THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
eight inches in diameter with a three eighth 
inch hole in the center. The edge should be 
made as sharp as a knife all round; fasteu 
this steel knife, or wheel, to one *ide of a han¬ 
dle made of inch board three inches wide at 
one end and one-half iuch at the other The 
wheel should be put on the wide end, so it will 
turn easily on the bolt. By taking this in the 
right hand the runners can be cut very rapidly 
and very easily, with no bending of the back at 
all—only keep the knife sharp, and go ahead. 
We gave an illustration of such an implement 
in the Huhai. last year. 
POOR LAND PI.ASTER. 
II. C., Liberty Mill .s, Inti , sends samples of 
three barrels of land plaster, made by Sher¬ 
man Bros., Buffalo, N. Y., and bought of 
Leonard Bros , North Manchester, Iud., and 
asks au opinion as to the merits of the stuff. 
ANSWERED BY PROF. S. W. JOHNSON. 
The composition of the three samples is as 
follows; 
Pure “plaster” (hydrated calcium sul- 
phatei....53 4 53.7 66.5 
Rand and matters insoluble In acids_ 6.7 9.9 7.9 
Undetermined, mostly calcium carbon¬ 
ate.S9.9 31.4 *5,6 
100 100 100 
These are specimens of tho most impure plas¬ 
ters I have examined. The amount of sand 
and insoluble matter is that commonly en¬ 
countered in the New York plasters; but tho 
carbonate of lime, etc., usually some 15 per 
cent., here make up from one-fourth to two- 
fifths of the eutire substance. As the plaster- 
beds are found in limestones, more or less ad¬ 
mixture of carbonate is to be expected; but so 
large a proportion argues curelessness, or 
something worse, on the part of those who put 
this article ou the market. In conclusion, I 
recommend this inquirer to apply to Dr. 
Robt. B. Warder, of Lafayette, the State 
Chemist of Indiana, for further investigation 
of this or similar cases where “eye-opening’' 
may he needed. [The above analyses are a con¬ 
tribution to the public good by the Agricultural 
Experiment Station of Connecticut.— Eds.] 
OOLOR OF BERKSHIRE SWINE. 
Y. F. B., Woolf's Store. Pa. —1. Who is a 
trustworthy dealer in Holstein cattle near 
here. 2. Are all pure-bred Berkshire hogs 
black! Some white hogs are here called 
Berkshire*. 
Ans. —1. Smiths & Poweli, Syracuse, New 
York, are thoroughly trustworthy. 2. White, 
on pure bred Berkshire swine, “should be 
confined to four white feet, a white spot be¬ 
tween the eyes, and a few white hairs be¬ 
tween each shoulder,” says Joseph Harris. 
With regard to tho color of this breed, how¬ 
ever, tiie Swine Breeders’ Convention agreed 
upon the following: —“ Color black, with white 
on feet, face, tip of tail, and an occasional 
splash of white ou arm, while a small spot of 
white on some Other part of tho body does not 
argue un impurity of blood; yet it is to be 
discouraged to the end that uniformity of 
color may be attained by breeders; white 
upon the ear, or a bronze or copper spot on 
some part, of the body argues no impurity, 
but rather a reappearance of original colors. 
Markings of white, other than those named 
above are suspicious, and a pig so marked 
should be rejected.” 
SMUT IN WHEAT. 
E. P., London Grove, Pa , sends some heads 
of smutty wheat, and asks whether the smut 
is likely to appear in other crops, and how to 
prevent such a mishap. 
Ans. —The smut is a parasitic growth, and 
will reappear from year to year unless de¬ 
stroyed. To 11 re vent its reappearance, dis¬ 
solve a pound of sulphate of copper in two 
gallons of hot water, pour the solution into a 
tub and thou add three or four gallons of cold 
water. Place a basket in the liquor; pour the 
wheat into the basket and let it soak 20 min¬ 
utes; then spread the wheat on the barn floor 
and sift over it piaster to dry it; sow at once. 
A PITCHER Pi.A NT. 
J. II. S., Bergen , N. Y., sends a plant and 
flower for name. 
Ans. —It belongs to the curious pitcher 
plant family. This specimen is Purple Barra- 
cenia (Baracenia purpurea). The leaves are 
all radical and from five to seven inches long, 
shaped like a pitcher, with a hood covering 
the top. The solitary blossom is borne on a 
stem two feet high. This is the only one of 
the pitcher plants that, makes its home in the 
North. There are five varieties, natives of the 
SouthernBtat.es. They are sometimes gro vvn 
at the North in greenhouses. 
FIGHTING THE CURCULIO. 
J. A. V ., no address .—What is a remedy for 
the curculio? 
Ans. —Almost every conceivable remedy 
has been tried. The vilest liquids, solutions of 
lime, tobacco and carbolic acid, as well as 
sulphur and the most offensive odors, have all 
proven ineffectual to harm this pest. The 
only effectual means known are. first, jarring 
the trees so often described, and, second, 
planting the trees in hen-yards. We know of 
several cases where trees growing in hen-yards 
perfect their fruit, while others growing out¬ 
side never bear a sound plum. The beetle 
deposits its egg in a crescent-shape cut when 
the plum is only the size of a pea. This egg 
soon hatches, and the grub feeds upon the 
flesh. The. fruit falls, and the insect makes it* 
wav into the soil, and is there transformed info 
the perfect beetle. We would ask our friend 
to try spraying the trees with the kerosene 
emulsion and also with the liquid pyrethrum 
solution. 
tion cannot be given from the immature and 
imperfect specimens sent. The probability is 
that this bug will diiappear from the wheat 
with the increasing heat of the Summer and 
the hardening of the grain; but should it re¬ 
appear again next season, applications of di¬ 
lated kerosene emulsion or pyrethrum powder, 
stirred up in water, would be the only remedy 
that could safely be recommended. 
IB. B., Eureka Spring, Ark. —1. Can I raise 
cranberries ou the side of a mountain? 
2. Where can I get them ? S. How shall I cul¬ 
tivate them? 4. Will they grow in this cli¬ 
mate? 
Ans.— 1, No; cranberries will not thrive 
where the laud cannot be irrigated. 2. II. M. 
Comings, Benton Harbor, Mich . can furnish 
plants. 3. Bee directions for cranberry cul¬ 
ture in the Farmers’Club of June 23. 4. We 
cannot say: they do not thrive farther south 
than N. J. on the coast. 
E. E. T., Kransburg, D. T .—Cana paint 
be made with water-lime and skim-milk? 
Ans.—Y es; mix sweet skim-milk and water- 
lime in such proportion as will make it the 
consistency of whitewash; it can be colored 
any shade preferred. This makes a good and 
durable paint. 
./. T. E ., Sharptown, Del. —1. Do tho Jersey 
and Guernsey belong to the same breed? 
2. Should strawberry runners bo cut or pull¬ 
ed off. 
Ans. —1. No. The Jersey and Guernsey 
are two distinct breeds, though both of them 
originated iu tho Channel Islands, about 40 
miles from each other. 2. Cut. 
II. M. S., Qoldendale, W. T.— Can a 16- 
yoar-old boy who is very anxious to learn 
the engineering business, obtain a place to do 
bo near here ? 
Ans. —This can be learned only on applica¬ 
tion at tho works or Rhops. 
./. T. G., Markleville, Cal .—Is there such a 
grass as Arabian Grass? 
Ans. —The name must be a local one, as wo 
cannot find it in any list of grasses we have. 
Send a specimen. 
A. L., Coif Mountain, Manitoba .—Would 
grape vines stand the winter here where some¬ 
times the temperature is 40 to 50 deg. below 
zero, if laid down and covered with straw? 
Ans. — Probably, if thoyuro covered lightly 
v. ith earth. 
S., Sfipio, (V. V'., souds specimens of a 
“grub” that Is injuring the clover, eating the 
leaves and stalks, and asks what it is. 
Ans. —It is the Clover-loaf Beetle, a full ac¬ 
count of which was given in a late Rural. 
L. H. S., Manns v die, N. Y .—Where aud at 
what price can the Report of the American 
Bornological Society be obtained? 
Ans.—F rom the Secretary, Prof. W, J. 
Beal, Agr'l Coll., Lansing, Mich.; price $4. 
J. F. G., Ooonomee, Wis .—See reply to C. 
M. G. for directions for planting cherry pits. 
Plant thorn in the open ground. 
C. A. T,, Dover, III ,—Is Mr. J. G. Blaine a 
temperance man? 
Ans. —Yes; a “temperate man,” but not a 
teetotaler. 
ami Parhinmi 
COSTS LESS for 
HE FAIRS. . 
. Circular*! tree. <4 
mid you will 
tine no other. 
Miscellaneous. 
W. It., Canisten, ?V. }*.—I can get a compo¬ 
sition of allies, lime, hair, hen manure and 
fleshings two miles away, at SO cents per load; 
will it pay applied on an oat stubble for wheat 
to be seeded down, and how should 1 apply it? 
Ans.— If the ashes are from hard wood, and 
the material has not been ruined by washing, 
we should say you can’t do bettor than apply 
from five to 10 loads per acre; plow aud fit the 
land, scatter the compost broadcast and har¬ 
row it into the surface before sowing the seed. 
Even if pretty badly leached, it must be worth 
50 cents per two horse load, and wo think it 
would be a lasting manure. No doubt most 
of the nProgen of the hen manure and some 
of that of tho fleshings will have escaped, 
owing to the mixture of the ashes and lime; 
but the poorer the stuff • ay be, the heavier 
should be the application. 
C. M. O., Sunbrighl, Tenn.—l, Will it an¬ 
swer to set peach trees in a strawberry field? 
2. When and how must I plant cherry pits? 
8. Should strawberries and Black Cap rasp¬ 
berries be planted tho coming Fall or next 
Spring? 
Ans. —l. It would not be advisable; the trees 
would be in tho way of cultivating the straw¬ 
berry plants. 2. Cherry pits may be planted 
at any time; Fall is the best. They should be 
washed aud put away in sand uutil wanted. 
If they get too dry, they will not germinate. 
8. Plant raspberries in the Fall; strawberries 
in either Fall or Spring. 
./. Mc(k, Jr., West Hebron, ,V. Y .—Would 
there be any danger iu breeding from a stal¬ 
lion troubled with quarter crack? 
Ans.—I t. will depend on the cause of the 
quarter Crack. I f this Is due to faulty shoeing 
or to violence of any kind, there is little or no 
danger iu breeding from an animal thus af¬ 
fected ; though iu very rare cases, accidental 
blemishes in the parent are transmitted to the 
offspring. Sometimes, however, brittleness in 
the boof or contracted heels are a predisposing 
cause of quarter crack, and those faults are 
sometimes inherited, and can be transmitted. 
F. W, E., Carlisle, Mich. —1. What should 
t do with tuhero&o bulha in the Fall?. 2. Will 
the main bulb blossom unother year, or tho 
small bulbs which surround it? 
Ans. —1. Tuberose bulbs should be dried in 
the Fall, and kept in a warm, dry place 
through the Winter. 2. It is a rare thing for 
a bulb to blossom the hocoihI time; the small 
bulbs do not usually bloom until the third 
year. They should be allowed to dry each 
Fall, and be kept as above through the Win¬ 
ter. 
R. C., Russellville, Term.— t. How should 
asparagus be set out in a permanent bed? 2. 
When and how should gooseberries be pro¬ 
pagated? When should raspberries bo trans¬ 
planted, and how should they be cultivated? 
Ans.—1. Bee Rural, pages 3!H), 480aud 446. 
2. Gooseberries are propagated by cuttings of 
new wood made iu the Fall as soon as the 
leaves fall. The cuttings should be six to eight 
inches long, and they ought to be planted at 
once in good soil, a couple of bud* only remain¬ 
ing above ground. Muleb in Winter with tan- 
bark or sawdust. Early in Spring is the 
besttime; for culture see Rural, page 418. 
B. A. C., LaCanner , Washington Ter. —1. 
In growing cabbage aud cauliflower seeds, are 
the roots set out with or without the heads? 2. 
Is the Novelty Bug Machine patented? S. If 
so, can I make one for my own use, with a 
slight difference, without infringing the 
patent? 
Ans.— 1. It is much better to leave the heads 
on, though seed can bo raised without doing 
so. 2. Yes. 8. No; anybody who makes, sells 
or uses any device embodying any patented 
principle or contrivance, renders himself lia¬ 
ble to prosecution for infringement. • 
C. J. 11 ., Grand Meadows, Minn —Is there 
auy way to prevent crickets from eating the 
twme bauds on bundles in the field? 
Ans. —Before the twine is nsed. boil it in a 
strong solutlou of alum water, or ifi whale- 
oil soap-suds. Perhaps kerosene poured over 
the twiue would make it distasteful to the 
crickets. 
A. H. L , Hallowed, Me., sends for name, 
specimens of a “ bug t hat is eating the tops of 
the wheat, so that it looks white.” 
Ans. —The bug belongs to the order Hete- 
roptera, or True Bugs, and apparently to the 
family LygancUe. A more exact deterinina- 
ITM LEADING IIKUITS ARE 
That It will not urriit*-li your ground Nei'ds no ad- 
Just.iuent. hut will rnko clrjip on all surfso-. Will 
not scatter at tlw Mid*. Will (orm n Wlhflrow In 
heavy or green gru*M. In ca«l|y held down while at 
work. Will damn loudly. Will rtdeefl* 1 ly. Will turn 
ojudly. Will malm Ioum noise, and in tho'most expen¬ 
sively built and handsomest Hake U) the market. 
BELCHER Sb TAYLOR AGR’L TOOL CO. 
Box 75 OlUCOFEE FALLS, MASS. 
MT THE WILLIAMS 
FRUIT EVAPORATOR! 
Is (he PIONEER A LEAD¬ 
ING MACHINE OF ITH 
KIND IN HIE .MARKET. 
It haw been 111 use for IO yrn.ru. 
With hiulily MitiMliielurv re¬ 
sults- WOmnlie O ClYCC 
The two tminJIc.r O ulibu 
s1v.es for convenience) of hiiuiII 
cn|d(;tli*.l*. and for sections 
wheru the fruit crop I* not very 
liuve. Send for Descriptive 
tUrrillltr and I-^Flinnnliil-. to 
S. E.& J. M. SPROUT, 
MUNCY »SNN». 
THE PNEUMATIC 
FRUIT RRiniRfS. 
Awarded tho 
SIEVER MEDAL 
Over all competitors at New Eng- 
laud Fair. pss. 
The operation In such that they 
retain t he natural fruit llnvor. Tho 
evaporation is tho most, rapid, 
with least fuel. 
All sizes for farm or factory tee. 
We munufaol lire the be«l Evapo¬ 
rators for muHlne \ pple Jelly 
from Cider without sugar. 
Head for Illustrated circular. 
Vt, Farm Machine Co., 
Ilellows KiiIIn, Vt. 
UCKEYE 
FORCE 
PUMP. H 
Works easy wnl throws a constant 
»treurn. . . _ „ „ 
Has Porcelain Lined und Brass Cylin¬ 
ders. Is easily let. Is tho Cheapest and 
Best Fore® Bunin lit the world for Deep 
or Shallow Wells. Over 90,000 In use. 
Never freezes In Winter. Head for Cir¬ 
cular and Brices, giving depth of well. 
Nolo Manufacturers, 
SPKIMIFII I.I), OHIO 
DISCUSSION 
Uber, Falls Church, Va.—P lease tell J. 
R. G. that Luwfonl's Cohl Water Dip is a pre¬ 
paration that cannot be too highly praised. I 
have used it, and found it fully equal to pro¬ 
mise. My admiration for it is only equaled 
by my disgust for Persian Insect Powder, 
which i purchased of our druggist (then in 
Washington, D. C,), and then ordered some 
from Philadelphia, and it hud no inoro effect 
iu removing fleas from a fine setter than so 
much road dust; and one application of the 
Dip appeared to kill every flea. 
lieehn er*' Improved Threshing Machine. P\tl- 
ly luarrtinted. Catalogues wit h valuable Information 
Free. Holcownersor Lcwd-fread patents. All others 
Infringement!! llt-cbuer At Hons, Lunsdale, Pa. 
STEVHENS FRENCH BUIiit 
feed mills. 
The cheupect 
¥ and best auUa 
I (yl In the world. 
1 xn Prion* #31) and 
Tars-; a 1 upwards, sub-- 
LP»Q KrJ Jeot to ,.nj,n ai* 
! ml OOunt Send tot 
nHun YjA clreui an* to 
TJgffl'Htfcfj A.W STEVENS 
BsW |Wf Auburn, N. Y. 
Mention thU 
m paper. 
CoMHCStCATioits Received for the week esdisq 
Saturday. July 12. 
31 K K.-A. L, C.—“Picket.”—G. G. T.—M. E.-J. 
N. P., thanks.—E. A. H —C. C. G.— 1 “Up-hill.M. W. 
—T. T. L.-C. W. D.-A. O. B.-J. T. L.-A. B.-C. 8.— 
C. P. H., thanks.—F. P. SI., thanks. G. G.-M. M. P. 
—F.S.T. H. A.C, D. B. II-A. B. A W.L.D.-T.T. 
[,.—W. T.-V. H. P.-M. M.-J p. K -"Uber ”-M. E.— 
N.O. M.—J. H. W.-Levl Bell; Cherries received, but 
spoilt, Perishable art eles should be sent to River 
Edge. Bergen Co., Ji. J.-L VI. S.-C M. II— M. K. R. 
- ‘Reader.”-W. F.—T H. H.-W. G. B.-L O. H.-.T R 
- J. B.-F. M. C.—R. H. B., the edition Is out.-J. M.- 
31. C. T—H. G —H. F.—A. H.—F. A. E.-S. C. 8. 
. QAVPQ two-fifth* of the Seed 
OM Y ta ftnd ono-hwf of the 
Fertilizer. Lightens tho draft. Pre- 
NLnJ ^11 vents clogging Heed will come up 
several days sooner. SO per cent, more 
seed will come up. Produces strong plants 
aud lanre yield. Bcml for pamphlet, "B»u tn ttai *> 
H7i«i(.’’8aod Drill Ragulutor 0o.L«m<mt,0«ntr* Go.Pa 
any trouble, you can mix at home, making a Ton 
of Good Fertilizer, that will not only produce a Large Yield 
of Grain, but will bring the Grass in alnindanee. Leading 
farmers in every State as reference. Write for Pamphlet, mention^ 
mg this paper. BROWN CHEMICAL CO., > 
Manufacturers of Powell’s Pure Fertilizers, Baltimore, Mix 
m 
ig 
Kf 
J 
Ifi 0 1(1-?- f*t > : 
|| 
