882 
THE RURAL fSEW-YORKER. 
JUNE 8 
the collar, from June to the end of August, so 
that the beetles may not dojx>sit eggs too low 
down to be readily found. A French method 
is to mix a very little gas tar in dry sand by 
stirring it with a tarred stick in order to give 
it a strong odor. This is carried to the trees 
and a little put round each collar in June. 
Others pour gas tar into a gutter scooped 
aroimd the collar of the tree in the. soil. Quince 
trees are very apt to be a ttacked by this borer 
and should he trained to a- single stem in order 
to facilitate examination and search. A wash 
in the first week in Juno with soap, carbolic 
acid, soot, urine, lime, sulphur, copperas, or 
mixtures of some of these is repellent to the 
beetle, and cleansing to the bark. This may 
be repeated to advantage in August. The 
beetles seem shy of trees so scented, or so 
visited and cared for, and fly on to others 
where they find the shelter of grass, weeds, 
and neglect. The common book advice to cut 
out the borer grub, or punch it to death with 
a wire, implies the recommendation to let him 
alone till his destructive work is doue aud then 
to kill him! W. G. w. 
Rye Flour to “ Extend ” Insecticides. 
In a late Rural, a correspondent remarked 
that to “extend’' Paris-green or London-pur¬ 
ple, the poorest farmers use flour, aud the 
more thriving ones, ashes. Taking the 
chatices of being counted among the poor 
farmers, I here give my way of fighting the 
potato beetle, as well as the insect foes of the 
currant, gooseberry, etc. : 
Take one pound of Paris-green to 25 pounds 
o '' rye flour, mix well, dust on in clear weather 
when there is a heavy dew. The dew and 
rye flour form a paste, which the sun will dry 
and it will not wash olf. and need not be ap 
plied again until new tops grow. This is the 
way I apply it:—Take a quart fruit can ; 
punch the bottom full of small holes with a 
scratch awl: then take a piece of board about 
two-and-a-half feet long, cut a hole iu one end 
the size of the can. put it in the hole and fas¬ 
ten with small nails ; cut the other end into a 
handle ; fill with the mixture; hold it over the 
plant or shrub you wish to dust; hit the 
handle a light tap, and the job is done. I 
believe it would destroy the bugs on pumpkin 
squash, and cucumber vines. 
[Wouldn’t the application of a poison in the 
form of an irremovable paste be dangerous 
upon currants, gooseberries and other edible 
fruits*—One pound of Paris-green to 100 
pounds of flour would be bofter.—Kns] 
In potato farming, if manure was scarce, I 
would put it on the rows at each side of the 
potatoes after they witTO. up, and at the first 
plowing cover lightly with earth. If manure 
was plentiful, 1 would plow the ground, haul 
on the manure, then cultivate with a two-horse 
(12 shovels) cultivator, then harrow and score 
out three feet wide, drop one piece (two good 
eyes at least) every ten inches, and cover by 
drawing ettl*th aud manure on them with a 
hoe, about three inches deep. J. H. b. 
Washington, Pa 
-■*-*-*- 
Potato Stalk Weevil. 
I want to add the following te what is said 
of this by Dr. C. V. Riley in a recent issue of 
the Rural. A few years ago I found the 
lieetles in considerable numbers about my 
potatoes iu my garden, and 1 protected them 
from being injured by capturing the weevils 
in the following manner. They were to be 
found in the opening terminal bud of the 
stalk, aud by placing a large-mouthed bottle 
a little below them on oue side, a little jar 
would send them into the bottle. This may 
readily be done as they, like weevils generally 
fold their legs and drop to the ground upon 
being disturbed. My bottle had a cyanide of 
potassium cake in the bottom (a few pieces of 
the salt covered with plaster of Paris and 
water) the yoisou of which very soon killed 
the beetles after they fell into the bottle. The 
gray color of the insects renders them readily 
seen, and a hoy going over the vines once a 
day for a few days during the middle of the 
day would soon capture the most of them. 
Carbondale, Ill. G. H. French. 
0uerx)to!jm. 
NOTES FROM EASTERN IOWA. 
A late Spring. Although grain was sown iu 
April, it is not very far advanced on account 
of the protracted cold and wot weather. Corn 
is nearly all planted, but I am afraid the 
farmers will have a jxjor stand, on account of 
the seed being damaged by the early frost last 
Fall. Fruit trees have boon injured consider¬ 
ably in this seetiou by last Winter’s cold, but 
not as much as in some parts of the State, 
owing to the fact that there is a good lot of 
timber here to break the winds, Clayton is 
pne of the richest enmities Hi t.ht Mletei and 
one of the first settled ; having been occupied 
by white men for upwards of forty years. It 
is high, rolling prairie; soil, a black loam 
with a yellow clay subsoil, underlaid with 
lime-rock. This used to be a groat wheat-pro¬ 
ducing county, but of late years the Chinch 
Bug has put iu an appearance in time to ruin 
the crop iu nearly every instance. Home 
pieces do escape, however, and when the bugs 
let the stand alone, the yield is fair, being 
from fifteen to eighteen bushels per acre. 
Oats, corn, rye and barley arc raised hero 
with great success, but the falling off of the 
wheat crop has induced a great many farmer 8 
to offer their farms for sale at a comparative! 
ly low price, that they may go farther wes_ 
atid raise their favorite crop (wheat). Dairy¬ 
ing is getting quite afoot-hold here, and it 
will no doubt be a grand success, for the coun. 
ty is especially adapted to it. The rich soil 
will furnish the best of pasturage, aud this, 
with plenty of good water, makes up the 
requirements of a dairy region. Just now the 
farmers are exerting all of their energies in 
raising hogs. There are lots of money in hog 
raising, but it is ruinous to the land to raise so 
much coni, because no attention is given to 
the saving of manure, aud alter a while the 
land will be exhausted by such a system of 
robbery. And right here, 1 wish to say to our 
New Eugland friends who are just on the 
point of running to Dakota; stop a little short 
of there aud try Eastern Iowa, with its pure 
air, good water, plenty of timber, and a soil 
not to be surpassed by any in the west. Let 
them take the same amount of money that 
they will have to invest in Dakota to make 
themselves comfortable, aud invest it here, and 
1 think iua year's time they will be thaukful 
that they did not go to Dakota; and will not. 
want to go back to the stony side-lulls of New 
Eugland. Some flue horses of the Norman 
and Clydesdale breeds are raised here, and 
some trotting stock, but raising trotters is not 
practised much by the farmers, nor ought it 
to be. Land is worth from *20 to #00,per acre, 
according to location aud improvements. 
Bismarck, Iowa. Chao. 8. Teed. 
RURAL SPECIAL REPORTS. 
Arkansan, 
West Point, White Co., May 22.—Frost 
last night. Mercury 86 deg. Nothing in¬ 
jured. Crops look well. Fox-tail and Glade 
Grass ready for hay making. First peas about 
goue. New American potatoes about the 
9th. More oats than usual this year and in 
good order. II. p. v. 
Canari a. 
London, Ontario, May 24.— In our northern 
climate it has usually been considered favoi a 
ble for “Fall” wheat to have a good continu. 
ous coat of snow, but this past Winter has not 
proved that the saying is always correct, as 
five months of uninterrupted snow have been 
fatal to the wheat in tliis section. A very 
large portion has boon and will be plowed in. 
A part of the failure, however, should be laid 
to imperfect preparation of the ground, which 
was unusually hurried and bad; also late. I 
notice that early-plnuted rye lias wintered ex- 
ccdleutly, whereas late-planted has fared no 
better than wheat. There was less Full plow¬ 
ing than usual, which will affect the Spring 
crops materially. Our Spring is also very 
late this year. 1 will mention a circumstance 
that may prove of interest. On replowing a 
field that had continued frozen until the middle 
of April, we turned up at least three bushels 
of excellent potatoes (Early Ohios) uninjured 
by frost aud sumo well sprouted. Tins field had 
been cropped for tin- first time from sod and 
stump last year in potatoes. r. s. w 
Stratford, Ontario, May 28.—The Fall 
wheat crop will be very light iu t his section 
as the majority of farmers have plowed it, uu’ 
der and sowed 8priug gram, which, however 
is having but a poor chance, as cold, 
weather has been the rule so far this sea¬ 
son. There have been only two warm, genial 
days since Spring opened. Fall wheat was 
smothered by the deep suow, probably. Clo¬ 
ver, however, w as well protected, aud wax not 
heaved out as is often the case, and good past, 
ures will be the rule. Present indications 
are that fruit of all kinds will be plenty. Trees 
have not blossomed yet, but there is a good 
show of fruit buds. Garden stuff of all kinds 
is very backward. C. w. y. 
Colorado 
Gold Hill, Boulder Co., May 15.— The 
w r eather has been dreadful all through April 
aud thus far in May. Ranchmen are just be¬ 
ginning to plant potatpes and garden seeds: 
too cold, wot and windy for anything to grow. 
Beauty of Hebron potatoes do splendidly here; 
also the White Elephant. Cuthbert Rasp¬ 
berry winter-kills. Defiance wheat is per¬ 
fection. I. H. 
to Will 
(joitMERCB; Polk Co May SJff- spring late, 
• ••'til hfld tebt; MriitlH jgrditl** IrvHU It/di- UHral 
B.-B. Centennial wheat, planted April 2, is 
very vigorous and “stooling” out well, Very 
little corn planted aud farmers have the 
“ blues.” On March 6. 1888, planted my 
Rural Niagara Grape seeds in a box kept near 
the cook-stove and watered it from the top 
One plant is three-quarters of an inch high, 
and other seeds sprouted. B. E. Y. 
Chester, Howard Co., May 20.—1 guess 
Prof. Wiggins made a mistake of two months 
and a few days or else the nhnanne is wrong, 
aud it is still March instead of May. We had 
a loug, cold Winter and it. seems to linger long 
in t he lap of Spring. Are we ever going to 
have Summer* Not much corn planted about, 
here as yet as the weather is so cold and back¬ 
ward. This morning ice formed one-half inch 
thick in our wash basin which stood out-of- 
doors on the west side of the house. Everything 
is at a standstill. The cold winter killed a 
great deal ol’ fruit in this State; but not much 
in this county for the simple reason that there 
was hardly any to kill. Wheat is worth 75 
cts.; liar ley, 40 eta,; rye, 40 cts.; eats, 35 ets.: 
corn, 35 cts.; flaxseed, #1.25; Timothy, #1.80; 
clover, #5; potatoes, 35 cts.; hogs, alive, #0.50 
per hundred; beef cattle, #8 to #5 per hun¬ 
dred. N. H. R. 
I\ II 
Severance, Doniphan Co., May 18.—Spring 
rather backward with recent hard rains. Small 
grains looking well. Corn all planted: much 
com will have to be replanted on account ol" 
imperfect seed and cold, damp weather. Peach¬ 
es all winter-killed. Other fruit prospects 
good. M. E. C. 
Missouri 
Ash Grove, Greene Co., May 23.—On 
the uight of the 21st iust., we had a heavy 
frost. Corn in many places is black. The 
leaves of beans and potatoes were stiff. 
The top leaves of beans are all that seem to be 
injured. Very few apples in these parts 
Peaches abundant. Wheat heading low ; pros¬ 
pect unfavorable. Oats fine. j. w. s. 
Nebraska* 
Camden, Seward Co., May 22 —We were 
afraid that wo were going to be left on 
the Niagara Grape seed. Owing to a press 
of business they lay for five days after 
their arrival on u mantle-piece near a worm 
stove aud were very dry. They were put iu a 
soap-box in new soil from last, year’s breaking 
and water almost boiling was applied for sev¬ 
eral days, the box, most of the time, being 
kept under the stove. Finally, despairing of 
their appearance, tomato seed was sown in 
the dirt which wax still kept wann and moist 
when, lo! the Niagaras have come up bravely 
and are are showing all over the box. The 
tomatoes wore at once removed. Certainly the 
grape seed has unusual vitality or else the old 
growers are very much at fault. Our Spring 
is generally backward. Weather cold and va¬ 
riable. Many are replanting corn, but where 
the seed was sound I think they arc too hasty 
I have examined several lots and while coming 
up irregularly, that which is below ground is 
healthy, vigorous aud certainly will lie better 
rooted than the replaut. Cora has started 
again at 85 cents per bushel aud the shelters a re 
busy again. Small grains look very fine. 
Wheat, 50 per cent. less acreage. G. b. 
New York. 
Chatham, Columbia Co., May 23.— Colum* 
bia Couutj’, so long and favorably known us a 
superior farming section, should be repre¬ 
sented in your “Everywhere" department 
oftener than it is. The Rural has a goodly 
number of readers iu this section, aud we ask 
them to “let their light shine” occasionally up¬ 
on the Rural’s column. Crops of all kinds, 
both field and garden, are fairly on the jump. 
A delightful shower has put new life into 
every growing thing. The season, however, 
has been very backward. The April showers 
were wanting, though chilly winds wore uot. 
We do not remember the time when “Winter 
has so long lingered in the lap of Spring.’’ 
Fanners were delayed about gett ing in their 
oats; aud this consequently put other work 
back, too. While a few at l,bis writing are 
through planting com, others, and the major¬ 
ity, have not yet, begun. The acreage to oats, 
corn and potatoes is probably about the same 
as last year. Scarcely any wheat is raised in 
this vicinity ; rye being the main crop. This 
came through the Winter, in most eases, iu 
good condition aud now looks very promising 
If the rye crop fails, Columbia County 
farmers think their all is gone. There is con¬ 
siderable rye straw left over from lust Fall 
which cun bo sold at the paper mills bore¬ 
al x>ut for about $8,00 per ton; also, old hay 
brings about #10.00 at the various presses. 
There is every prospect now of au abundant 
fruit-crop; cherry, pear ami apple trees are 
loaded with blossoms, aud if an untimely frost 
does uot touch them, these fruitx will be very 
plentiful. It is but a few nights since that a 
frost withered the pride of many a good house¬ 
wife’s heart—her early Spring flowers. Wo 
have an excellent furmsiV organisation) 
known as the Columbia County Fanners’ 
Club, which meets ou call of the President. Its 
meetings are always interesting and well at¬ 
tended. Every county in the State should 
have such an Organization. Allow me to say 
that your recent engraving, “ A Group of 
choice Holsteins,” reflects much credit upon 
your artist and upon the Rural, l'or its en¬ 
terprise in getting out of the old rut of stereo¬ 
typed,made-to-order, stock engravings, j.w.d. 
Groton City, Tompkins Co., May 18.—1 
planted 20 of the grape seeds on March 23, just 
as they came. On April 25 the first plaut ap¬ 
peared: there are four up now. The first has 
the fourth teat started. G. H. b. 
Pennsylvania. 
New Lebanon. Mercer Co. May 21.—Spring 
is very backward, being cold aud wet. Only 
a few growing days have cheered us yet. All 
the oats have been sown and are coming up 
nicely. Some farmers have their corn planted, 
but there are a great many who have yet to 
plant. The grass is growing nicely aud if it 
st ill continues the meadows will produce a No. 
1 crop when harvested. Wheat when Spring 
opened looked very discouraging, but 1ms 
picked up grandly siuce, and if nothing hap¬ 
pens to it, it will be au average crop, I think: 
hut not so good as that of last year. There 
seems to be quite a good prospect for fruit. 
A good many apple aud peach blossoms are 
in the orchards at, present.. Stock have win¬ 
tered well; all look in good conditiou for this 
time of year. There was sucli an abundant 
harvest last year that every farmer had plenty 
to food and a great many will summer quite 
a lot of old hay. It sells for #6 and §7 per ton: 
Butter, 20c.; eggs 12)£c. per doz. j. e. c. 
Texas. 
Lockhart, Caldwell C'o., May 22.—Without 
a rain very soon crops will be almost a com¬ 
plete failure iu this part of Texas, s. k. m. 
Virginia 
Ivy Depot, Albemarle Co., May 21.—Pros¬ 
pect for crops generally good; wheat better 
than for several years—more acreage sowed, 
aud where fertilized looks flue, generally head¬ 
ing and as yet no rust or aphis which de¬ 
stroyed many crops last year: too early yet 
for cither to appear; corn lip well aud not 
much complaint of insects. Cats look well 
but need rain. Grass more promising than 
usual. Tobacco plants plentiful and no flv 
as yet; about three-fourths of an average crop 
will be planted—more attention given to rais¬ 
ing stock which bring better prices, especially 
young cattle and hogs than for years. Outlook 
good for farmers. Rain needed badly, j. w. 
(Tl)c (Qmrist, 
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
(Every query must lie uccompatucd by the name 
anil address of the writer to Insure attention.! 
REMEDIES FOR GAPES IN CHICKS. ETC. 
./. P. It., Trenton. 'Venn., 1, Of my 500 chicks 
all but 60 have died from gapes; what is the 
hext remedy for this ailment* 2, When should 
the seeds of the Wild Goose Plum be planted? 
.8, Where can I get M. P. Peirce’s work on 
car]) raising? 
Ans. —1, Quite a large number of “sure 
cures” for gapes, the “sureness,” of which has 
been vouched for by our contributors, have 
been given from time to time in the Rural. 
From them we select the following: An effec¬ 
tive remedy is described by Gen. Noble, in our 
issue of Jan. 25, ’79. lie slaked a barrel of 
lime wash to almut the thickness of paint, and 
into this stirred from ten to twelve pounds of 
sulphur flour. Intel each pailful used, he 
mixed a tablespoonful of carbolic acid, and 
with a brush sloshed every part of the hennery, 
roots, floor and walls with the mixture. This 
was repeated several times, especially with 
each new brood, to the entire disappearance 
of gapes from among his poultry. Of course, 
a smaller quantit y of all t he ingredients would 
suffice for smaller quarters for fowls. As re¬ 
lated in n Rural Brevity in our issue of June 
7th ’79, a friend of ours had found an effective 
remedy in dry, caustic lime. A pinch of it 
was dropped into the bird’s throat, which was 
then let go, and by next day it had recovered 
That’s about the caslst “ euro” we know. A 
trifle more troublesome is that found out by 
an Englishman, ns told in the Rural, July 
19th, ’79. Taking two parts of sulphur and 
one of salt, he mixed them with water to the 
consistency of thick cream- using the linger 
to uiix the sulphur, as it dowsu’t readily mix 
with water. Then having dipped a leather 
into the mixture, he thrust it about three 
inches down the bird’s throat, working it up 
and down a few times, aud repeated the oper¬ 
ation three or four times at intervals of a 
couple of days. A still easier remedy is one 
given in our issue of Aug 9th, ’79, by u cor¬ 
respondent who got rid of the pests by simply 
removing the chicken* and their coops hwm* 
