JULY 2® 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
473 
hen, and he says he gets an average of 90 
chicks from 100 eggs. If he does as well as 
that, I would advise hitn not to invest in an 
incubator. I have never used one, but I know 
of several who have, and will give one or two 
instances. A neighbor bought one last Spring 
and put tOO eggs in it, hut failed to hatch a 
single chick. On breaking the eggs nearly 
every one contained a dead chick, so it was not 
the fault of the eggs. Not satisfied with this 
outcome, he tried it again with the same re¬ 
sult. He now offers it for sale at a discount. 
The other one had a home-made one and 
put in SO eggs, but failed to hatch a single 
one. 
Then the writer says the Plymouth Rocks 
are more susceptible to cholera than any 
breed of fowls. I have had a flock of Ply¬ 
mouth Rocks for the last five years, tin m boring 
from 00 to 50, and have not had a single case 
of cholera. Then he says he doesn’t see the 
need of any mother at all; he raises his with¬ 
out her aid. How does he raise them, espe¬ 
cially in the early Spring ? I for one would 
like to hear from him. O. D. B. 
[We raised Plymouth Rocks for three yeara 
and never had a sick fowl. In our last issue 
Mr. Salmon described his method of raising 
chicks, and he certainly appears to have been 
very successful.—En.] 
A Simple Cure for Gapes. 
The most easily applied and t>est remedy 
for gapes in chickens is caustic lime, either 
air or water-slakod. It should be in a dry 
and powdered state. Take the chicken in the 
eft hand and open its mouth, keeping it up¬ 
right, and then drop a pinch of dry lime into 
it. Hold it in this position a few seconds un¬ 
til it is obliged to breath, when it will inhale 
some of the lime; then let it go. One appli¬ 
cation of the lime iu this manner has cured, 
in my experience, every case of gapes, some 
of them in the last stages. After trying a 
number of remedies, 1 have hit upon this as 
the best of all; as it is simple and sure and does 
not injure the chicken. The lime kills the 
worms. F. D. Curtis. 
jEjarlfruliural. 
EARLY MUSKMELONS. 
Next to the delicious strawberry, what can 
rival a muskmelon ? And the earlier they are 
the better they taste. If we can hasten their 
ripening two weeks it makes a great dilference 
in their flavor and our appetite. Persons who 
ha ve never made the experiment may be in¬ 
terested in trying a few in the hot-bed. They 
may be started iu the bed by cutting sods three 
or four inches square, putting the grass side 
down, planting four or five seeds on top and 
covering them with a half-inch of tine soil. 
Or, they can be put in flower pots, or as a sub¬ 
stitute for pots, old fruit cans may lie used. 
These should bo put in the lire until the tops 
and bottoms are melted oil' and the sides loos¬ 
ened. On top of the heat ing material in the 
bed place about four inches of well-pulverized 
soil and thoroughly rotted tine manure, about 
half and half—or one-third manure. After 
the cans are tied with a durable cord (some¬ 
thing that will not rot under ground in three 
or four weeks) sink them in the soil; cover the 
seed about, half an inch and " turn on your 
steam.” The melon is something that revels 
in a warm soil, and it can only be forced to 
advantage by keeping the temperature up. 
The thermometer should not. fall below 00° at 
night—and “ let it loose” in the day time. 
Sods may bo more convenient than t he cans, 
but probably the melons will make n quicker 
growth in a good preparation of soil and 
manure than iu the soils. 
If the soil from which the sod is taken 
happens to lie uncongenial to the melon, it 
will lie slow in starting. Perhaps three or 
four weeks will elapse before the roots are 
large enough to require transplanting. Man 
ure the ground heavily with old, thoroughly 
rotted manure, and especially about the hill 
where the viue is to stand. As soon ns dan¬ 
ger of frost is past, transplant to the opeu 
ground and cover them during nights 
and windy days for three or four weeks, 
the object being to keep up its high tuid uni¬ 
form a temperature as possible, giving pro- 
I>er ventilation, of course, all the time. 
For this purpose some use a protector 
made of mosquito bar, being pointed at the 
top and having four Bquare posts at the 
bottom; and some use one of wire screen, 
sim lar to the tly protectora for table use. 
Others have a square wooden frame eight or 
10 deep, and 10x12 inches square having for 
the top a. puue of glass. Some make a large 
frame and use a whole window sash of 8x10 
lights. This affords protection for the vines 
until they are of good size. Clem Auldon. 
Ditin). 
Feed for a Cow One Month Before Calv¬ 
ing, and a Week or More After It. 
I read in the Rural not. long since an ar¬ 
ticle from a dairyman, saying that he dropped 
meal and bran of all kinds from the rations of 
his cows a month or so before calving, and a 
week or more after it, and fed the cows on 
dry hay alone. With this ration he never had 
a case of milk fever, garget, or any other ail¬ 
ment with his cows. But the question is, if 
they escaped these, did not the foetus suffer 
from this lesseniug of the richness of the ration 
and were these cows’ calves as strong at their 
birth, and did they take on as rapid and vig¬ 
orous a growth, and attain as good size, and 
possess as good a constitution when reaching 
adult age as they would had the dams been 
fed more generously. 
Perhaps if the hay was of the very best 
quality, there would be no falling off in the 
foetus; but, if ordinary or inferior, I should 
fear there might be. At any rate, to make 
the thing sure, I have never cut off the ration 
from my cows of meal, etc., entirely, but par¬ 
tially only. I think one to two quarts of 
wheat-bran, according to the size of the cow, 
together with a gill to a pint of oil-meal night 
and morning, would help to keep up a good 
condition of the cow, without stimulating her 
in the least, or adding much to the secretion 
of the milk. Wheat-bran assists in keeping 
the bowels open as a preventive of constipa¬ 
tion, while oil meal (I mean a pure old-pro¬ 
cess article—none of the new-fangled process, 
and pernicious and adulterated stuff), helps 
digestion, and probably has a beneficial effect 
in slightly lubricating the intestines. 
To give a few roots also with the liny would 
bean excellent thing, as these tend, it is as¬ 
serted, to Soften the dry hay taken into the 
stomach, and turn it to the same state as if it 
had been eaten when in grass. 
In the Summer season cows may be put on 
tlicir natural food, and in such pasture as 
would be neither too scant nor too abundant 
for them; or they could be judiciously soiled; 
yet, eveu then, [ should prefer to keep up the 
oil-meal, but would not the bran, as there is 
no danger‘of constipation from a fair quality 
of grass. 
I notice that the Concord Farmers' Club 
propose to offer a premium of $25 each for 
several practical essays upon “ the best treat¬ 
ment of a cow six weeks before calving and 
six weeks after it.” I am glad to see this, and 
trust they will give dairymen a better system 
to follow than any which has hitherto boon 
published. A. B. Allen. 
ftliscdUimnts. 
LITTLE THINGS. 
E. WILLIAMS 
IT is strange how little thought, aud intel¬ 
ligent reasoning are displayed by the average 
hand in performing his labor. 1 have been 
“haying” to-day. 1 generally ride the mower, 
because it is very seldom we have help that is 
fit to care for or manage it. properly. Mv man 
‘’Ben” did not altogether like this, for h e 
pride* himself on being a fir si-class hand 
“ brought up on a farm, never done anything 
else," and instead of doing all hard work, fre¬ 
quently hinted he would like the tfuty one of 
riding the mowing machine. 
To-day till being ready to rake up the morn¬ 
ing cutting, I thought perhaps it would please 
him to handle the rake. I asked him if he 
eould rake it tip? He replied he could, with 
an air of satisfaction; so handing him the reins, 
he started and l took a fork and went to 
“putting up.” The frequent appeals to the 
horse to “get up” and "go ’long” soon 
attracted my attention, and repairing to the 
scene, I found "Ben” tiring himself and wor¬ 
rying the horse iu his frantic attempts to get 
him to go. 
‘ • I thought you understood raking hay. 
What is the matter? ” 
“Ido; but, nobody con rake such hay as 
this; it is not half cut, that’s what the matter. 
Get up Charlie 1” 1 knew what the trouble 
was. It was clover ami badly down so that 
the stubble in places was long. 
“ Hold on," I replied, “turu about! Now go 
ahead and keep on around the field the way it 
it was mowed and see how it will work.” He 
did so; there was no further trouble, aud he 
soon hail it all raked, and reported for further 
orders. 
“All done?” I asked. 
“Yes, sir!” 
“ And you found that while you could not 
rake it back and forth as you commenced, you 
could rake it as mowed and with comparative¬ 
ly little trouble? ” 
“ Yes, sir!” 
“It will be well to remember hereafter in 
raking hay. especially if the stubble is long, 
(which is sure to De the case where the grass is 
down aud lies away from the machine) to 
rake it with the grain the way it was 
mowed, the same way that you would comb 
your hair, curry a horse or stroke a cat, 
and for the same reason,—it is easier for both 
you and the horse.” 
“ That’s so.” 
Last Spring in applying fertilizer to potatoes 
this same “ Ben ” would try to take enough 
fertilizer iu his pail to apply to a row. and if 
he had any left he would cany it back to the 
barrel that stood at one side of the field and 
get a fresh supply. Instead of filling the pail, 
taking enough for two rows, or applying what 
was left after finishing one row to the next on 
his return as far as it would go, he would travel 
twice the distance necessary to accomplish the 
work, to say nothing of the loss of time—little 
but important factors in the profit of many 
crops. 
To-day, “Jim,” in cocking hay got 
thirsty. The water was on the opposite side 
of the field. Instead of taking his fork with 
him to the water and commencing work there, 
he left his fork, crossed the field, got his drink 
and then walked back again, consuming 
time and vital force in crossing the field once 
unnecessarily. If a shower had been immin¬ 
ent, it would have been all the same. How 
often a little forethought judiciously applied 
would benefit more than the applicant. 
I sometimes think the chief thought and aim 
of the him! help of to-day are to put in the 
time, do as little as possible, and get all the 
money he can. The interests of employers are 
often little thought of; wage not work is the 
object. I take it that “ Ben ” and “ Jim” are 
as good as the average, and such men abound 
iu other pursuits as well as ours, A little 
“ learning to think” and “making the head 
serve the heels ” would be quite as beneficial to 
the employer as the employ^. 
“Little things”—who can estimate their 
importance ! 
Mildew and rot have appeared among the 
grapes. Apply sulphur for the first malady. 
The second is a conundrum. Won’t our scien¬ 
tific investigators study up this subject and 
suggest or recommend a specific remedy that 
is practical ? Bagging won’t save bunches 
already infected. An acre of 500 vines, aver¬ 
aging 25 clusters—which is a very low estimute 
—would require a quarter a million bags. 
Will it pay? 
The strawberry season is alxmt closed. 
Raspberries are now in order and they never 
were finer. 
Fight the weeds; they grow with great 
rapidity this warm, moist weather. 
CATALOGUES, ETC., RECEIVED. 
Report of the Fruit Growers’ Associa¬ 
tion of Ontario and Entomological Soci¬ 
ety for 1882. D. W, Beadle, Secretary. 
Pages, 364. We are justified in saying that 
but very few reports have come within our 
notice of late that present to the reader such a 
valuable fund of iuformation as the one now 
before us. The first 184 pages are devoted to 
discussions upon the qualifications of the vari¬ 
ous fruit* in which much that is interesting is 
raid for and against them. But wherein we 
Consider the most value of this volume to een* 
ter is iu the part devoted to forestry, a sub - 
ject which is now demanding the attention of 
all thoughtful and progressive landowners 
Rarely does a body of men. celebrated for 
their work for the advancement of agricuL 
ture, meet to offer their opinions, as congrega. 
ted at the Forestry Convention at Montreal, 
In August of 1882. Among the list of papers 
in this volume we find the uatnos of F. B. 
Hough. Ph. D., formerly Chief of the Forestry 
Division of the United States; N. H. Egleston 
lately appointed to that position, John Dou- 
gall, Prof. Win, Brown, IV. Sauuders, Dr. 
John A. Warder, Dr. Goo. Yasey, Botanist Of 
the Department of Agriculture. Washington 
D. C.; Arthur Bryant, James T. Alleu, B. G. 
Northrop, John S. Hicks, Byron D. Halstead, 
T. T. Lyons, and many others, many of whom 
are well known to readers of the Rural from 
their valuable communications to this paper. 
Commissioner Loving, President of the Con¬ 
gress, in his opening address, gave the follow¬ 
ing statement, showing the number of feet of 
pine at present in the undermentioned States, 
aud the number of years it would last at, the 
rate it is now being cut off: Texas, 21,508,- 
000,000—300 years; Florida. 6,615,000,000—30 
yrs.; Alabama, 18,885,000,000—70 years; Miss, 
17,200,000,000—150 yrs,; Minn,, 6,100.000,- 
000—10 yrs.; Mich., 29,000,000,000—7 yrs. 
Wisconsin, 41,000.000,000—20 yrs,; North 
Carolina, 5,229.1X10,000—50 yrs.; Louisiana, 
48,213,000,000—54ij yrs.; Georgia, 16,778,000,- 
000—75 yrs.: Pennsylvania pine, 1,800,000,000 
—5 yrs.; do. hemlock, 4,500,000,000—15 yrs.; 
Arkansas, 41,325.000,000—320 yrs.; California, 
25,825.000,000—100 yrs.; South Carolina, 
8,316,000,000—27 yrs.; Maine, pine and spruce. 
5,000,000,000—16 yrs. New Hampshire does 
not return a pine tree of any kind, but re¬ 
turned 1,500,000,000 feet of black spruce, which 
will all be gone in ten years at the present rate 
of cutting. Fifteen pages are devoted 
to the insects affecting forest trees, by 
William Saunders, the well-known entomolo¬ 
gist, of London, Ont. The article is well 
illustrated. The last 80 pages are set aside for 
the report of the Entomological Society of 
Ontario, which is illustrated with 94 well exe¬ 
cuted engravings. 
Hints on Law. —A note by a minor is 
void. It is a fraud to conceal a fraud. A note 
made on Sunday is void. Ignorance of the 
war x cluses no one. A contract made with a 
lunatic is void. Notes bear interest only when 
so stated. The acts of one partner bind the 
rest. An agreement without consideration is 
void. Contracts made on Sunday cannot be 
enforced. Signatures made with a lead pen¬ 
cil are good in law. Principals are responsi¬ 
ble for the acts of their agents No consider¬ 
ation is sufficient in law if it be illegal in its 
nature. Checks or drafts must be presented 
for payment without unreasonable delay. A 
note obtained by fraud or from a person in a 
state of intoxication cannot be collected. No¬ 
tice of protest may be sent either to the place 
of business or residence of the party notified. 
An iudorsee has a right of action against all 
whose names were on the bill when he re. 
ceived it. An indorser may prevent his own 
liability to be sued by writing "without re¬ 
course” or similar words. Each individual in 
a partnership is responsible for the whole 
amount of the debts of the firm, except in 
caste of a special partnership. If a note is lost 
or stolen it does not release the maker. Part 
payment of debt which has passed the time of 
statutory limitation revives the whole debt 
The above useful summary is copied from 
Green’s Fruit Grower. 
Hot Milk as a Stimulant.—O f hot milk 
as a stimulant the Medical Record says: Milk 
heated too much above 100 degrees Fahren 
heit loses for a time a degree of its sweetness 
and density. No one who, fatigued by over¬ 
exertion of body and mind, has ever experi¬ 
enced the reviving influence of a tumbler of 
this beverage, heated as hot as it can be sip¬ 
ped, will willingly forego a resort to it because 
of its being rendered somewhat less accepta¬ 
ble to the palate. The promptness with which 
its cordial influence is felt is indeed surpris¬ 
ing. Some portion of it seems to be digested 
and appropriated almost immediately, and 
many who now fancy they need alcoholic 
stimulants when exhausted by fatigue will 
find in this ample draught an equivalent that 
will be abundantly satisfying and far more 
enduring in its effects. 
Strong words of praise were spoken by Mr. 
Geo. W. Campbell at the late Nurserymen’s 
Convention, in favor of the Worden Grape, 
tested under the same conditions as the Con¬ 
cord beside it. He finds it as healthy, as pro¬ 
ductive, more hardy in severe Winters, bear¬ 
ing rather longer clusters, and, to his taste, of 
rather better quality, ripening a bo from a 
week to 10 days earlier, and certainly not 
more subject to rot. From these observations, 
ho concludes that the Worden may lie safely 
planted wherever the Concord succeeds; aud 
that by reasou of earlier ripening, aud ap¬ 
parently greater hardiness, it umy be even 
better adapted to localities further north than 
the Concord can successfully be grown. 
He spoke highly also of John Burr’s (Kan¬ 
sas) seedling, the Early Victor, which among 
others was sent us last year to bo tested. Mr. 
Campbell likes it for its vigor, health and har¬ 
diness combined with good quality and pro¬ 
ductiveness. It is of medium size, black and 
free from foxiuess, "a little plurnpy” and very 
juicy. It ripens ten days before the Concord. 
He regards Moore’s Early as hardly equal to 
the Coucord, the bunch is smaller through the 
berry is larger. This also he regards as teu 
days earlier than Concord. 
