224 
THE RURAL HEW-YORKES, 
APRIL 5 
Tyson. 5. We hardly think they will. Cer¬ 
tainly not unless they hare been kept moist 
all Winter. Neither will germinate after it 
has once dried, even though only partially. 
C. H. A, Polo, 111 — 1. What is a succession of 
select fruits adapted to Southeastern Kansas, 
to include apples, peaches, pears, and small 
fruits? 2. Are there any firms in the West 
that manufacture centrifugal cream-separa - 
ters adapted to a small dairy of 10 to 12 cows? 
ANS.—1. Summer apples: Early Harvest, 
Red Astrachan and Duchess of Oldenburgh. 
Autumn: Maiden’s Blush and ltambo. Win¬ 
ter: Ben Davis, Jonathan, Niekajack, Rawlfc’s 
Genet, Wiuesap, White Winter Pearmaiu. 
Peaches: Hale’s Early, Early Crawford, Co¬ 
lumbia, Heath Cling, and Sal way. Pears: 
Bartlett, Flemish Beauty, Seckel, Duchesse 
d’Angouhime, and Lawreuce. Black Rasp¬ 
berry: Gregg. Strawberry: Wilson. Red 
Raspberries: Cuthbert, Blackberry: Snyder. 
2. Go a little slow on centrifugal creamers, to 
mn one requires a steam engine, and that 
won’t pay with 10 or 12 cows. 
M. L. IP. Fredericksburg, Pd.—1. Where 
are several trustworthy hog and poultry 
breeders? 2 Where can I get a cheap book 
on swine and poultry? 3. What grapes are 
best for family use in a small garden? 
Ans.— 1. W. Atlee Burpee & Co., Ben¬ 
son, Maule & Co., Philadelphia, Pa., and 
A. M. Fulford, Bellair, Md. 2. Jennings’s 
Sheep, Swine and Poultry, §1.75. The 
following are good works: Lewis’s Prac¬ 
tical Poultry Book, $1.60; Corbett’s Poultry 
Yard and Market, 75 cents; Saunder’s Domes¬ 
tic Poultry, 75 cents; Wright’s Practical 
Poultry’ Keeper, §2; Cobum’s Swine Hus¬ 
bandry, $1,75; Harrison the Pig, $1.50; Rea- 
sor on the Hog, $1.50; Sidney on the Pig, 50 
cents; Youattand Martiu on the Hog, $1. All 
of these can be got from the American News 
Company, Chambers Street. N. Y. 3. Wor¬ 
den, Concord, Delaware, Catawba, Duchess. 
Q. B. McM., Crookston, Minn .—The drop¬ 
pings of an ox are hard and round, and he 
shows a disgust for food, and for the last few 
days he has refused to drink, and has eaten 
nothing but a little hay. He has not chewed 
the cud for some time. A dose of salts soft¬ 
ened the dung; but the effect was not lasting. 
What ails him? 
Ans.— The ox is suffering from indigestion. 
No doubt had you repented the dose of salts 
once or even twice, a cure might have been 
effected. In giving medicine of this kind, 
the effect should always be watched, and the 
dose be repeated in 24, hours, if it has not had 
the expected result. We would now try a 
dose of oil (one quart of linseed oil!, which is 
the best purgative in case of suspension of 
rumination, as it soothes the coats of the 
stomach and intestines, as well as expels the 
offending matter in the bowels. 
J. B., Wilkinsburg, Pa. —1. Should the 
Rural wheat and rye be sown this Spring or 
next Fall? Some say old rye will not grow. 
2. Which is the better work on insects in¬ 
jurious to fruits, Saunder’s or Lintner’s? 3 
Will the Acme Harrow stir the top soil of an 
old unproductive orchard, three inches deep 
so as to kill the weeds by going over it repeat¬ 
edly? 4. Would grafting pear trees tw.ce, 
be equivalent to what nurserymen call double 
working? 
ANS. —1. Not until Fall. This seed will grow. 
2. Saunder’s Insects Injurious to Fruits ($3) 
is the more complete work. It can be got 
from of J. B. Lippiucott & Co., Philadelphia, 
Pa. Lintner’s Report is an excellent work, 
and is published at the expense of the State 
of New York, Mr. Lintner being the State 
Entomologist. 3. Nothing better. 4. It is 
the same. 7Z 
W. H. P., Tilberry, Canada. —1. Are the 
Black and Russian Barleys identical? Where 
can the Russian Barley be obtained? 2. Would 
it be practical to sow a green cr.jp after wheat, 
to be plowed down late in the Fall for oats or 
barley in the Spring. 3. Would the following 
be a good rotation—viz., corn, oats, wheat, 
clover, wheat, barley, and hay? 4. Will leach¬ 
ed ashes be good for sorghum?; 
i ,|Ans. —1 No. Russian Barley is the same as 
Mensury or Manshury, which has been adver¬ 
tised in the Rural. 2. Yes, if the wheat is 
got off in June or early in July, rye will 
make a good greeu crop to plow down in Octo¬ 
ber. 3. Yes; potatoes would be better in 
place of the oats and the second wheat. It is 
not bjst to have two small grain crops follow 
each other. 4. Yes. 
S. E. T., Beatrice , Neb.—l. What is an easy 
way to calculate corn iu the crib? 2, Which 
method will produce best results with small 
grain—broadcasting or drilliug? 
Ans.— 1. Multiply length, width and bight 
of crib in feet, together; multiply this sum by 
eight, and point off the right-hand figure of 
product; this will give you the number of 
“struck” bushels in the crib correctly within 
1-233 of a bushel; but in measuring corn iu 
the ear the measure is heaped, giving about 
one-fourth more than “struck” measure; so to 
get the number of heaped bushels, multiply 
the answer by eight, and again point off 
another right baud figure, or multiply by four 
and divide by five, blit the first method is 
the easier. 2. It was formerly thought iu the 
West that broadcasting gave-the best results, 
but now we think ail concede that drilling is 
best. 
D. W. A ., Parkwood , Pa. —1. My five-year- 
old Concord Grapes turned yellow in parts, 
last season, grew but little, and bore little 
fruit. The vines were planted seven by seven 
feet apart. The ground is high and moder¬ 
ately rich. 1 sowed, last Fall 40 bushels of 
slaked lime on about three quarters of an 
acre; what other treatment should they re¬ 
ceive? 2. What are the best grapes for Win¬ 
ter keeping ? 
Ans.— 1. Are they not rather too close to¬ 
gether? We would advise you to sow potash 
(wood ashes or commercial fertilizer) liber¬ 
ally, and raw bone flour. Scratch it in and 
do not cultivate deep. 2. The Vergennes and 
Jefferson are among the best of keepers. 
B. B , Fanningdale., lit. —Last year I ap¬ 
plied a mixture composed of one bucket of 
whitewash, one pint of coal-tar, and one pint 
of soft-soap to my trees to prevent the attacks 
of rabbits, mice and borers, but it seemed to 
injure the trees. Is there any harmless wash 
that will answer the purpose? 
Ans —All tars are injurious to trees. Make 
a wash of sweet milk and dirty soap (whale-oil 
soap is the best), and when ready to apply, stir 
in sufficient water-lime to make a good, 
thick whitewash. The milk and lime will 
form a stone-like covering that will last a long 
time, and neither rabbits, bore re, nor mice, 
will touch the trees while it remains on them. 
E. H. 11., Princeton, Jnd. —1. How can I 
get rid of Quack Grass? 2. Where can I get 
the new rhubarb, Paragon ? 3. Are the Gar¬ 
den Treasures all flower seeds? 4. How should 
they be planted? 
Ans. —1. Plant corn and keep it thoroughly 
cultivated. Cultivate shallow during the 
greatest heat and drought of Summer. 2. It 
is not offered in any Western catalogue. 
! Peter Henderson and B. K. Bliss & Son, of 
! New York, sell it. 3, All flower seeds, many 
I of them common, some exceedingly choice. 
| Take good care of them. 4 Sow iu hot-bed, 
cold frame, or in pots or boxes, and transplant. 
“ Uber," Falls Church, Vo—1. Is there a 
better red raspberry than the Horstiue? 2. 
Which two black raspberries, one early and 
one medium or late, are desirable? 3. How 
do the newer blackberries compare with the 
Dorchester early and the Lawton, omitting 
the Kittatinny on account of its rusting? 
Ans.— t. Yes, the Turner, Clarke, and 
Brinekle’s Orange are better in quality. We 
, don’t suppose ail}' of them will do well in Vir- 
J ginia. 2. Souhegau for early, Gregg for late. 
, 3. The Taylor, Snyder, and Agawam bear 
smaller berries of about the same quality. 
They are more prolific. 
"A Subscriber,'" Glude Springs, Va .—1. Who 
has Phoenix fowls for sale? 2. "Why do sows 
eat their pigs, and what will prevent them? 
Mine ate five, three days after dropping seven. 
Ans.— 1. They are not yet for sale at any 
price in the United States. 2. The trouble 
was the sow had been kept too much on con¬ 
centrated foods,and was constipated and fever¬ 
ish. All animals in young should be fed for 
two weeks before yeaning time liberally on 
potatoes, mangels, carrots or some other suc¬ 
culent food, to relax the system and cool the 
blood. Had you done so your pigs would be 
living. 
H. L. P. C., Utica, Dak.— Would the spring- 
tooth harrow be good on a light, sandy loam, 
which is rather stony? Will it cultivate pota¬ 
toes? 
Ans.— We spoke of sulky spring-tooth har¬ 
rows. We do not so much like the floatiug. 
In order to finish land, there is no narrow we 
so much value as the inclined-tooth. The 
spring tooth does good work in mellowiug the 
soil and in covering. We should not use it 
for cultivating potatoes, though by removing 
two teeth it is good for corn. Send for the 
circulars of firms advertising in the R. N-Y. 
and compare. 
A. C,, Beeville, Tams.— What are the best 
books and papers on the general management 
of poultry ? 
Ans.— “Lewis's Practical Poultry Book,” 
price $150; “Wright’s Practical Poultry 
Keeper,” price $2; to be obtained of the 
American News Company, New York City. 
The Poultry World, issued monthly, price 
$1.25; the American Poultry Yurd, weekly, 
price $1.50. Both are published by H. H. 
Stoddard, Hartford, Conn. 
C. H. II., Castile, N. F.—Can Rock or Su¬ 
gar Maple timber be used for any purpose ex¬ 
cept fuel? 
Ans.—A s fuel the Sugar Maple ranks next 
to hickory. The wood is bard and heavy, but 
not dui able when exposed to the weather. It 
is fine-grained, however, aud has a silky lustre 
when polished, and it is therefore employed iu 
cabinet work. It is also used in the gearing 
of mills, for lasts, buckets, tubs, and other 
household articles, aud in naval architecture. 
The varieties known a.s Birds eye aud Curled 
Maple are highly valued for making veneers. 
N. S. K., Waterrille , Minn .—What is a 
good book about farming, and another about 
veterinary matters? 
Ans. —The Homo and Farm Manual, by 
Jonathan Periam, $5; published by N. D. 
Thompson & Co., 1,105 Olive Street. St. 
Louis; and Farming for Profit, by John E. 
Reed, *3.50, published by J. C. McCurdy, 
Chicago, and St. Louis, Mo , are both worth 
the price for the information they give about 
farming. Law’s Fanners’ Veterinary Ad¬ 
viser. $3, is an excellent work, which can be 
got through the American News Company. 
H. H., Morris , _V. Y.—i. A tree agent is 
selling dewberries at $2.50 a pair; is he a 
fraud? 2. How should hen manure be treated 
to produce the best results? 3. Is Alfalfa a 
profitable crop in Central New York? 
Ans.— 1. See Eye-Opener in last week’s R.U- 
ral. 2. See elsewhere in this Supplement 3. 
Alfalfa will only succeed on a light, deep, dry 
soil, and then it takes it a long time to get 
established. It is not nearly so good in Cen¬ 
tral New York as Red Clover. 
\Y. C. H., Walker, N. Y— A choice grape¬ 
vine planted last Spring has three feet of 
wood. I want to increase as rapidly as possi¬ 
ble. Would the Rural advise layering the 
vine, or cutting to the first bud, and then 
grafting ou four-year-old Champion vines. 
The vine contains 14 buds, and is covered with 
earth. 
ANS.—We know of no better way than to 
make cuttings of the eyes and strike them. 
Grafting is uncertain. 
R. W. M ., White. Sulphur Springs, Va.— 
Which of the spring-tooth harrows is best for 
newly-cleared, rooty ground? 
Ans.—W e would advise you to send to all 
who advertise in the Rural for their circu¬ 
lars, telling them where you saw their adver¬ 
tisement, and otudy up the matter. All have 
poiuts of superiority, and the poorest is much 
better than those old harrows, aud the study 
of the matter will give you many good ideas. 
F. P., Stockport, N. Y. —I. In an article on 
grafting the grape, we are told to use no wax. 
W ould waxed cloth be objectionable? Would 
moistened corn husks be good? 2. How cau I 
get fruit soonest from a cutting? 
Ans.— 1. Corn husks are good, only bind 
tightly. There is no objection to using waxed 
cloth, if only a moderate quantity of wax is 
used, 2. By grafting on an old, well-rooted 
vine. This should insure fruit the second year. 
D. T. G , Steele City, Neb.—l. Are corn cob 
ashes good to make soap? 2. Will Downing’s 
Mulberry prove hardy here? 3. What is a 
plan of a good hog-pen? 
Ans.— 1. Undoubtedly. 2 It is hardy in 
Saratoga Co , N. Y., 43 degrees north latitude; 
but whether it could withstand the blizzards 
that sometimes sweep over your section, we 
caunot tell. 3, Iu a short time the Rural 
will give illustrations of an excellent one. 
IF. A. I) , Aurora, W. Va .—How should the 
Niagara Grape seeds be planted? 
Ans.— It is better to soak the seeds 24 hours 
iu water heated as hot as the hand cau bear 
from time to time, and plant them iu pots of 
loamy soil. These pots maj be plunged in the 
soil to be taken into the house next Fall. If you 
like, the seeds after being soaked may be 
planted in the open ground, and the young 
plants protected with straw next Winter. 
F. E. M., Wood Co., O .—For four years my 
currants have blighted; what will prevent a 
recurrence of this mishap? 
Ans.— We know something of the soil of 
Wood County, Ohio, aud we think it lacks 
potash, and if wood ashes are used pretty 
freely, and a mulch of chip manure or rotted 
straw is put around the currant bushes, there 
will be no more trouble with the blight. 
./, M., Huntroon, Canada. —1. Where cau I 
obtain seeds of Blue Spruce, Magnolias, Bar¬ 
berry, Yellow-Wood and Umbrella Tine? 2. 
Can the Rural furnish seeds of the Niagara 
Grape? 
Ans. —1. Thomas Meehan, of Philadelphia, 
Pa., aud Thorburn & Co , 15 John Street, New 
York, furnish such seeds. 2. We have noseeds 
of the Niagara. 
C. B. O., Providence, 11. I .—Will it be safe 
to put raw linseed oil on the small branches 
as well as on the trunks of dwarf pear trees? 
Ans.— We retilly cannot recommend the 
use of oil on trees at all. The kerosene emul¬ 
sion sprayed on the trees, will prove as effi¬ 
cient in destroying insects, and there will be 
no danger from its use. 
W. J., West Salem, Wis .—What is corn 
spurrey ? 
Ans.—C orn spurrey is a weed found grow¬ 
ing in grain-fields, to a bight of a foot or so, 
which bears several thread-shaped leaves iu 
whorls, terminating jp a panicle of white 
flowers. In Europe it is cultivated as a forage 
plant, sheep being fond of it. 
W. IT. H., Wheaton, III —What is a remedy 
for the May Beetle which destroys the foliage 
of my Hard Maples? 
Ans.— We have beeches the foliage of 
which is destroyed in the same way. For two 
seasons we have dusted the leaves, late iu 
the evening or early morning, with plaster 
aud Paris-green mixed as for potatoes. 
E. II K , Bismarck, Dak.— Will different 
varieties of oats, wheat or peas “ mix,” if 
grown side by side? 
Ans.— Oats will not—cannot mix; neither 
will or can wheat. As to peas, there inay be 
some doubt. We do not think they will mix. 
The corn inquiries have been answered under 
Notes from the Rural Grounds. 
IF. M., Mt. Gilead, Ohio.— 1. Which is the 
better fertilizer, ground or disolved bone? 2. 
Do bone and unleached ashes make a “com¬ 
plete” fertilizer? 3. Is the firm of W. Atlee 
Burpee & Co. trustworthy? 
Ans.— 1. Dissolved bone is quicker in its 
effects. 2. Yes, though not in the desired 
quantities. 3. Yes. 
D. P. N,, Castile, N. F.—1. What is the 
address of a reliable seedsman in Kentucky? 
2. What kind of peas is the best to sow with 
oats for stock food? 
Ans. —1. McGill & Truman, also Watts & 
Davis, Louisville, deal in seeds and agricul¬ 
tural implements, 2. The Canada June Pea. 
E. M. C., Sing Sing, N. F.—In wbat respect 
is dissolved bone different from ground bone? 
Ans. —Dissolved bone ismore readily avail¬ 
able for plant food, while ground bone, like 
stable manure, is more slowly decomposed 
aud dissolved, and therefore its effects are 
more lasting, though less marked. 
J. W , Darby, Pa.— Can the chestnut tree be 
grafted? The nuts on mine are bitter, ard I 
wish to graft the tree. 
Ans. —Yes, the chestnut may be grafted. 
Graft as you would any other kind of tree. Al¬ 
though not as easily grafted as the apple, etc., 
the principle is the same. 
E. L. D. , West Andorer, Ohio. —Would 
three barrels of coarse salt per acre, sowed 
broadcast aud dragged iu in the Spring after 
plowing, be injurious to corn or potatoes? 
Ans.—N o, it will not hurt either; and we 
doubt if it will do any good. Try strips with¬ 
out salt. 
A. S., Osseo, Mich.— What is a good way to 
fasten wire fence to trees growing along 
where the fence is to be built? 
Ans.—T he best way is to fasten it to the 
trees with galvanized fence staples. They 
will not rost.and do not injure the trees to any 
extent. But it is a poor plan. 
II, G., Lockport, N. F.—How will Russian 
Mulberry answer as a stock on which to bud 
or graft other sorts? 
Ans.—I t would be good, but wo can’t see 
why any one should use it; it would make 
their tops no hardier. 
G. G R ., Reed's, Mo .—Are the Black Cham¬ 
pion Oats liable to rust? 
Ans.—W e very much doubt whether there 
are any rust-proof oats, in seasons and loca¬ 
tions provocative of rust. 
M. H. IF., Bonne Terre, Mo. —Is the World 
Manufacturing Company, 122 Nassau Street, 
New York, which advertises an . $8 new 
American Lever Watch, trustworthy. 
Ans.—Y es, so far as we know. 
O. D. C., New Britain, Conn .—Where can I 
get Southern White Corn to plant for fodder? 
Ans.—O f any seedsman advertising iu the 
R. N.-Y. 
G. G., Arcade, N. Y.— What is a good 
recipe for packing eggs in Summer for Win¬ 
ter use? 
Ans. —See elsewhere in this Supplement. 
Eleazer Faunae, Kingston, Mass. —Where 
can “blanketed” Dutch cows be bought iu 
Massachusetts or New York? 
Mr. C. S. Cooper, of Sehraalenburgh, Ber¬ 
gen Co., N. C., advertises eggs of Light Brah¬ 
mas, Plymouth Rocks and Wyandottes. He 
isreliaole. Clins. S. Medary, Little Falls, New 
Jersey, advertises German carp. The Albion 
Manuf. Co., Albion, Mich., and P. P. Mast & 
Co , Springfield. O., advertise spring-tooth 
harrows and cultivators. The Field Force- 
pump Co. advertise force-pumps. The Higga- 
num Mfg. Co. advertise the Matthews’ Seed 
Drill, and S. L. Allen & Co the Planet, Jr., 
hand cultivator. Cotswold and South-Down 
sheep and lambs are advertised by W. Atlee 
Burpee A Co., Philadelphia, L’u The Sunrise 
Potato is offered by Price & Knickerbocker, 
Albany, N. Y. ; the Pride of the North Corn, 
by Hiram Sibley iSr Co., Rochester, N. Y. The 
Wiard Plow Co , Batavia, N. Y., an automatic 
hand corn and bean planter. The above iu 
answer to many inquiries. 
