7® 
FEB 3 
baked. Planted 160 kernels of the Heavy Dent 
Corn: I planted on a plat 33 feet square on 
May 18; only 99 grew; moles destroyed the 
rest. Soil black, gaudy loan); no manure 
used; was in corn last year. Cultivated flat; 
hoed three times; ripened very late; let it 
stand on hill until Nov. 11th, when I busked 
and weighed it.; had 150 ears, large and small; 
weight, 1S8)£ pounds, Dec, 5th shelled and 
weighed com and cobs; had SOpoundsand 10 
ounces of corn, 81pounds of cob. Many of 
the stalks were 12 feet high and many of the 
ears hud 16 to 18 rows, with 46 to 50 kernels 
in a row. 1 had intended to try and win a 
prize on this corn, but I see others have beaten 
me and I am also too late in sending in re¬ 
turns. It ripened so late I could not well for¬ 
ward returns sooner. f. k k. 
Mentor, Lake Co.—Just 130 kernels of 
Rural Flint Corn were planted May 20th; 77 
germinated and grew; I hoed the plat three 
times and allowed only three suckers to grow 
in each hill. Cut it Nov. 1st; busked it Nov. 
14th; weight of ears, 1633^' pounds; shelled 
Nov. 20th; weight of shelled corn, 110>£ 
pounds; average hight of stalks, eight feet; 
38 stalks had two ears; four stulks had three 
ear.-; longest ear, 15}£ inches. It was injured 
somewhat by blaekhirds, which made some 
difference in the weight of shelled corn. 1 
had three hills of Little Gern Squashes. We 
used all we wauted for Summer squash and 
gathered a bushel for Winter use. They are 
delicious From four quarts of White Ele¬ 
phant seed I have 10 bushels of the nicest po¬ 
tatoes I ever saw. I also have a nice bed of 
asparagus from the seed sent out. The flow¬ 
ers were a marvel of beauty. Success to the 
Rural! w. c. G. 
Oregon. 
Shkdd, Linn Co., Oregon.—Planted the Ru¬ 
ral Dent and Thoroughbred Flint Corns May 
22d on new land. They made a fine growth: 
some stalks were 12 feet high, three inches in 
diameter, and for a time 1 thought I would 
get a prize, hut Jack Frost suid “wilt,” and 
my corn and hopes forthwith wilted. My 
Lima Beans did well; nine of the 10 grew. I 
had 15 Gem Squashes, and they are gems, in¬ 
deed. I have eight hollyhocks. The celery 
faile 1 to grow. My wheat is growing yet. 
I think it will make a ci’op. I planted it last 
March. D. a. d. 
Wisconsin. 
King's Bridge Manitowoc Co.—From the 
White Elephant potato 1 got 34 pounds last 
year aud after giving away three of the 
largest, I planted the rest, and dug last Fall 19 
bushels. They have rotted so badly, however, 
that I shall be fortunate if any are left for 
seed in Spring. The three kinds of Rural 
wheats tillered immensely, but the Shumaker 
alone matured a few ears. These were sown 
last Fall and the young wheat was doing well 
when covered with snow. The original wheat, 
too, continued to grow luxuriantly, the old 
leaves having falleu off and decayed. I have 
left it untouched to see woat it will amount 
to. Of the Plural Dent Corn I obtained one 
hushel of cars, some ripe enough for seed. 
Had the season been favorable I think all of 
it would have matured, though it seems unfit 
for this northern climate. Gem Squashes 
rightly named—quite productive and of ex¬ 
cellent quality; ours all matured. Carna¬ 
tions and pinks very beautiful. Hurrah for 
the Rural ! Long may it wave ! It is one 
of the farmers’ best friends, furnishing abund¬ 
ance of practical information. s. w. 
(li)e (Qumai 
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
[Every query must be accompanied by the name 
and address of the writer to insure attention.] 
TREATMENT OF DRAFT HORSE. 
.S'. W. B., Tryonville, Pa —I have a six- 
year-old horse, one of those heavy limbed 
animals that are subject to “grease.” He is 
troubled with cracked heels. His water is 
sticky aud there is considerable miJky sedi¬ 
ment in it. He urinates very often; but be 
takes on flesh and appears in good health. I 
am.feeding him oats in the morning and corn 
on the cob at night. Which is best, whole or 
grouud fet'd ? Is it better to give a horse all 
lie will driDk three times a day or just one 
pailful each time ? 
Ans. —When a horse is kept standing in his 
stable he ought to have all the water he will 
drink three times per day. This should be 
given him regulurly early in the morning, at 
noon and at night, and it is better for him to 
have it a short time before being fed. In 
Winter he should never drink the water icy- 
cold, but with the chill taken off. If slightly 
warm it would be the boulthier. If very cold 
water is given to a horse in Winter, particu¬ 
larly just after eating, it is liable to bring on 
cholic, which might prove dangerous to him. 
He ought to have a dry yard to run in during 
the day, or at least a part of it for exercise, or 
"be taken out a short distance on a road if not 
used. When a horse is at work on the farm 
or traveling, he ought to be watered twice or 
thrice as often as when standing in the stable, 
particularly in hot weather. He will then 
take but little at a time, and being constantly 
moving, there is no danger of the water hurt¬ 
ing him, unless drawn directly from a very 
cold well or spring. In this case let the water 
stand in a pail or tub in the sun a few minutes, 
so as to take the chill off before driuking. 
After a horse is exercised, aud is hitched out 
of-doors, or put into a stable sweaty, be must 
be allowed to cool off before being watered; 
if not he might be foundered. Dou’t let him 
stand in a cold wind or draft, and unless the 
weather is warm blanket him till he gets cool. 
As to feeding corn alone, whole or ground, 
it is rather a dangerous grain, although 
at the West and South many farmers feed 
no other. But they often lose their horses 
by so doing. It is much better to feed 
Indian meal mixed half and half with wheat 
bran or aborts, or if the horse is not 
worked hard, one-third meal of the mixture 
will be sufficient. This may be varied with 
oats, but, if so, the latter mess is best for the 
night ration. Of course, plenty of good hay 
or grass is wanted, and a few corn-stalks or 
oat straw' may be given once a day for a 
change, if the horse will eat them. A few 
roots at night with the meal aud bran are also 
excellent. They cool the blood, keep the bowels 
open, soften the hay. rendering it almost like 
grass, make it more nutritious and easily di¬ 
gestible. Four to six quarts are none too 
much to begin with, and when the animal is 
accustomed to them the quantity may be in¬ 
creased to eight quarts. Carrots are tbe best; 
next come beets or mangel-wurzels. Potatoes 
aud turnips are not so good, and should be 
given ir. a less quantity than the three sorts of 
roots first meni ioned above. Slit them before 
feeding so they cannot possibly choke the 
horse. Carrots are almost as hearty as grain, 
and when a horse is not very hard worked, or 
is obliged to be driven fast on the road, they 
may be substituted for it. Of course, when a 
horse is at pasture he does not want roots. 
Sprinkle a teaspnonful of fine salt in the meal 
mess every night. This is excellent for the 
health of all animals. Cracked heels, or 
scratches, as we understand it, may be cured 
by washing them clean in warm soap-suds, 
rubbing them dry, and then oiling them. If 
this does not prove effectual, theu make a 
wash of ten grains of chloride of zinc, dis¬ 
solved in four ounces of w'ater, and with a 
i ponge or clean rag apply this moderately to 
the heels mornings and nights. Some rub 
white lead paint slightly over the heels, but 
thi3 is a harsh remedy. As to his water, we 
cannot well prescribe without seeing the horse, 
but we should hope that with the above feed 
and treatment, the sticky matter you speak of 
would soon disappear and the urine come out 
pure and natural. 
BRAN AND CORN MEAL AS FEED FOR MILCH 
COWS. 
C. A., Pueblo Co., Col. —What is the rela¬ 
tive value of bran and corn meal as a feed for 
milch cows ? In other words, if I am paying 
$1 per hundred pounds for bran, how much 
can I effort to pay for bolted corn meal, my 
sole object being the quantity of milk ? How 
would it alter the case if the object were but¬ 
ter instead of milk i I bad always supposed 
that bran was an article which had little 
substance, and could never understand why 
bran and water were superior to anything else 
for milk. Why are soap-suds and a little bran 
a het.ter mixture for producing milk than 
“stuff” that has the valuable properties 
left in it ? 
Ans.—I n comparing the values of different 
feeding stuffs, not only their chemical compo¬ 
sition, but their actual practical effect must 
be considered. For instance, compare the 
following figures: 
O 
◄ 
Q 
P 
P 
P.O 
Feeding 
II 
£ 
D* 
V- 
Substances. 
& 
a 
* 
p 
gs 
p, ® 
no 
CD 
Whc-at bran. 
14.0 
68.7 
72.0 
61 1 
8.8 
4.1 
4.4 
Sl.fii - 
1.62 
i.;» 
Corn men I . 
9.0 
Buckwheat bran... 
17 1 
Acorns. 
5.1 
72.0 
4.0 
1.32 
The protein compounds, which consist 
chiefly of albuminous matters, are more valu¬ 
able than the carbohydrates, which consist of 
starch, sugar and guru with cellular fiber; 
and the fat is nearly as valuable ns the pro¬ 
tein matters and two-and-one-balf times as 
much as the carbohydrates, so that, with the 
above table as a guide, we might be led 
to believe buckwheat bran worth more than 
any other article mentioned. But no dairy¬ 
man who has used it would be mislead by the 
figures given, because he knows that buck¬ 
wheat bran makes very inferior milk and 
worse butter, while he would never think of 
feeding his cows upon acorns, although he 
could procure them for less than the value 
given. So, while wheat bran and corn meal 
are both estimated by their composition at 
equal values, we know that corn meal is worth 
much more than brun, practically, as regards 
tbe quality of the milk and especially in re¬ 
gard to butter. But as regards quantity of 
milk, bran is a better food for cows than corn 
meal, especially if it is given in the form of a 
slop and warm; but certainly not with soap 
suds, although soap suds, chemically consid¬ 
ered, might be supposed to contain consider¬ 
able nutriment iu toe form of fat. If bran Is 
worth $1 per hundred we should, as a matter 
of our own experience, feed at least a consid¬ 
erable portion of It, three-fourths of the ration, 
for instance, with the other fourth corn meal. 
Otherwise we should rather feed these sub¬ 
stances in the reverse proportions, with bran 
and corn meal at the same price. 
SORE SHOULDERS OF A HORSE: TREATMENT OF 
A HIDE BOUND HORSE. 
W. R., McKeesport, Pa. —t. What will ef¬ 
fect a cure and prevent a recurrence of sore 
shoulder in a horse? 2. What is the proper 
treatment of a hide-bound horse? 
Ans. —1. The sore shoulders probably come 
from an ill-fitting collar, and the first thing 
to do is to go to a harness maker to fit it 
properly, making it set true and easy. For 
the present the stuffing ought to be partially 
taken out of that part of the collar which 
bears against the sore on the shoulder, leaving 
iu the collar a hollow place so broad aud deep 
that the sore will cease to bear there. See that 
the shoulders are kept clean and that no 
scurf or dirt is allowed to rest on them. Then 
oil the sore part night and morning, rubbing 
the oil in gently. Look to the collar, and 
keep it perfectly clean. If any gum or mat¬ 
ter is on the inside, wash it off clean with hot 
soap suds; wipe dry, then rub that also with 
neat’s-foot oil. It is absolutely necessary to 
keep the leather of the collar perfectly clean 
and soft, and this can only be done by washing 
it as needed, and then oiling, but put on only 
so much as will dry in well, both on the collar 
and on the shoulder; for an excess of oil 
resting ou either place will be injurious, 
and have a tendency to keep the sore 
open instead of drying it up. Oil is a 
paiuless, comfortable remedy, and never 
does harm, like some other prescriptions, if 
properly applied. 2. The best thing to loosen 
the hide is to give him a pint of oil-meal nights 
and mornings, and gradually' increase this 
to a quart, and then two quarts, makiug four 
quarts per day if it does not physic him; if so, 
then less. Tf he will not eat the full amount, 
at first, put in a gill or so to begin with in a 
quart or two of bran shorts, or meal of some 
kind, and so gradually increase the oil meal 
till he will take all that is required. Linseed 
meal, or oil meal, as it is more generally called, 
is often adulterated now by dealers, so be 
careful to get Buch only as is pure. If this 
cannot bo bad, then obtain flax-Beed. Sim¬ 
mer it to a soft jelly, then feed this to the 
horse. But as the jelly is stronger than the 
meal it must lie given in a smaller dose. Run¬ 
ning In a grass pasture is also good for a 
bouud hide, and the horse should be well cur¬ 
ried aud brushed. When hi stable see that he 
is abundantly littered, and that the air is al 
ways sweet aud fresh there, without exposing 
the horse to currents, especially when the wind 
is easterly. Do not give any medicine to 
** pamper birn up for sale.” Feed good grass 
or hay, with a due allowanceof oats, morning 
and night, or four to six quarts of Indian 
meal and wheat bran mixed half and half, 
with a teaspoonful of flQe salt added to the 
mess, and pure, fresh water three times per 
day, or oftener if he will drink it when at work. 
CORN-A ND-COB MEAL. 
C. H. B , Caines, N. Y. —1. Will it pay to 
grir d corn and cobs together for feeding cat¬ 
tle and hogs? 2. Is the Viotorv corn-mill 
made by T. Roberts, Springfield, Ohio, a 
good mill ? 
Ans —1. The composition of average hay, 
straw and corn-cobs, according to Professor 
G. W. Caldwell, is given in tbe following table; 
Water .. 
nay. 
... 15 
Ont 
Straw. 
14.3 
Wheat 
Stra w. 
14.3 
Cobs. 
B.2 
Protein. 
.... 10 
4 
8 1 
2.7 
Fat. 
.... 3.1 
2 
1.2 
Q .4 
Non-nltrog. extr_ 
... 40.4 
35.6 
87.5 
57.2 
Fiber. 
.... 80 
89. T 
40 
80.8 
Ash.. 
.... B.2 
4.4 
8.9 
1.2 
The cob, therefore, contains less of the valua- 
ble protein, or flesh-forming food, and less fat, 
but more of the non-nitrogenous extract, 
which embraces all that, remains of dry mat¬ 
ter after deducting the crude protein, crude 
fiber, crude fat and ash. In grains and roots 
this consists chiefly of starch or sugar, etc., 
and may in general be considered as carbo¬ 
hydrates, or fat-forming food. Such few 
careful experiments as have been made in 
feeding cob meal or corn and cob grouud 
together, show that the cob is digestible, a 
given result being obtained with less corn 
when fed with the cob than when given by It¬ 
self; but all who have obtained good returns 
from feeding cob meal or corn-and-cob meal 
insist that tbe whole should be ground fine. 
It is difficult to do this, and the flat, horny, 
chaffy scales that pass through the mill with¬ 
out being ground render the meal indigestible 
to some extent, sometimes causing trouble to 
horses and sheep. If t.be mill-stones are kept 
sharp the meal will be much finer and more 
digestible. When the meal is fed to cattle 
and swine there i* also much iess danger from 
this source than when fed to horses and sheep, 
which are very susceptible to injury from 
anything that interferes with their digestion. 
It will, therefore, generally “pay” to feed 
corn aud-cob meal to cattle and hogs, but 
more numerous aud accurate experiments are 
needed to determine the precise value of the 
cob meal in the mixture. 2. It is an excel¬ 
lent mill. 
PICKLING PORK AND BEEF. 
S. C., Oriskany, N Y. —How should pork 
and beef pickle be made? How much salt to 
100 pounds of pork? 
Ans —It is not necessary to make brine 
or pickle in order to preserve pork. Twelve 
quarts of salt are ample to preserve 100 
pounds of pork. It is necessary that the 
meat should be covered with salt, and that 
salt should be in the bottom and suffi¬ 
cient water put into the vessel holding the 
meat so that the latter is entirely sub 
merged. For beef about half the amount of 
salt, with four ounces of salt peter for ouch 
100 pounds of meat are required, as on 
pork. To make a brine for either of these 
two kinds of meat, the above quantities of 
salt should be boiled in water until tbe salt is 
dissolved, and then the precaution should be 
taken to put salt on the bottom of the cask 
and on the top of tbe meat to insure sufficient 
strength to the brine. Pork will a: sorb only 
a given amount of salt, however much there 
may be in the cake. The reason why pork be¬ 
comes tainted when in brine is because the 
fatty oils of the meat rise to the surface of the 
brine, being lighter than the brine itself, end 
there they become putrefied by coming in con¬ 
tact with the air. When meat is frequently 
taken from tbe barrel theee oils are mixed 
with the brine and this putrefaction is pre 
vented. When the brine is not thus stirred, 
the top should be eov ered with salt to keep 
the oils from contact with the air. 
GELATINE OF 8 ONK 8 . 
S. K. M ., Worcester, Mass,, 1, What is the 
fertilizing value of the jelly-like residue from 
steamed bones after tbe grease has been 
skimmed off and dried up with unleached 
ashes? Is there anything better than ashes for 
drying it up? 
Ans. —1. This jelly like substance contains 
a portion of the gelatine of the bones which 
is tbe most valuable part for fertilizing pur 
poses, as it contains the nitrogen of the bone. 
There is about three-and-three-quarters per 
cent of nitrogen in bones and the whole of 
this is contained in the gelatine: but only a 
portion of this gelatine is removed by the 
steaming and it is impossible to say how much 
of it there is in this residue, for any quantity 
of bones. The residue, however, is worth 
at the rate of 25 cents a pound for tbe nitrogen 
contained in it, whatever this may be. aud is 
certainly a valuable fertilizer. It cannot be 
improved by the addition of any substance 
that may be used to dry it, excepting that it 
is made more portable. The wood ashes are 
an excellent material to dry it with, but un¬ 
less it is used soon afterwards they may cause 
a destructive decomposition aud set free any 
ammonia that is thus produced from the ni¬ 
trogen in it. 
DESTROYING SQUASH BUGS. 
E. M. C.. Pittsburg. Kansas, wants a rem¬ 
edy tor squash bugs. 
Ans.—I f there is a real, bona fide, never- 
known-to fail remedy for this pest of the 
garden, we don’t know it. Tobacco dust, 
scattered over the plants early in the morn¬ 
ing is claimed to be a preventive. The ap¬ 
plication must be repeated when the first, bos 
been washed off by rain. Squash hugs up- 
pear about the same time as the young plants, 
and lay their eggs on the under side of the 
leaves, hence it is well to look over the young 
plants and destroy all eggs that can be found. 
If any of the patches of eggs have hatched 
the young can be readily destroyed, as they 
have a habit of staying around in clusters. 
Hand-picking is, after all, the best method of 
controlling this pest, and none of our injuri¬ 
ous insects can be exterminated so easily in 
this way. 
AN EVIL WITHOUT A REMEDY. (?) 
J. O.H., Sagg P.O., Long Island. —We pay 
here at the railroad depot $60 for a 40-tub ear 
and $62.50 for a 50-tub car of poor manure, 
and small measure at that. Car-loads of 40 
tubs will contain anywhere from eight to 
twelve two-horse loads. We get no more 
now in 40 tubs than we used to get in 35 tubs. 
Farmers who want manure should not be 
compelled to buy through agents who get 
“rebates” from the railroad every month. 
