548 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
AUG 23 
various lengths, from 20 to 250 miles in length, 
and affording water for the irrigation of from 
10,000 to 500,000 acres of land, furnish water to 
farmers upon various conditions, from £1-00 
per acre upwards. Sometimes farmers dig 
and control their own ditches. Of course irri- 
galile lauds cannot well extend for more than 
four or six miles hack from a river, and 
must lie lower than the ditch, or “under 
the ditch.” Some farmers in Kansas, In the 
Arkansas Valley, have succeeded admirably, 
and have fine orchards, good crops of grain 
and grass. Oats yield Go bushels; coru, 40; 
Irhh potatoes, 850 bushels to the acre; sweet 
potatoes, 375; ouions, 450; and cabbages at 
the rate of 4,000 beads per acre, “some of 
them weighing IS pounds.” The laud in this 
valley varies In price from the Government 
rate, #1.25 per acre, to #10; Colorado farms 
“under the ditch’" 1 >eo advertised at #10 per 
acre. 
There is one great advantage in farming by 
irrigation—you briug tbe “rain” when you 
want it, and crops are not ruined for lack of 
it. in depending upon the showers from 
Heaven, there is always more or less uncer¬ 
tainty, while water from the ditch is a toler 
ably"sure thing. There is, I believe, no ma¬ 
laria in these irrigable lands. 
A great many residents in Colorado have 
come hither from health motives. But it 
should be borne in mind that a high altitude is 
not good lor everybody, aud persons living in 
one require more frequent change than those 
living in a low altitude. livery Htate has its 
advantages and disadvantage*. If 1 were a 
youug man with a capital of two or three 
thousand dollars, 1 am tolerably sure that I 
would “go West.” But with u family—wife 
and little children—and no money to speak 
of, 1 can imagine nothing more forlorn than 
to try and make a home in the newer West. 
RURAL SPECIAL REPORTS. 
Canada. 
Spencehville, Greenville Co., Aug. 5.— 
Crops in this county look fine. Oats and bar¬ 
ley are going to be over an average. Potatoes 
are a tine crop. This aud oats are the princi¬ 
pal crops of this section. In 1882 we shipped 
about 800,000 bushels of potatoes from this 
port. Hay is a light crop, owing to the dry 
Spring. ^ B - J - 
Stkomnk.sk, Monk Co., Out., August 5.— 
We had a cold, backward Spring, and a cold 
Summer. Rain almost every day for tbe past 
ten days. Fall wheat, an average; spring 
wheat, barley and oats extra-good. -Grass 
was a heavy crop. A - m. 
Illinois. 
Highland, Madison Co., August 2.—The 
weather has not been favorable to farmers 
this season. Spring was very wet and cold 
and fully one month later than it; is generally. 
Wheat was damaged to a great extent by wet 
weather early in June. Mine turned out 1G 
bushels to the acre, ou new land. Oats are 
very good; bay also; but apples are scarce. 
Corn is nice, but small. a. z. 
ltllehlcnn. 
Athens, Calhoun Co., Aug. 3.—May rather 
cool aud frosty. Early potatoes were cut 
down by frost iu some places about May 27, 
but came ou again. The frost did not mate¬ 
rially damage the fruit. June hot, with plenty 
of ruin. Corn got, a good start u,> to July 1, 
where not molested by worms; bat most of 
the corn planted on sod has been Injured by 
cut-worms so that there will not be half a 
crop. July cool and dry; corn stood almost 
still for three week*. Wheat harvest began 
about July 2, and the crop was all secured iu 
excellent condition and of the best quality, 
and the heaviest berry for several years; it 
will probably average 18 bushels per acre. 
Hay was nil secured in tine order, aud it was 
over an average, crop and of the best quality. 
Oats badly injured by drought—not more than 
two-thirds of a crop. Early potatoes not half 
a crop. The late l’aius and hot weather for a 
few days back have given coru a tine impetus, 
but it is a week behind w hat it should be. 
Raspberries damaged badly by the drought. 
Blackberries not more tbau half a crop. Cher¬ 
ries a full crop. Apples a fair crop. Potato- 
bugs a full crop. McI - 
New York. 
Scotia, Schenectady Co., July 18.— I’he rye 
and bay harvest is about completed in this 
section. Rye is an average crop, but hay is 
very light. Wheat is not raised to auy extent. 
Corn and oats are looking liuo. Oats are just 
beginning to turn. Many farmers are thrash 
iug aud marketing their rye crop. Rye 75 
cents; aud straw', $L2 per ton. e. e. h 
Naples, Ontario Co., August 0.—We are 
having too much rain at present for farmers 
to f.et the grain into the barns in good 
shape. In some places wheat has been dam¬ 
aged to a considerable extent by the wet 
weather. Thrashing has just commenced 
with a good yield of wheat. Potatoes are not 
yielding very well as far as beard from. I 
planted a piece of late potatoes in June, and 
there is not a bug ou them. c. F. 
I’unuHyl vanla. 
Ariel. Wayne Co., August 11. —When I 
last wrote, on June 23d. we were in the midst 
of a damaging drought ; but shortly after 
wards the weather changed, atui we have had 
the other extreme: so much so, that through 
harvesting of grain we have lost, heavily. It 
has been next, to impossible to house our grain 
(rye and wheat) without having it, sprout; in 
many cases, we had to unbind it and spread it 
out to get it in order, and then could not cal¬ 
culate on 24 hours of clear weather. The 
rain storms have been accompanied by heavy 
winds, lightning, etc ; a number of barns 
hure been blown down. On July 23d, there 
was one of the must, destructive winds, accom¬ 
panied by nun, that has ever passed over this 
section. It blew down several barns in Wy¬ 
oming County, scattering the grain tbut was 
in the shock. But the rains, although exces¬ 
sive, have given us au exceptionally good 
prospect for corn, potatoes, buckwheat, Ruta¬ 
bagas, and aftermath. In fact, crops never 
looked more promising at this date. Apples 
(ato>ut all the fruit tbe frost left us) are fine in 
size but few in numbers. P. w. 
Natrona, Allegheny Co , August?.—Crops 
are short here, as we had about a month of 
very dry weather when spring crops should 
have bad rain. Wheat is well filled, but thin 
on the ground. Harvest nearly all over. 
Fruit scarce; apples a medium crop. Wheat, 
?1; potatoes, 80 cents; oats, 45 cents; rye, 56 
cents. s - s< F - 
Virginia. 
FakMVILLK, Prince Edward Co.. August 5. 
—We are having fine growing weather, with 
plenty of rain. Corn and tobacco looking 
splendid Oat crop generally a failure, except 
winter oats sowed last Fall. TV heat thrashing 
out badly, yielding only fromflveto 10 for one 
sowed, aud the low price at, which it is selling 
makes the farmers blue, w. D, 
Wisconsin. 
Saokville, Ozaukee Co., August 6.—Grass 
was very heavy; all saved in good order— 
never totter. Harvest weather so far has 
been very wet, and potatoes are rotting badly 
on low ground, w. b. m. 
RURAL SEED REPORTS. 
i Every query mast be accompanied by the name 
and address! of the writer to Insure attention. Before 
asking a question, please see If it is not answered In 
onr advertising columns. Ask only a few questions 
at one tlme.l 
Canada, 
SpknCEKVILLK, Greenville Co., Aug. 5.— 
My Champion Oats, sowed on May 10, are in 
full head; they are four feet in bight, aud very 
rank. The Rural Union Corn is about 12 feet 
high, aud is forming cars. The Rural New 
Yorker Pea is ripe; I thiuk it a good variety 
for this sect ion. The fact that it ripens early, 
gives it a chance to miss mildew. The Rural 
tomatoes were frozen by the May frost. Tbe 
Garden Treasures are in bloom, aud look 
splendid. R - J - 
Stomnkhs, Monk Co., Out — The R. N.-Y, 
Corn is about seven feet high; just beginning 
to tHssel. The R. N.-Y. Pea, sown May 3, was 
ripe in 70 days, aud lit to eat in 55 days. I 
think it a great acquisition. The Rural to 
limtoes are fine; the Rural oats rather late. 
A. M. 
Maryland. 
Catonsvilijs, Baltimore Co., Aug. 10.—I 
planted my Rural New-Yorker Peas May l.and 
on June 20 harvested them, so that there was a 
period >>f only 51 days from time of planting to 
t he day they were harvested, dead ripe. The 
Horsford’s Market Pea, planted on the same 
day. was just begiuuiug to form pods wheu 1 
harvested tbe others. P. B. c. 
Michigan. 
Clearwater, Kalkaska Co.. Aug. 2 — My 
Rural seeds are all doing splendidly. The corn 
was planted rather late, but it is growing 
finely— five feet high and tasseliugout. Crops 
are generally good here except bay, which is 
rather light. N - 
New York. 
Naples, Ontario Co., Aug. 9.—The Rural 
Union Coi n is looking nice; it is a rank grow 
er, and promises big results. 1 like it very 
much indeed, The Rural Oats did not do well. 
R. N.-Y. and the Market Garden Peas are 
good, and gave a large yield. f. c. 
Pennsylvania. 
Ariel, Wayne Co.—The Rural peas are al¬ 
ready gathered; the oats are looking splendid, 
while the corn is just in the silk. It is a little 
later than our regular field corn, but with our 
usual season, it will pull through. 1 think the 
Rural's trial of seeds with the Free Distribu 
tiou is the best thing for the farmers that bus 
ever been tried. The seeds received this year 
were worth fully the subscription price of the 
paper. Succoss to the Rural! P. tv. 
Wisconsin. 
Saukvili.e, Ozaukee Co.—The Rural Coru 
and peas have done well so far. 1 shall have 
peas enough to plaut a nice piece next year; 
aud if there is no early frost, I will have a 
nice crop of Rural corn. 'V. B. M 
spavins: oombaclt’s balsam: big head. 
H. S. C., Harold, Dakota.— What, is the 
nature of spavin; can it be cured, and bow? 
2. Is Gombault’s Caustic Balsam all that is 
claimed for it by the advertisers? 3. On the 
28th of June, one side of my horse’s face com¬ 
menced to swell, and continued to swell more 
aud more for about 10 days, when It broke in 
several places and discharged a stringy sub¬ 
stance. which emitted such a disagreeable 
odor that one could scarcely go near the horse. 
Alter two or three days, 1 cleaned It out, re¬ 
moving a pint or more of the stringy sub¬ 
stance, since which time it has healed up; but 
the horse commenced getting poor from the 
first, and does not seem to gain again. What 
was the matter, and what can I do for him 
now l 
ANSWERED BY DR. HENRY STEWART. 
I. A spavin varies greatly in its character. 
An occult spavin is ulceration of the inner 
surface of the covering of the bones of the 
joint, and is consequently intensely painful. 
It partakes of the character of tbe well known 
navicular disease, so called, or ulceration of 
tbe bones or the joint of the root, and is due 
to similar causes, viz , concussions and jars. 
It is obvious that horses of peculiar form of 
limb, wanting In elasticity and coarse-boned, 
and that are roughly used and travel on rough 
roads, will sutler moro from these effects than 
others. Bone spavin consists of inflammation 
of the outer part of the joint, which spreads 
on the inside of the hock. New bony mutter 
is formed, which appears as a hard swelling, 
and iu course of time the head of the shank 
bone is greatly enlarged, and in some cases 
the whole joint, is overgrown aud united (an- 
chylosed) and all movement of the joint is 
prevented. When this happens, the lameness 
existing with this disease disappears, because 
the movement only, produces pain. Bogspavin 
consists of inflammation of the synovial mem¬ 
brane ami excessive secretion of the synovial 
fluid, which lubricate* the joint. This col¬ 
lects in the joint and forms a sol t, puffy sw ell¬ 
ing. When by pressure this can be made to 
pass through the joints and appear on the 
other side, it. is called thorough-pin. All kinds 
of spavin are thus caused by the same in¬ 
flammation, but the difference of locality 
and development, varies the form of each. 
All may be cured by proper treatment; but 
the liony growth, resulting from bone spavin, 
is, of course, irremovable, aud is a permanent 
blemish. The treatment is, first, to remove 
the inflammation by the use of cold applica¬ 
tions—water, ice, solutions of nitre, or soap 
liniment, with ether. After this has been done, 
the Irritation is removed by blisters or strong 
liniment. 2. Gombault’s Caustic Balsam isau 
excellent application for all these kiuds of 
spavins; it cannot, do impossibilities, such as 
to remove the permanent enlargement of a 
bone spavin; but, if rightly applied, it will re¬ 
move the lameness, and if used in time, will 
prevent. 1 he formation of tbo diseased tone. 
From personal acquaintance with this excel 
lent preparation, I can say all this of it. 3. 
The horse is suffering from inflammation of 
the bones of the head, known as "big bead.’i 
This soon results in ulceration aud decay of 
the bone, which is incurable. The course of 
the disease is slow ami intermittent, but is in¬ 
variably fatal. Tbe sure* indication of it is 
the intolerable fetor of the discharge, which 
accompanies all necrosis or decay of bony sub¬ 
stance. The fi ual result may- to postponed for 
some time by good treatment, such as the 
long-continued use of hyposulphite of soda iu 
one ounce doses, and the use of tonics, as dram 
doses of sulphate of iron and gentian root 
powdered. The discharge should be encour¬ 
aged, uutil healing takes place, by the use of 
injections of pyi\>ligneous acid diluted with 
four times as much water; and the opeuiug 
should not be closed up uutil all discharge 
ceases. In this case the diseased part will pro¬ 
bably swell again ami break aud discharge; if 
this happens, the swelling should he opeued 
aud the above-named injection used; the hy¬ 
posulphite, iron aud geutiau should be given 
at once, and continued for two or three 
mouths. 
OPTHALMIA IN PIGS. 
E. S., Blair, Neb .—About June 1, 35 pigs 
came on a wheat straw stack. When about 
two weeks old, they were all fouud to to nearly 
blind. They were carried to the hog sheds 
aud put with the other pigs—about 100 iu num¬ 
ber. All were very soon afflicted with the 
blindness, aud since then about 100 have died 
and all will die, or prove worthless. What is 
the disease, and bow should it be treated; 
Some of the yearling hogs in the southern 
part of the county are taken blind, and their 
eyeballs burst open, death following. 
A ns. —This disease results in ulceration of 
the eye, with rupture of the membrane an.l 
loss of its contents. The only remedy is at 
once to separate the sick from the sound ani¬ 
mals; to give the latter a strong dose of Epsom 
salts—two to four ounces—followed by half, 
dram doses of chlorate of potash, daily, for a 
large pig, and half as much for smaller ones. 
The eyes should be treated twice a day by 
Injecting into them a teaspoouful of a solution 
of oue dram of sulphate ot zinc and five 
grains of morphia in a piDt of water. The 
quantity can to easily graduated by using a 
glass syringe provided with a rubber air ball 
at the top of it, and by pressure on this tin- 
liquid is squirted into t he eye. The same medi¬ 
cine should he given to the sick animals. This 
disease was purulent and contagious opthal- 
mia, probably (and doubtless) originating 
from injury to the eyes by the chaff or beards 
of tbe straw, or by both. This effect of w heat 
or barley straw has been noticed among sheep 
as well as pigs, although pigs are more subject 
to it because of their habit of burrowing iuto 
the straw. In this case, there is ft sufficient 
cause. But the other case mentioned may- 
cast a doubt about this explanation, aud may 
indicate that a more serious cause is at work, 
viz., epizootic optbaliuia, which attacks ani 
mals generally in a locality and without any 
apparent cause, and spreads by contagion, or 
because the conditions favorable to it are 
everywhere prevalent. 
SMALL FRUIT QUERIES. 
B. F. IV. , Raleigh, N. O.— 1. I send you a 
number of grape berries; some appear to to 
injured by the curculio, others have their 
stems dried up, leaving the berries to shrivel 
and dry, or fall off. The vines appear to to 
healthy, though w-e have had wet, unfavora 
ble weather for about a month. Every va 
riety 1 have, except the Duchess, is a fleeted 
more or less, while Diana and Isabella have 
lost much fruit; what is the trouble? 2. 
What is the usuul price of strawberries iu 
May; raspberries iu June; blackberries in 
July, aud grapes iu August? Would it pay to 
grow them here for Northern markets? 8. Is 
it true that a hill-side sloping west is an un 
favorable location for grapes, and if so, why? 
Ans.—1. The berries sent were affected with 
the soft rot; there was mildew also on the 
stems or peduncles, aud this is what causes 
them to dry up. This ailment is very preva 
lent aud destructive in some places and sea 
sons, especially such us are wet and hot, and 
these are just the conditions you have had. 2. 
All berries and grapes vary so much in prices 
that it is difficult to name the “usual price.” 
Our market columns give the usual prices, 
aud whether it would puy to grow them for 
Northern markets would depend much upon 
the cost aud time of transportation, aud on 
these points our friend should be better posted 
than we. 3. The objection urged to such an 
exposure, is thut the morning sun does not 
reach the plants, and it is believed to be much 
more promotive of healthy growth than that 
of the afternoon; and yet, in many places, no¬ 
tably at Vine Valley, Canandaigua Lake re¬ 
gion, N. Y., the finest, earliest and best 
grapes are grown on hills sloping very steeply 
to the west, and the fruit grown here is froth 
10 days to two w-eeks earlier thau that ou 
the opposite side of the lake, facing east. The 
only sure way is to experiment. 
DEATH TO THE KKA WEEVIL:—GRASSES FOR 
A PERMANENT PASTURE, ETC. 
.7 E. O., Putnam, Of.—1. What will keep 
the bugs out of my seed peas? 2. 1 have a 
field iu corn, which 1 intend sowing to grass 
next Spring for pasture; what kind of grass is 
best, aud how much per acre for permanent 
pasture? 8. Is Orchard Grass desirable as a 
pasture grass? 4. 1 have au Arbor-vibe 
hedge, aud i want something cheap, good 
looking aud effectual to protect the hedge ami 
keep the fowls from getting through; what is 
it? 
Ans.— 1. The pea weevil cannot be kept out; 
he is there already; but be cau to killed in 
his hole by putting the peas into a box or any 
other vessel that cau to made air-tight; pour 
in a few drops of bisulphide of carbou, say a 
teaspoonful to tbe bushel; close the vessel 
tightly. The bisulphide is a deadly poison 
and inflammable, and so must be carefully 
handled. 2. Use L0 pounds of Red Clover, five 
poundsof Timothy, five pounds of Red Top, and 
three pounds of Aliske per acre. 3. Orchard 
Grass is a coarse, quick growing grass, and if 
not kept eaten extremely close, it is worthless 
for pasture, ami it eanuot be induced to make 
a good turf, as it grows iu tutts. 4. Use the 
wire-mesh cloth, two or more feet wide, for 
the bottom, aud put oue or more barbed wires 
