OCT 6 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
depths, and the soil does not catch up as readi" 
ly the foreign elements in the water, while 
some of the same class of soils in different sit¬ 
uations allow the easy sopping up of water 
from greater depths, aided by capillary at¬ 
traction, and from these, therefore, the evap¬ 
oration is greater. 
Surface manuring gives most excellent re¬ 
turns in case of the first crop, say, wheat; but 
it does not beuefit the very essential clover 
growth following as much as plowed-iu ma¬ 
nures. YVo need only apply a few simple and 
clear experiments accompanied by some of 
the common-sense of science (and indeed com¬ 
mon-sense should be the whole of science), to 
understand that top-dressing involves a flying 
away of some of our nitrogenous possessions; 
while it bestows upon the first crop almost all 
of the remainder of the fertility in the appli¬ 
cation, adding the scantiest amount to the store 
of resources iu the soil. 
-- 
Judgment Needed in Applying Ashes. 
Is there not danger of throwing money away 
iu ashes if not used with judgments For in¬ 
stance, I have been cleaning up several fields 
of inch bottom laud heavily timbered, aud 
have burned logs and brush freely on the land. 
On some large logs 1 have piled smaller ones 
aud wood aud burned them off time after time. 
Before they were finally disposed of, tho ashes 
would be thick on the ground. In other places 
smaller piles would be burned and tho ashes 
would be turned under without scattering, 
yet 1 never could tell, from the crop, where 
any but one of those ash piles had been. The 
ground is very rich 1 admit; but the crop will 
indicate where logs have rotted, and I think u 
mail of stable manure would make its mark. 
On this ground potato bugs do nut thrive at 
all, whether it is because the ground is so fully 
supplied with potash as to flavor the vines, 
or because the rank growth causes them to be 
unpalatable to the pests; but the tubers are of 
the best quality. 1 am sure mouey invested 
iu ashes ou my soil would be wasted, w.w.k 
Uural (topics . 
notes on back numbers. 
T. H. HOSKINS, M. D. 
I think Mr. Purnell’s experience (page 535) 
with the Agriculturist, Hovey and Triomphe 
de Gaud Strawberries is the experience of 99 
growers in 1UQ who have tried them. Agri¬ 
culturist is worthless m plant tmd fruit; tio- 
vey is too delicate aud tender aud in every 
way too uncertain for profit; while Triomphe 
is a first-class amateur berry ou strong land, 
and the only foreign strawberry that has 
proved valuable in America. 
It is a hard thing to prove a negative, aud 
Mr. Beliman, iu his article on raising cream 
(page 535) can ouly say, iu reply to the state¬ 
ment Unit cream raised in 12 hours at 45 de¬ 
grees makes the same quality of butter as 
cream raised iu 24 hours at 50 degrees or in 30 
hours at 02 degrees, that it doesn’t work so 
with him. That proves just nothiug ut all. 
That sort of “argument ' is just as good 
against 10,000 men who have done it, as it is 
against one, and no better. But Mr. L. is 
right in preferring creamers as a matter of 
convenience. Also they help many unskillful 
workers to make a marketable article which 
otherwise they never would, and thus effect 
a great saving to the country. 
The Editor says (puge 535) that we never 
shall find the earliest kinds of sweet corn with 
large ears. If “very’’ were inserted be¬ 
fore “large,” the statement could be agreed to 
by all; but the Early Marblehead's ears under 
good culture, are 10 inches long with large 
Kernels. Its bad fault is the red cob that stains 
the com iu cooking. (.The ear is very small 
with us.— Eds.] 
Did anybody ever know anj r “legislation 
against weeds” (page 540) to be enforced in 
ttiis country! Our statute books are crowded 
with laws which it is no poreon's obligatory 
duty to see enforced, and which therefore 
never arc enforced. Those weed laws are 
among them. Laws never enforce themselves. 
Even iu Massachusetts such au important law 
us that requiring insurance companies to be 
examined every three years, although there is 
u commissioner whoso special aud sworn duty 
it is to do it, lias been almost utterly disre¬ 
garded, according to a recent report. We 
nave far too fuauy such laws—what is tho use 
of more! 
Rural, Sept. L. —And 01 the “Fair Num¬ 
ber;” how tho RURAL continues to outdo itself, 
having no other rivals to eclipse! Can you 
do it agaiu, next year [? Eds.] 
Mu. Powell’s article on “Holsteius” (page 
550) is interesting. In tho last 30 years the 
Dutch have greatly increased the size of their 
cattle, and to some extent the flow of milk, 
but 1 do not think the present style any better 
(nor so good in a rough country) for the 
dairy than the old Jarvis importation, made 
into Vermont so long ago, and whose descend¬ 
ants are still to be found here in several herds. 
This stock crosses kiudly, too, on the natives, 
and makes excellent dairy animals for butter 
or cheese. This is not the case with the present 
strain, so far as I have observed. The cross 
is too violent, and the product very ill-shaped. 
How far north lias the “Salome Apple” 
(page 551) been tested? Very few apples of 
Illinois origin are very hardy, and none “iron¬ 
clad,” so far. The Edgar Red Streak (VVal- 
bridge) is the hardiest—not hardier than 
Fameuse. 
I see I am distanced. I have been develop¬ 
ing a yellow wrinkled pea which I intended to 
christen with the Rural’s name, but Mr. 
Cleveland has got in ahead of me. I feel bad. 
Rural, Sept. 8.—Mrs. Fisher can have her 
wish for dwarf cherry trees (page 5SD) grati¬ 
fied when Prof. Budd, of the Iowa Agricul¬ 
tural College, has sufficiently increased his 
stock of the Russian cherries procured by him 
in his visit to Northern Europe last Summer- 
In his report for 1882 he says: “The cherry 
orchards of Vladimir are planted about 10 feet 
each way. V’ ladimir orchardists decide that 
they bear better trained as bushes, which of¬ 
ten have three or four stems.” These Russian 
cherries are said to be very good in quality, 
and of fair size. 
B. F. J.’s article on muck (page 51*2) con¬ 
tains the substance of all that is needed to be 
known about it. Our best farmers in Ver¬ 
mont value muck highly, and know the good 
from tho bad. But ail are not good farmers. 
The Rural’s prize essays have all been 
good. Mr. \Valker's (page 502) is very good. 
It is plainly written from au experience which 
has taugbt the writer much that is worth 
knowing aud telling. 
Rural, Sept. 15.—I am glad to see so cap¬ 
able a judge as Mr. Bensel give a good report 
of the Y’ergeunes Grape. Though a Vermont 
variety, it ouly reaches perfection iu the 
southern port of the State aud along Lake 
Champlain, its remarkable keeping quality, 
in addition to its other merits, maxes it ot spe¬ 
cial value, both to amateurs aud commercial 
growers. [That is very time, but Mr. Bensel 
makes it too early.— Eds.] 
The Brighton Grape is one of the best 
suited to the North. Why anybody wants 
Hartford when he can have Brighton it is 
hard to see. Salem is also an early grape, aud 
the only one I know that is quite good to eat 
ivhen not more than half ripe. 
Mr. Campbell is terribly “down” on the 
Niagara Grape (page 008). There seems to be 
too much feeling, not of tho best, in what he 
says. Rural readers will certainly hope for 
better things than he prophesies in regard 
to the Rural distribution of seeds. But why 
caunot you distribute seeds of some good 
variety every year? I believe it would be 
appreciated, and do more than any other one 
thing could do towards giviug us the perfect 
grape. 
Mrs. Fisher’s article about Cailyle (page 
013) leads me to say that a man with a genius 
for a wife, is apt to have even a worse time. 
Carlyle did provide the supplies, but what do 
the female geuuises contribute to domestic 
bliss! 
dvlumcititurul. 
HOW TO GROW AN OSAGE ORANGE 
HEDGE. 
In tho following article I propose to give 
rentiers of the Rural the results <>r several 
years’ experience with the Osage Orange as 
a hedge plant, its likes, dislikes, enemies, aud 
the method of nmuttgmg )t so as to obtain a 
good, reliable hedge in from tour to six years. 
Thu Osage Orange Mill grow and do well on 
any common farm land, but best on a deep 
sandy loam. It bears heat and dry weather 
well, loves good cultivation, aud. as a ride, is 
more neglected than anything a farmer plants. 
It dislikes marshy, low grounds; it is no use 
to try it there; by so douig. time aud mouey 
are ouly wasted. Its enemies here are the 
pouched gophers—cure, a little strychnine iu 
a small potato dropped iu their holes. 
A hedge can be raised, laid aud trimmed 
ready to turn stock for 05 cents per rod. Lost 
afterwards, lj-j cent per rod for trimming, 
and burning thorns. Trim once a year aud 
don't, neglect it. First-class plants cost $1.7° 
to $2 per thousand, and buy no other kind, 
Reject all small plants or plant them by them¬ 
selves. Spread the bundles and heel in as soon 
as you get them. Never expose them to wiud 
and sun more than you can possibly help. 
Just be f ore planting cut off the ends of the 
roots with a sharp knife, leaving the yellow 
part about eight inches long; trim the tops 
within two or three inches of the yellow line. 
Plow the fence row deep and harrow 
thoroughly; set your sight stakes iu a true 
liDe. (I use lath edgewise). You will need a 
strong cord, say two rods long, to set by, with 
a peg at each end. Set the hue and drop the 
plants at intervals of 10 inches—about 20 
Section Trimmed Ready to Lay Down — 
Fig. a51. 
plants to the rod. Set the spade in the 
ground to the shoulder; lean it forward: set 
the plant in the opening behind the spade aud 
withdraw the latter. A boy should follow aud 
cover the plant to the tip , and tramp the 
ground firm. A very little practice will 
enable one to set the plants about 10 inches 
apart. If they are set much closer than that, 
the roots will crowd each other aud the plant 
will be killed out. A man and boy can easily- 
set 80 rods per day. Get, say. one tenth more 
plants than will he needed; put them in at the 
end of the row, half the usual distances 
apart: that is, in au 80-rod string. 72 rods 
will l>e set 10 inches, and eight rods, five 
inches apart. 
Give clean, thorough cultivation until July 
10th; then stop. Don't keep on plowing and 
scratching till Fall because the straights green 
line looks so nice on the black ground. Let 
the ground settle for YY'inter. for the first 
YVinter is the dangerous time for a hedge. 
Osage Hedge, Section Laid —Fig. <*52. 
Early in September, cut the tops off ; that is, 
cut a few niches off the top, to harden the 
plant by checking its growth. As soon as the 
Host is iu the ground in December, mulch with 
some old straw two or three inches deep aud 
two or three feet on each side of row. Dou’t 
use old hay or the seed may prove a nuisance. 
Next Spring, in April, throw off the mulch, 
and cut off every plant at the surface of the 
ground, first pulling up the extras put in at 
the ends of the row. If a dead plant is found 
pull it up, and in its place carefully set one of 
the extras without cutting it back. 
The hedge is now cut off close to the grouud, 
except the “replants.” If more than one-tenth 
are missing, one can either pull up plants 
from the end.to replant with, or else plow up 
aud plant afresh This year, plmv towards the 
hedge and keep clean; no mulch is required. 
v\ heu the plants are about six to eight feet 
high aud from one to two inches iu diameter 
is the time to lay the hedge down. I lay mine 
iu March or April. Take a hedge knife and 
trim the plants up. as iu Mg. 051. Do not trim 
close; leave the stubs one or two inches ioug. 
The cut represents a section of the hedge 
trimmed ready to be laid down. S. S. S. S. 
are tho stainlanls, and the dots represent the 
stubs of the laterals. These make catches to 
hold the plants down. YY’hen a strong hedge 
cannot be obtained, 1 use stakes to bind tightly. 
A w ord here os to the nature of the plant :— 
If it is laid at au augle of 45 degrees, as shown 
in Fig. 652, it will throw up strong shoots 
all along. If it is laid at au incline greater 
than 45 degrees, the shoots will be from the 
bottom third, Fig. 053, and the rest of the plant 
will die. If the plants are laid at a greater angle, 
the shoot will be from the upper third princi¬ 
pally, as shown at Fig. 054. Iu this section of 
laid-down hedge the Light of the standard is 
40 inches. The tools needed in “laying down” 
are a knife to trim with, ami a two-inch long- 
handled chisel and mullet. Two persons are 
needed for the job. After a slit has been 
made iu each plant close to the ground aud 
655 
large enough to permit the plant to bend eas¬ 
ily, one person holds it down while the other 
weaves it between the standards at an angle 
of 45 degress. For doing this the proper 
time is September or early Spring—say. March. 
Arm your boy with a long-handled chisel 
and a mallet, and let him take one side of the 
hedge and the hired man the other, with his 
hedge knife. Cut off the standards about 
three feet high aud about 20 inches apart and 
weave in the intermediate plants; let the boy 
with his chisel cut them at the ground just 
enough to let them bend easily. Now nothiug 
can go through that hedge, aud this is the only 
reliable way to get a good hedge. All the 
hedge will now need is to be trimmed on the 
sides and top each year. A man will trim SO 
rods per day. Some trim in the Fail; I al¬ 
ways have trimmed in March or early in April. 
If these instructions are followed, I will war¬ 
rant a good hedge—in this section of the 
country anyhow. r. j. w, moore. 
Warren Co., Iowa. 
(t\)C Poultrij Uari). 
MANAGING INCUBATORS. 
L. S. HARDIN. 
YY’hen a man has a patent incubator to sell, 
he is very much like the owner of a horse 
who is anxious to sell the animal: and it is 
well to indulge in a reasonable amount of 
skepticism as to the entire truthfulness of his 
representations. 
For instance, when he says, Mr. So-and-So 
has hatched 80 or ‘J0 per cent, of eggs with his 
machine, the probabilities are that this per 
cent, was taken from au exceptionally lucky 
hatch ami made up from a very small number 
of eggs; for instance, from ten ferti.e eggs 
selected out of fifteen purchased eggs, eignt 
may hatch, and this is an 80-per cent, hatch, 
though at first sight one would naturally think 
that the speaker meant 80 chicks were hatched 
from 100 eggs. \V itb considerable experience 
in managing incubators, 1 have grave doubts 
if 80 healthy chicks were ever taken from 
100 fertile eggs with an incubator, nor do I 
believe it can be done with hens. 
YVith my management 1 take no risks with 
eggs until after the fifth day; that is, unless 
an egg shows an active chick in it on the fifth 
day, I take it out and if it is perfectly clear, it 
is used on the table :but if the least bit clouded, 
it is boiled for chickeu food. The egg that is 
fertile and above suspicion presents in the 
tester the appearance shown at Fig. 050. The 
dark spot in the upper side of Die egg is the 
embryo chick, aud it the egg is rocked, this 
dark spot M ill move about aud appear Quite 
Fertile LiYJtli. —Fig. 050. 
lively. If the motion is very dull, or if it 
simply floats from one part of the egg to 
another without shoM’iug any eccentric mo¬ 
tion, then the chick is dead aud the egg should 
be removed, though if there is any doubt 
about it. as there often is owing to the opaque¬ 
ness of some egg shells so that but little can be 
seen, tneu make a small circle just over the 
date outlie shell, aud if at subsequent exami¬ 
nations this egg should show life, then draM' a 
cross through the circle. 
I have found thermometers to vary so in in¬ 
dicating heat,that with practice 1 have learned 
to tell the proper temperature by laying the 
baud on the eggs. 1 can now see very easily 
how the old Egyptians hatched eggs iu caves 
without the aid of thermometers or our other 
modern appliances. 1 have found also that 
the left hand is much more sensitive to vari¬ 
ations of temperature than the light. This, 1 
suppose, is due to the extra labor performed 
with the right hand, which creates a thicker 
skiu ou it than that which forms on the idle 
lett. .Persons Mho ore left-handed Mould 
probably find the revei-se experience true. 
Thermometers should be tested before used. 
This can be easily done by placing them side 
by side, w itli oue for a standard, iu a basin of 
water, and with a lamp heat the water up un¬ 
til the mercum that, is lowest rises above 105 
degrees. First number the thermometers, and 
pencil and paper in hand, w hen the mercury 
in the thermometer selected as a standard 
reaches the point of 08 degrees, w ritedown the 
points indicated by all the others. Repeat 
this as Die standard reaches each degree until 
105 is attained, then remove the lamp aud re¬ 
peat the process as the mercury in the ther- 
ui<imeter recedes This last record is much more 
reliable taken by the falling temperature than 
