4884 
799 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
[Every query must be accompanied by tbo name 
and address of the writer to Injure attention. Before 
asking a question, please see If It la not answered In 
our advertising columns. Ask only a few questions 
at one time.) 
FREE SEEDS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF 
AGRICULTURE. 
H. S. K.. WaterviUe, Minn .—Does the De¬ 
partment of Agriculture distribute seeds 
gratis', and if so, how can they be obtained ? 
Ans. —Yes. Ever since the formation of 
the Department of Agriculture, the free dis¬ 
tribution of seeds has been its chief fuuction. 
Congress every year appropriates sums rang¬ 
ing from $75,000 to 8100,000 to meet the ex¬ 
penses of the distribution, and of this sum 
about two-thirds are paid for the seeds, and 
one third for the work of distributing them. 
By act of Congress two-thirds of the seedsare 
assigned to Congressmen for distribution, and 
one-third to the Department. Last 3 T ear, 
8,032,788 packages, in all, were distributed 
free; of these 2,013,780 were sent out by Con¬ 
gressmen, and the rest by the Department. It 
will be seen that Congressmen got more than 
their share; for although each of them was 
entitled to 7,10-1 packages, those representing 
agricultural districts wanted more. They sup¬ 
plied a part of the deficiency by exchanging 
books and other perquisites supplied gratis by 
the Government, with city members for their 
Reeds, which were of no use to the latter, and 
then the Agricultural Department, to keep in 
the good graces of the Legislators, gave them 
some of its apportionment for the gratification 
of their constituents. Kvery Congressman 
keeps a book containing the names of ail the 
men in his district, who, for any reason, are 
worth looking after. Home of these names he 
gets from directories; some from local politi¬ 
cians, and others from applications made to 
him direct by the parties. This volume is sent 
to the Seed Ollice, a new building connected 
with the Agricultural Department: there the 
clerks direct a variety of seeds to each name, 
and in the same mail goes an official postal 
card bearing the notice: 
Sra:—At the request of Hon.-, we send you a 
package of-. Very respectfully, 
Oeokue B. Louisa. 
The blanks are appropriately filled with the 
name of the Senator or Representative and 
the kinds of seed forwarded. Last year 
there were over 50 "different kinds, including 
128 varieties of vegetables and Id I of (lowers. 
Of the former 2,851,885 packages were sent 
out, and 568,838 of the latter. Turnips came 
next, 425,858 packages having been distribut¬ 
ed, together with 60,290 of wheat; 114 671 of 
tobacco; 112,220of potatoes; 34.859of soghum; 
and 565 of sunflowers. About 150 women and 
f rom 50 to 60 men are employed in putting up 
the seeds in a busy time. The former are paid 
$1.25, and the latter; $1.50 a day. The Depart¬ 
ment bus a crop correspondent in each county 
throughout the entire country, aud a centra' 
one in each State ; the former got 894,905 
packages, aud the latter 72,450, while the 
miscellaneous applicants obtained 270,653, 
Peas, beans, grain and potatoes are put up in 
quart sacks, and flower seeds in small envel¬ 
opes. According to official announcement, 
"the object of this distribution is the promo¬ 
tion of the interests of agriculture, by intro¬ 
ducing into various sections of the country 
such new and valuable products as may bo 
adapted to the soil aud climate of each.” in 
spite of the adage that "one shouldn’t look a 
gift horse in the mouth,” many of those who 
receive the seeds for nothing, complain that 
many of them are not worth any more, being 
old or very common. The Department, how¬ 
ever, claims that it does its level best to secure 
the best sorts. Home of th* m are bought in 
other countries, but the great bulk of them are 
purchased in the Uuited States. All who 
want to participate in the distribution should 
apply to the Representatives of their respec¬ 
tive districts, or the Heuators for their re¬ 
spective States. 
HOW TO MAKE CIDER VINEGAR. 
Z. W. T., Oak Grove, 111. —How can Intake 
good vinegar tu the shortest time from cider. 
Am.—We gave quite full directions in the 
F. C. a short time back. In short, vinegar is 
made by the union of the oxygen of the air 
with the sugar of the cider, and the more the 
cider is exposed to the air, the quicker the 
change, aDd a temperature of about 100° is 
most favorable to the transformation, You 
can change the cider into vinegar in about 
three days by procuring a tub or tank 10 feet 
long and 18 inches in diameter; place it on 
end in a warm room and fill it with clean 
corn-cobs broken into two-inch lengths. First 
saturate the cobs with strong vinegar by al¬ 
lowing it to run into the top, in a very small 
stream.aud gradually trickle down through the 
cobs. When they have once been fully satu¬ 
rated with thisstrong vinegar, mix one-fourth 
cider with more vinegar and allow this to 
run through in the same way, gradually sub¬ 
stituting a larger proportion of cider until 
fermentation sets in, which can be told by the 
cobs becoming quite warm. Several holes, 
one inch in diameter, should be bored In the 
sides of the tub about, one foot from the bot¬ 
tom. for the purpose of admitting air, and the 
amount of air admitted should be regulated so 
as to control the heat. Assoou as the heat is 
at 120° or more, clear cider sufficiently 
"worked” to have become free from pon:aee, 
may be substituted for the mixture, and if 
properly regulated, it, will come out very fair 
vinegar, or at most the second time going 
through will perfect it; but all these rapid-pro¬ 
cess vinegars are inclined to be a little bitter, 
nudare not as well flavored as those made in 
casks by filling them about two-thirds full, 
keeping them in a warm room, say at 100°, 
drawing out the cider and pouring it back 
slowly through the bung-hole about twice a 
week. In this way it will become vinegar 
very quickly. 
FRUIT QUERIES. 
C. B, T., HerrieksviUe, Pa. —1, I wish to 
plant an apple orchard and a few pear and 
plum trees: I have a field facing east with a 
rich soil, well adapted to wheat. Would this 
be a good situation for this orchard t 2. How 
far apart should the trees bo planted ? 8. Is 
Fall or Spring the better time to set them out? 
4. What kinds would you recommend for 
market with a few only for family use—win¬ 
ter varieties mostly for market. 5. Is the ap¬ 
ple sent, the Ben Davis? 0. What are a few 
desirable grapes. 7. Is there auy difference in 
the worth of trees, whether raised in a cold or 
warm climate, and, if so, which are best? 
Ans. — 1. We should much prefer a northern 
or northeastern slope. The sun strikes so di¬ 
rectly on an eastern hill side that in the case 
of late frosts, th© damage is apt to be greatest 
in this position. Aside from that, it is all 
right 2. Don't set them closer than 85 feet; 
40 we consider preferable. We think a great 
mistake has been made in planting orchards 
too close. The trees should not be so close 
that the sun cannot get to the ground when 
they are full-grown. 8. We prefer Spring, 
unless the ground is quite porous, and great 
care is taken to place a large rnound of earth 
about each tree, 4. Ask your nearest neighbor, 
who is a successful apple-grower. For fam¬ 
ily use, plant a few Hurts that may not be 
profitable—you want a variety. The Primate, 
the Farueuse, Maiden’s Blush and OJdeuburgh 
are splendid family sorts, ft. No apple has 
yet come to hand. 6. Concord, Worden, 
Brighton, Duchess and Niagara. 7. If trees 
are well grown and the wood thoroughly 
ripened, we think there is but little difference. 
CHOICE SHRUBS AND ROBES. 
II. C. M. Lincoln, Ind —1. What are six 
fine varieties of hardy shrubs, omitting the 
common kinds? 2. How should I start seed of 
Lilium auratum? 3. What are six of the 
most desirable evergreens for this latitude? 
4 Of perpetual roses I have Gen. Jacquemi¬ 
not and Paul Neyron; what are some other 
choice varieties? 
Ans.— 1. Styrax Japonioa, Cereis Japonica, 
Xanthoceras sorbifolia, Tamarix Chinensis, 
Magnolia Houlangeana, Exochorda grandi- 
flora. 2. Sow them in shallow boxes filled 
with light soil, in November or December, 
aud place the boxes in a well covered cold- 
frame; or defer sowing till Hpring, then sow 
in boxes aud place in a cold-frame and cover 
op, to exclude light and drying influence, till 
the seedlings begin toappear—some months— 
when the dark shading should be removed; 
great care must be taken that the soil does not 
become dry. 8. Retinlspora obtusa, Rhodo 
dendron Everestianum, Golden Yew, Daphne 
Cneorum, Golden Arbor-vitas, George Pea¬ 
body; Hciadopitys verticillata. 4. Abel Car¬ 
rier©, Alfred Colotub, baroness Rothschild, 
Charles Lefebvre, Fisber Holmes, John Hop¬ 
per, John Stuart Mill, Louis Van Houtte, 
Magna Charta, Marguerite de St. Amaud, 
Prince Camille de Rohan, Senateur Vaisse. 
A proper selection of shrubs anil roses would 
be governed by local circumstances. 
FERTILIZER QUERIES. 
C. IV., Deerfield, N. Y. —1. How many 
pounds of sulphate of potash are equal to one 
bushel of good hard-wood ashes? 2. Wbat is 
sulphate of potash worth per ton? 3. What is 
nitrate of soda worth? 4. Should nitrate of 
soda bo mixed with potash, and used when 
planting for beets, corn and potatoes,or should 
it be used, after the plants are up: 
Anh. — 1. Good hard-wood ashes contain 
about six or seven per cent, of potash, and as 
50 pounds are called a bushel, there would be 
about 3 or 3% pounds of potash in the form 
of carbonate, the most available of all forms. 
Pure sulphate of potash contains about 50 per 
cent, of actual potash, and, as usually sold, it 
runs about 50 per cent, pure, so that, as sold, 
there is about, 25 per cent, of actual potash; 
therefore to obtain three pounds of potash 
would require 12 pounds of marketable sul¬ 
phate. 2. From #37.50 to $40. guaranteed 50 
to 55 per cent. pure. 3. About, $ 60 . 00 . 4 , Pot¬ 
ash, like phosphoric acid, once applied to the 
soil, never evaporates or leaches out: but 
remains until taken by th© growing plants. 
Nitrogen, on the contrary, m very volatile, 
and also readily passes out with the rain 
water. Although as nitrate of soda, it is a 
little more fixed, yet the best method of ap¬ 
plication is to apply the potash sulphate this 
Fall or early in Hpring: the soda nitrate 
should be divided, and on© part be applied 
about planting time, aud thereat in early mid¬ 
summer. 
LANGSHAN FOWLB. 
IF. M., Mt. Girard, Ohio. —When were the 
first Langshans imported into England, 
when into America? Was Major Orond a 
famous breeder of them? Who has the best 
strain of them in America? 
Ans. —The first Langshans were imported 
into England on February 17th, 1872, from 
Langshan, au English treaty port in China. 
They were sent home by au English army 
officer to his uncle. Major Croad, who was 
not a poultry fancier at that time, but who 
has since taken a great interest in this breed 
and has hud n dozen importations from China 
since the first, and much care lias been taken 
in breeding for th© best points. The first 
Langshans were imported to the United States 
in 1877. We do not know what was paid for 
them. Mr. R. W. Hargent, Kittcry, York 
Co , Maine, has made many importations, und 
has very fiuo birds, and was one of the first 
to introduce the breed into America, and was 
chiefiy instrumental in gaining them a place 
in the American Standard of Excellence. 
The party you mention wo do not know. 
SUBDUING WILD GRASSES ON DRAINED 
SWAMP. 
A. P. L., Sheboygan, Mich. —I have 10 
acres of low lauds that produce marsh grass 
I had it drained aud It is now dry and 
plowed. The soil is dark brown, rather loose 
four to six feet in depth. My desire is to 
subdue the wild grass and seed with Timothy 
and Red Top; how shall I treat it? 
Ans. —If the land is dry enough vve would 
plant it in corn uext Hummer and tend it 
well. That would subdue everything. Then 
sow to rye in the Fall, or to oats in the fol¬ 
lowing Hpring, seeding it down with which¬ 
ever crop may be sown, usiug one peck of 
Timothy seed per uere. The Red Top will 
come In soon enough. Should the Timothy 
look yellow after one or two years, apply 10 
bushels of hard-wood ashes per acre and har¬ 
row with a sharp harrow. 
Miscellaneous. 
O. K., Waldoboro, Me. —1. Is it neces¬ 
sary to have cocks with a flock of hens when 
eggs alone are wanted and there is no wish to 
breed from them? 2. Will pumpkin seed injure 
hogs, if fed raw? 3. How can I tell when a 
cow is in calf ? 
Ans. —1. It is not only unnecessary, but 
they will even do better and produce more 
eggs without a cock. 2. Yes, pumpkin seeds 
have a strong diuretic effect, and are injurious 
to all kinds of stock. They will even kill 
geese, if allowed to run in a field where they 
are fed to cows, und allowed to eat at will. 
5 . There is no way by which it can be told 
with certainty for the first four or five mouths. 
./. W. O. II., Olney, III. —I cannot see the 
application of the old saying, "penny wise and 
pound foolish” to manuring in the hill for 
corn, any more than to fertilizing in the hill 
for potatoes. 
Anb.—T he roots of potatoes do not extend 
80 far as those ol corn. We put manure in the 
hill for corn to give "the plant a start,” and 
thus, in a measure, to secure a good crop. We 
feed the young plant and starve the old one. 
We save the "penny” and squander the 
“pound.” 
E. F., Durand, III. —1. What is a good poul¬ 
try paper? 3. Where can I obtain directions 
for rnakiug a good incubator ? 
Ans. —1. American Poultry Journal, month¬ 
ly, price $1.25; Chicago, Ill.; American 
Poultry Yaid, weekly, $1.50; and Poultry 
World, monthly, $1.25, both published at 
Hartford, Conn. 2. We don’t believe you can 
make a good incubator. Those made by peo¬ 
ple thoroughly experienced in the business are 
by no means satisfactory in all cases. 
Z. II., Dover, Wis. —1. Is the June-Berry 
worth cultivating? 2. Is the German Prune 
hardy, and is it a good plum for profit? 
Ans. —1. Yes; the Dwarf variety. 2. We 
can hardly say so far north. Try it in a small 
way. We should prefer Lombard or Rich¬ 
land, if they will succeed with you. 
W. J. N., Muskoka,Ont.,Canada. —A friend 
found among his Rural Black Champion 
Oats a mane or side oat, and the single grain 
yielded 1,489 grains; what sort are they? 
Ans.—W e cannot say; I here are many kinds 
of side oats. 
•/. G., Eagleville, Mo. —My bees are short 
of bee bread ; what will be a substitute? 
Ans. —Unbolted rye or oat flour will housed 
by the bees if placed where they can find it. 
The bees can lie induced to work readily at 
storing it, by dropping a little honey on it. 
•/. B. S, Reedsville, Pa, —Where can I get 
information about Western N. C. as a s.o.k- 
raislng country? 
Ans. —Write to the Hecretary of the State 
Board of Agriculture, Raleigh, N. C. 
John. New Brunswick, N. Is there such 
a paper as the Florist’s Friend; and if so, 
where is it published? 
Ans. —There is no such paper so far as we 
know. 
H. C., Lithopolis, Ohio. —1. Who can tell of 
successful culture of Black Bass in an artifi¬ 
cial pond? 2. What is the experience of Ru- 
rnlists as to filling and obstructing tile drains 
where the drains ruu through grounds wheie 
trees grow? 8. Who can tell anything about 
water-pipes made of paper saturatedwith coal- 
tar? 
DISCUSSION. 
M. B. McL,—If A. M. t Kansasville, Wis., 
will use a log chain for cleaning chimneys, I 
think ho will find it will do the work to his 
satisfaction. 
8. M. Mac:omhku& Co., Grand Isle, Vt. 
—Our attention has been called to an item in 
a late F, C„ in which "C. M. P.” asks if there 
is a hand planter that will plant corn in hills. 
The answer is, "There is a hand planter in the 
market, but It operates no quicker than one 
can drop by hand and cover with the foot. 
An objection to it is that one cannot see the 
seed drop.” 
We inclose you our circular, and beg that 
you will give it a careful perusal, and note 
especially tbo testimonials that are marked. 
Our planter does away with all of the objec¬ 
tions in your answer to "C. M. P.” [This firm 
is quite trustworthy, and the planter is an ex¬ 
cellent tool. Eds.] 
R. M., Newark, N. J.— In the Rural of 
November 15, "Agricultural Education”and 
"Stint on the Farm" (page 764), tell Rome 
truths with regard to farm life, that are not 
very flattering to its pleasantness. Of course, 
every vocation in life 1ms some drawbacks, 
and agriculture has perhaps no more than its 
proper share, while it. has certainly many ad¬ 
vantages which most other callings do not 
possess. Why should we see iu agricultural 
papers so many articles headed, "How to 
Keep Our Boys 011 the Farm,” or with some 
similar caption? In papers devoted to other 
kinds of business one looks in vain for advice 
as to the best way to induce the children to 
adopt their father’s vocation. "How to Keep 
Our Boys in the Drug store;” "How to Make 
Our Boys Good Engineers;” "How to Keep 
Our Boys at the Bench;' 1 --whoever saw such 
headings? There are vastly more people en¬ 
gaged in farming than in any other vocation; 
the number is constantly Increasing In this 
country in a greater ratio than iu other call¬ 
ings; there is no fear whatever that the sup¬ 
ply will ever full short of the demand; why 
be so solicitous then that our children should 
follow in our footsteps? Amoug the ancient 
Egyptiuus the child, for generation after gen¬ 
eration, followed his father’s business; not in 
agriculture alone, but iu other vocations also; 
why should farmers alone nowadays seek to 
perpetuate the custom of the ancient Egyp¬ 
tians? Of course, it would generally bo pleas¬ 
anter if one, or perhaps two, of the "boys” re¬ 
mained on the farm, relieving their father 
from much labor and trouble; but a father 
who has the real welfare of his sons at heart, 
will not wish them to remain in a business 
which Is distasteful to them, simply because 
their continuance iu it may be pleasant to 
himself. By all means make farm life agree¬ 
able to your ^lildren; for even if they leave 
you, they will then always carry with them 
fond remembrances of their old home; but 
don’t worry about keeping them ou the farm; 
don’t be an ancient Egyptian. 
Communications Received von Tim week ending 
Saturday, Nov. 22, 
E. M., thanks.—C. W.-.B. B.—H. n.-A. B. M.-J. 
K.-M. A. C.-J. Tv. M..thunks. -J. R.-B. H.-R. F—A, 
J. C., for potato premium. Too hue. A. tine specimen. 
-N. S. K.-H. H.-W. E. IC.-C E. P.-J. B.-J. M. F.- 
H. K L.-M. B. M. 0. L.-M. W. F., XIX a XXIII In¬ 
clusive,-A. S.-D. 8. G —T. H H.-8. T.—J. M. S.-J. 
H, H.-VV. F. B.-W. F. M.-O. n A.-.T. T. L.-.T. B. L. 
—II. S.—A, n. B - J. E, S. -.1. J. K., for potato prize— 
C. 55. V.-K. D K. J. O.-T. H. n.-A. G. 0. T. G.-C. 
II. n.-C. E. 1*.- J. T. M.—H. L. T , thanks.—E. J. C.. 
the $28( 0 worth of presents are for subscribers only, 
not for agents.—L. M., thanks.—J. W. O. II,—J. H O., 
no.-G. H. M.-A.R. G.-S. C.-J, W. D.-J. C. N.-J, 
B B.-L. M.—S. H.-J. S. C.—A. W.-W. G. L. D.—R. 
H. M.-J. N. M., thanks.-J. R.-M. W.—L. M.-E. A 
P.-S. M. C.—C. M. H. 
