OGT 6 
659 
Then the seed should be sown—at least two or 
three bushels per acre-two ways to get an even 
seeding, and then covered in with the roller or 
a smoothing plank. 2. Five hundred to 1,000 
sheep could be kept on 200 acres under a good 
system of sheep farming, that is, by growing 
root and fodder crops for Winter feeding and 
saving a field for Winter pasture. For in¬ 
stance, a corn stubble may be sown to rye for 
Winter and Spring pasture and then planted 
with roots or some other crop; millet may be 
grown for Winter feeding and so on: other¬ 
wise not more than one sheep to the acre can 
be kept. Five sheep can be kept for one cow. 
extra early potatoes. 
H. T. M., The Ridge, Ontario , Canada —W T e 
are frequently visited by frosts in June, and 
also in August. To avoid the June frosts wo 
plant, potatoes fairly late; then when August 
frosts visit us our crops are in danger again. 
We have planted the Early lloso very exten¬ 
sively, but some of us fear that by planting 
this variety alone it may fail with us as it has 
done in some of the New England States. The 
question is, what is the best variety for us to 
plant in our circumstances ? Dr. Hoskins, or 
some other reliable Northerner, may be able 
to help us by' some valuable suggestions. 
Answered by Dr. Hoskins. 
The Alpha, one of Mr. Pringle’s seedlings, 
is a potato that will fully mature in the short¬ 
est time of any that are of good quality. The 
Alpha is of the best quality, but,like all extra- 
early sorts, it requires rich soil, or it w ill 
prove unproductive. In the garden I have 
not found it less productive than Early Rose; 
but in the field the Rose is ahead considerably. 
It matures its crop fully two weeks sooner than 
the Rose. In the situation of this correspon¬ 
dent early kinds seem to be imperative, to 
make sure of a crop. 1 would also advise the 
trial of Beauty of Hebron and Early Ohio us 
varieties for the field, not so early as the 
Alpha, but earlier than the Rose. 
grasses and fertilizer for permanent 
PASTURE. 
W. C. Jr., Trapp«, Mil, —1, What grasses 
would be best suited for a permanent pasture 
in tliis climate—the seed to be sown with 
wheat. ? 2, Would finely ground S. C. phos¬ 
phate be a suitable fertilizer ? 
Ans. —1, Timothy would be the only grass 
perhaps, which could la? sown with safety' 
rather late in the Fall. The other grasses 
mentioned below may be sown if the seeding 
is uot delayed later than Sept. 20th. otherwise 
they should be sown in the Spring. One gal¬ 
lon of Timothy with five pounds of Red 
Top and 10 pounds of Randull Grass 
(Meadow Fescue) per acre would form a 
suituhlo mixture for a permnuent pasture; 
or Or char d Grass and Kentucky Blue 
Grass may bo substituted for the Red 
Top aud Randall In seeding grass with wheat, 
it is of the ut most importance that the grass 
sow ing should follow' closely that of the wheat, 
before any rain falls on the freshly stirred 
earth. 2, Finely ground raw bone would be 
preferable to the S. C. bone, though the cost 
would be considerably greater. The fossil 
bone would answer well, however, if the land 
is already in good condition If intended for 
the gross, it should be distributed broadcast in 
the Fall. 
FISTULA ON HORSE’S WITHERS. 
M. L., Republic, Mich .—The shoulder of 
my eight-year-old bore© w'as bruised last Win¬ 
ter, aud a large swelliug formed on the with¬ 
ers. It broke out anil “ran” a great deal, but 
finally healed over. Later, however, it broke 
out agaiu, forming a fistula on the w ithers. 
What is the proper treatment l 
Ans.— The fistula can only be cured by re¬ 
moving the pipe, either by cutting it out or 
by applying strong caustics to it. Tliis should 
be done carofully. The knife is the safest 
way. The wound is then to be dressed with 
warm water with a little carbolic add, and 
cleaned out by means of a sponge on jt be end 
of a small rod. Or it might be better to open 
an outlet for the pus to escape naturally. But 
this matter must escape or be removed tw ice 
a day and the wound well cleansed. Theu a 
plug of lint dipped in tinctured' myrrh should 
lie put in to protect it and keep it from clos¬ 
ing at the top until it is properly healed from 
the bottom aud a bandage or pad should be 
fitted over it. 
PEA MILDEW—CATARRH IN FOWL8. 
J. O. S., Haverhill, X. II,—l. My Laxton’s 
Alpha Peas die out about the time they com¬ 
mence to blossom. They begin to die near the 
root and gradually wither. This variety is h 
week earlier than the American Wonder, but 
the Wonder doesn't die, nor does the Little 
Gem; why does the Alpha ? 2. Though my 
hens are well fed and housed, some of them 
become blind every year ; their eyes look all 
right, but can't see at all. W hat ails them ? 
Ans.— 1. The peas are no doubt all'ected by 
the pea mildew. English varieties are more 
-dt. jpct to this disefisu tl>»n American seed, It 
THE RURAL MEW-Y0RKER. 
may be that your seed was imported. You 
might try again and succeed. Perhaps a 
dressing of plaster and salt in the row might 
help them. 2. The hens suffer from catarrh, 
which produces first, inflammation of the eyes, 
then a film, and then blindness. Do you clean 
the house perfectly ? The fumes arising from 
decaying manure will produce it. Try' an oc¬ 
casional dusting of fine lime in the house in 
the evening until the birds sneeze. This is a 
good remedy for catarrh. 
A PARASITE OF THE CABBAGE WORM. 
J. II. B., New Washington, Pa .—In each of 
two large Cabbage Worms 1 found 31 maggot¬ 
like worms 3-lfi of an inch long and 1-16 of an 
inch iu diameter. Under the magnifying 
glass they looked clear, with a small, green 
streak from end to cud. What were they? 
ANSWERED BY PROF. C. V. RILEY. 
The small maggots referred to are parasites 
of the Cabbage Worm and belong, no doubt, 
to Ptcromalus puparum, a handsomely' colored 
chalcid fly' which is one of the most effectual 
natural checks of the Cabbage Worm. The 
eggs are inserted by the parent Ptcromalus 
withiu the body of the Cabbage Worm, the 
parasitic larva- feeding upon the fatty sub¬ 
stance of their victim aud issuing as winged 
flies from the chry salis of the Cabbage Worm. 
Such parasitized chrysalids may he readily re¬ 
cognized from the uon-parasitized ones, by 
their much darker color. 
HUFF IN CHEESE. 
L. C. S., Berkshire, Yt .—What causes and 
what will prevent huff iu cheese ? 
Ans. —Huff or swelling in cheese is caused 
by the presence of gases produced by r putre¬ 
factive decomposition. It is the result of im¬ 
purities iu the milk. These may lie overcome 
to some extent, suflicioutly at least to make a j 
good cheese, by souring the curds iu the vat to I 
a certain point. This can ouly be ascertained t 
by practice and experience, as the taint va¬ 
ries. The judgment is influenced, however, by 
the huffy character of the curds. Some mak¬ 
ers put skewers iu the cheese to give vent to 
the gas. It is a defect, however, to be avoided 
rather than cured. 
incipient dropsy in a cow. 
G. .4. B., Yorkshire, N. F.—What causes a 
swelling on the belly of a cow that cast her 
calf-bag last Spring, and what should be the 
treatment ? 
Ans.—I t might he due to a dropsical condi¬ 
tion resulting from constitutional weakness 
uud this no doubt produced the accident at 
her calving. Give the cow one ounce of pow¬ 
dered cnsearilla bark iu some cut feed every 
other day', and on the alternate days give one 
draru of iodide of iron. Feed her well and 
give two quarts of linseed meal daily. 
VALUE OF “NIGGER.” 
IP. 5. B., Ann Arbor, Mich .—What is the 
value of “nigger’’ from the soap factories i 
How does it compare with unleached ashes as 
a fertilizer, and how is it best used ? 
Ans.—T his is known us soap boilers' waste. 
It contains the lime and the phosphoric acid 
and wLatovor nitrogenous matter may have 
been in the cellular tissue of the fut. It is a 
valuable fertilizer, and makes a useful addition 
to a compost heap. It contains all that was 
in the ashes except the potash, aud it retains 
perhaps one-tenth part of that. 
SHEARING SPRING LAMBS IN AUGUST. 
•S'. M. Edgerlon, Ohio .—Does shearing April 
lambs late in August aid the growth of their 
wool? 
Ans.—T his practice is not to be encouraged 
for several reasons. If it should aid the growth 
of the fleece, it can only do this at the expense 
of the growth of the animal. Again, it robsa j 
young, immature animal of its necessary pro- 
tooth m on the approach of the cold weather, 
and thus tends to stunt the growth of cattle 
still more. It is a practice to lie deprecated iu 
the .strongest manner. 
MISCELLANEOUS. 
8. B. J- Gilmartan, N. H. —1. What is the 
best treatment for asparagus in the Fall ? 2. 
Does it not weaken the plants to allow the 
seeds to grow to full size, even if they are cut 
before ripening ? 3. Are wood ashes a good 
fertilizer ? 4. Dow long do the seeds of com¬ 
mon garden vegetables retain their vitality ? 
W'o presume the inquiry relates 
to treatment in t lie garden, not the field, if 
the soil was properly prepared when the tied 
was planted, nothing more is needed than cut¬ 
ting off the tops and hoeing out the weeds and 
volunteer seedlings. If the bed needs manure 
it may be top dressed now with manure, but 
we should prefer to wait uutil Spring. A cov¬ 
ering of coarse manure or leaves will induce 
an earlier Spring growth. 2. Yes, fruit hear¬ 
ing weakens all plants; hut destroying the 
foliage would weaken them more. Better not 
cut away the stems and leaves until withered. 
3. Yes, a very valuable fertilizer if unleaehed. 
4, Pea and bran seeds »ud salsify mar 
safely be planted if two years old; cabbage, 
turnip and celery seeds are safe when four to 
five years old; tomato, beet, cucumber, melon, 
squash, pumpkin, are safe for from six to 
twelve years. 
\r. H. If., Praltsbnrg, N. Y. —1. Where can 
seeds of the common and Purple Barberry be 
obtained ? How much will they cost,and which 
is the better for this section ? 2. Where can I 
get plants and cuttings of the Shaffer’s Colos¬ 
sal, Superb, and Kansell Raspberries ? 3. Are 
they' propagated in the same way as the Cuth- 
bert J 4. Which is the best of the three * 
ANS.—1. We know of but two firms offering 
these seeds. One is Thomas Meehan, of Ger¬ 
mantown, Penn.; the other, James M. 
Thorburn & Co., 15 John St., New York. The 
cost is $2 per pound. There will be little choice 
as between the common and purple varieties. 
We do not think seeds of the purple are of¬ 
fered separately. 2. These raspberries are 
offered by most of our nurserymen. Send for 
the catalogues of Ellwauger & Barry, C. A. 
Green, Hale Bros., Wm. Parry, or G. S. Wales. 
Addresses can be found in our Fair Num¬ 
ber. 3. The Shaffer’s Colossal may lie propa¬ 
gated by the tips; the Superb aud Hansell, the 
same as the Cuthbert. 4. We consider the 
Hansell the best early red—Cuthbert the best 
late. Shaffer’s is dark in color—the ouly ob¬ 
jection. 
L. P., Suffeln , N. F.—For two years my cows 
have been pastured iu a field in which was a 
swamp. Previous to Aug. 1st no trouble had en¬ 
sued, but about that time one of my cows began 
to have watery bunches appear on her fore legs 
which finally appeared upon the hind legs. 
They were immediately under the skin and 
contained no matter, but merely a watery 
substance. Upon breaking, the places healed 
over, leaving a bare spot upon which hair is 
beginning to appear. Although they have had 
access to thisswamp for three years, no trouble 
has resulted until now. The swamp was this 
season drier than in previous years, and the 
cows frequent it a great deal. A man tells 
me that the cow has been poisoned by some 
plant growing in the swamp. What is the 
trouble? 
Ans. —The man is probably correct. If there 
is poison sumac, a bush with light gray stems 
and leaves something like the common sumac 
but having only three to five pairs and a ter¬ 
minal one, this will do the mischief by the cows 
rubbing on the bushes. Or the cows may suffer 
by eating coarse heritage from the swamp. A 
swamp is a very unwholesome place for cows 
to feed in. 
Le G. T., Long Hill. Conn —What should 
be done with a piece of land that has been 
under grass for years, and is now “rundown?” 
It was plowed about a month ago and sowed 
to turnips, but the seed has uot sprouted. 
Would rye be a good crop to sow, and what 
would lie better? 
Ans. —Better put in wheat, as it will pay the 
best, although it is all right to sow rye. 
Work the ground over until the sods are 
dead, hut this is probably not necessary as 
it was plowed so long ago. If the ground 
is mellow and the soil dead, the grain can 
lie cultivated in, just as it is. Use a bushel 
and a-half of seed to the acre aud 200 pounds 
of superphosphate harrowed in with it; and 
as much liarnyard manure as you cau get 
will make it all the better for the wheat; 
rye docs not require so much. Grass seed 
may tie sowed now or in the Spring. 
M. M. W., Dansville, Mich.— What is the 
best work on sheep raising for a mau about to 
engage in the business extensively in Western 
Texas ? 
Ans.— Randall's Sheep Husbandry in the 
South, $1.50; Stewart's Shepherd’s Manual, 
$1.50. and Randall’s Practical Shepherd, $2, 
would he serviceable, probably iu this order. 
To Vie had through the ueorest book-store or 
the American News Co., N. Y. Killebrew’s 
Sheep Husbandry in Tennessee contains a 
great deal of information that would be useful 
to a sheep raiser in Texas. It is published by 
the Commissioner of Agriculture, Nashville, 
Tenn. Texas Wool, a monthly periodical, sub¬ 
scription $1 a year, published at Sun Antonio, 
Texas, should also be obtained for local news 
and information. 
J. li. IF., Elmira, X. Y— 1, How can a cow 
lie prevented from leaking her milk ? 2, 
What feed will be the best for growth in a 
bull calf during Winter? S, What is the best 
Wintoi feed for Fall pigs iu the absence of 
milk? 
Ans.— 1, Milk the cow twice a day so that the 
bag will not become too full. Tliis is the only 
remedy. 2, M ix linseed oil meal (old process) 
aud wheat middlings together, or ground oats, 
one part of the former to three of the latter. 
Feed from two to four quarts a day, according 
to the ability of the calf to digest it, making 
two rations, one for morning aud one for 
night. 3, Wheat middlings mixed with swill, 
YYWi elrttr oat*and eoru, A regnlftr feeding 
of vegetables, or apples, would be good to go 
with the grain. 
C. L. P., Elkland, Pa. I send to the Rural 
a kernel of buckwheat having five sides, hop¬ 
ing there may be “ millions in it.” Is it com¬ 
mon ? 
Ans. —Usually the achenium or fruit (grain 
in fact) of buckwheat is 3-sided. The speci¬ 
men sent is 3-sided really, as on crushing the 
grain, the hull parts into three lobes or parts. 
The apparent five sides are made up by a 
compression of two of the lobes as if an effort 
were made to give the pericarp or envelope of 
the kernel, the same number of parts as the 
sepal c insists of, viz. five, but with only par¬ 
tial success. Such sports are quite often seen 
and have no particular significance. 
O. L. O., Charleston, IU.— 1. How is a good 
gravel road-way and walk for home-grounds 
made? 2. Where can Downing’s Eyer-bear- 
ing Mulberry be obtained? 3. Is it the same 
as the White Mulberry, aud what is the price? 
4. Why need pteonies be lifted in November? 
W hy not cover them ? 
Ans. —Dig out the earth a foot in depth; 
fill in with large stones or coal clinkers, finish¬ 
ing with gravel. 2. Of the nearest nursery¬ 
man. 3. It originated from the seed of Moms 
multicaulis. Friee. about $1. 4. It is not 
necessary except to divide the roots. They do 
not need to be covered; but they will start 
earlier and grow more vigorously, if covered, 
E. D. M., Bi'ookl\pi, Mich .—1. Who sells 
cultivated cranberry plants? 2. When does 
Clapp’s Favorite Pear ripen? 
Ans. —1. F. Trowbridge, Milford, Conn., 
makes a specialty of cranberry plant 
raising. B. M. Watson, Plymouth, Mass., 
advertises that he sells true Cape Cod cran¬ 
berry plants. Theo, Budd. Pemberton, N. J. 
and C. L. Holman, Tom’s River, N. J., are ex¬ 
tensive cranberry growers, and can doubtless 
furnish plants. 2. Last of August and early 
in September. 
G. IF. P., Roselle , N, J. —Will the sugar 
that is added to grape juice previous to fer¬ 
mentation sweeten the wine, or is all the sac¬ 
charine matter converted into alcohol so as to 
make it absolutely necessary to again sweeten 
after fermentation has ceased, if a sweet wine 
is desired ? 
Ans. —Add sugar if necessary to increase 
the amount of alcohol in the wine. After fer¬ 
mentation, add sugar to sweeten. 
N. P. D. Nunda, N. Y .—What is the best 
method of cultivating celeriac? To what use 
is it put? 
A ns. —Sow the seed at the same time, and 
treat like celery. In open ground have the 
rows two feet apart, the plants six inches 
apart in the row. It requires no earthing up. 
Store in Winter as you store celery. It is 
used principally by Germans, who boil and 
slice the root, aud then make it into a salad. 
J. D. R., Cobourg, Out .—How close can I 
plant my grape seedlings to fruit them ? 
Ans. —Merely to fruit them we should say 
six feet apart. Forty-nine out of 50 will 
prove worthless. Cut them back to two buds 
next Spring and mb off the weaker bud when 
danger of frost is over. 
X. S. R , Wheeler, N. F.—What kind of soil 
do the date and pineapple need? 
Ans —A good, warm, alluvial soil, well 
drained. To be grown with success such trop¬ 
ical plants should have a very equal tempera¬ 
ture, aud to get this it is almost absolutely 
necessary that they be grown iu a greenhouse. 
C. F. F ., fall River, Mass., sends a speci¬ 
men of bloom gone to seed, aud asks whether 
it is the Yellow-Wood? 
Ans.— The flowers of the Yellow-Wood are 
wh te. It belongs to the same family as the 
fruit you send, and the two fruits quite closely 
resemble each other. 
A. IF. .4., Stockbridge, Mich .—1 Should 
Tigridias aud Lilies of the Valley be taken 
up before Winter? 2. How long did it take 
to build the Hoosao Tunnel? 
Ans. —1. Tigridias are tender; Lilies of the 
Valley, very hardy. 2. From 1855 to 1874. 
X. Q, R ,, Gustavus, Ohio .—Whereean I get 
the Downing Ever-bearing Mulberry ? 
Ans. —Of the nurserymen who sell it. Ell- 
wanger & Barry, Rochester, N. Y., are the 
nearest to you, so far as we can recollect. 
Communications Receiver fob the week Eniuno 
Saturday, Sept. 2i>. 
C. M. H.—O L. O.—H. G. H.-L. W. G.-J. B. R.—J. 
W. a—F. E. L -O S. B-W. C. Jr.-H.L.W., thanks 
—Amelia L. Brown, many thanks— 1 T. H H —C. G. D 
-E. W. T.-E. G.-S. D. W — F G.—L. \V. R-J. K.— 
W. L «.—C. A T.—J. L. B.—A. W. A.—W. P. D.-A 
B. C -0. W. S.-J. D.-J. M. S.-L. J. T.—S. L.-C. R. 
T.-G. W.- J. H B.-N. R , thanks—J D. R.-J. W\- 
H. W. F.-G W. I\—I. D. S.-F. D.P.—V. A. C.-C. 
G. —T. S.—L. H. N.—0, 8. C.—A. A B , answer under 
Domestic Economy— S. T. M —T. II. H.-L. >1. N.—H 
P. -E. W.—G. \V. C.-G. IV. r.-S. B. G.-A. R.-\V\ 
H. N.—Mrs J. J., thunks -J.D.--C, D.-W. A. W.-G. 
S. W., thanks— t> S M. W. G. W.-.I. Iv T.—W. L. P. 
t hunks -K. L. T.. thunks—W. J. S.-E. D.M.-M. A. M. 
E. W. B.-J. H. B.-W. H.-F. G.-T. C. B.--J. L. J.-E. 
Z. J.-G. G. D.- M. A. 11.—21. E.-O. F.F.-A. E,-W. P 
--F E, B,-B, C, B.-J- A. P.-G. F. 
