JA H 27 
THE RURAL f8EW-¥©B&lB. 
*■ 
FKUITS AND MANURES. 
W. W. F., Waterville, Ohio. —1. Which is 
the hardiest—the Kittatinny, Taylor or SDy- 
der Blackberry '? 2, What are fresh wood- 
ashes worth per bushel as compared with 
bone-dust at $35 per ton? S. What is av¬ 
erage stable manure worth per ton as com¬ 
pared with bone-dust ? 4. How does the Cuth- 
bert Raspberry compare with the Brandy¬ 
wine as to productiveness ? 
Ans.— 1. Snyder is the hardiest at the Rural 
Grounds. 2. Wood ashes cannot be compared 
with bone, as these substances are entirely 
different in character. Fresh wood ashes are 
worth for their potash about 40 cents a bushel 
of 00 pounds, and for phosphoric acid about 
20 cents more. 3. A ton of manure and the 
same of bone-dust contain as follows: 
Fotush. Nitrogen, Phosphoric Value. 
acid. 
Manure. 12 1b. lu lb. 5 lb. $2 2U 
Bone-dust. 2 lb. <0 lb. 330 lb. 43.1W 
4. The value is fixed in accordance with the 
market prices of the separate elements in Pe¬ 
ruvian guano. 4. The Cut hbert is as hardy as 
the Brandywine and of mursh better quality - 
i,11.IKS OF THE VALUEV. 
L. S., Woodlawn, Fa .—How can Lilies of 
the Valley be forced? 
Ans.—M ost of the failures which attend the 
Winter floweringof the Lily of the Valley are 
due to the use of improperly developed roots 
or “pips.” These pips are young roots with 
flowering stems, which will produce flowers 
within a few weeks ufter belug planted. We 
obtain ours early in November aud place them 
rather thickly in shallow boxes in light, rich 
soil. These boxes aie placed in a cool place 
or in the open air, and are permitted to be 
frozen severely once or twice. They are then 
well covered with hay or straw, aud as they 
are wanted for flowering they can be brought 
inside. Or, if they are wanted for the win¬ 
dow garden, they can be removed from the 
boxes and placed thickly in pots, using sphag¬ 
num moss or light, rich soil. Water freely 
and place in a warm, light situation and they 
will flower freely in a few weeks if the soil is 
kept damp aud given a temperature of 55 to 
6U degrees. After flowering, remove them to 
the cellar and plant out in the flower border 
early in the Spring. We would advise our 
correspondent to obtain strong pips, and not 
to try roots from his flower border, as we do 
not think they will produce very satisfactory 
results. Good, strong pips can be obtained 
for about 50 cents per dozen. 
AN ABNORMAL LAMB, ETC. 
M. L. U., Augusta, Kans. —1. Aeweof mine 
dropped a four months male lamb the other 
day. It was six inches longer than it ought 
to have been. Back of the stomach there was 
a lump like a kidney, and back of the ribs 
another, each weighing about pound, 
being light-colored and porous, the pores con¬ 
taining a watery fluid. There were no tes¬ 
ticles. The afterbirth was covered with 
lumps half as large as a quail’s egg aud full 
of a bony substance as large as a common 
needle and one sixteenth of an inch long. 
What was the cause of this freak of nature l 
2. Which is the best practical work on sheep 
husbandry f 
Ans.— 1. It is probable that the abnormal 
fetus was caused by some interual injury to 
the ewe. These so-called freaks of nature are 
by no means freaks or departures from the 
established laws of nature, but are more 
truly modifications of the organic structures 
which are produced by some cause that may 
be, or may not be, traced to its origin. In 
the curious case mentioued a careful dissec¬ 
tion of the parts might huve easily explained 
to a capable anatomist the problems involved. 
3. Stewart's Shepherd’s Manual, which costs 
fl.oU, is the beat work on sheep. 
HAY AND BEANS FOR HORSES. 
IF. R. A., Willimantie, Conn. —1, With hay 
at $22 per ton, and wheat bran the same, 
which is the more profitable feed for horses? 
2, What proportion of wheat bran, tine feed 
aud cotton-seed meal will make the best 
ration, fed dry with a little hay ? 3, How- 
should quince seed be planted? 
Ans. —1, You cannot feed all wheat bran be¬ 
cause of its scouring effect on the bowels 
although It is a more nutritious food than 
hay. With hay so dear os $22, oue half the 
feed, that is about 10 or 12 pounds per day may 
safely be of bran, and the hay may then be re¬ 
duced two thirds, or say to six or eight pounds 
per day. 2. Cotton seed is too concentrated a 
food for horses and should not be given ut all. 
It is excel leut for cows as they have stronger 
digestive powers than horses. 3. Quince seed 
js sown in the same way as apple or pear 
seed, but it is better to grow from layers. 
CATCHING MINES. 
F. E. G., Michigan, asks what is used for 
bait iu catching winksit 
Ans. —Minks are readily caught in box or 
steel trapsor in dtad-falls baited with the head 
of a bird. Minks arevery fond of blood and 
brairn, and htnee the head of a bird is fouud 
to be the most effective lure. In dead-falls 
the weight must be quite heavy, as the animal 
possesses great strength and tenacity of life. 
Poison is also used to a considerable extent in 
capturing this pest of the poultry yard. Mink 
skins have risen greatly in value within the 
last 15 or 20 years. 
HORSE MINT FOR BEES, 
C. if., Champion, N. K—Where cau I get 
the Horse Mint spoken of by Prof. Cook in 
the Rural of Dec. 16 ? l want to raise it for 
bees. 
Ans. by Prof. A. J. Cook —Horse Mint 
seed, or the young plants, cun be got, l think, 
of Judge J. H. Andrews, McKinney, Texas. 
I secured of him some plants which are grow¬ 
ing nicely in our greenhouse. The plant is 
much like theother mints, as Cat nip, Mother¬ 
wort, etc. It, like them, ia a perennial, and 
also grows readily from seed. It had better 
not be tried too freely at fiist, as it may not 
thrive in our Northern climate. 
KANSAS LANDS. 
“ Header" Feedsburg, Wis.— 1. How much 
land is required per head of cattle and sheep 
in Kansas and Colorado ? 2. In w hat parts 
of Kansas is there any Government land yet 
open for entry ? A What is the average yield 
per acre of wheat and oats in Kansas i 
Ans. —1. On the range in that section which 
is generally considered unfit tor tillage, but 
suitable for pasture, and without any provis¬ 
ion for Winter feeding, five acres are required 
to pasture one sheep, and from 25 to 35 acres 
per head of horned cattle. On selected 
land where Blue Grass may have come in, as 
it has in some localities, and where some 
prairie hay is cut for Winter feeding, one 
acre will support a sheep, but care must be 
taken to prevent fires frem running over the 
pastures and destroying the grass late in the 
season, by which the Fall pasture is ruined. 
It is a question it it is not more profitable to 
keep sheep on a system of soiling, by growing 
crops to be fed off the ground—such as wheat, 
rye, oats, millet, and corn, than to keep sheep 
on the range. In that case, two or three sheep 
can easily be kept ou ooe acre, and the risk 
aud labor are much lessened. The same w ill 
apply to other localities where their is suffi¬ 
cient raiti or water for irrigation to grow such 
crops, 2. There are large bodies of Govern¬ 
ment laud for entry under the Homestead 
Law in Central Kausas, iu Reno, Rice, and 
other counties south of these, iu which any 
crops call bo grown, and where an acre will 
support three sheep in the way above men¬ 
tioned. 3 The average yield of wheat is 16 
to 20 bushels, and oats 50 to 70 bushels, in a 
good year, but iu a droughty year it falls con¬ 
siderably lower. 
MISCELLANEOUS. 
3’. A. A., Speedwell, Fa.—1. What is the 
best method of preserving bacon, and especi¬ 
ally hams from skippers or hoppers through 
the Summer? 2. What is the value of corn 
cobs for manure aud how are they best utilized 
for that purpose ? 3. 1 lately bought a mare; 
when I got her she was thin and her hind legs 
were swelled. The man of whom 1 bought 
her said she had recently had an attack of 
“pink-eye” which caused her legs to swell. 
She has improved in flesh and is doing well 
every way except that the right hind leg con¬ 
tinues swollen from the hock down and she 
rests that leg a good deal when standing. 1 
have given hyposulphite of soda in the feed 
for a couple of weeks. She is four ycoirs old. 
What is the cause of the leg swelling, and 
w hat is ihe remedy f 
Ans. —1. Pack the meat iu boxes or barrels 
in Chaff or finely cut hay and keep it in a dry 
dark place. 2, Corn cobs are of little value 
as manure. They' are worth more for fuel iu 
the Summer time. They may Lie scattered iu 
the yards and left to rot with the manure. 
3. Tne sw'olleu leg ia a result of the disease 
which is a variety of influenza and usually 
leaves the blood in an enfeebled and impure 
condition. Give one dram of iodide of po¬ 
tassium, with one ounce of Peruvian bark 
powdered iu a bran mash once a day. Rub 
the swollen leg geutly for 15 minutes with a 
woolen cloth and leave the mare loose In a 
roomy place. Exercise is preferable to stand 
lag still. 
M. K . O., New Loudon, Minn. —1. Is the Cres¬ 
cent, Green Prolific, Charles Downing or Man¬ 
chester a better market strawberry than the 
Wilson, and is any of them more productive i 
Would they succeed in this climate ? 2. What 
is the best early grape for this section ? 3. 
Would the Concord or any other hardy grape 
do well grafted on the wild-grape stock t 4. 
Where can l get artificial eyes for stuffed 
birds i 
Ans. —1. Nobody can say. You must try 
them. The Manchester has imperfect flowers 
and must grow near perfect-flowering kinds. 
The Charles Downing is the best in quality of 
those mentioued, but it will uot yield with 
Crescent or Wilson’s. The Manchester bears 
| a larger aud better-flavored berry than Wil¬ 
son, and carries about as well. 2. Early Vic- i 
tor, Moore’s Early, and Florence are among 
the earliest of black grapes. We cannot say 
what would prove the best. 3. There is no 
need to graft the Concord on wild strek. If. 
is vigorous enough now. Grafting on wild stock 
would help feebler-growing kinds. 4. ? ? 
E. C. W., SvJJblk. N. F.—What is a good 
red raspberry for home use, thst does not 
sucker as freely as the Cuthbert ? I read that 
the Clarke and Turner have the same fault. 
How about Brandywine, Philadelphia. High¬ 
land Hardy, Herstine, and Superb? Who 
sells them ? 
Ans. —We should choose Turner and Care- 
line. The objections to those mentioned are with 
us greater than the suekering propensities of 
the above. Wenow have the Superb, butit will 
require several seasons to test it. Shaffer’s 
Colossal ia a vigorous grower and does not 
sucker much. 
it. M. T., thiliippi, W. Va .—Fruit tree 
pedlers are doiug a thriving business here 
selling tree strawberries, tree gooseberries, 
poplar peaches and grape-vine raspberries, 
I believe the whole thing a humbug. Are 
there any such fruits as strawberries growing 
on trees as high as the gable eud of the two- 
story dwelling house, as were represented In 
the picture an agent who culled on me lately 
showed ? 
Ans. —Currants and gooseberries may be 
grafted on Miasouri Currant stock, forming 
little trees. We have them five feet high. The 
other fruits mentioned do not exist. Other 
question will be answered later 
A. L. J , Chauteauyuay Basin, Can.—I had 
two peach trees last seasou that came into 
full flower, in tubs iu early Spring, but not a 
blossom set for fruit. They stood in a shel¬ 
tered spot all through the mouth of May, and 
gave us a full supply of leaves all Summer. 
They are now resting and 1 should like to 
kuow where my error was in treatment. The 
variety was Mountain Rose. 
Ans. —This is not uncommon with young 
fruit trees of any kind. It isowing, possibly 
to a deficiency of pollen or else to the fact 
that the anthers aud stigmas are not mature 
at the same time. We once applied pollen to 
two pistils of a cherry tree which bloomed for 
the first. These were the only ones that bore 
fruit. 
J. C. D., Washington, Ga .—How should I 
treat a cow wUoee udder is badly swollen and 
very tender -milk cloddy and bloody? 
Ans. —Bathe the udder with warm water 
and milk it dry at least twice a day. Give the 
cow one pound of Epsom salts and afterwards 
one ounce of saltpeter dissolved in some bran 
slop repeated each second day until the in¬ 
flammation is removed. 
J. Q. D., South Framingham, Mass.— One 
of my horses has broken one of his front 
teeth partly off, and iu feeding he drops the 
grain aud is losing condition, what should 
be done? 
Ans. —File down the tooth with a rasp. If 
the tooth is loose have it taken out. If the 
gum is sore apply tincture of benzoin. 
L. 11., Dansville. N. Y. —How can the bul¬ 
letins issued by Dr. Sturtevaut from the New 
York Agricultural Experiment Station be ob¬ 
tained? 
Ans. —Write to Dr. * Sturtevaut, Agricul¬ 
tural Experiment Station, Geneva, N. Y. 
5’. // , uo address.—Why does yellow gourd 
corn with 24 or 26 rows, often produce 
only IN rows? Eight-rowed flint corn doesn’t 
vary. 
Ans —All the Rural cau auswer is that we 
have found that the greater number of rows 
acorn has, ihe more variable it is as to the 
uuraber of rows. 
A Subscriber, Rutland, Fa. —Where cau the 
Welsh butter pails, holding 20 pounds aud 
costing only 13 cents each, spoken of in a late 
Rural, be obtained? 
Ans. —From Carter & Co., 101 N. Moore 
Street, New York City. 
IF, F., Jr., Edgerton, Kan. —Where can 1 
get the James Vick Strawberry plant? 
Anm.— From C. A. Green, Box 562, Roches- 
• ter, N. Y. 
Communications Rsckivau for the week E>dino 
Saturday, January 20. 
A. M. T. J. G. B.-W. H.-C. L. D.-J. A. C.-F. D. C. 
, —J. S. V.—W. Ward, thanks.—W'. 11.—J. B. K , thanks; 
reserved for two or three weeks —W. H.—D H. 11. 
U. \V. 1L—K. A. B.—Al, B. i\—W. E. Yau S., many 
thanka.-G. E. T.—W.T.M., thanks. We tiuvea num¬ 
ber of articles ou Ag’l Colleges. Yours will appear 
In due time. T. L.—J. G , thunks T. C. D.—F. S. P. 
D. 8 St.—W. W.-H. S.—J. O. E.-J. K.-YV. SI, N. W. 
A. P,—T. E. II., you should sow seeds of the liol. 
lyhocks every year. The Rural Chater Hollylwx'ks 
are unsurpassed.—J. T. A.—O. P. K.-Jas. H Cary, 
we do not think they were received -Byron st Clair, 
we will try them.—S. E.M.—YV.W. T. J. S.—A., Jr 
—Onr friends must give us time lu snswrrlng flies' 
tious.-J. II. S.-S. H.-F. D. C—W. F. B.-J. A D.- 
C. W. Law, Thauk you.—S. W.—H. N. Williams, 
thanks. K & St, E, P., auswer has appeared.—K. A. 
YV.—J. O. H —R. M. T.—J. ft. G.—Many thanks. N. J. 
E. P,- E. S. B.—Inquirers must War with us. YVe 
are behind with our answers.—YV. F, O., wheat re¬ 
ceived; many thanks. YVe hope to try It.—,1. P. K., 
thanks. YY'e shall gladly use it iu due time.—C. Y\ 
R.—E. P.—P. S. C.— Al. E. Sanford, thauk you.—VV r . 
C.. C. A.-A. P. L.-H. P. C.-L. K.—A B. A. 
THE 
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RURAL NEW YORKER. 
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