638 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
SEPT IT 
a nonentity of a strawberry. He thinks it 
will not be heard of in three years. 
The Fruit Recorder much prefers the Crim¬ 
son Beauty to the Hansell.... 
Dr. Gilbert, now the Professor of Rural 
Economy Hi the University of Oxford, defines 
agriculture as the art by which animal and 
vegetable products are obtained from the land. 
DAUBENEY, in his lecture* on Roman Agri¬ 
culture, quotes Cato as having said: - ‘If 1 am 
asked, what is the first point in good husband¬ 
ry, [ answer, good plowing; what the second, 
plowing of any kind; what the third, manur¬ 
ing.” This shows, says Dr. Gilbert, the rela¬ 
tively little esteem in which manuring was 
held in Italy a,(XX) years ago. 
BOCHSINOACLT, adding science to practice, 
was the (list to establish a chemical laboratory 
on a farm. He iB still well and still actively 
interested in problems of agricultural science, 
at his home in Alsace.,... 
MR. 11. M. Jenkins, of the Royal Agricul¬ 
tural Society, England, suys that no duiry wo¬ 
man worth her salt would adopt the same 
temperature for churning at all times of the 
year, or would put the same percentage of 
rennet to the milk, or would abide by a hard 
and fast line in mauy other operations which 
have to lie performed daily in the dairy ..... 
Mr, Jenkins also says that in dairy work 
all the senses require to be constantly brought 
into requisition. It, is by the exercise of the 
sense of bearing that the butter-maker learns 
when to stop churning, or, at any rate, when 
it is prudent for her to exercise her eyesight in 
order to verify the evidence of her ears. The 
sense of smell is probably the most necessary 
of all in u dairy, but it has this peculiarity of 
use—that it is chiefly employed in finding out 
what ought not to exist, and what we do not 
desire to find -very much like the holes iu the 
old woman's stocking. 
Mr. Jenkins still further lemarks that 
many people think that those who have lived 
long in the world are necessarily experienced. 
This is a great mistake, for length of life with 
out, intelligent work gives nobody experience. 
The Agricultural Gazette copies an address 
in the course of which the following paragraph 
occurs: “Theorists sav, teach a boy Latin and 
Euclid, and he will fight lus way anywhere. 
But English farmers will not und cannot lie- 
lieve that such an education will teach their 
boys how to tell whether a seed will produce 
the plant usserted, whether u manure contains 
the proper percentages of nitrogen and phos¬ 
phates, or when, how, and why land should be 
plowed, sheep shorn, cows milked, oxen fed, 
and a variety of other details of farm prac¬ 
tice... 
The Gazette says that ostrich farming in 
South Africa has advanced with such strides 
that the number of tame birds there is estima¬ 
ted to have increased ftotn 80 in 1805 to at 
least 60.000 in 1884, producing feathers for ex¬ 
port of the value of 4Jfl00,U0U . 
J. J. Thomas says; "In all the experiments 
which I huve tried, the practice of hilling up 
boa proven a positive loss to the crop. 
The Rural’s “Triplicate Method,” viz : 
level culture, broadcast fertilization, und shal¬ 
low cultivation, is gaining advocates all the 
while ...... 
Aim to sosv your wheat oue inch deep. 
The lesson to be learnt from certain experi¬ 
ments niude by Dr. F.awes is, that although 
both potash and soluble phosphates utc readily 
taken up by plants when they are first applied 
to the soil; if, on t he other hand, the plants do 
not require them, they become fixed in the 
soil, and are only recoverable by slow degrees, 
over long periods of time.. 
He expresses the belief, in the N. H, Agri¬ 
culturist, that a root crop must be able to take 
up more readily aud rapidly « given weight 
of phosphate of lime from a superphosphate 
thau it could from a ground phosphate, how¬ 
ever finely it might lie ground. 
HK also states that in these days of small 
profits aud quick returns, ft. Is not comforting 
to know that a portion of a manure applied in 
psin is still existing, and will show itself iu the 
crops iu t he course of time. He is afraid that, 
even with the aid of the Agricultural Hold¬ 
ings Act, it would be difficult to establish a 
claim for the unexhausted residue of a sub¬ 
stance applied more thau 80 years ago... 
Farmers should discriminate between fairs 
that are conducted to benefit the farmer and 
those which atm merely to live upon his money. 
Wk do not think that shiftless farmers, as a 
rule, care much about the agricultural part of 
fairs. 
Wk trust that our friends will secure many 
new subscribers at the fairs. Remember, the 
Rural New-Yorker will be sent from now 
until January 1st, 1880, for $8— or, iu other 
words, from now until next January for noth¬ 
ing. Premium Lists will be ready early in No¬ 
vember....... .... .. •***••••**“ 
(£t)fn}iol)ax 
NOTES FROM EASTERN VIRGINIA. 
We are located 30 miles below Washington, 
on the Potomac Our soil is clay on the up¬ 
lands, and ii fine loam in the valleys, with oc¬ 
casional sandy spots excellent for early truck 
crops. The principal interests here are dairy¬ 
ing. fruit and market gardens. Northern set¬ 
tlers occupy most of the farms on the water 
front between this point and the city, and are 
steadily pressing In, allurred by the fine cli¬ 
mate, cheap lands of excellent quality, and 
market advantages. The native population 
have caught the spirit of improvement, and 
Virginia is being reconstructed in earnest. 
Here, between the sea und the mountains, are 
to be found the most perfect conditions of 
physical existence in variety of products, cli¬ 
mate, and access to society, aud the best mar¬ 
kets; and yet there is room for enterpris¬ 
ing and progressive men, who will find a 
warm welcome and sure returns in agricul - 
tore, and manufacturing industries. 
The season has been favorable, and all crops 
are fine, except potatoes, which have not come 
up well. Peaches have rotted badly so far; 
the weather, living moist aud hot, has proba 
bly been the immediate cause; but our varie¬ 
ties are old, aud perhaps exhausted. The 
seedlings have not rotted, and Home 50 new 
kinds that T have on trial stand well. Grapes 
have rotted somewhat. Hartford Prolific,Ives, 
Canada aud Perkins are now ripe and loaded 
with fruit. Of the Rogers’s Hybrids, Salem, 
Goethe, Wilder, and Massasoit, are full, and 
hold their foliage perfectly. They are very 
valuable here. The same is true of Herbe- 
rnont, Norton’s Va., Concord, and Delaware. 
I have over 50 kinds, but all, except the above, 
cast their foliage more or less before ripening. 
Apples of Southern origin are fine, aud so are 
the Early Harvest, Rod Astrachau, aud Ed¬ 
wards’s Early; but it is not a great apple 
year. Pears are all yielding a heavy crop of 
fine quality. I have fruited over a hundred 
kluds—Duchesso. Seckel, Lawrence, Louise 
Bonue do Jersey, Clapp’s Favorite, Vicar, 
Sheldon, Bartlett never fails to give us full 
crops of fine fruit, in size, color und flavor 
equal to California pears. They can bo grown 
more cheaply thau apples here. When our 
fruit-growers learn to pack and handle these 
crops with the care shown on the Pacific 
Coast, they will secure nu equal reputation for 
this section. Heretofore, we have had to ex¬ 
periment extensively, and with little to guide 
us, as fruit growing was unknown in this sec¬ 
tion, us a business, lief ore the war. We had 
to set out everything on trial- Now we have 
an extensive range of experience, and our Po¬ 
tomac Fruit growers’Association is diffusing 
the knowledge gained by its members, and do¬ 
ing great good. 
Great attention is being paid to choice 
breeds of cattle, sheep and swine. The pro¬ 
duction of early lambs is very profitable, de¬ 
spite the depression in wool, provided a fine 
animal is grown. Choice butter is made in 
nicely appointed family dairies and taken to 
the city customers directly on certain days, 
bringing a good price. Bueb butter sells well 
iu spite of oleomargarine. The milk business 
is gettiug organized, aud yields a sure and 
steady profit. Bo iu various lines there is a 
steady advance, and very marked to those of 
us who came in here 10 or 15 years ago. The 
Rural will have a large list here in time. If 
its potato articles alone had been read and fol¬ 
lowed, thousands of dollars would have lieeu 
saved here this season. e. i>. 
Guuston, Fairfax Co., Va., August 30. 
RURAL SPECIAL REPORTS. 
California. 
Fisk’s Mill, Sonoma Co., September 5.— 
Our homes are along the coast of the Pacific, 
about 100 miles north of San Francisco, aud 
consist mostly of stock ranches, extensive 
enough to place our next door neighbor at a 
pretty lon g distance. 1 was well pleased with 
the seeds, aud join in the praises of the K N.-Y. 
Pea sung t>y SO mauy of your subscribers, m. c. 
Illinois. 
Danvers, McLean Co., Sept. 6.— Owing to 
heavy rains and winds just before the oats 
were ready to cut, they got down aud taugled 
very badly, so tbat both iu harvesting and 
thrashing the work was very tedious, and the 
result was a considerable loss in the crop: yet, 
notwithstanding all this, the average yield is 
about 10 bushels per acre, and the quality is 
good. Hay, excellent. Potatoes, fine. Corn 
is doing splendidly; the present outlook is 
favorable for a fine crop. The apple crop in 
this neighborhood is far below an average; 
but, taking it all in all, this has been a fine sea¬ 
son; no one should complain. It has been ex¬ 
tremely warm for the past few days, the mer¬ 
cury rising away up in the “nineties.” Gene¬ 
ral health excellent all the seasou. p. w. r. 
New York. 
Ellenburgh Center, Clinton Co., Sep¬ 
tember 4.—A slight frost here on Monday, 
August 25, damaged potatoes and gardens in 
low land sections. Small grains are looking 
nice. m. e. p. 
Ohio. 
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE. 
Toledo, Lucas Co., September 12.—All the 
way from Columbus cast, Southern and Cen¬ 
tral Ohio is suffering from a severe and burn¬ 
ing drought. Very little plowing has yet been 
done for wheat, and much of the laud plowed 
cannot lie fitted for sowing until it raius, to 
melttbe lumps. A few pieces of corn are said 
to be fair, but much is almost ruiued; and 
most farmers are now cutting it up, snapping 
off the half full ears, and feeding the stalks to 
stock. As we near the north eastern portion 
of the State and enter Pennsylvania, there has 
been more rain, and the crops look fine. Corn 
is excellent, and is out of the way of frost, aud 
much is being put in shock. 
From Meadville east, to aud all through 
Southern New York, there is a magnificent 
dairy country. The main crop is grass, and, as 
a result, the chief agricultural products are 
butter and cheese. These have commanded 
rather satisfactory prices during the Summer, 
the best creamery butter readily bringing 21 
to 22 cents, und the best dairy 19 to 20, while 
cheese is from 10 to ltj^ cents. But few 
“skim” cheeses arc now made: the price has 
gradually fallen, and as the price fell they 
have been “skimmed” closer and closer, until 
now the butter is all taken out, and about two 
cents per pound is nil tbat can be got for 
them, aud one dairyman said he “guessed that 
was more than they were really worth.'’ At 
and about Elmira, tobacco is very extensively 
grown—lurge barns are built for this especial 
purpose: but we noticed, as a rule, that where 
much tobacco was grown, the other crops were 
poor, showing that tobacco is a voracious feed 
er, and robs the rest of the farm. The crop 
was repmted quite good aud was being rapid¬ 
ly put into the houses. Good farming, good 
houses, and good crops are quite the rule about 
Elmira. We think much of this is due to the 
good influence of the Elmira Farmers’ Club, 
and to the good teaching of friend Armstrong 
in the Husbandmun, which nearly every one 
around Elmira takes, aud every one should 
take and road. We can hardly realize the 
great good accomplished by an active, live 
farmers’ club, and often wonder that eveiy 
town does not organize and keep one running. 
We have also been surprised at what a small 
proportion of our farmers take aud read an 
agricultural paper, aud how many of those 
who do so are satisfied with some cheap, catch¬ 
penny, lottery affair. Fanners should learn 
that the best is the cheapest, and that a man, 
to be able to teach successful agriculture, 
should be himself a successful agriculturist. 
There is an almost entire absence of apples 
all through Southern New York ami ns fur 
west as Central Ohio, except on the immediate 
shore of Lake Erie. We came here from El¬ 
mira, and after we got west of Cleveland, wo 
found fine crops. Corn was grand. Fruit is 
also showing a moderate crop. We saw Mr. 
George High, of Middle Bass Island, and he 
reports an u) most total f ailure of grapes,caused 
by rot and mildew—all the work of a very 
few days. He says the crop on Kelley’s island 
is the best for years. 
There is much complaint of the disastrous 
effect of the very hot weather on the wheat 
sown. It is said to have scalded it ami caused 
rotting to such an extent as to render re seed¬ 
ing necessary. It is yet too early to say how 
extensive such damage has been. w. 
Pennsylvania. 
Factory vi lle, Wyoming Co., September 
13.—Buckwheat is an immense crop in this 
sectiou. Corn is also better thau for years, 
ami is now safe from material injury from 
frost. Potatoes are a full crop; but they are 
rottiug badly. »• M. 
Virginia. 
Liberty Mills, Orange Co., Sept, fi —We 
are having a very dry spell iu this and adjoin 
iug counties, which will cut the corn crop 
very short, though iu some neighborhoods it 
is verv duo. We had a good crop of wheat. 
Oats were poor. Grass, a fair crop. Wheat 
is worth from 70 to SO cents per bushel; oats, 
35 to 40 cents; corn, 05 cents. Irish potatoes 
are the best crop we have had for several 
years. W. 
Farm vi lle, Prince Edward Co., September 
10.—We are having a very dry spell; crops 
are suffering very much. Corn on high land 
must necessarily be a very short crop; fodder 
burning up. Tobacco burning on the hills; a 
considerable part of the crop already housed 
in this neighborhood. Little or no plowing 
done. Thermometer in the nineties, tv. d. 
RURAL SEED REPORTS. 
Illinois. 
Danvers, McLean Co., Sept. 6.—The Rural 
peas did finely; I have saved them all carefully 
for seed. We planted the Garden Treasures 
carefully, aud some of the flowers are fine, 
especially the poppies, which were the hand¬ 
somest we ever saw—both white and red. The 
tomato seeds were planted very late in the open 
ground, and they have done finely. They 
began to ripen two weeks ago; yesterday my 
daughter canned a number of quarts. There 
are three varieties—the finest tomatoes we 
have ever cultivated: we shall have an abun¬ 
dance until frost. The hollyhocks I received 
from the Rural two years ago, are splendid. 
I have a fine lot from seed planted this sea - 
son, which will bloom another year. The 
flower and other seeds—or the products from 
them—have done me more good than could 
otherwise be obtained from treble the subscrip¬ 
tion price of the B.ural It seems to me it 
ought to be in every family. p. w. r. 
Virginia. 
Liberty Mills, Orange Co., Sept. 3.—The 
Rural Com did splendidly; it grew about seven 
to eight feet high and bore long, nice, taper¬ 
ing, well-filled ears. The Black Champion 
Oats grew and tillered finely. 1 have not 
cleaned them yet, but I think they will be be¬ 
tween a peck and a half bushel, from 230 grains 
which came up. They have a strong, stiff 
straw; but I am fearful they will prove to be 
rattier late for our section; T shall try them 
again next Spring. The pens did first-rate: I 
have saved them all for seed. The tomatoes 
did well; I think I huve some of the largest 
and finest tomatoes I ever saw. The Garden 
Treasures did not come up very well; but 
there are some pretty flowers among those 
that did come up. The wheat aud rye I will 
plant this Fall. b. h. w. 
lEvery query must lie accompanied by the name 
and address of the writer to Insure attention. Before 
asking a question, please see If It Is not answered In 
our advertising columns. Ask only a few questions 
at one time.] _ 
FOOT-ROT IN COWS. 
D. L. J., Logan's Firry, la —A number 
of cows hereabouts are troubled with sore 
feet. The trouble begins with swelling, which 
appears first, between the claws of the hoof, 
extending above the pastern. Three or four 
days later the swelling cracks, aud three or 
four days afterwards the cracks begin to 
emit bloody, offensive matter. Sometimes 
the sores break above the hoof, but generally 
between the daws. The afflicted animals lie 
down and are very fretful Only one foot of 
each animal is affected. Pastures dry; drink, 
pure water; what is the matter, und what 
should be the treatment? 
ANSWERED BY F. L. KILBORNE. 
The disease is an uusual form of foot-rot, 
which is probably contagious, there lieing no 
sufficient cause in the conditions given to 
account for its spreading through the herd, 
except by Contact with the diseased animals. 
Treatment, should be thorough, consisting 
mainly of antisceptie caustic dressings. Pare 
away the boot' so as to expose the whole of 
the diseased surface, uud clean off auy dirt or 
foreign matter. Swab out all diseased parts 
thoroughly with dilute hydrochloric acid 
(strong hydrochloric acid one part, water 
three parts), after which smear with tar. If 
inflammation is severe, a poultice will be 
beneficial. Examine the feet as often as once 
a week, and treat again all that are not 
healed. Two or three dressings may be re¬ 
quired to effect a cure. The cows should be 
kept iu a dry pusture or clean stable, and not 
have access to any wet or springy places. If 
possible, separate the diseased animals from 
the healthy. Disinfect the tables with a 
weak solution of carbolic acid (crude carbolic 
acid two ounces, water oue gallon). The ap¬ 
pearance of the disease in only one foot must 
be accidental. The other feet should be ex¬ 
amined even if there is no lameness, since a 
cow might have all four feet diseased and 
show lameness only in the worst. 
GALLS AND FUNGUS ON PLANTS. 
J. G., Grand Rapids, Mich .—The leaves of 
Black Poplar become speckled here; and the 
specks turn out insects that look like lice, and 
form a powder like yellow ochre; what are 
they ( 
ANSWERED BY PROF. A. J. COOK. 
The blotches on the leaves of trees and 
shrubs arise from two causes: they may bo 
galls, aud result from the irritating presence 
of some insect, or the sting of an insect in lay¬ 
ing au egg, or they may result frern a fungoid 
attack. The galls on our oak leaves, like the 
oak apples on the same trees, are produced by 
the sting of a small four-wingod fly—a equip 
