APRIL 7 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKEB, 
219 
;n moderately dry sand in a cool cellar, or 
simply laid on the floor and covered with 
straw or leaves. They should he sot out about 
the middle of April. Have your cuttings of 
three buds, made from last year's growth, the 
end to be inserted in the ground, cut off ob¬ 
liquely. Then dig a trench, into which you 
place the cuttings, reclining against the side 
of the trench iu an oblique position. Cover 
the cuttings, with the exception of the p ip bud. 
which should be exposed. The soil should be 
of a sandy nature. Mix it in the trench with 
manure thoroughly rotten and converted into 
a black mold. The cuttings should be placed 
from six to eight inches apart iu the row. 
RAISING ASPARAGUS. 
F., Fall Elver, Muss —1. How can I make an 
asparagus bed? 2. Is Barr's Mammoth better 
than Conover’s Colossal '? 8. What is the best 
kind to get’? 
Ans. — 1. Asparagus may be raised either 
from the seed or by root cuttings. For the 
garden it would be.best to buy two-year-old 
roots, which you can obtain from almost any 
market gardener. Thoroughly prepare the 
soil hv tilling and manuring. Asparagus 
needs warm, rich soil. Open a trench about 
one foot wide and seven inches deep, and in it 
place the roots in a natural position. Cover 
the crowns to a depth of one inch. With t In¬ 
growth of the plant hoe iu around the stalks 
until the surface of the trench is reached. 
Have the rows from 2}:. to four foot apart, 
according to the room you have to spare. For 
material to blanch tin- shoots, dry forest leaves 
answer very nicely if not allowed to blow 
around. In the Fall a heavy dressing of com¬ 
post may lx; applied between tho rows. The 
first year’s shoots should not lie disturbed until 
it is time to cut them down iu the Full. 2 
and 3. AYo cannot at present speak of the 
new varieties otfered. We are not fully sat¬ 
isfied that there is any material difference 
between them. 
COMPOST FOR COTTON. 
IF. /’.. White Co.. .1 rkansas —What home¬ 
made fertilizer would bo good this season for 
the cotton plant ? Would nstesin combination 
be advisable 1 
ANSWER BT PROF. J. M. M'BUYDK. OF S. ( . 
Home-made compost for cotton on land iu 
fair condition, i. e ., which contains some veg¬ 
etable matter: 
20 bushels cotton seed. 600 pounds. 
8 bushels ashes foak, etc.). loo “ 
Acid phosphate or dissolved hone. 400 
20 hush, well-rotted manure (or humus). 600 
2,000 " 
Use about-400 to 500 pounds per acre. If land 
is poor and deficient in vegetable matter, in¬ 
crease cotton seed and manure in proportion to 
others—say: 000 pounds cotton seed. 0O0 pounds 
manure. 800 pounds ashes, 200 pounds acid 
phosphate, and use 500 pounds per acre. If 
uo acid phosphate or dissolved bone is availa¬ 
ble, ashes can be substituted. Ashes in such 
compost would bo valuable; they hasten the 
decomposition of the vegetable matter. Oak 
ashes contain about 10 ]>or cent, of potash. 
Kainit, which is now so popular in many 
parts of the South, contains from 11 to 14 per 
cent, of potash. 
WATER-PROOF PASTE. 
./. M. K., iio address .—What is a good re¬ 
cipe for making a water-proof paste for bags 
to be put on grapes,' 
A Ns,—A water-proof paste is made as follows: 
mix rye flour to a thin cream with water and 
boil it to a paste; add an equal quantity 
of common glue reduced with water so as to 
make a thin jelly when cold. Make this hot 
and mix It thoroughly with the hot paste; then 
stir in it one ounce each of linseed oil, luviteu- 
tine and common varnish to the poundof glue. 
The reason why grocers* Imgs resist moisture is 
the toughness of the paper rather than the 
paste used; this is made of rye Hour paste to 
which gall mint in dissolved in cold water is 
added. 
MTSCKl.tjA NEOUS. 
• f. C. B., Glendale, X. Y. — 1. Can gooseber¬ 
ries be pruned in Spring without injury ? 2. 
What varieties of gooseberries are best for 
market, and about, what price do they bring 
per quart? 8. fs the climate as warm at lati¬ 
tude 44 < \ New York, as it is at the same paral¬ 
lel in Michigan, Wisconsin and Dakota? 4. 
What varieties of mulberries are valuable lei 
fruit? 5. Are filberts, chestnuts aud walnuts 
hardy cuough for this latitude? ti. Is any va¬ 
riety of poaches hanh here? 1, Would it be 
profitable to keep hog manure, hon-droppiugs 
and unkmched ashes together iu a pile until 
wanted for use? s. How much more valuable 
is manure kept in doors than that kept out-of- 
doors subject to storms? 0. How should gruel 
be made for Spring calves? 
A NS.—1. Yes. 2. Houghton Seedling is the 
leading market- variety. The American Seed¬ 
ling is similar, but redder w hen ripe. The 
Mountain S codling is larger, but not so pro 
lifie. Downing’s Seedling is of line quality 
for eat ing when ripe, and the same is true of 
Smith's Seedling. Neither of the last two 
takes any color in ripening. The price varies 
greatly in different markets, but runs from 
bight to 15 cents per quart usually. 8. Not as 
w arm as iu Michigan; about the same as iu 
Wisconsin ami Dakota. The last two States 
have a drier climate than Northern New York. 
4. All have edible fruit. Downing’s is per¬ 
haps the best, but it is not so hardy as some 
others, and would hardly succeed iu Lewis 
County. There is a hard}- “Russian” variety, 
the fruit of which is said to he very good. 5. 
No. not to succeed well, though probably the 
trees will live aud grow in favorable places, 
and perhaps bear. 0. Try Hill’s Chili. This 
is the hardiest variety. The peach will rarely 
fruit after the buds have been subjected to 20“ 
below zero. 7. A bad mixture unless a liberal 
proportion of loam or muck is used. As we 
have said a dozen times, the ashes will liberate 
the ammonia in the hen manure. 8. A good 
deal, especially if the latter is exposed to leach¬ 
ing by water from a roof. Rain alone will not 
leach a moderately large pile; but manure 
constantly loses value however kept. o. • It 
should be made of coarse wheat Hour (“caned") 
and water, well boiled, and rather thick. Then 
reduce it w ith milk, adding a little salt, and 
feed to the calves blood-warm. 
S'. F. A".. Cadiz, Ohio. —I am arranging to 
put out 2,000 strawberry plants this Spring, iu 
hopes they will afford enough plants for an 
acre next Fall. If the conditions are favorable 
w ill they be able to produce 10.000 to 15,000 
plants ? 
Ans. —Some Varieties sucker far more freely 
than others. Of course, the production of new 
plants could bo greatly multiplied by bringing 
the runners iu contact with the soil by cover¬ 
ing them with -oil or placing blocks of wood 
or stones upon them. Left to themselves, we 
should say that the 2.000 plants w ould produce 
10.(8HI iu one season. 
E. C., Snyder, Yorkshire Center , .V. Y .— 
Where is there a good herd of milking short¬ 
horns? 
Ans.—I n New York State good herds of 
milking short-horns are owned by C4. \Y. 
Hoffman, Elmira; Jonathan Talcott, Rome: 
Ronj. Fellows, Clifton; B. C. Rumsey, But 
l'alo; Al. R. Ritter. Waterloo; Daniel Monroe, 
Elbridge: Thomas Andrews, Geddes, etc. 
G. C,, Elizabethtown, X. J .—If Northern 
corn is planted two or three degrees furt her 
south, does it. on that account, become more 
prolific.' 
Ans. —AA'e do not think that any Northern 
corn will prove more prolific for being planted 
South. The tendency is to change flints to 
dents and rice rersn , as the variety gix-s south 
or comes north. 
R. X. D., Brickvilte. X. Y .—1. Which is the 
bettor layer—the Black Hamburgh or- the 
Black Spanish? 
Ans. —Of the two we prefer Black Ham¬ 
burgh. For layers alone they are scarcely ex¬ 
celled. 
J. K.. Welts, la. —Will two varieties of on. 
ions planted for seed near each other, “mix"? 
Ans.—I f they flower at the same time, they 
are very liable to mix under such conditions. 
Flies aud some other insects visit the flowers 
freely. 
.7. S., Warrior's Mark, Pa .—All the best 
remedies for the cabbage worm were given in 
the Rural of March 17, in the article on Cab¬ 
bages. We must refer to this article all in 
quirers about such remedies. 
J. X. U., Lowell, AT«ms.—W here can I get 
seeds of the Eucalyptus globulus? 
Ans.— It w ill uot stand your climate. Sev¬ 
eral of the catalogues announced in mu adver- 
i Using columns offer it. 
L. P. S.—Bag the grapes when of the size of 
small peas. We do not know about the apples. 
G. E. T., La fa rye, IUis, — A friend recom¬ 
mends me to plow com st-uhble in the Spring 
with a common shovel plow and sow to oats as 
some put in Winter wheat. 1 would like to 
hear from Rural readers their opinions of the 
matter. 
Communications Rkckivkd kor thk vvkkk Ending 
Saturday, Marchitt: 
F. 1L L. J. T.—C. W. O.-T. H. Ct-W. R. H.-K. L. 
I F.— CL L. M , thunks for seed—P. M.—A. B A.—V. K. 
K. J. T. ,V. J. K. H.-A. N. H. —D. M.-I. J. K.-E. D.— 
.1. H. S. K. U. L. F. \V. It. IL—T. II. J. O. AV.-H. 
F. - V. Timmerman, thanks for a line our of corn- P. 
K. W. M., thanks—Mrs. I,. H. N., thanks-H. R.S.-S.C. 
Mrs. N. K. 0.- W. C.- W. K. S., thielcs Uo., Ph„ thanks 
N. s. w . I. 0.—J. E.—O. A. Jr., thanks J.tUUS.i 
many thank*-A. Main, you uiv mistnken us to the 
potato. Resides we charge hut »Lx cents as a part'd 
the postal expenses. Canada is the same, though the 
Rt I! VI. pays 'A' ecu Is • W. Q. T W. H, l , 1,. F. B. 
P C.—G. W, T.-O. H S.—F. K. M.—J). S. M H. C. G. 
.1. H.-M. F. R—V. B.-G. W. IV—A. J. C„ thanks—D. 
s. M.—N. \Y„ answer by mnU—O, R. A.—H. N. S., seed 
received. We shall not test squashes this season—G- 
s. K. 1.. M., your question was overlooked for a time 
K. Tarries, thanks— G. 8. W.—Geo'. B. Walker. The 
"gauzy" seeue was our fault— C.W. K.—J. H. B.—H. H. 
C -T. S. L.-T. S. ll.- J. S. -U. H. C.—AV. B. Jr., No. we 
can't do much with Spring wheats or barley—1. L>. C. 
0. M. C. 11. J. H.—AV. F.-AV. W. T.-E. A. B., thanks 
Will send grape seeds S. s.—I.. N. 1'. H. S. 
>>> 'ir 
qj- 
FARMERS 
FRIEND 
“Ar’IlVr'F'” PULVERIZING HARROW, 
AVzHlXi CLOD CRUSHER & LEVELER. 
The "At ' II F. subjects the sou to the action of a Crueller and I.eveler. and to the Cui ting, l.ifl- 
in«. Ttiruingjiroees* of doulrt" rows of STEEL <‘til l.TEKS. the peculiar shape and arraugemen 1 
of which give immense cutting power. Thus the three operation* or erus>liintr lumps, leveling "if 
the ground and thoroughly pulverizing the soil nre performed a t one anti the same time. The ent i re 
nbsence ot fsplkcs or Spring Teeth avoids polling up rubbish. I. is especially adapted To Inverted 
sort and hard elay. where other Harrow* utterly fall; works perfectly on light soil, and is the only Harrow 
or Cultivator that cut*, over the entire surface of the ground. 
Highly eonuneuded by scientific and practical Farmers, manv of whom pronounce It to be the most v alu 
able recent Improvement In farm Machinery, while 
AH agree that “ The Judicious use of «n Implement like the ‘Acme’ Pulverizing Harrow, Clod Crusher " 
• anti Levelor, in the preparation and thorough pulverization of the Soil, before planting, will increase the " 
' yield from Five to Ten Dollars per Aero.'' 
FAIR PLAY. 
It vour dealer does not keep the ‘ACME" for sale, don’t let him palm off au inferior tool on 
you by assuring you that Lie ha* something letter, but SATISFY YOURSELF by order¬ 
ing one on TRIAL. AVe will scud it on trial, and if it does uot suit, you may send it back, 
we paying returu freight charge*. AVe don't ask for monev or Note iuitil after von have 
trim it on your own farm. 
Send for Pamphlet Containing Huudreds of Testimonials from 44 different States an 
Territories. 
NASH & BROTHER, 
MANUFACTORY AND PRINCIPAL OFFICE. 
BRANCH OFFICE. 
H A R RISBURG. PA. 
X. B.— Pamphlet entitled 
Yorker. 
MILLINGTON. New Jersey, 
•• Tillage is Mancrf: " will also be sent to parties who same thk Rural Nkw- 
The’ Albion Spring-tooth 
SULKY HARROW 
position us 
II I BROW 
the BEST 
on wheels 
Still maintains its 
SPRING TOOTH 
in the market. 
It Is unsur- —■ 
passed as a 
COUNCIL. 
TI VATOtt. 
and has first class 
Broadcast Seeder Attachments. 
Sold -"pirate or combined Thousands In use. 
aud giving universal satisfaction. All Inquiries 
and order* front the N. E. Stab *, N V . Pa.. Is-L, 
\ 1 Mil.. Vn.. W Vn., should Ic- addressed to 
<j. it, twin .v Co., Perry N. Y From Cal., Oregon, 
Wii-h, IVr and Ncv. 10 Batchelor v Wylie, *un 
Francisco. Cab From all other States and Ter¬ 
ritories west '.if the Mississippi lllver. 111. atlrt 
Wis.. the Gale Spring tooth Harrow Co.. De 
trolt. Mieh. From the Dominion of Canada, 
Noxon Bros.. Manuf. Co., Iugersoll, Out. From 
nil other territory to 
ALBION MANUF. CO., Albion, Mich. 
JOHNSON & FIELD, 
-MANUFACTURERS OF- 
iThe Racine Farm & Warehouse Fanning Mills 
* 
These Celebrated Mills have long 
been used by the Fanners and most 
prominent Millers and Grain dealers 
in the United State*, who recoin- 
mend them a- living 111.' best Ma 
ehines evet produced for cleaning 
ami grading Wheat, Barley, Oats, 
i urn and SeedHol every description. 
I hey do iho work more perfectly 
nnil have greater eupuelly than any 
other machines. w 
l hoy are stiougly built of the wry 
best material, highly finished ami 
provided with Superior Attach¬ 
ments, Sieves, mid are made in three 
different, sizes one for lUrin use. and 
two for Warehouse, Elevator and 
Millers' use. 
They are w.irrantkp to give svt- 
tSK ACTION. 
Correspondence solid e«l aud de¬ 
scriptive circular and price list sen! 
tree cm application to 
JOHNSON & FIELD. 
RACINE, AVIS. 
