466 
THE 
a 
MARCH 47 
which is rather better for the owner of the 
land, or when the planter finds all the land 
takes one-third. This is on the Imsisof the old 
standing rule that the land takes one-third, the 
labor one-third, and the seed, inunlire and fur¬ 
nishing one-third. 2. You are mist aken about 
bran: in New York feed is quoted as 40 
to 60, to 80 to 100. meaning that n bag weighs 
40, 60, 80 or 100 pounds, and the weights vary 
according to the quantity of middlings in the 
feed. Forty pounds is dear bran. Bran is 
bran without any middlings in it. 
INSECTS INJURING PINKS. 
.7. B. , Lanesborv, Pa, —1 have ton acres ol 
laud thickly covered with young pine trees. 
While they are thrifty they do not grow tall 
and straight, but bushy and crooked. The leader 
seems to die when the tree is 80 feet high, or 
thereabouts; the cause of their dying I thinks 
are ants which infest them. Will these trees 
grow tall and straight in time? 
ANSWER BY OR. WAROER. 
Unfortunately you do not say what species 
of pine it is that suffers, nor give any informa¬ 
tion as to the class of Insects that do the in¬ 
jury. It may lie caused by the Neptopteryx 
(Pinipissis) Zimmermanni, of Groto, the larva 1 
of which moth bore the trees just below the 
branches, affecting White and Red Pine very 
injuriously. The White Pine Aphis (the Lacli- 
nus strobi. of Pitch) may after all be the of¬ 
fender, as the numbers of ants would lead us 
to suspect, the presence of aphides, but they 
would hardly injure the tree in the manner 
described. We know of no remedy for the 
ants spoken of. As the trees serve a good pur- 
jjose now it is advisable to preserve them, 
trusting for their restoration to natural cause*. 
It would also ire well to send sjiecimeu.s of the 
insects to some entomologist who may recom¬ 
mend some means for counter-working this 
enemy of the trees. 
HAY CAPS. 
./. E. K. Bolivar, Ohio. —Where can rub¬ 
ber hay caps be bought? Will it pay to use 
them where 50 acres are devoted to hay—mostly 
clover? How about hay making where they 
are used? 
A vs.—Every man who has ID acres of hay 
should have hay caps. They are made of a 
square of heavy sheeting 54 inches wide bound 
around the edge with a cord which is looped 
at each corner. The cloth requires no gum 
or paint, as it will shed water for t wo days or 
more if it is steeped in a solution of sugar-of* 
lead and dried, A hay cap of this kind will 
cost about 25cents, and will protect 5 <hj pounds 
of hay. Hay may stand iu cocks thus pro¬ 
tected for weeks and one gnat value > if the cups 
is that the whole crop may lie saved and set 
up before any is hauled. The hot sun and wind 
are very injurious to hay and reduce its feed 
ing value very considerably and on tills ac¬ 
count alone the caps would pay for themselves 
every season. In making hay in this manner 
it is flifjfc put up in small cocks from the wind 
row and after 24 hours these small cocks are 
gathered into larger ones and these remain 
until the whole crop is made. Iiay caps of 
all sorts can be got from Sackett & Wood. 
Akron, Ohio. 
THE KKMP MANURE SPREADER. 
VF. /’, B., Liberty Square^ Pa.— In using the 
the Kemp manure spreader, must barnyard 
manure be loosened up and pulverized before 
it is loaded on the ‘‘spreader?’' Is the machine 
likely to got out, of order? 
Ans. —The writer spread last season 800 loads 
of manure, fine und coaine, and from live to 
twenty loads per acre with the machine refer¬ 
red to. One man with another to help him 
load, spread 40 loads in 10 houra' work. The 
manure needs no preparation, coarse and fine 
are spread alike. All that, is necessary is to 
load up the manure in the yard, draw it to the 
field, put the machine in gear and the load 
spreads itself more evenly than a dozen men 
could do it with forks. Iu the handsof a person 
who can use a mower or u reaper the Spreader 
will not get out of order unless something is 
wrong with it, and in that case the makers rend 
some person to investigate and if necessary re¬ 
place the defective part. The only objection 
the writer had to it was the weakness of some 
puli*, which, we understand, has been remedied. 
The machine used was one of those first made. 
GRAIN KOtt IIOOE. 
\V. II. C., Block Island, B. /.—Which is the 
best kind of grain to winter hogs on, corn or 
oats, and how much per day should they have 
to keep them in fair condition? 
Ans. —Corn is cheaper than oats to feed to 
hogs. Clear corn is not the Irest kind of feed, 
as it is too concentrated for continuous food. 
Oats are more healthful, as they are less con¬ 
centrated and furnish waste material for the 
distention of the bowel*. Young pigs can be 
wintered on oats alone, fed a quart to two 
quarts at a mess, according to size. They 
should bo fed whole, as it does not pay to grind 
them. Pigs should be fed from u pint to u 
quart-uud a-half at u mess of clear corn, ac¬ 
cording to the size of the pig. A pig one year 
old will do well on three quarto of shelled corn 
a day; that is, this amount, will furnish food 
enough. It would be better to mix the corn 
and oats rather than feed clear corn. Buck¬ 
wheat bran mixed with water or swill is the 
cheapest and best feed to winter pigs. It 
combines coarse and tine food, digestible and 
indigestible, both of which are essential to 
good health, and is also cheap. Six quarts ot 
buckwheat bran a day will keep a hog in good 
condition. 
RASPBERRIES AN1) STRAWBERRIES. 
.7. d' Z. C. W., Mystic nicer, Conn.— 1. 
What two raspberries—one red; the other 
black—would be likely to turn out best here 
for our local market ? 2, What is the yield of 
the Cuthbert per acre? 8. Would it be well 
to plant the Jersey Queen in place of the 
Downing and Wilson ? 
A ns.— 1, Of the new kinds Honsejl is very 
early and a good shipper. Turner is early, ol 
excellent, quality, blit rather soft. Brandy¬ 
wine is firm but poor. Cuthbert is good in 
every way, but late. We have never heal’d of 
any rusplierry that it is safe to recommend for 
a given soil and climate without first, being 
tested. Among the Gup variet ies, Souhegan 
is good. Doolittle is an old, valued kind. 
Gregg does well in places. 8. We cannot 
answer nuy further than to say all the way 
from nothing to si) bushels per acre, 8. No. 
We should try Jersey Queen and give it high 
culture. It is a tine berry but it does not 
thrive in ail places. 
TREATMENT OF VINE POSTS. 
B., Him rods, A’. P.—1 intend to set posts for 
two acres of grapes iu the Spring; is there any 
preparation to prevent t hem from rotting and 
make them durable? 
ANSWER BY A. .1. CAYWOOU. 
in the first place, we have found it 
necessary to season the posts well irefore set¬ 
ting; they should lie a year pooled. If cut in 
Winter, they can Ik- peeks 1 in June, when sap 
is flowing. The best time to cut them, to last, 
is in August, when full of sap. They should 
be i>eoled and dried iu hot weather. It, has 
been our experience t hat posts packed in coarse 
gravel, or small stones, uo earth coining in con¬ 
tact with them, did not rot. Charring the 
end we have also found advantageous. The 
application of paint or tor, under ground, we 
have found of no special benefit. 
MISCELLANEOUS. 
II. H'., Huntingdon, Pa.—In it advantageous 
to have black sheep iu a flock? 2, What would 
it cost to take a car-load of sheep to the Plains? 
8 . What is the cost of homesteading 160 acres ? 
A ns.— 1. The wool of black sheep is not sala¬ 
ble. but where used for domestic purposes for 
knitting, etc:., a mixture of half black anti 
half white makes an excellent brown or gray 
yarn, which never loses its color. 2. “ The 
Plains” is a very indefinite term, as they ex¬ 
tend for IflOO miles from Texas to Montana. 
Sheep can l>e bought there in most places 
almost us cheap as they could Ik- carried 
there, and unless they were valuable breeding 
auimalsit would hardly pay to freight them. 
8, The whole cost of homesteading 160 acres 
is s I t; but 100 acres on the Plains would sup¬ 
port no more than 50 sheep as the grass is very 
thin and greatly mixed with weed* and cac¬ 
tus beds in places. The system of herding 
on the plains is by letting the flocks roam over 
a large extent of ground and not by keeping 
them in in closures. It is not a desirable meth¬ 
od for a man having a family to care for. 
For such a one it is better to buy 160 acres of 
luntl near a town und where there is some 
free range and so have the benefit of both. 
S. O. F. O., Cottage Orore, H is.—Some 
lien ns of mine are somewhat colored so that 
they will not bring more than 81 per bushel; 
com is worth SO cents, out* 85 cents, and bran 
814 per ton. Which would be more profitable 
—to sell the beans and get other feed for the 
price, or feed them? 
Anns.—A t the prices mentioned it M ould be 
best to sell the l>eans and buy corn, oats and 
bran with the money: 880 will buy 1000 pounds 
of bran; IKK) pounds of corn, and000 pound* of 
oats, or 2,200 pounds of feed in place of 1,200 
pounds of beans. There can be no question as 
to the advantage of making tliis exchange. 
Just now beans are exceedingly high and tliis 
can lie done with profit, but when beans are 
a dollar a bushel for the best and 25 cents u 
bushel for the poor ones, it would Ik- profitable 
to grind them with corn for feed for horse*, 
hogs and sheep. 
0. B., No address .—Is it necessary to crack 
poach and plum pits that have never been 
frozen, before planting them? 2. What is the 
quality of the Shannon Pippin and Kwaar 
apples ? 8, Cun one variety of grapes be 
grafted ou another by using a cutting of a 
vigorous-growing variety for a stock and one 
of a leeble-growing variety as a cion ? 
Ans.--], Unless you do, it is hard to say when 
they will germ iiiute having become thoroughly 
dry. 2. The Bwuar is of the best quality. The 
Shannon, a synonym of the Ohio or Ernest’s 
Pippin, is moderately juicy, pleasant, sharp 
subocid; good. 8. Iu the South (N. 0.) we saw 
cions that, had taken, worked upon rooted cut¬ 
tings planted in soil in a cool house. They would 
not unite in the way you speak of. The same 
results would be obtained if it were possible. 
G. II. S.. Richmond. llt.—X. Which is the 
best sort of fertilizer—salt or wood ashes? 2, 
Would apple trees Ire suitable along the road¬ 
side? 8. Would it be advisable for a farmer who 
intends planting 200 apple t rees to raise and 
graft lus own trees? 
A NS.—1 Good farm manure is best. Wood 
ashes arc good salt probably of no account. 
8. No, we have never tried them. The only 
objection would Ire that they branch txio low. 
8. One euu buy 200 young apple trees, procur¬ 
ing just the kinds lie wants, about as low as he 
can raise them. Besides, he will not Ire obliged 
to wait two years for stocks and look about 
for cions. It requires no 1 took fur instructions. 
You have merely to plant the seeds and graft 
the young trees. 
T. I. McE.. Easton, Ohio.— 1. Where cau 
Golden Heart well Celery be purchased ? 2. 
Should the ‘Garden Treasure ” seeds In- 
planted in the open ground or in boxes in 
the house ? 
An*. 1. Thorburn & Co., 15 John St., are 
headquarters fill* this seed: but other good 
firms can furnish it. Examine the catalogues 
which we have announced. 8. You cun put 
t hem in the open ground; but remember some 
will start at once some iu a week or so 
some in a month and others not in three 
months, You should therefore provide a large 
seed bed so that those that start cau Ik* t-iaus 
planted without disturbing the others. There 
are some very choice seeds among them—some 
that are quite common 
l‘. IF. I’.. Gively, Colorado.— 1. How should 
Branching Sorghum be treated? 2. I have 
heard much good of the Hardy Catalpa— C. 
speciosa— what about it? 
A ns.—1. Rural Branching Sorghum should 
be treated just like Northern sorghums for 
molasses or sugar, except, that the plants must 
stand farther apart. 2. All the good you have 
heard of the Hardy fata I pa we believe to be 
trustworthy. Full infonnatiou about planting 
nil sort* of trees on "timber claims" and else¬ 
where, will be given iu the Rural in Dr. 
Warder’s articles on Forestry. This series 
M ill contain the latest and most trustworthy 
information on all the subjects discussed. 
IF. 77. .4., Westfield, Mass.— 1. What is the 
value of tobacco stems, obtained from n segur 
factory, a* manure for grass, fruits and vege¬ 
tables? a. Which is the best grape for home 
use iu this section? 
A ns. —1. Tobacco stems are M’orth as much 
a* good stable manure. They should be mixed 
with the manure in the yard; or put in a heap 
aud rotted and then used as ordinary manure, 
either spread us u top-dressing or plowed or 
spaded into the soil. 8. Brighton, Duchess, 
Jefferson, Wilder, Delaware. We answer the 
question as it is asked. Hardiness, vigor, 
adaptation are uot necessarily considered, 
//. C.K., Blodgett Mitts. .V. V .—What are 
the so-called English currants found in the 
markets? How ure they prepared? Would 
cherry currants, evaporated, sell in the mar¬ 
kets? 
A NS).—'The so-called "English Currants” ure 
a small variety of grapes grown in Greece, 
aud received their name from the Greek city 
of Corinth. This name was transferred to our 
common currant which, however, is no sub¬ 
stitute for the Corinth gnqre, either in its fresh 
or dry stab*. So far as we know there is no 
market for the common currant when dried. 
The fruit- i* too seedy for such use. 
.4. /*'. /?.. Ovid, Mich, —What varieties of 
gm|K*s would be advisable iu the neighborhood 
of Lansing, Midi., for a vineyard of 500 vines, 
aud what should be the proportion of each sort? 
A ns. 11 our friend wishes a succession ol 
varieties, also a variety of colors, he w ill do 
well to plant 50 M(Hire's Early, 100 Delaware, 
50 Lady, 100 Prentiss, 200 Concord. Or, omit¬ 
ting the w'liite grapes, 100 Moore’s Early, 100 
Delaware, 800 Concord. It the dusire is to sell 
at wholesale, for the must money possible, and 
with uo care for a succession of varieties, his 
best course will Ire to plant 500 Concords. 
(I. A. Wilawona, t'aA .—When should 
my five-year-old orchard be pruned? 2. Where 
can potato fertilize)’be. obtained? 8. Is any ap¬ 
plication for seeds needed from one who sub¬ 
scribes for the Rura l through u dut >1 .ing paper? 
Ans.-I. Next month. 2. Our friend lias 
only to look at our advertising columns. It is 
worth *50 pei- ton. The quantity to be used 
will depend upon the fertility of the soil. From 
200 to 600 pounds. 8. No application M ill be 
necessary. 
If. /, L,, Brampton, Ont.— What about the 
advertisers of the “ Welcome ” oats and 
the oats ? 
A ns.—T he advertiser* are enterprising, 
trustworthy seedsmen. A sample of the oats 
has been sent to us. They are heavy, short, 
plump, without much husk. We cannot ex¬ 
press any positive opinion until we have raised 
some. Many oato now offered us novelties are 
not new varieties, but old varieties grown in 
favorable climates where they grow much 
heavier than in this climate. 
E. K. IF., Cherryfield, Me .—How shall I 
manage a wild Blueberry bush to make a cul¬ 
tivated berry of it ? 
A ns.—P repare a bed by mixing equal parts 
of muck aud garden soil. Transplant young 
plants before the leaves appear in Spring. 
Keep down weeds. It the plants do not. bear 
the first year or two, do not be discouraged. 
They r do not bear until from three to five years 
old; also set ft few plants in common garden 
soil. 
‘“Subscriber," address lost .—What plums 
and grapes will prove hardy at Mayville, 
Dakota ? 
ANS.—It is useless to plant auy T of the Euro- 
[>ean varieties. The De Soto, W caver. Basset. 
Miner and Forest Rose plums will be apt to do 
well. The moat promising grapes, for that air 
and soil, are Concord, Worden, Moore's Early 
anil Coe. The last originated in Iowa and is 
the inirdiest, iu n dry, mid climate in the list. 
It is of the Lubruseu type. 
.17. IF, 77., Roanoke, hid. 1. Which is the 
better wuy to plant, potatoes on timothy sod . 
and new ground—in hills or drills ? 2. Should 
manure be applied on top or plowed under? 
8. Should the eyes Ire cut shallow or thick ? 4. 
Can the Centennial Wheat lie sowed in the 
Spring ? 
A Ns.—1. We greatly prefer drills. 2. Plow 
under. 3. Thick, always. 4. We should try 
it as a Spring wheat. Yes, you may sow it 
also iu the Fall. 
G. IF. B., Big Spring, Fa.—What is the 
large, smooth seed, shaped somewhat like an 
acorn, iu the Rural Free Seed Distribution ? 
Ans.—I t is probably the fruit (nut) of Mis 
garrhiza Culifortiicn (Big Root), a vine bear¬ 
ing monoecious tlowcrs and growing about 20 
feet high. Leaves ure two to six inches broad, 
five to seven lobed. Plant the nut an inch 
deep as soon us the weather i* warm. 
if. /’., Sturgis, Mich. —Is the firm of IV. 
Atlee Burpee & Co., of Philadelphia, who 
praise the Welcome oats so highly, trustworthy 
and how about the wonderful oats ? 
Ans.—T he firm enjoys an excellent reputa¬ 
tion. The oats are handsome in appearance. 
Further we know not. We shall tost them. 
Chataugua, Brodon, .V. F.—Which form of 
jKitash Mould Ire the cheapest substitute for 
wood ashes? The price? 
Ans- -High-grade muriate of potash, which 
has 50 per cent of actual potash and costs much 
less than commercial potashes. The muriate 
sells for about 8 % or 2-., cento per pound. 
C. L. H., Mention, Mich.— Will the flower 
seeds collected last Kail and left iu a box in the 
wood-house all Winter lie injured by the 
frost ? 
Ans.— if kept dry, cold weather will not. 
harm them. We cuuuot answ er the second 
question. 
.7. F. E ., New Boston , Mich .— 1. Is W. Parry, 
of Parry P. O., N. J., reliable? 
Ans.—Y es, certainly’. Doesn’t lie advertise 
iu the Rural? Full information about tree 
planting will uppeur in the ‘‘Forestry” ar¬ 
ticles in the Rural. There you will And 
answers to all your questions on that topic. 
IF. B. 77., Granville, Ohio— The Rural 
wheat comes in two packages; should it be 
sown iu Spring or Fall? 
Ans.—T here should be two small packets of 
the wheat. Try it this Spring, as you say. 
G. II., Amprior, Canada .—Where can siu- 
gle dahlias be obtained ? 
Ans.—M any of the catalogues noticed in 
the R. N-Y. offer those dahlias—generally 
among the novelties. 
./. K., Springfield, Neb. —How should catalpa 
seed Ire planted? 
Ans.—S ee Dr. Warder’s article on Forestry 
in next, week’s Rural, for full instructions. 
IF. J. .S'., Hickory, N. C .— Where can the 
Aylesbury and Rouen ducks be obtained? 
Ans.— W. Alice Burpee & Go., Philadelphia. 
-- 
Communications Received fob tiik week Ending 
Saturday, March 10: 
F, D. C. R. C.-H.-H. B.-F. B.-E. E. S.-H. 5.- 
II. N. <1. F. I>. C.—B. W. M., there ure dUTereul varie¬ 
ties or strains of Shoe-peg as of other corn,—A. IL— 
H. & 8.—E. W.—H. S. I)., thanks. Our friends must 
beleuleut with us Jusl now. G. S, N, T. I MeF..—W. 
K. II. F. R. 0. IT. C.— S. M. II. O,, pni.v do not hold 
the Ri kal responsible for the statements of the corn 
prize-taker*. T. T. D. A. W.—J. W. II.—C. D.—F. I>. 
(V—W. Y. II.. thunks.-A. C. H.-C. J. H.-D. J. S.-T. 
H. H.-il. T. T. L. G.-H. Millard. 4J griilliH are Kent 
in every euvelope.- A I. A. K. N I). F. II. H. M. N. 
C.-N. M. H. R. G.-H. E. a.~W. M. M.—Q, M. S.—A 
K.-.I. K—J. 0.—K. A, B. B. C. U K. O. Mumford. 
thunks.—W. H. L—K. F. T, - II. K. S. G. W. W. E. H . 
P.-S. T. K. -C. H. 8. J. G.-R, U. (i. \V. t M. N. C. 
A. L. J.-A. M. \V, E. M, A.-H. C. It. -s. I*. \V.- W. O. 
W. L.-F. H. J. J. J. P. T., thunk*. -J. J. D.-H.S.— 
F. J.-F.. N.—I. R. W. W.-T. A. G. B. C It. S„ Ma¬ 
ple Lodge, thunk*. M. It. B, D. It. ORkwn, thanks.- 
K. Spencer, corn received. Thank ,vuii. T. M. I’.. 
Right you ure. -R. W. F -A. C.-A. B. G. .1. C, II. R. 
8.—M.R. .1. H.—W. S.—.1. K. J. N. V. .1. (t B.—J. M. 
M. S. II. II. —J. C.-J. V. L. -A. I. A A. P. II. N. *1. S., 
we an* just nt present very arowtlcd,—Ifioucer. we 
ure obliged for the article, lint have uo spuce nl 
pre.scut. W. ,1. S. Mr*. E. F. A.. Urlmna, K'uus., nun ii 
obliged. We Khali place It among tin* set-log H. E 
8.— N. M. -J. T.—J. L. V. M.-C. A. G. M. 0 0. S.- 
P. B.—C. 0. E. K. 
