each fish. It is not advisable to keep other fish 
with them in the same tank. These fish re¬ 
quire feeding only once in three or four days, 
and then only n very little food, such as crack¬ 
er, lettuce, flies, and a little chopped egg, but 
no more should be given than is eaten up elean; 
if any is left it must be removed by drawing 
it, with the water near it, into a large syringe. 
Some stones and clean crave! should be put in 
the tank for the fish to rub and cleanse them¬ 
selves upon. Gold fish are a species of carp, 
and will thrive in any pond with muddy bottom; 
they hibernate in the mud and do not feed in 
the Winter. 
DUCKS DIB FROM A CHILL. 
E. W ., Brooklyn , N, Y .—A friend had a 
fine flock of ducks last year, and having no 
pond she made one and let the water from the 
well run to it. The ducks soon became lame 
and one after another died. Why i 
A ns. —The trouble was a chill , producing 
cramps at first in the extremities afterwards in 
the vital parts. Cause—the birds had been so 
long unaccustomed to water for swimming that 
their plumage was uot in fit condition for the in¬ 
dulgence. There is all the difference of the con¬ 
dition of things in the feathering of water- 
fowl used to water and those of even the same 
nest but land-bred. In the fonner there is an 
excessive oily secretion, and with this the 
feathers are surface-dressed until they are al¬ 
most water-proof. The down of the under- 
feathering, that is, the padding between the 
surface webbing and the skin, is thick,compact 
and almost impervious to water. We say al¬ 
most , because even a duck in condition can be 
drowned by its plumage becoming "water¬ 
logged.” In the laud-bred bird the webbing is 
weaker and thinner, the down is more scanty j 
and is easily wet through, the skin surface is 
drier and the excretion of the oil glands is com¬ 
paratively scant. The former could swim in 
ice-cold water at any season without discom¬ 
fort or harm, as uo part of the body surface is 
touched by the water, and the feather's are so 
protected by the oily dressing they are not even 
damp. With, the latter the moisture, whether 
the water was sun-warmed or fresh and cold 
from the depths of a well, would penetrate to 
the skin, and the plumage not being prepared to 
shed water would remain damp and a chill and 
cramps would follow. It is easy to know the 
swimmer from the land-bred, even in dressed 
birds. The skin of the fonner is more oily, the 
flesh is darker and has also a more gamey flavor 
the result of the bird’s raugi ng and omniverous 
habits. The laud-bred bird is, however, more 
easily reared, matures earlier, is larger, and its ' 
eggs, in being free from the rank taste so many 
find ob jectionable, are preferable as food. 
HUSK OB HOOSE IN CALVES. 
S. B, S., Union City, Fa,.— Thread-like white 
worms in the windpipe of some of my calves 
caused labored breathiug and coughing, which 
increased until death. On opening the dead 
animals the windpipe and lungs were largely j 
infested witli the worms. What is the proper 
remedy? 
Ans.— The trouble is due to the thread¬ 
worm—Strongylus micrums—or small-tailed 
strangle, which causes the disease known as 
husk, hooseor "worms in the throat and lungs.” 
This worn is found in all parts of the country 
and causes a good deal of loas among calves 
and yearlings. The mature female measures 
three inches in length, and the male half as 
much. Both sexes infest the bronchial tubes 
of young cattle, and their continual tickling 
motion causes the youug animal to be abnost 
continually boozing or coughing, by which 
means the digestive powers are so impaired as 
to render chewing the cud impracticable, and 
the affected animal languishes and pines away. 
The posts cause death by blocking up the air 
passages, as they gather in knots and masses 
surrounded by frothy mucus. Various unsuc¬ 
cessful remedies have been proposed for this 
pest, but the only truly effective one seems to 
be the inhalation of chlorine gas, made by dis¬ 
solving salt in sulphuric acid in a close room. 
Dr. Clatter says that in many instances whore 
calves have been so had with the complaint 
as to baffle the power of other medicines, the 
disease has instantly given way on their taking 
one tablespoonful of spirits of turpentine, 
without mixing it with anything. It may be 
repeated every third day for three times. 
SURFACE INDICATIONS OF OIL, ETC. 
" Subscriber," address m islaid. 1. When oil 
can be seen floating on streams of water, 
at certain parts of the year, and when 
rock from the surface of the ground will burn 
when put into a fire, is it any indication that 
oil in paying quantities is to lie found under 
the surface? 2. When different surveyors 
wera surveying on different parts of the sup¬ 
ped mineral lands their instruments would 
not work correctly, to wliut was the discrep¬ 
ancy due? 3. From whom can potato ball 
seed be obtained? 4. From whom cau the re- 
jx>rt of the Department of Agriculture be ob¬ 
tained and what is the cost ? 
Ans.— 1. The oily water and the inflammable 
rock are indications of the presence of a min¬ 
eral known as bituminous shale or other rock, 
but no indications of oil as a distinct deposit. 
Surface indications of oil are very rare. 2. Dis¬ 
turbance of the surveyor’s compass indicates 
some local magnetic attraction in the earth; 
generally this is due to the presence of mag¬ 
netic iron, either in the soil or in rock under 
it. The usual test for magnetic iron is the dip 
compass, but this is too delusive except for 
explorations, as rock itself may contain a 
small but practically worthless quantity of 
iron and yet attract the compass. It would 
not be wise to build hopes upon the deviations 
of a surveyor's compass aloue. 3. From B. K. 
Bliss & Sons, 3! Barclay street. New York. 
4. The rei>orts of the Department of Agricul¬ 
ture, like all other documents published by the 
Government, are distributed gratis. In all 
cases applications for copies must be made to 
the Congressman from the applicant’s district, 
or one of the Senators from his State. 
CHOICE FBUIT FOB THE “ COLD BELT.” 
J.C., North Bruce, Can. —1. What are the six 
best varieties of apple, pear and plum for an 
amateur who wants something extra-good2. 
What sort of a grape is the Croton? Does the 
vine resemble the Rebecca and will it thrive 
where the Delaware does? 
Ans. —1. Best six apples (for Canada), Early 
Joe, Peach of Montreal, Fameuse, Grimes’s 
Golden, Wealthy. Canada Baldwin. Best six 
pears (for Canada), Clapp's Favorite, Onon¬ 
daga, Flemish Beauty . Fulton, St. Ghislain, 
Winter Nelis. Best six plums (for Canada) 
Lombard, MeLaugldm, Mooer's Arctic, Corse's 
Nota Bene, Blue and Yellow Orleans. The va¬ 
rieties italicized are for the colder localities. 
In the southern part of Ontario tenderer sorts 
than auy named may be grown, and for that 
section the Baldwin apple, the Bartlett pear 
and the Jefferson plum may be recommended. 
Other, and possibly better, selections might lie 
made. It, is a good plan to consult local gl ow- 
el's and nurserymen before deciding. The 
Orleans plums named are extensively grown 
near Quebec, but are, perhaps, uot for sale by 
nurserymen. They are firm, but well-flavored 
cooking varieties, aud the trees are very hardy. 
2. The Croton Grape is a cross between a for¬ 
eign variety (Chasselas) and the Delaware. It 
is a fine grape, of small size and pale-green 
color, but the vine is not reliable, and is not 
found to be very successful in Canada, though 
au early sort, It is grown with some success 
by H. S. Lomas, Point St. Charles, Quebec. 
Both Croton and Rebecca are what is called 
“white” grapes; but they are quite distinct 
both in vine and fruit. 3. Yes, but is much 
more subject to mildew. 
STEAMING MANURE. “PROUD” FLESH. 
W. E .,/., Berkeley Heights, N. J. —1, Should 
a heap of steaming manure he turned over, 
aud how often! 2, How cau ‘proud” flesh be 
recognized in a wound on a horse? 
Ans. —1. When manure is steaming it is very 
hot and will soon beeomedry; then it “fire- 
fangs” or burns and turns white aud loses its 
most valuable portion of fertilizing matter. 
This is prevented by turning it over occasion¬ 
ally and trampling it down closely to exclude 
the air. All that needs to be avoided is, to 
prevent this dry rot or slow combustion. 2. 
Proud flesh consists of red, angry-looking, 
projecting growths from the surface of a 
wound. A healthy growth is always accom¬ 
panied by a secretion of creamy matter called 
pus, which serves to protect the raw surface 
from the air, This raw surface consists of 
granulations or grains or fibers of new flesh 
which gradually fill up the opening and dose 
the wound when skin forms under the dried 
pus which becomes a scab. When this healthy 
growth does not occur, very often proud flesh 
appears and healiug is arrested. This is cured 
by applications of caustics, os nitrate of silver, 
sulphate of copper or chloride of zinc; or by 
stimulants, as tincture of benzoin or of myrrh 
of turpentine, and then the wound takes on a 
healthy character again and goes on healing. 
It is always well to apply tincture of benzoiu 
to a wouud to forward the healing. 
STOCK QUERIES, ETC. 
D. R. L ., KelloggsviUe, N. Y. —1, A good 
plan of a sheep rack? 2, The best feed for 
sheep for milk production? 3, The best breed 
for this seetiou? 4, Will a goat running with 
sheep protect the latter from dogs. 5, Which 
is the best “phosphate” for potatoes, aud how 
should it be applied? 0, Which are the more 
profitable—sheep or cows? 7, What part of the 
West is best suited to general farming, and 
how much is land there worth per acre? 8, 
Will it pay to spread straw on grass seeded 
lost year. 
Ans. —1. An illustration and description of 
a good sheep rack was given a few weeks ago. 
2. Brau and coin meal in equal pints and one 
pint a day for each ewe. 3. There is no better 
than the ordinwy native grade ewe. 4. Dogs 
will attack goats as soon as they will sheep. 
That they will not is a popular delusion. 5. 
There is but one kind of “phosphate” so called, 
aud that is supei-phosphate of lime; a handful 
dropped in the hill is an excellent way of 
applying it. 6. One is as profitable as the 
othei under favorable circumstances. It is 
not a question of profit but of fitness of the 
land and its circumstances for either kind of 
stock. 7. Kansas or Nebraska are desirable 
States for general farming. Land is from 
$1,50 to $20 per acre. There are some vacant 
homestead lands. 8. No. 
RINGWORM IN CATTLE, ETC'. 
A. S ., Burlington. N. Y. —1, For the past 
few Winters my dairy cows have been troubled 
with a disease which makes its appearance 
round the eyes and on the shoulders. In places 
the skin is covered with wart-like scales, caus¬ 
ing a severe itching. 1 have used sulphur and 
saltpeter, quite freely without any beneficial 
effect, what is the ailment and how should it 
lie treated? 2, When is the best time to cut 
willows in order to kill them? 
Ans. —1. How have you used sulphur and 
saltpeter? That makes a great difference. 
Saltpeter is a dangerous medicine and should 
be used only when absolutely required and 
with judgment and knowledge on account of 
its action upon the kidneys, winch may easity 
be injurious. The disease, which is the 
common ringworm and a parasitic and con¬ 
tagious disorder, treat as follows: mix one 
pint of sweet Oil or fresh lard, with one-fourth 
part of kerosene oil and one drachm of car¬ 
bolic acid, sponge the parts with warm water 
and soap, wipe them dry and immediately rub 
in some of the mixture upon aud around the 
diseased spots. Take care that it does not get 
into the eye. 2. Willows cannot be killed by 
the mere cutting- of the roots. If grubbed in 
July or August there will be an end of them. 
GREEN MANURING; “MIXED” FARMING, ETC. 
J. U. H., Hanover, Mich .—1. Will it pay to 
sow buckwheat as a green manure crop on 
sandy soil, to be plowed under in August to 
prepare for wheat ? What amount should be 
sownrper acre, and when ? 2. What system 
of farming would be most profitable ou a 
sandy farm quite subject to early frosts, situ¬ 
ated three miles from railroad station, 18 
miles from city of 20,000, 00 from Toledo, and 
00 from Detroit ? 3. Can fruit-growing be 
successfully followed at that distance from 
markets ? 
Ans. —1. Buckwheat is a poor crop for green 
manuring; Red Clover is much better. Till 
the land acquires a good condition, sow clover 
every three or four years. Mow one year and 
pasture one; then try some other crop one year 
and soon go l>aek to clover. On the whole, it 
is more profitable to feed the clover than to 
plow it under. In feeding all the roots re¬ 
main in the ground aud animals only retain a 
small part of the nutriment they eat. 2. So 
much dopends on the taste and the capability 
of the man that advice is hazardous. As a 
general rule, mixed farming is the safest and 
most, profitable for several good reasons. 3. 
To gam information on the fruit question 
write to the Hon. C. W, Garfield of Grand 
Rapids, Secretary of the State Horticultural 
Society of Michigan. Inclose SI for the last 
Horticultural Report. Many in similar locali¬ 
ties succeed with fruit. 
DAM AND COLTS. 
N. M., Rolling Stone, Minn ,—Three of 
my colts in succession died when about a 
week old. Two of them were so weak in the 
legs that they never walked except on their 
knees. When about three days old they began 
to scour, refused to suck, and died in a day or 
two. The third, from another mare, was run¬ 
ning around briskly, but began to scorn- on the 
fourth day and died on the sixth. What was 
the ailment, uud what would have saved them? 
Ans. —Something was wrong with the mare; 
precisely what it was no one can tell without 
knowing how she was treated. When a colt 
is too weak to suck without help it should be 
assisted. Diarrhea in a sucking animal is 
caused by some disorder in the dam which in¬ 
jures the quality of the milk. A brood mare 
should lie very carefully treated before the 
eolt. is bora and afterwards, especially ns re¬ 
gards the food and water. When the young 
creature is scoured we would give the dam 
oatmeal or linseed gruel, well boiled, aud ouo 
ounce of carbonate of soda in it, which would 
tend to remove any acidity of the milk; but 
it is difficult to advise, knowing so little of 
the case. 
WOOD ASHES. 
C. S. C., Sweetsl/urg, Can ,—1 can pick up 
about 500 bushels of unleached hard-wood 
ashes, within a radius of three miles, at 10 
cents a bushels; how should they be applied 
with potatoes and os a top-dressing to grass. 
Ans. —The opportunity is one that occurs to 
few. We should sjiread the ashes broadcast, and 
alsoin the hill. Would drop the Seed pieces first, 
then lightly cover, then scatter the ashes over 
them. We should not. scatter the ashes on the 
snow or while the ground is frozen, unless it 
is a dead level. It will be a long while 
before anybody can convince ns tiiat spread¬ 
ing manure of any kind on hilly, frozen 
ground will serve as well as spreading it 
when the rains can carry it dii-eetly and 
uniformally into the soil. During every 
Winter season we see upon the farms about us 
streams of running water, darkly colored from 
washing the manure. Ashes are a spleudid 
fertilizer for meadows or for any farm crops. 
We should “pick up” the 500 bushels at the 
price named, and a thousand more if possible, 
and use at the rate of not less than 50 bushels 
to the acre. 
NO GRAIN FOR A MONTH BEFORE CALVING. 
.1. Benton Harbor, Mich. — A late Rural 
says in “Querist,” " Give no grain food what¬ 
ever to a cow for four weeks before calving.” 
Would bran and shorts be injurious to a heifer 
giving four quarts a day now—about a month 
before calving ? She is a fine half Jersey 
three-year-old. Her mother, ten }-ears old, 
made 2}., pounds of butter a day, aud my 
heifer is likely to suipass her. 
Ans. —A cow of tins kind should be dried 
off at least a month before calving and one 
way to do this is to stop giving any kind of 
grain food. Nearly every case of garget or 
inflammation in newly calved cows may be 
traced to overfeeding before they come in, 
Therefore as a means of safety we repeat, give 
uo grain food whatever to a cow for a month 
before she comes in; and especially to a large or 
a rich milker. The writer has practiced this 
for many yeai-s, and has never yet lost a calf 
or had a case of garget or any othei* trouble 
with a calving cow, aud attributes the ex¬ 
emption to the previous care exercised. “It 
is always better to be safe than son-y.” 
BOKHARA CLOVER. 
,7. 77., Pontiac, Mich. —1. Can Bokhara Clover 
(Melilotus alba) be sown on winter wheat this 
Spring ? When should it be sown with oats or 
barley ? What other sort, of grass would be 
best for mixing with it? Does it make good 
hay, aud when should it be cut? What sort of 
pasture does it make? Is it hardy? Will Blue 
Grass make a good pasture for hogs? 
Ans. —Your idea of Bokhara Clover is a much 
mistaken one; it is not a grass, nor even a clo¬ 
ver, but a trifoliate plant with woody stems 
and branches and coarse, unpalatable foliage, 
with a disagreeable flavor which no cow that 
we have tried will have anything to do with. 
It is a roadside weed with a fragrant blossom, 
sought by ix'cs, and we would not advise any 
one to waste time with it, except, possibly, for 
bee pasture. It will not make hay, uor stock 
pasture. Like all weeds it is very hardy, ami 
sows itself year after year. Orchard Grass is, 
we think, the best of all pasture grasses for all 
sorts of animals. 
EXTRA-GOOD BLACK INK. 
.7. B., Vermilion, D. T. —What is a recipe 
for making good black iuk? 
Ans. —A cheap, clear ink, well adapted to 
steel pens, is that known as Runge’s ink. It is 
prepared by gradually adding one part of so¬ 
lution of chromate of potash to 1,000 parts of 
strong cold decoction of logwood, 82 pounds 
of logwood boiled down with wuter to 14 gal¬ 
lons. The ink thus made is very black, aud is 
not affected with weak aciils, uor cau it be 
washed out with water. Booth’s recipe for a 
fine black ink is:—Aleppo galls, 18 pounds; 
sulphate of iron, four pounds; gum Arabic, 
8h; pounds; water, 18gallons, the braised galls 
to be exhausted by three successive boilings, 
each time with a l'educed quantity of water. 
The decoction is strained and, while warm, a 
solution of gum aud copperas, also warm, is to 
lx) added, aud the mixture is left for several 
weeks to deposit its sediment. The addition of 
a few drops of creosote will prevent moldiness. 
The above only gives the proportion of in¬ 
gredients. 
OIL MEAL FOR SHEEP. 
F. R., Orrville, Ohio.—I, Is “new process” 
oil-meal better for fattening sheep than old 
process meal, weight for weight ? 2, Will 
sheep fatten faster on corn and oil meal than 
on pure coni ? 
Ans. —1. New process linseed oil-meal has 
all the oil taken out of it while old process 
meal has 10 to 15 per cent left iu it. The 
latter is therefore a better food for fattening 
any kind of stock. 2. Corn is an excellent 
fattening food for sheep, but it woidd be 
economical to use u pouud of oil-meal to three 
pounds of coni, as the mixture is bettor digested 
than all coru would b \ because the oil-meal 
contaius a much larger quantity of nitroge¬ 
nous matter than the coru. The same reason 
applies to the use of roots along with corn, ns 
they supply elements not contained in the corn 
and which are required for making flesh or 
healthfully making fat. An article on fatten¬ 
ing sheep will soon appear in the Rural. 
YARD FOR 100 FOWLS, ETC. 
M. McK. —1. Will tamarack endure as long 
as hemlock as au underground water pipe? 2. 
What kind and size of yard would bo suited 
for 100 chickens, so that they cannot fly out, 
aud what feed and cure should they have to 
prove profitable? 
Ans. —1. Tamarack is a durable wood under¬ 
ground, especially for water pipes that are 
always wet. We cannot say whether it is 
more or less durable than hemlock, but it is 
certainly sufficiently good for the purpose. 2. 
