below zero, 5. Would there be any use 
in sowing Alfalfa? 0, What is the weight of 
Fescue Grass seed pt r bushel? 
Ans, 1. Keep precisely as you would pota¬ 
toes. Soak the tubers in water for a week be¬ 
fore planting, changing the water every 
second day. 2. No. Aisiko makes but little 
growth the first year, attaining its full growth 
not until its third season. It is usually seeded 
down with Red Clover or some grass. 2. Same 
as Red Clover. 4. We should think so. 5. 
Noue at all. 0. The seeds of the Meadow Fes¬ 
cue—Festuca pratensis—weigh 14 pounds to 
the bushel, while those of the Tall Fescue 
weigh but 10 pounds. 
W. G., Chit., Canada.—]. How far north 
will the English and Italian Rye Grasses grow 
with success? 2. How far north will the Cow- 
peas do as a green manure ou Summer fallow? 
3. Where can I get aDy general information 
about the State of Alabama as to its agricul¬ 
ture and general features? 
Ans.— 1. The English Rye Grass possibly 
would thrive in your climate; but we would 
not expect the Italian to. We know that the 
Rye Grasses do admirably under the moist 
climate of Englaud and in many parts of the 
United States, but we cannot say positively as 
to your latitude. You would have to experi¬ 
ment for vourself. 3. Many of the varieties 
of Cow-peas planted at the Rural Grounds 
came to full maturity there and would doubt¬ 
less do so north of that latitude. The season 
would be short with you, still the growth 
should be sufficient to make it valuable for 
turning under. 3. Write to the State Board 
of Agriculture, Montgomery, Ala. 
7. K.. no address.— 1. Will the Rural give 
a list of the fruit-evaporating devices covered 
by patents? 2. Will the different varieties of 
tomatoes mix, if planted near each other? 
Ans.— 1. To make out such a list would require 
an examintion of the Fatent Oflice Reports 
for the last 17 years; aud we can't spare time 
forsueb an examination, as the results would 
not be worth the trouble to our readers in gen¬ 
eral. People who wish costly or laborious iu- 
vestigatious made for their own individual 
purposes, should apply to those who make a 
specialty of such work. The Patent Office 
will furnish the above list at a reasonable 
cost- If the results were of general or even 
of wide interest, we would, of course, will¬ 
ingly go the expense of obtaining the infor¬ 
mation. 2. Yes. 
./. M. S., Long Pine, Neb.—l. What kind of 
sorghum seed is best for this climate ? 2 
Where can I obtain a book giving instruc 
tionson sorghum sirup and sugar-making? 
3. How can seeds be obtained from the De¬ 
partment. of Agriculture ? 
Ans,— 1. The Early Amber, or what is 
known familiarly as the Minnesota Early Am¬ 
ber, or the Orange Cane. The OraDge Cane 
seems to give satisfaction and both pro¬ 
duce good crops aud yield an excellent dear, 
nice sirup and with correct manipulation 
make good sugar. 2, Of Robert llaike & 
Co., «l.b3 and 05 W. Fourth Street, Cincin¬ 
nati, Ohio, ou Sorghum, by Peter Collier. 3. 
Apply to the Congressman of your District. 
./. C. M., Kim, Mo .—What sorts are the 
Kieffer, Ize Conte, Garber, Conklin, SUalea, 
and Mikado pears? 
Ans.— The Conklin originated in Westches¬ 
ter County, N. Y. Downing says the tree is 
vigorous and productive. Fruit large, very- 
irregular in form: flesh coarse, a little gran¬ 
ular, juicy, melting, perfumed, sweet,vinous, 
slightly astringent, good, October. The 
others are all of the Chinese Sand Pear sort . 
Le Conte is of fair quality and very valuable 
iu parts of the South. It is not good at the 
North. Kieffer is large, showy and of fair 
quality in some parts of Pennsylvania. We 
should try it. The others are not worth much. 
The fruit is hard and good only for cooking. 
A. C., Inday City, Mioh .—What sort of a 
bridge is the Victoria Bridge, Montreal, Can 
ada. 
ANS.—The Victoria Bridge over the St. 
Lawrence, at Montreal, is a tubular iron 
bridge, constructed after the plan of Britan¬ 
nia Bridge, which spans the Menai Straits aud 
connects Anglsea with Wales. It is two miles 
long, cost over $5,000,000, and contains 10,500,- 
000 tons of iron, aud 3,000,000 cubic feet of 
masonry. Among bridges it is chiefly remark¬ 
able for its great length and the enormous ice¬ 
breakers that, like huge buttresses, stretch up¬ 
stream from the supporting pillars of the 
structure. 
J. B. W., Round Lake, N. Y— 1. Will it 
pay to dip my shingles in crude petroleum 
before putting them on the roof? 2. Will 
petroleum answer as a paint for out-build¬ 
ings? 
Ans.— 1. Yes: it is an excellent preserva¬ 
tive. The shingles should be quite dry when 
dipped. 2. Yes. It has been recommended 
for that purpose several times in the Rural 
during the past year. It will preserve rather 
than beautify the buildings, however. A 
neat, cheap paint would be better for the latter 
purpose 
S. K. M., Lockhart, Te.ras .—Where can 1 
get a book wit h wood-cuts or colored plates of 
the leudiug varieties of apples, peaches, etc. 
Ans. —1. Downing’s Fruits and Fruit Trees 
of America, $5; Barry’s Fruit. Garden, $2.5(J; 
Thomas's American Fruit Culturist, $•!, i5, 
and other standard works, have wood-cuts of 
the principal varieties of orchard fruits. No 
standard work has colored plates. The above 
books eau be had through the nearest book¬ 
store, or from the American News Company, 
this city 
D. T. G., Steele City, Neb.—l. What is a 
good bee journal ? Is Prof. Cook an authori¬ 
ty on bee culture. Where can I purchase the 
book. 2. is rock salt at two cents per pound 
cheaper for stock than barrel salt at $2.30 a 
barrel ? 
Ans —1. The American Bee Journal, Chi¬ 
cago, 111. Weekly. *2 a year; monthly $1. 
Yes, he is a good authority. Of Prof. A. J. 
Cook, Lansing, Mich. Price $1.25. 2. No. 
A barrel of salt will cost about half as much 
at $2.30 as it would to buy the same weight of 
rock salt at two cents a pound. 
C. E. F., Brockton, Mass.— 1 notice in a 
back Rural that oats and peas are mentioned 
as probably the best cream-producing food: in 
what proportion should they he led? 
Ans.— This crop is iuteuded as a green fod¬ 
der and not for grain. For this purpose Us 
bushel of peas and 2)4 bushels of oats are 
sown. As peas are not easily covered by a 
harrow, excepting the Acme, which coders 
them perfectly, the seed should be sown on 
the harrowed grouud and covered by the cul¬ 
tivator or plowed in 
I. G. S., Etlinuood, Kan.— 1. Where can I 
get “How to make the Farm Pay," aud what 
is the price? 2. Where can I get information 
about Kentucky, especially the Blue Grass t 
gion, and the southeastern portiou of the 
State? 
Axs.—1. Of Robert Clarke & Co., ill, 03 aud 
65 West Fourth Street, Cincinnati, O. Price 
$3,75. 2. Write to the Secretary of ihe State 
Board or Agriculture, or Commissioner of 
Immigration, Frankfort, Ky 
H. S . K ., Coventry, FI.—1. Has the Rural 
said that Quack Grass does not seed in the 
North ? 2. Will the White Elephant Rotate 
briDg u higher price than the common sorts 
next season ? 
Ans.— 1. We have stated that it does not 
seed freely, which is very true. 2. So far as 
can now be judged, the White Elephant will 
bring no more than seed potatoes of other 
good kinds. 
.4. W. T, Wab pet on, D. T.—L Is the Acme 
a good tool for preparing sod ground for seed- 
see advertising columns of the Rural and 
notices of catalogues. 3. G. B. Lewis,W ater- 
town, Wis. 
H. S., Crum Elbow, N. Y.—l. What is the 
name of the agricultural work writteu by 
Waldo F. Browu. aud where is it offered for 
sale? 2. How much soot should be boiled in 
a pailful of water? 
Ans.— 1 He is about to publish one; we do 
uot know the title of the work. 2. A table- 
spoonful. 
ti, W., Long Pine, Neb .—Will Hardy Cat- 
alpas, Russian Mulberries, apricots, etc., do 
well iu Northern Nebraska on a black, sandy 
soil, about two feet deep, which is well 
drained ? 
Ans.— Yes, iu all probability. 
G. C., Upper Sandusky, Ohio. —Which is 
the better soil for potatoes, a black sandy or 
light clay loam ? 
Ans.—W e cannot answer. One may be 
more fertile thau the other. The color ot a 
soil is not alwaysun indication of its fertility. 
.S'. K. C. Dexter, Ark.— Can I graft im¬ 
proved varieties of grapes on wild grape 
stock ? What would be the best season to do 
it in ? 
Ans.—Y es. In your climate early in March. 
W. L. IP., Point Bock, N. V.—Where can 1 
obtain a good book on silk culture! 
Ans. —The “Complete Guide to Silk Cul¬ 
ture,’’ by L. Capsudell. Published by AN . B. 
Smith & Co., New York. Price 25 cents. 
G. H. D., Fort Madison, Iowa.— 1 Wbeu 
should an oleander tree be cut back Are 
there double-white aud double-purple olean¬ 
ders ? 
Ans.—1. In the Spring. 2. Yes. 
T. E. C., Philo. III.— Who manufactures a 
tile ditching machine? 
Ans.— William Renne, Toronto, Ontario, 
Canada. Write also to Chandler & Taylor, 
Indianapolis, Ind. 
J. H. L. Coxsoekic, N. Y.— We do not know 
of anybody who breeds fighting fowls; neither 
would we care to aid iu any mauner such 
cruel sport as pitting fighting cocks against 
one another. The Game fowl is a good bird. 
E. H. IF, Gatm, III.— How can I rid a 
fish poud of snapping turtles? The large ones 
I catch with fish hooks baited with beefsteak. 
Ans.- ? ? ! 
IP. II. 13., lied ford, Ohio *—Where cau 1 
obtain Golden Heartwell Celery seed? 
Ans.— Write to J. M. Thorburn & Co., 15 
John Street, New York City. 
Subscriber, •Johnson, 1 1 .—What is a cuie 
forstriughalt in a horse? • 
Ans.—N o treatment is of any avail for 
stringhalt. 
6’. .S G., White Hull, N. Y.— Who near 
here makes drain tiles? 
Ans ._W. & L. E. Gurley. Troy, N. Y. 
F. H. K., Green Bay, Va.— Where can I 
obtain Alsike Clover? 
Ans.— Of any large seedsman. 
ing? 2. Is it better tyuui a drag or common 
harrow for covering wheat aud oats? 3. Is it 
stiong and durable? 
Ans.— 1. Do you mean sod ground after it 
has been plowed? If so, yes. If not, no. 2. De¬ 
cidedly better, 3. We have used ours for, say 
five years; it has never needed repair. 
G. II., Canal Fulton, O.—l send two heails 
of wheat: what kind is it? 1 got it of the 
Ohio State University for Heige’s Prolific. It 
grew aliout four feet high aud looked like 
Fultz while growing, but the grain is longer 
than the Fultz, but not so broad. 
Ans.— The wheat looks like a kind sent out 
by the Agricultural Department under the 
name of Swamp. 
IP. J. 13., Salma, Kan .—What is the mean¬ 
ing aud derivation of 12 mo. as applied to a 
book? 
Ans.— The term means that a book is 
formed of sheets of printing paper folded so 
as to make twelve leaves. The Latin phrase 
is iu duodecimo, from duodecim, twelve, which 
is compounded of the words duo, two, and 
decim, ten. 
N. L. €., Decatur, lit — 1. Where can I gel 
the rectangular churn? 2. Who sells pure 
Alsike Clover seed? 3. Who sells ready- 
made bee hives' 
Ans. —1. Cornish & Curtis, Fort Atkiusou, 
Wis. 2. Any large seedsman. For names 
Communications Received for thk week Ending 
Saturday, Feb. 2. . 
A D , for Prize L—L. M. P., for Prize I.-E. P. P. 
for Prizes I. ami II.-E. S. B., for Prize I.-H. W. S. 
c K p.-l). >1., for Prize fV.-D. E. B.. thauks; we do 
not care much for poetry.—A. n. McC.-Z. n.-P D. 
H _>i. W. F.-J- J. R. b F., for Prize VI. P. S. A - 
\V. R, M,—E. X.-F,. H. W.. tbunks. E. V. B-, for Prize 
j _\v. p. T —J. S,.for Prize II. A. B. A —1- '4Is> 
I N W., for Prize L-S A. P . for Prize V.—M L. H.. 
for Prize V.-C. A- ter Prize II. K. W.. Brandon: 
wlittt State?—C. U.. for Prize VIII.- M. E S . for Priz." 
1 ■ address not given -“Oceaslonul,” tor several 
prizes.—S. A. P.. for Prize Vll. U M. C.. Prize II. 
L B. M., Prize L—$• B- D. B. C. U.-U. A R.-L. L. H. 
X 'and E. l)t‘A -4. L W. K. M. U.-E. H . 7..-W. J. B. 
-A E.W.-E.J. AllleW.-n. L. F. L.-M. KM. 
G. II.-A. K..L-1. ■' F.8. I.-l*. Von\V\—K. G. B.-U. 
(j h _k. M. M — >1 • C C.—L. N. D. O. F. F.-H. C. 
M. K.-L. W.-K E. S.—P. B. C., prize X.-J. M.. Ir., 
for prize Vlll-J. W. S„ prize L-J. McN., prize W.- 
p p n.—R- H. P'> f° r prize IV'.- J Q • prize L—D. B-, 
nrizel.-G. A. B., prize t. H. M. W.-VV. H. L.-S. VV . 
S. for prize X. G , prize I. M. O. G , prize II. 1. 
G. " K. K.—W. i >, K., prize I. O. B., prize VIll.-R- VV. 
—B H E -V. K M. D.. prize HI.—E. 0., prize l— W. 
H M„ prize II.- C. V. R.-“Agate," prize I.-N. K. 
T V U., prize 111.—W. u.. prizes 1 nml 1I.-W. A. VV 
()’ B prize VII. -A. O. U. C„ prize I-J. L. YV.-R. G. 
s K. K. prize I -T. \V\. prize I.-K. B prize 
VUI P.. prize II. I>. B. T„ prize I. G. V.. prize 
H. VV. V. .US., prize h—J. M., prizes I, IV and X.- 
W K.U., thanks.- <>. F.J., prize I). I lm.—S. A. I- 
.1 A Key• h, prize 1 Address not given.—J. H, Mer • 
H s Jy u s . Edgerton. nil., name not given. Fur 
prize III -K H. t\. prize II. W. K. T , for prize VI. 
Y n.-J. F. \V\. prize U.- H. D-Lnne.v, prize II 
A. U. H. prize IU- R.W-J. B. U. .1 P. K.-J- GO. 
M C. VV. T. N , prize X. .1. •!. R.'prize T. E. .1. B.. 
for prize III, W. N F.. for prize VIII. G. W. B.. for 
prize I. Helen H. S. T„ thanks T. K G. J. 
I . . prize l.-M. B., for prize IX, S. 1>., for prize 
IX. - .1. M.. ■I>’.. prize II J M„«lr.. prize l. A. J. I •— 
H M P L. S. S.. prize V VV'. VV. M. l>. I..—G. 
I Mrs. J, IK. prize lll.-L, P. It., prize II, Uot l.-A 
C H., prize II. H. B.. for prize VI. A. H. F„ prize 1 
PIN T < 1 ., fdr prize l.-M. G.. prize VI. G ■ 
W. I'm prize II. V .1.1 An artlele on the Berk 
shire l.oRwihoui signature. M. .1. M.. prize II. ' 
H.. prize 1. 11. VV. I. prize VI. F. G„ prize U. M 
M prl/e | F. A. J I several prize - «•'. «J. R.pih- 
V .-T. M. 3„ prize 1. J.F.P-H. H.C.--G. F. L.. prize 
VI.—S. A A.-l) M. 8., prize 1.-8. K. F. -J. P. O. 
