cost of a hydraulic ram ? Which would be the 
better, lead or iron pipe? 
A ns. —The cost of a hydraulic ram varies 
as to its size. A small one can t>e bought for 
$15. Lead pipe is the best, and is safe when 
water does not stand in it. Iron pipe is apt to 
rust aud become filled, and some kinds of 
water will fill it with rust in two or three 
months. Iron pipe also gives a disagreeable 
taste to the water. The cost of lead pipe is 
about six to eight cents a foot for one-inch 
diameter. It is cheap just now, and those 
who want to lay pipes should take the oppor¬ 
tunity, which may not occur again for years. 
Load aud all other metals have never been so 
cheap as now. Any hardware store can pro¬ 
cure a hydraulic ram. 
GRAVEL IX A HORSE. 
L. C. Orlan, Ark .—How should a horse 
troubled with gravel be treated? 
Ans. —The symptoms should have been 
given, as the treatment will depend on their 
nature. There are three forms of the disease: 
iu the kidneys, in the passage from these to 
the bladder, and in the bladder. In the first 
there are tenderness of the loins, and a stiff, 
straddling gait, with blood or pus in the urine, 
aud sometimes small pieces of stone. For this 
there is no effective treatment, except to give 
soothing, mucilaginous drinks, and occasional 
doses of one ounce of sweet spirits of niter. 
The second appears with more violeut symp¬ 
toms and great distress, as tho calculi pass 
through the ducts, aud when they are arrest¬ 
ed the flow of urine stops, cansing serious com¬ 
plications. Tn this form the only treatment 
is by auti-sposmodics, as two drams of lobelia 
or four drams of tobacco, by which the passages 
are relaxed aud the obstructions removed. In 
the third case, there is frequent .straining; the 
urine dribbles or passes in jets and stops; dots 
of blood pass with it, and occasional small 
stones are passed. To remove these an opera¬ 
tion is required, which an experienced veteri¬ 
narian alone can perform with safety, and it 
is, therefore, needless to speak more about it. 
All the forms are relieved by keeping the sys¬ 
tem in a cool, laxative condition, feeding 
roots, linseed meal, and hay, but no bran or 
oats, and coni only moderately. Give hurd- 
wood ashes aud salt freely in the food, and 
use raiu water only for drink. 
RESEEDING TO GRASS AND CLOVER. 
E. M. F., Mexico, N. Y. —I seeded down up¬ 
wards of 20 acres last Spring, and the ex¬ 
tremely dry weather lias nearly destroyed tho 
growth: would it be benefited by sowing in 
seed again before the full of snow, Or there¬ 
abouts? 
Ans.— It would be safe to harrow this 
ground thoroughly, aud sow the seed at once; 
but not for clover; grass will not be hurt by 
tho Winter; but If clover is sown, it should be 
left until the Spring. If it cannot be done very 
soon, it would lie better to leave it until tho 
Spring, and then harrow well and make the 
surface quite fine, as early as possible, and 
then sow clover and grass together. As a 
rule, it is safer to seed to gra-cs alone Iu August 
than at any other time of the year. 
HUIOD DISORDER IN A HEIFER. 
./. D. 7’., Brooksule, N. J. —A Jersey heifer 
became blind last Spring, aud remained so for 
some time. Finally she began to recover her 
sight, bub became covered with hard scabs 
which now extend from head to foot. They 
itch badly,and wheu she licks them off a large, 
red spot is left where each stood; what ails 
her? 
Ans. —The cow is suffering from some blood 
disorder. Give her a pound of Epsom salts, 
and after it has operated give one ounce of 
hyposulphite of soda daily for several weeks, 
or until she recovers. Wash tho skin in a 
solution of one dram of sulphate of zinc iu 
one quart of water. Apply to the raw sores a 
mixture of four parts of lard, one part of 
Venice turpentine, and one part of turpentine, 
melted together and stirred until cold. 
Miscellaneous. 
J. S. Van W., Itoslyn, L. I .—I send speci¬ 
mens of grapes and apples for name. The 
vine is a cutting from the Isabella; but the 
grapes do not look like Isabella, The apple 
tree is a graft on a trunk of a tree that was 
cut dowu. It has always borne Greenings 
exclusively till this year. Now all the apples 
are Greenings except those on a small branch 
near the top. On this two smaller branches 
fork like tho letter Y, and one of these bore 
Greenings; the other russets. To what variety 
do the russets belong? 
ANSW ERED 11V CHARLES DOWNING, 
The grapes and apples arrived safely. 1 
regret that I cannot say anything positively 
about them. The grapes are much like the 
Concord, bat a little better in flavor, yet they 
may be that variety. They are not the Isa¬ 
bella, not being nearly so good in quality. 
The russet apples are probably a sport which 
sometimes happen when two limbs cross or 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
grow into each other. A graft taken from 
the russet branch will no doubt produce rus¬ 
set apples. The russet apple appears as if it 
would keep much longer thau the Greening. 
Not knowing all the circumstances about the 
tree, what l say above is partly guess-work. 
F. 11'. K., Taunton, Mass. —1. About what 
is the actual value of good horse stable ma¬ 
nure per cord? 2. My horse's forward feet 
have got hard by standing on a floor, so that 
when driven and he steps oil a stone, lie 
flinches. What can I do for him? 
Ans. —1. So much depends upon what the 
horses are fed and how the manure is eared 
for, that no answer could be giveu that would 
be correct in more than one case; and a cor¬ 
rect auswer could be given only on analysis. 
In Massachusetts it would be worth anywhere 
from $2 to $8, we should say. 2. Make a box 
large enough to nearly fill the front part of 
the stall aud four inches deep, aud (ill it nearly 
full of soft mud, and compel the horse to stand 
in this four or more hours every day. Also 
nib the feet daily with au ointment of equal 
parts of pine tar. hog’s lard and crude petro¬ 
leum, using it freely, especially all over the 
under part and about the “frog.'’ It. is much 
better to have the horse stand on a dirt floor. 
K Cf. II., Dover, Del. —1. I propose feeding 
all the hay, fodder, corn and oats growu on 
tiie farm, if I can do so and get back simply 
the market value of them, aud have the ma¬ 
nure for profit. 1 am willing to give tho labor 
to keep up the farm. Will some feeder who has 
had experience, tell mo if I can go to Phila¬ 
delphia and buy a car-load of steers, feed them 
through the Winter, and realize enough for 
them in the Spring to pay for feed consumed. 
2. Will some sheep man give his experience in 
feeding sheep, and the profits ou tho same? 
Jan I buy store sheep the first of December, 
feed till Srring. and sell for sullieiout advance 
to pav $10 per ton for Clover hay and 50 cents 
per bushel for corn? 
[R. N.-Y.—What say the feeders among our 
readers?] 
W. C. If., Shrewsbury, Mass. —1. Which is 
the better kind of corn for green fodder, com¬ 
mon field, or sweet; and which is the best 
variety? 2, Is it better to plant it in hills than 
in drills? 
Ans. —1. The larger sweets are the best; 
though the large-growing, abundantly-sueker- 
ing dents are first rate; t.ho flint varieties, as 
a rule, are too small iu stalks for this purpose. 
The Rural Branching Sorghum is a good 
fodder plant, 2. It is better to plant in drills 
far enough apart so as to cultivate between 
the rows, and to have the plants about six or 
eight Inches apart in the rows. We incline to 
the tolief that there is more feeding value to 
an acre in corn thus grown thau wheu it is ho 
thickly crowded that the plants do not get 
their color well. 
W. T. T, Sonora, Ky .—My wheat ground, 
a light soil with yellow clay subsoil, was bro¬ 
ken up iu August when the ground was very 
dry and hard; it has been harrowed and 
leveled once with an Acme Harrow, and rolled 
once. It is somewhat cloddy. We seed hero 
about October 1 to 15, fearing the Hessian Fly 
earlier; would it be advisable to roll after 
drilling the wheat; if so, why? 
Anh.—U nless the land is exceedingly dry, 
we should not roll after seeding. We can give 
no definite reason for the advice further than 
that rolling after seeding at the Rural Farm 
bus never served us well, 
T. J. K., Industry, Fa. —1. Would it lie bet¬ 
ter to sell potatoes at 50 cents per bushel, or 
hold ou to them for a better price. 2. Is the 
Magnum Bouum a seedling of tho Peach- 
blow? 
Ans. —I. Wo shall not sell our potatoes as 
yet, but really we have little expectation that 
they will bring much higher prices—shrinkage 
considered. 2. There are two Magnum Bouum 
seedlings, one English, the other American, 
The first is entitled to the name by priority. 
We do not know the parentage of either. 
E. M. H. t Oxford, Ohio .—Is there any book 
printed and ruled especially for keeping farm 
accoants? 
Anh. —There have been some books of farm 
accounts prepared for farmers’ use; but as 
they have been made evidently by persons 
who are not farmers or accountants, they 
have been quite useless. An article on this 
subject is promised us by a contributor who is 
both a farmer and an accountant. It will 
shortly be published, iu good time to begin the 
new year. 
Gf.S.S ., Haverhill, Mass.— 1. Is the Marl¬ 
boro Raspberry of better quality than the 
Cuthbert? 2. Is it more fruitful? 3. How 
many days earlier is it? 4. Will it stand car¬ 
riage as well? 
Ans.— 1. They are different in flavor. To 
the writer’s taste, the Cuthbert is as good as 
the Marlboro. 2. It has proven so thus far at 
the Rural Grounds. 3. Well, the Marlboro is 
early and the Cuthbert late. 4. Both carry 
well—we are inclined to think the “odds” are 
in favor of the Cuthbert. 
E McM ., Darlinyton , describes two cabbage 
pests—one a louse having tho appearance of 
mildew when small, but changing into u small 
green fly; the other, a white butterfly with 
black spots on each wing, and asks what they 
are. 
Ans. —The first is probably Aphis Brassicae. 
A stroug tobacco tea or the kerosene emul¬ 
sion will kill it. The second is the white but¬ 
terfly of the cabbage worm—Pontia oleracea. 
Buhach is sure death to these pests. 
A Subscriber, Richland Center, Wis .—IIow 
many bushels of wood ashes per acre can be 
applied to land that has never received auy? 
Ans. —Too much ashes can hardly bo ap¬ 
plied to auy land, although so much may he 
applied that ouly a part of the good results 
may be apparent iu the next crop. The cost 
is the only limit of the application generally. 
Fifty bushels per acre would not be too much. 
L. C. P„ lAt. tie Hoekintj, Ohio. —1. Where 
eau I obtain silk worms? 2. What is a reliable 
firm to which cocoons can be sent? 
Ans. —L Silk worms can be obtained from 
L. T. Crozier, Manager, Corinth Silk Co., Cor¬ 
inth, Miss The Company will also pay fair 
prices for cocoons. All information will be 
given on application. 
./. L. F., Worcester, Mass —IIow can the 
weevil in seed peas be killed? 
Anh —Put the peas iu uu air-tight box, and 
to a bushel of peas apply a teaspoonful of bi¬ 
sulphide of carbon; Caro must be used in hand¬ 
ling the liquid, as it is inflammable, and a 
deadly poison, 
G. L., Chatham, N ../., sends specimens of a 
wild grape, aud asks whether it would bo ad¬ 
visable to plant tho seed. 
Anh. —No; we should not plant tho seeds of 
this grape. You might raise 2,<KH.l vines from 
seeds, without procuriug a decided improve¬ 
ment. 
C. C. Cl., Fronidenee, fl. I .—Why do plums 
rot on the trees and turn a dark-blue color? 
2. What con be done to prevent this? 
Ans. —1. It is still an open question among 
investigators; some believe it is due to the 
attacks of a fungus. 2. Enrich the ground, 
aud do not allow tho trees to overbear. 
J. It., New Holland, III., asks us to sell him 
some of our tost samples of winter wheat. 
Ans. —We have repeatedly stated iu the 
Rural that we have absolutely nothing to 
sell except copies of this pupor. 
T. ./. K., Davis Creek, Col., sends grass for 
name. 
Anh. —Pbalari8 arundinacea, a species of 
Canary Grass. It is a large showy grass, but 
of little value for food. 
DISCUSSION. 
H. S., Hackensack, N. J.—I notice Prof. 
Cook’s remark, ou page <137, in regard to the 
sweet exudation upon the so-called Manna 
Grass; at least I suppose it is this grass, a 
species of Glycerin, which is remarkable for a 
sweet exudation. It is also frequently affect¬ 
ed with ergot. If the sweet stuff is related to 
ergot, it may be the cause of the sickness pro¬ 
duced by some honey. 1 have eatou honey 
which has had the sickening effect noticed by 
other persons, and long known as sometimes 
found in honey. Is this injurious effect due to 
the ergot, which exerts an exceedingly strong 
effect upon the animal system ? As Prof. Cook 
is a "bee-man,” perhaps he may to able to 
solve tins problem, 
T. II H., Newport, Vt.—On page 007 is an 
answer to an inquiry about the yield and price 
of squashes. It seems to me that you set the 
average crop of the Turban too low compared 
with that of the Hubbard. Low’s Hybrid Tur¬ 
ban is quite as good a cropper with me as the 
Boston Marrow, and a much better squash as 
well as a better keeper. The price, too, in 
Boston, is quoted low, taking the seasons 
ttirough, 1 think. I have not infrequently 
received $25, and sometimes $35, a ton for 
Hubbards here (230 miles away) from shippers 
to Boston. 
R. M., New York City,— In a late Rural 
i noticed au inquiry about different kinds of 
butter, and it stnick me that the auswer 
would be plainer if some reference were made 
to the various kinds of butter in tho market. 
Of “cow” batter there are three kinds in this 
and other markets:—“Creamery” comes first, 
selling for the highest figure, because it is 
more uniform than any other in appearance, 
and higher iu quality. Iu this, as iu each of 
the others, there are different grades, 
hence the differences in prices in the market 
reports. “Dairy” conies next; and although 
it is often equal and sometimes superior to 
“Creamery," still as it cannot be depended upon 
for uniformity of appearance and quality, it 
fails to command the highest prices. Com. 
mon butter is often “doctored,” and always 
the product of carelessness and shiftlessness, 
and in competition with oleomargarine, 
sueine and butterine, it is steadily losing 
ground, even in spite of legislation hostile to 
its rivals, iu some of tho‘8tates. 
A. B., Leavenworth, Kan.— While look¬ 
ing over the F. C. iu a back number of tho 
Rural, I noticed last night an inquiry as to 
the hardiness of the Rush Cactus in Southern 
Ohio, and no definite information was given. 
I have no doubt that this cactus will prove 
hardy considerably farther north than South¬ 
ern Ohio. It grows wild on the foot-hills of 
the Rocky Mountains us far north as Pike’s 
Peak, to my knowledge, and I have secu it 
in situations where the thermometer sinks 
much lower than in Central Ohio. From its 
habit of growth I have no doubt it would 
make au excellent fence, ami it is extensively 
used for this purpose in Texas. 
It. M., Brooklyn, N. Y. —I was really 
charmed with wbat G. M. H. said (or rather 
with what ho did not say) iu tho F. C. of 
September 18 With regard to my remarks on 
tho use of tobacco, iu a previous issue. He is 
evidently a strong opponent of tho use of the 
weed; but, unlike the vast majority of those 
who reprobate the use of tobacco and intoxi¬ 
cants, ho does not resort to vilification of 
those who differ from him iu opinion for the 
force of his argument. Much moderation is 
RO Singular that it is delightful. There was 
such a wide field for denunciation and such 
excellent examples for indulging in it, that 
his having refrained from doing so is a relief 
more pleasurable oven than was tho gratifica¬ 
tion arising from the good sense of a good 
deal of what he Raid. Nearly nil Ills argu¬ 
ments are directed against the almsc, not tho 
use, of the weed, and some very strong things 
can lm said against tho abuse of such an ad¬ 
mirable thing as bread. Excess in the use of 
anything which affects the human system, is 
reprehensible; and “thousands of medical 
men have testified to the evil effects” of ex¬ 
cess In eating and drluking “upon bodily and 
mental vigor.” Indeed, excess iu this lino has 
plagued the human race with many more ail¬ 
ments than tobacco has ever Inflicted upon it. 
For one death hastened by abuse of tobacco, it 
would to miles within tho limits of truth to 
say that a thousand had been precipitated by 
the abuse of bread and meat. Tho fact is that 
entirely different opinions have been enter¬ 
tained by tho most respectable medical au¬ 
thorities as to the effects of tobacco upon the 
system. Ever since its first introduction many 
excellent men have earnestly condemned it 
for its supposed universally Injurious quali¬ 
ties, but among the bitterest deuouncers of 
it have toon many who used it freely. In¬ 
deed, that the medical profession, as a body, 
approve of its uso in moderation, is shown 
by the fact that the vast majority of medical 
men indulge in it in some form. Attempts 
have been made to show that its use lessens 
mental vigor; but it would be ousy to produce 
abundant ovidonco that its action is mentally 
beneficial to tho vast majority of users, though 
it may to injurious in exceptional cases— 
weaklings must always he careful in their in¬ 
dulgences. Iu spite of all that has been said 
against It, its uso has been always steadily 
increasing, and anything said against it by 
tho wildest mitbusiost of to-day, will have no 
more influence witli mankind than the "Coun¬ 
terblast Against Tobacco,” written by the 
"wisest fool iu Christendom,” has exercised 
against, it for the last two-and-a-half centuries. 
No sensible mau would attempt to justify 
or excuse the excessive use, or tho uso in a 
wrong place—that is, tho abuso—of tobacco 
auy more than the abuse of many other things 
which aro abused every day. But tho use of 
the weed in moderation affords an innoccent 
gratification to so large a proportion of the 
human family, that the indiscriminate denun¬ 
ciation of it seems unjust. True, it is not a 
necessary, and it is a trifle expensive; but until 
the millenium arrives, and human nature is 
changed, mankind—and womankind is by no 
means excluded—will never confine its outlay 
to tho bure necessaries of life. The luxuries, 
or rather the unnecessaries, in tho shape of 
needlessly fine food or clothing, of recreations, 
Innocent or sinful: of intoxicants or narcotics, 
etc., etc., have always cost more than the 
necessaries, and will do so till tho return of 
the “Golden Age,” wheu all will bo lovely, 
and everybody will do what is just right— 
that is, what everybody else may wish him to do. 
Communications Kkckivkd von thk wkkk bndino 
Saturday, Bopt. 87. 
A. V. CL, Krupes received; thanks.—E. and B., peas 
and apples received; thanks.—W. A. H.—J. B. A.— 
0.8. M.. grapes received; thanks.—J. U. 8.—D. T. B.— 
C. W. B., for potato prize.—I. II.. thanks.—A. D. M., 
for potato prize. - VV. II. C. - T. H.-H. M.-W.8.—T. 
A. P—W. N. E.-H. P.-F. D. O.-M. H. 8.-“Old 
Maid.”—J. W. O.-J. li. F.—IL II. -n S.-C. O. M.-L. 
K.—J. O. X.—A. H. Hagans, thanks.- U. P. I\, thanks. - 
—A. A. WrlKht, potato account received.—C. L.—T. 
t. i..-L. <i.-k m. ii. a. w .m thanks, cm. - W . 
8. K.-L. P. 8.-P. R., thanks.-E, P.W.-J. It., thanks. 
—W. A. P.-J. K. G., thanks.-,!. G.-W. F. H., thanks. 
J. B.. thanks.—8. E. B.—L. A. P., thanks.—I. E. E. 
thanks.—It. K. 
