SEPT 22 
627 
THE RURAL MEW-Y0RSCER, 
sometimes congenital and hereditary. Com¬ 
plete rest, low diet, a high-heeled shoe, and 
cold-water bandages will generally remove 
the curb, if employed in the early stages. If 
owing to neglect the lameness becomes de¬ 
cided, the inflammation should be reduced, 
and the blister prescribed above for splints, 
should be used in precisely the same way and 
for the same time. After the absorptiou of 
the curb, the ligaments will remain weak and 
exercise (uot too severe, however,) will be 
needed to strengthen them so as to prevent a 
return of the trouble. Rubbing with the hand 
and an appli cation of neat’s-foot oil and tur¬ 
pentine, or neat’s-foot oil and oil of origanum 
mixed, will also be beneficial. Curb is con¬ 
sidered an '‘unsoundtiess” in a horse. 3. The 
best cellar floor we know of was filled with 
broken stones and cement and sand iu the 
proportion of one part of cement to four of 
sand to the depth of four inches. Then three 
inches ot one part of cement to two of sand. 
4 We do not know. 5. No, the season is 
rather short. 
PROPAGATION OF DWARF PEARS. ETC. 
IF. S. B. , Ann Arbor, Mich. —1. Is it a new 
freak of the little striped squash bug to eat in¬ 
to the embryo squash as soon as the blos¬ 
som opens f They are doing it this year to 
their total destniction. Is there a remedy ? 2. 
How is it that corn nubbins left on the grouud 
all Winter, grow' without the loss of a kernel ? 
Such was the case last Spring. 3. Give some 
instructions for propagating dwarf pears. 4. 
I would like to have (hat Cay wood grape 
trellis ventilated a little more, 5. Which 
is the better investment—leached ashes from 
the soap factory at % of a cent a bushel, or 
ashes as they come from the tannery furnace, 
composed of about half-and-half of coal and 
spent tan-bark at the same price, or unleached 
ashes from stores at five eeuts a bushel ( It 
takes about twice as long to draw a load of the 
last as it does of cither of the others, (i. What 
ails my plum trees l Tnoy drop their foliage iu 
mid-summer, aud then many of them die the 
following Spring and Summer, The trouble 
is universal in this section. 7. Which tolls the 
truth ? One writer says, “ Coal tar poured 
around the base of poach trees is a preventive 
of borers, and is beneficial iu other respects, ’’ 
while another writes, " Coal tar Is destructive 
to the tree itself.” 
Ans.—I. With us the bug has gone, by' 
the time the embryo squash begins to form. 
It. will do no harm to try soot or gypsum. 2- 
This is without doubt au exceptional case. It 
will not hold true. 3. Graft a cion of pear up¬ 
on quince stock. In setting the tree have the I 
junction of cion aud stock three or four inches 
below the surface. Do uot allow grass to grow 
about the trees. Her. iu cultivated soil 12 feet 
apart, and keep tin- grouud cultivated. Wash 
the main stem every Spring with not too 
strong a solution of lime and potash. Do not 
allow the trunks to grow over three feet high. 
The main branches, or frame-work of the 
bead, are produced by cutting back the three 
or four branches that form, the head of the 
tree as it comes from the nursery, in the same 
manner as recommended for standards. The 
first, season all superfluous productions are 
rubbed oft’, aud ft balance maintained among 
the shoots by pinching. The second year, in 
the Winter or Spring, the shoots of last season 
are shortened, say', one-half. Make the cut at 
a good, plump bud capable of producing a vig¬ 
orous shoot, ami this Is selected to prolong the 
branch. If one or two secondary branches are 
needed to (ill up a space, those next the leader 
are chosen, and ull below are pinched when 
about two or three inches long. The third 
season the growths of the previous year are 
cut back as before. One shoot is cboseu to con¬ 
tinue the prolongmeiit of the branch, aud 
others are pinched in season to convert them 
into fruit spurs. Munure well, and don’t have 
too moist a soil. 4. \\"e must ask our subscrib¬ 
ers to answer this. 6. Unquestionably the 
uuleached ashes at five ceuts. 6. We don't 
know, it never having come under our obser¬ 
vation. Make a thorough examination of the 
tree and roots, aud see if you find any insects 
affecting the tree. 7. Coal tar put upon the 
bark of the tree will surely kill it. But to 
keep off the borer t he tar must touch the bark, 
because if spread upon the ground around the 
tree, the borer can easily have access to the 
trunk by going under ground to it, as it fre¬ 
quently does 
THE CLINTON As A WINE GRAF*., ETC. 
D. FI. D. Etna, i V. J. —1. Docs the Clinton 
gmp • niuko good wine ? 2. Must grapes be 
dead-ripe for wine-making, and what is a good 
recipe for wine making l 
Ans.— 1. The Clinton is inoreof a wine than 
a table grape. It is too austere for most people 
as a dessert fruit. It is, however, less objec¬ 
tionable when fully ripe, especially after a 
good frost. It makes au excellent wine when 
properly handled, but the quality of the pro¬ 
duct is as varied us the process of the manip¬ 
ulators. We make no pretension to connoiseur- 
t>Wp iu this jLfdtci', tut fpeuk liuu some 
personal experience and the general reputation 
of this variety. 2. The iEstivalis and most of 
the Cordifolia class-ail grapes whose fine flavor 
it is desirable to have in its fullest develop¬ 
ment in the wine—ought to be thoroughly ripe 
when gathered for wine-making. The riper 
they are the more fully will their peculiar 
flavor be developed; the less acid and the more 
sugar they will contain. On the other hand, 
the Labrusea grapes—and indeed all varieties 
with a strong, foxy or disagreeable aroma— 
should be gathered when fully colored, for as 
the wine from them must be “ doctored ” to 
render it palatable, it is not advisable to let 
them be over-ripe. If our memory sel ves us 
correctly, Mr. Burrow used half a pound of 
sugar to a gallon of juice. Perhaps Mr. B. 
and others who have been successful in making 
wine in a small way will give their modus ope- 
randi all through the process for the benefit of 
Rural readers. 
ANIMAL CHARCOAL OR BONE-BLACK 
J. R. K.. Industry, Pa. —1,What is the value 
of animal charcoal as a fertilizer? 2, What is 
the best way of applying it to the soil? 3, 
W hat is its va hie as n top-dressing for straw¬ 
berries aud onions/ 4, How much could be 
profitably applied per acre/ 
Ans.— 1, Animal charcoal consists of bone of 
which nearly all the nitrogenous matter has 
been burned out In the charring. It is simply' 
phosphate of lime, with some little carbonate of 
lime and the carbon of the organic matter. 
The relative values of bone-black (animal 
charcoal) aud raw bone dust are here given:— 
Raw Bone 
Bone-black. 
Water. 
Organic matter 
Ash.. 
..6per cent. 
33.3. 
6u.T. 
... .0 per cent. 
.. Hi (carbon ) 
.. St. 
Nttrocen. 
Potash. 
Lime. 
Phosphoric acid 
Vulue... 
... 3.8. 
... 0.2 . 
...31.3. 
... 33.2 . 
$ 2 . 15 ........ 
..1 
.. 0.1 
. 43 . 
32 . 
42.12 
I 
estimating nitrogen at 20 cents aud phosphoric ' 
acid at six cents per pound. 2, It is beat 
applied iu the drill unless a very large quant¬ 
ity is used, say, 1,000 pounds per acre, when it 
may be spread ou the surface. Being only' 
slowly soluble a smaller quantity has very' little 
effect, while 1,000 pounds last several years. 
3, For strawberries and onions it should be 
used in the drills at plautiug or scattered along 
the drill and hoed iu. Unless it is near the roots 
very little good is done because from its in¬ 
solubility it is uot earned through the soil as 
the soluble superphosphate is. 4, On this ac¬ 
count 100 pounds of superphosphate would have 
more effect the first y'eax than 500 pounds of 
bone-black. 
TEMPERATURE OF A CHEESE-ROOM, ETC. 
J. S. P., Centreville, Fa.—I am making 
cheese from milk three-quarters skimmed and 
one-quarter new; when the cheeses are about 
a month old now and then a wet spot appears 
on one, which attracts skippers and flies. The 
temperature of the choese-room in hot weath¬ 
er is often as high as 86 deg., is there any way 
of cooling it except by darkening it, and how 
can the skippers and flies lie prevented from in¬ 
juring the cheese. 
Ans. —For a cheese-room 86 degrees is en¬ 
tirely too warm. The room should be shaded 
with blinds outside aud white shades inside, 
which reflect the heat. No air should be 
admitted through the day. but the windows 
should be opened at night and air freely ad¬ 
mitted. The flies may be kept out by having 
wire gauze screens iu the windows. Light is 
not needed in a cheeso-room, aud if the ven¬ 
tilating windows were made long and narrow 
ami put near the floor they could bo made 
with permanent slat blinds outside, a wire 
gauze screen inside aud an inside shutter to 
be closed in the day time if necessary. If the 
cheeses are kept well greased with whey but¬ 
ter it will protect them from flies to some 
extent, but not wholly'. We have had no ex¬ 
perience with the preservative mentioned, 
but another of a similar kind which the writer 
used for a time was found very injurious to 
the butter. There is no need for anything of 
the kind iu a well arranged milk house or 
cellar. 
SWELLING OF SIIEATH IN HORSE. 
A Subscriber, Baden, Pa .—My 13-year-old 
horse became very foul iu t he sheath six mouths 
ago. The sheath and the ad jacent parts of the 
him! legs became hard and very greatly'swol¬ 
len, and they have continued swollen ever 
since, though they are somewhat softer now. 
The animal makes water all right, w orks w ell 
ami is very spirited—what should be done for 
him ? 
Ans. —The original swelling was doubtless 
due to some iuterunl inflammation which may 
still exist, or the parts may have become tume¬ 
fied permanently. If there is no teudemossou 
pressure Or huudliug. the latter will lie indica¬ 
ted, and perhaps t he best thing to do w ould be 
to do nothing, but, leave it alone. If any sore* 
ness exists apply hot fomentations; inject into 
the sheath a w arm decoction of slippery elm 
bark, containing; half :i dtopi of »L£w-oi-itaq 
to the pint. In all eases of foul sheath th 
treatment should be not only outward in the 
way of thorough cleansing, but internal to cor¬ 
rect the wrong condition of the system which 
produces it. Two or three doses of linseed oil 
at least should be given, 
REMEDY FOR WORMS IN SWINE, ETC. 
A. iS, P,, Sherman, Taras, and. others .—1, 
What is a remedy for worms in hogs? 2, Why 
should slops be allow ed to become sour before 
they' are fed to hogs? 
Ans. — 1, One of the best remedies for 
worms in hogs is spirits of turpentine: dose 
one-fourth of an ounce, or a teaspoonfui. for 
a pig nndersix months of age; over six months 
and under a year, double the amount. For a 
full-grown Logan ounce or two tablespoonfuls 
will not be too much. The turpentine should 
be diluted with milk aud given through a tin 
horn. The dose sheuid be given, before eating, 
and should be repeated, if necessary, till the 
hog is cured. 2, Hogs eat food of any kind 
better when it is slightly fereneuted. If un- 
ferineuted it will ferment in the stomach, pro¬ 
ducing flatulency, colic, indigestion and loss of 
appetite, aud derangement of the bowels. 
Sourness is the first condition of fermentation, 
and this is the most healthful condition for 
food for swine, and it should take place before 
the food enters the stomach. Experience has 
demonstrated its importance. 
COKE-ASHES, ETC. 
C. B. P., Ml. Pleasant , Pa., How much 
per two-horse load can I afford to pay for 
horse manure when the horses are bedded on 
coke ashes? Distance to haul three-quarters 
of a mile, object of manure, to raise wheat 
and corn; soil clayey. 
Ans. —It depends upon the quantity of ashes 
in the manure. Coke aud coal ashes are j>re- | 
cisely the same. Coke is coal with the gas 
taken out of it; all the mineral part is left and 
the ashes of coke do not differ iu the slightest 
degree from coal ashes. Certainly the ashes 
would be useful in opening and loosening 
clay soil, butsaud or gravel would be as good, 
so that they are scarcely worth estimating. 
Perhaps in your locality 50 cents would be 
enough to pay for a load of such manure. 
CARBUNCULAfi ERYSIPELAS IN A HOG. 
C. H., Glendale, Mich. —After a week’s sick¬ 
ness last Fall, when a hog of mine began to 
get better, darkish spots appeared on the skin 
which soon pealed off there, some of the seals 
being nearly a toot across. The places are 
nearly healed; but the sores are appearing in 
Other places. The animal eats well and ap¬ 
peal's hearty—what ails him and how' should 
he be treated ? 
Ans. —The disease is earbuneular erysipelas 
in a mild form. Give the pig two drams of 
hyposulphite of soda every day for several 
weeks. This should have been done at first. 
Wash the sore spots with a solution of one 
dram of chloride of zinc in a quart of water. 
MISCELLANEOUS. 
J. //., Conemaugh, Pa. —1, What is the 
name of the plant a specimen of which is 
inclosed? 2, What will prevent the White 
Grub from destroying my strawberries? 3, 
Will the Gregg and Cuthbert Raspberries aud 
the Early Wilson Blackberry stand the Winter 
here without protection—our coldest weather 
is ouly 13 degrees below zero? 4, Can China 
Pinks be kept in pots ju the house during Win¬ 
ter? 5, Will Phlox seed that drops to the 
ground germinate? 6, What is the best way 
to keep Geraniums through the Winter? 
Ans. —1. It is Perilla Nankinensis, au an¬ 
nual, prized for ribbon borders on account of 
the rich,dark color of its leaves. It usually seeds 
freely. 2. To change the laud is the best you 
can do. Spade the soil late in the Fall and 
sow salt plentifully. 3, Yes. 4. Yes. 5, Yes. 
if you stir the soil lightly so as to cover the 
seed. 6, In pots or tubs of very saudv soil iu 
a dark cellar iu which the temperature is 
above freezing in the coldest weather. 
IF. F. €., Galena, III .—What is the nature 
of the worm that is eating up my blackberry 
bushes. It is a little greenish worm from a 
quarter to half an inch in length. It eats the 
tender foliage near the top and generally 
makes its nest or hiding place right in the tip 
or heart of the glowing caue. 
ANSWERED BY PROF. C. V. RILEY. 
It is impossible to distinctly recognize from 
the description the particular species that does 
the mischief, but I have no doubt that it is the 
“Neat Stlftwlterry beat-Roller," Eceopsis per- 
mundana, Cl. (Family Tortrieidre) which is 
known to attack straw berries, raspberries and 
blackberries in the manner described. 
Applications of air-slaked lime or kero¬ 
sene emulsions are to bo recommended as 
remedies. The insect is described and illus¬ 
trated in Saunder’s “ Insects Injurious to 
Fruits,” pp. 324-'5, 
E. IF. L., Med field, Mass. —What is the in¬ 
sect that attacks our Azaleas, a specimen of 
>vhi< 4 js sent the litRAL, J.C tutors about a 
foot from the ground and eats the pith, des¬ 
troying the plant? 
Ans.— The worms which infest the stems 
of Azaleas are the larvae of a Longirorn Bee¬ 
tle belonging to the genus Oberea, but it is im¬ 
possible to determine the particular species 
without having bred the perfect insect. The 
genus Oberea contains numerous species which 
are readily distinguished by their nairow, 
cylindrical form, the upper-side being gray or 
black, with the thorax bright orange and or¬ 
namented with two or four black dots. Their 
larvae bore in the tender branches of various 
trees and shrubs. 
& E. L., Pctrolca, Pa. —1, What would be 
the best kind of strawberries with which to 
start a bed of several hundred plants? 2, How 
late can they be set to bear fruit next year? 
Ans. —You do not say whether the kinds to 
be selected are for near or far market or for 
home use merely. We would suggest for 
home use:—Cumberland Triumph, Charles 
Downing and Sharpless. For market the last 
two are good, adding Crescent. Manchester 
and W xLson. 2, It is getting rather late now. 
If frosts hold off and a new bed lie given good 
care, they may yield a small crop next year; 
if set at once good potted plants would give 
half a crop. 
C, W. Lansingburgh. N. Y. What will 
i ender the sandy soil of the pine barrens of 
North Carolina fertile? 
Ans. —Probably the greatest need of these 
“barrens” is an admixture of humus. A 
coating of muck woukl therefore be beneficial, 
if obtainable. While good land can be ob¬ 
tained, gratis, in some parts of the country 
and bought at such low figures in other parts, 
it would hardly be wise or profitable to make 
so large an outlay as would be needed to 
render the pine barrens of the South fertile. 
L. H. A., Quincy, Wis. —Will a barberry 
hedge prove hardy in Central Wisconsin; and 
where can the plants or seeds be obtained? 
Ans. —We believe it will prove hardy. The 
seeds can be obtained of Robert Douglas, of 
Maukegan, Ills., perhaps—or of Thomas 
Meehan, of Philadelphia, Pa., or of J. M. 
Thorbum & Co., of N. Y. The plants would 
not cost much and would save time and trouble. 
IF. F. FI., Steamburg, N. F.—What ails my 
six-months-old pig ? It is weak in the back, 
and at times is unable to stand on its hind 
legs: yet it eats well and is in good condition. 
Ans. —The pig is probably suffering from the 
very common disorder, inflammation of the 
spinal membrane, which produces nervous 
weakness or partial paralysis. Apply turpen¬ 
tine or mustard paste to the loins and give a 
tablespoouful of linseed oil. 
H. T. M., The Ridge, Ont., Canada. Of 
the Fultzo-Clawson, Surprise and Shumaker 
Wheats distributed by the Rural which 
has been found the most successful? 
Ans. —The Surprise thus far seems the fa¬ 
vorite. The reports iu the Rural “ Every¬ 
where” Department will tell fully all about 
each variety iu all parts of the country. 
Heivnitage Landing, West Baton Rouge, 
La. —Should rust-proof oats intended for graz¬ 
ing calves in Winter, be sown here in Septem¬ 
ber or October ? 
Ans — Iu October. 
J. IF. B., Montreal, Canada. —Is there a 
plum kuown as the Kelso Japan Plum? It is 
being sold iu Nova Scotia by American tree 
peddlers. 
Ans,—I t is new to us. 
A. L. K., Riverside, la., sends leaf of vine 
for name ? 
Ans. —We think it is the Dish-rag Gourd, 
but are not positive about the matter. 
A. M., Woodstock, Fa.—When should the 
five choice heads of Rural wheat be sent to 
the Rural office ? 
Ans. —When gathered. 
Several Inquirers. —Where can Willow cut¬ 
tings be obtained ? 
Ans. —From Samuel Hickmau, Syracuse, 
N. Y. 
A. C., Somerset County Ind., sends insect 
for name. 
Ans. —It is the Praying Mantis, (Mantis 
Carolina). 
L. T. 1),, Glen wood, Iowa, sends plant for 
name. 
Ans. —It is the Hoary Vervain, or Verbena 
stricta. 
Communications Received for the week Ending 
Saturday, Sept. 15. 
J. H. (Pa) thanks-Miss M. E. S.—thanks. The her* 
received. Try to raise them from seeds—T. D. B„ 
thanks—L !>.—R. F,—L. S. H.—A, L. K.—W. S. R— 
W. C. Jr.-W. S. T.—J. \V. C. F. D. O.-C. S. R.-D. T 
G.—F. S.—W, W —C, A C.—ft. A. B, —M. H. B.-J, W. 
B.-L. H. L.-A. B C.S.-G. L. J.-G. H.H.-C. V. R.— 
W.C. McA.-E. W,~|P. E. R —W. F. B.-Mrs.C. H.C., 
thanks—N. S-L. S.—H. C- B.—A. M.-J. E. M.C.—M 
L.H — F. M-—M.W — p. H. H ,we shall endeavor to 
do it.-C. L. K.-G. C. F.—ft. C.-M. S. C.-J A. Y. 
V , yes, please —T. 'W. B.- J. A. F.—E A. S.—M.C. P., 
t: rnks—J. M.S.—C. A. K.—K. P, M-, tllftllKa—R. P. U 
S*G| ft- 
