paign Sugar Works, Illinois, show that “the 
melada obtained from the Amber-cane is billy 
as rich in sugar as that obtained from the 
Orange-cane. The yield of sugar and molass¬ 
es will be lower for some fields of Amber, but 
for others it will be fully as high, and iu a few 
cases perhaps higher.” So say Professors 
Weber and Scovell. Commissioner Loriug, 
however, said that at. the Agricultural Depart, 
ment the Orange-cane turned out rather better 
than the Amlior, being richer in juice, which 
gave an average test of 18 Baunte. At the late 
meeting of the Mississippi Valley Cane- 
growers’ Association, it was the general 
opinion that Orange-cane was considerably 
more productive than Early Amber. Presi¬ 
dent Colman said that the Orange would yield 
83 A b ' per cent, more per acre, and no one con 
troverted the statement. Early Amber ma- 
tures sooner than Orange. At the Champaign 
Works last year the average time of maturing 
the two varieties was; Early Amber planted 
early in the season, 140 days; planted late, 115 
days. Early Orange, plauted early. 177 days; 
planted late, 158 days, The- previous year was 
far more favorable to sorghum growth, and 
then Early Amber matured in loo days and 
Early Orange in 125 days. Both kiuds, with 
others, are usually grown, where they will ma¬ 
ture, for the sake of a succession of crops in 
the best style for sugar or sirup making, iu ol ¬ 
der to lengthen out the working season as long 
as possible. Both sorts have beou grown prof¬ 
itably for sirup ns far north as Detroit, hut as 
the cane must be fully matured, or very nearly 
so, for the best results iu sugar making, the 
slow maturity of the Early Orange may be an 
objection. Much will depend on the season 
and soil, however, as all varieties of sorghum 
mature earlier in a dry, warm season than in 
a wet, cold one; and on a dark soil than on a 
light-colored one. 
LEATHER AS A FERTILIZER. 
C. P. L., E. Pepperell, Mass., wants to know 
about the value of leather dustings as a fer¬ 
tilizer. 
Ans. —Leather is valuable only for its nitro¬ 
gen, which must be available to be of any 
practical benefit. When leather scraps are 
roasted and ground, and the powder is added 
to a fertilizer, analysis will show some nitro¬ 
gen. but this nitrogen w ill not show itself any¬ 
where else but iu the analysis. It old leather 
is treated w ith lime and made into a compos! 
with hot stable manure and soil or wood 
ashes, it can be somewhat decomposed, and so 
may Ik* made of some use. One ton of leather 
clippings contains about 250 pounds of nitro¬ 
gen, worth, in an available form such as 
uitrates, 36 cents a pound, or *05 in all. The 
trouble is that tanning makes the gelatine of 
the skin, which contains the nitrogen, insoluble 
and it is very difficult to decompose it. No 
means yet devised for rendering the nitrogen 
in leather available for plant food has made 
the product more valuable as a fertilizer than 
ordinary peat; but its action is more lasting. 
FEEDING FLAX-SEED, ETC. 
F. P. .1/., Audubon. la. — 1. How should 
flax-seed be fed to a horse ? 2. What is a 
remedy for mange iu horses ? 2. is it safe to 
administer sulphur iu Winter, owing to the 
liability to cold ? 
Ans. —1. An excellent way to feed flax-.seed 
or oilcake meal is to steep it in water aud 
soften it. It then acts favorably on the diges¬ 
tive organs, and is more easily digested by an 
animal that is not in good health. In this 
way a horse may have a quart once or twice a 
week with benefit. When the seed is fed 
whole a pint or a quart may be given with the 
corn or other grain. It lias the effect of 
loosening the bowels, softening the skin, aud 
assisting in the shedding of the coat. 2. A sab; 
remedy for mange is the following mixture: 
One pint of linseed oil. two ounces of sulphur 
well rubbed up iu the oil—a little oil at a time 
until all is mixed—aud one dram of creosote. 
Wash the skin with warm water and soap, aud 
then rub this mixture well into it. 3. Sulphur 
may be given in half-ounce doses daily if the 
horse is kept warm. A blanket should be kept 
on the horse while it is under t reatment. 
SAI.T ON WHEAT. 
(t. H. IK, Green field, III., wishes to know if 
salt sown in the Spring will advance the ripen¬ 
ing of wheat. 
Ans. —Salt is mostly used to make the other 
elements iu the soil mote available. This is 
especially true in sections where grain growing 
lias long been a prominent industry. Lack of 
salt is made apparent by the weakness of the 
straw aud the consequent falling down or 
lodging of the crop. When this occurs salt 
should be applied to the soil, in order to make 
the silica available. The effects usually at¬ 
tributed to salt sown on wheat are that it 
stiffens the straw, brightens the berry, tends 
to prevent rust, aud increases the yield about 
four or five bushels per acre. Near the seu- 
coast it is found to have little or no effect, 
probably because the air carries enough to the 
soil in such places. Spring is the right time to 
apply it., and the usual application is about 
live bushels per acre. 
EASTERN MARYLAND. 
T. .1.. Fa ulhland, Canada .—What sort of 
a country is the eastern part of Maryland, 
especially that around Federalsburgh? Is it 
good for farming and stock raising and how 
about fever and ague? 
Ans.— Federalsburgh is on the border of 
Dorchester and Caroline Counties on the Chop- 
tank River which flows into Chesapeake Bay. 
The surface of the peninsula between the 
Chesapeake and the Delaware is low and level. 
The soil is not naturally rich, but yields abuu- 
daut crops if manured. That of Caroline 
County is flat and sandy; that of Dorchester 
level aud partly marshy, with a sandy forma¬ 
tion in some places and a clayey iu others. 
Wheat, corn, oats, Irish aud sweet potatoes, 
butter and wool are produced iu both Counties, 
but neither is extra-favorable for the produc¬ 
tion of any of these; nor for stock raising, 
though there is a considerable number of stock 
in each. Along the Choptauk and the Bay, 
there is a good deal of low , swampy land which 
produces bilious level’s aud fever aud ague. 
VIRGINIA ADULT NORFOLK. 
./. &, Sumjahak. Mi<‘h. —What sort of a 
country for fruit-raisiug ami health-preserving 
is Virginia al>out Norfolk, for a man with 
weak lungs f 
Ans. —The soil of That section, like that of 
tl.e Virginia tidewater generally, is a light 
sandy loam capable of yielding large crops of 
traits ami garden produce; but much of it has 
been worn out., and the Use of manure, com¬ 
mercial fertilizers or of gypsum and marl 
both found iu large quantities in the State, is 
needed to restore the laud to a condition re¬ 
muneratively fertile. We would not advise 
anybody te buy land there, or indeed any¬ 
where else, without a thorough inspection of 
it. The country is all very little above the 
sea-level, aud although the climate is mild in 
Winter, still a region of greater elevation, 
one where the air is drier and rarer, would be 
better lor those troubled w ith w eak lungs. 
FODDER CROC FOR LATE STRING. 
(!. s. S., Middlebneijh. Pa. — What is the 
best fodder crop for cows in late Spring and 
early Hummer ? 
Ans.—T here is no better green tedder crop 
than corn, and au earft kind of sweet corn, 
or early Canada field corn for part of the crop, 
would produce forage for early use. As this 
ei’Op ripens no seed it does not exhaust the soil 
and the cultivation lielj<s tlie soil considerably^ 
lint it should not be south, but planted in drills 
about 30 inches apart aud three seeds to the 
foot, or even closer for curly sweet corn, and 
the crop should lie well cultivated. Corn 
sowed broadcast is a very poor fodder, and 
grows verv poorly, being too densely shaded. 
MlSCELLA NEOUS. 
II. //., Cadiz. Ohio .— I. Does the RtraL 
know anything of the Beauty Grape which 
Professor Husmann thinks •the most promis¬ 
ing” of all our varieties of Labrusea? 2, 
What about Early Ainber Sugar Cane ? 8. 
What is a good churn for farm use . 
Ans.—L. We know nothing of the Beauty 
Grape personally. Mr. Husmanu is good 
authority. According to him it is one of the 
seedlings of Jacob Rommel, a cross between 
the Delaware aud Maxatawuey—vigorous, 
healthy, a strong grower and productive. 
Ripens last week in August. Thin but rather 
tough skin, teuder pulp. Bunches even and 
attractive. Superior to Delaware in quality: 
and to Catawba in delicacy of flavor. Likely 
to make a fine, high-flavored wine. 2. Early 
Amber is the earliest of the Northern canes; 
but it, does not yield so well as the Early 
Orange, Kansas Orange, Link’s Hybrid and 
some other later kiuds. 3. All those adver¬ 
tised in t he Rural are good. 
M. C. B.. Packs Ferry. li es/ Va. — 1. What is 
a remedy for bitter rot in apples? 2. Is there 
a remedy for bog spavin? 
ANS.—1. This disease, which begins with a 
tiny brown spot, and gradually enlarges as it 
penetrates into the flesh, is not curable as far 
as we know, but being no doubt of a fungus 
ortgin, it seems that if sulphur could be applied 
upon the flirt, appearance of the disease it 
might prove a remedy. High culture, manure, 
lime in the soil and pruning are the best meth¬ 
ods by which to prevent, its advent. 2, Abso¬ 
lute rest is essential, with the use of a high- 
heeled shoe. Apply cold water or brandy and 
salt. If there is much inflammation reduce it 
by means of fomentations of water, and if 
there is pain let the fomentations be an infu¬ 
sion of hops. In later stages use tincture of 
arnica diluted with water. 
“ Harry,'' Toledo, Ohio —1. Having 75 acres 
—flu of them meadow—to plow in Spring will 
it “ pay" to buy a sulky plow ? 2. I am only 
two miles from market and can get plenty of 
manure ter the hauling; would a truck patch 
of five acres be likely to “pay” the first, year? 
ANS. —1. We are unwilling to advise as to 
sulky plows because we have not tried them. 
In economical fanning the question one has to 
ask himself is how can 1 render my work most 
effectual at the smallest cost? There is a fas¬ 
cination about new farm implements that 
sometimes induces people to buy them without 
a due consideration of the above. 2. If you can 
get all the manure you need gratis, good man¬ 
agement should insure a profit the first year. 
J. R ., Huntingdxm, Pa ,—1, How can whale- 
oil. whale-oil soap, and soft soap be combined 
to prevent borers from injuring fruit-trees ? 
2, How can soda ash be used as a manure f 
Ans. —1. Such a combination would be of no 
use. Whale-oil soap is sufficient alone; or soft 
soap made iu the usual way with whale-oil 
would answer the same purpose, 2, Soda ash 
is soda, as the term is generally used, that is, 
both are crude carbonate of soda. It is of no 
value as a fertilizer. If it is used at all it 
maybe spread upon the surface, but a more 
useful substitute would lie common salt, which 
is chloride of sodium, and is sometimes found 
of considerable use. 
“A Subscriber,"no address.-1. What uncom¬ 
mon sense ?” 2. How far from grape-vines 
should a trench for bones be dug? 3. How 
much salt should a sheep have per week? 4. 
How much and how often should a cow la* 
salted? 
I. “Common sense” is the best sort of sense 
—steady, practical, provident, prudent—just 
that sort of sense we trust you and all our 
other friends are blessed with. 2. They are 
of little use any way, because they decompose 
so slowly. They should be buried as near the 
vine as possible without harming the roots too 
much—say three feet, 3. A sheep may have 
a tcaapoonful of salt tw ice a week. 4. A con- 
way' have one ounce twice a week and a horse 
the same quantity. 
/. M. S., Jericho. Ky. -"Where can 1 get the 
cheapest Polled Angus bull? 
Ans.—W e cannot undertake to tell where 
especially cheap animals can be had. A poor 
animal got for breeding purposes is dear at 
any price. It is commonly thought cheap 
goods arc often picked up at auctions; and there 
will be one of 28 Angus cows and heifers and 18 
hulls at Dexter Park, Chicago, on April I; 
another of 145 iuqjorted Angus and Galloway 
cattle at. Riverview Park. Kansas City, Mo., 
on April II and 12, aud at the same plpee a 
third sale of 35 Angus cows aud 50 Angus 
yearling bulls on April 25. 20 and 27. Ander¬ 
son A Findlay, Lake Forest, Ill,, are the near¬ 
est to you among dealers iu Angus cattle of 
whom we know. 
J. S., Manly Junction, loiea. —1, How far 
apart must new varieties of corn be planted to 
prevent •'mixing?” 2. When and how should 
the Niagara Grape seeds be planted? 
Ans.— 1, Whether different varieties of com 
“mix” when growing in different fields de¬ 
pends iijkui the direction of the wind during 
the blooming period. Unless, however, they 
bloom at the same time they cannot mix at, 
all, even if growing side by side. If it is de¬ 
sired to prevent all reasonable Chances of mix¬ 
ing, the different kinds should be half-a-tnile 
off. For practical purposes a quarter of a mile 
apart will answer, 2, See page 1fl2 last week’s 
issue. 
.V. P., Birdseye, S, Y. —1, At what period 
ot" maturity should grapes l»e bagged.' 2. 
Should oiled muslin for hot-beds be thin, and 
how many coats of oil does it need? 3, Are 
Yellow Danvers the most profitable onions for 
t his section ? 4. Will the mulberry thrive here 
on gravelly soil as feed for silk-worms? 
Ans.— 1. As soon as the berries get as large 
as small peas. Some prefer to bag them earlier. 
2, It does not matter so long as it holds the 
oil. One coat for thick, two for thinner. 3. 
They will probably prove us profitable as any 
other. 4. We cannot advise anyone so far 
north to plant mulberries for silk-worm*. 
A. S. S., Greenville, Ala .—Are cotton-seed 
hulls worth $3.50 per ton, delivered, as a fer¬ 
tilizer for a market garden ? 
Ans. —Cotton-seed hulls are very rich in 
potash aud phosphoric acid— two of the three 
ingredients of a “complete" manure. Ac¬ 
cording to the analysis of Prof. Goessmann 
the ash of the hulls contains 83.72 per cent, of 
potash and 7.88 per cent, of phosphoric acid, 
while ordinary wood-ashes give only 10 per 
cent, of potash and (JL per cent, of phospbonc 
acid. We should certainly think cotton-seed 
hulls a cheap fertilizer at the above price. 
S. G., Terre Haute, bid.—-1, How has the 
Rural produced the best yield of potatoes? 
2. Which is the best crab apple for cider ? 
Ans. —1. The best crop we have ever raised 
curne from pieces of two good eyes each, placed 
one foot upart iu drills three feet apart. Un¬ 
less it might be the Early < )liio or other very 
low-growing kinds, we should plant more than 
six inches apart. 2. We should select Whit¬ 
ney’s Seedling Siberian. 
.4. G ., Ontario , Canada. —1, What should he 
done with a lot of Concord, Delaware and Isa¬ 
bella grape-vines that have been entirely 
neglected for half-a-dozen years? 2, Would it 
injure an Osage Orange hedge, 10 to 12 feet 
high, to < ut it down to five feet? 
Ans.— 1. Cut out the old wood severely. 
Encourage only new canes this season. 2. We 
should not be afraid to risk it, 
A '‘Reader," Chester, Conn .—Arc potatoes 
male aud female ? If not, how are they 
ferial ized ? 
Ans,—Y es; each flower is male and female. 
The stamens are called the male and the pistil 
the female organs. In some plants the 
stamens are in one set of flowers, the pistils in 
another, as Indian com, the castor-oil plant, 
melons and many trees. In many plants the 
male flowers are upon one plant, the females 
upon another, so that the two must be planted 
near each other or the female will not bear 
fruit. Many kinds of strawberries, willows, 
etc., are of this class. 
A, R., Elba., X. Y .—1, Where can Wansha- 
kiuu Corn he bought at farmers' prices? 2, 
What sort of coin is Sibley’s Frideof the North ? 
Ans. —1. It’s in the hands of seedsmen for the 
coming season, and those who want it must 
pay their prices, 2. It is an early yellow dent, 
averaging 10 rows. 
C. 17, C., North Ci eek, X. V .—Can the Chan¬ 
nel Can Creamery lie used with good results 
without ice, and is it as good as other deep¬ 
setting creameries ? 
Ans. —Any deep can may bo used without 
ice. if there is an adequate supply of cold 
water. The Channel Milk Can. because of its 
peculiar construction, cools the milk more 
quickly than an ordinary deep pail, and this is 
certainly an advantage. In other respects it 
is considered equal in every way to any other 
deep-setting apparatus. 
E. .1. B., Spartanslm ry, l\t. —Where can the 
Houheguu Raspberry be obtained by the 1,008 
at the most reasonable rates'? 
Ans. —This Bhick-cap is now offered by all 
nurserymen. It was introduced by the Hales 
Bros., of Glastonbury, Conn. Whether they 
can offer better terms than others can he ascer¬ 
tained only by inquiry. 
R. E. I’.. Elm tiiinf. III .—Where can I get 
a work entitled “The Human Voice as au In¬ 
strument?” 
ANS.—We do not know the publishers of 
this work. There is a book on the “Throat 
and Voice.” by J . S. Cohen, M. D.; pub¬ 
lished by Lindsay iN Blakiston, Philadelphia. 
Price, 5ii cents. 
Messonla Co., M. T —Of whom can we pur¬ 
chase Rural Branching Sorghum? 
\ns. —Our friends make a great mistake iu 
not sending for and reading the catalogues 
announced editorially or in our advert ising col¬ 
umns. The Rural Branching Sorghum is non 
offered by at least a dozen seedsmen. 
G. G. Woodville, Pa .—How can 1 get 
the report of the Kansas State Board of Ag¬ 
riculture for 1832-’*3 ? 
Ans.- Write to F. D. Coburn, Secretary of 
the Board, at Topeka, Kans. We do not think 
it has licen published yet. 
L). M. V. S., I‘once de Lean, Mo .—Where can 
1 get the new bluck currant. Black Champion, 
mentioned in the Rural of Jan. 27th? 
Ans.—I t. is advertised by B. K. Bliss & Sons, 
37 Barclay Street, N. Y, 
./. Hire Earth City, Minn. —How much 
did the heu-bouse spoken of in the Rural of 
Feb. 17th cost? 
Ans.—W e must ask “ D. D." the writer of 
the communication, to answer. 
F. L. R ., Belleville, Mieh .—How can 1 prop¬ 
agate the Syriuga or Mock Orange? 
Ans. —It is propagated by trackers which are 
thrown up in abundance, or by cut tings. 
A. /?.. Jersey City, A. J .—Name a largo 
nursery in France likely to keep a variety of 
European grapes and other fruit. 
Axs.—D. Dauvesso, Orleans. France. 
77. S. M., Kenton, O .—Where is the Drain¬ 
age mul Tile Farm Journal published? 
Ans. —Indianapolis,Ind.; monthly;subscrip¬ 
tion, $1 a year. 
C. II., Enter Hue, I\t. —Is Josiah Hawkins of 
Southport, Conn., a reliable party ? 
Ans.—Y es, as far as we know. 
E, II., Moore's Mills, A. 1.—Y\ here can I 
get the Niagara Grape? 
Ans. —It is not offered for sale yet. 
II. R. S,, Yorkville, Canada .—Brownell’s 
Beauty and Brownell’s Best are different varie¬ 
ties of potatoes. 
Inquirers for WaUshakutn and Rural Thor¬ 
oughbred Flint Com, Welcome Oats, etc.,are re¬ 
spectfully referred to our advertising columns. 
-- 
CoMMCJOi vnotw Received kok tiik week exdinu 
S.\TiTiti)XY, March 17: 
V. C. L., seed corn received—IT. K. K.—W. F. H. K 
I), c. E. W.—D. K. t.. 0. W. I,., they are many n ole 
traps In use of that kiml-O. K. F.—0. H. F. We are 
thankful to our readers for short, pructleal notes. 
Wo cannot use long articles at present W. 11. M.— 
W. G,, thanks .1. M. J.-W.G. II., thunk you for live 
Kpocltneu at corn—A. V. a. s. ,j. f. t. m w. D. 
F. —Y. A E.— O, A.—r. II. II.-Aunt Phoebe -C. II. C. 
s. li. 1\, thanks—N. u.—l*. F.. L.—J. W, K.—D. K. H. A. 
J.-Q.W. 8. -II. O.D.—H.T. V.-D. W. A.-J. C. B.-G. 
M. D.-O. F. V. 3. W. H.-P. O. Jr. J. M. S.-W. A. It 
m. 0. it- it W t . thanks J. W, H W. J. B. W 
E. M., thank* for corn W. D. II.— W. A. H. J. M. V\ 
j. r. Mrs. E. G. S., thanks 0. <'. C.~J. A. 8. K. H. 
G. E. M.-H. U. W.-C. H. S.—A. L. 8. .1, M.S.-W. A. 
U.-W. A. H. A. A. R.-A. 8.- W. ft J. M.. thanks for 
beans- H. as., corn received s. IL lb, thanks C. H. 
S.-A. L. C.-A. .1. C.-Mrs. It. 8. w. G. T. K. W. It. 
N. A, l> H., beans received S. S. F 8. C. .1. .1. >!• 
