OCT 20 
* 
694 
they were dug Sept. 19; total weight 105 
pounds. Weight of small ones, 9J4 pounds; 
three of the heaviest weighed three pounds 
two ounces. Number of large tubers, 285; 
small, 110; yield per acre, 581 bushels. The 
Shoe-peg Corn was caught, before it matured, 
by the frost the llth inst. Garden Treasures 
did finely. L. H. 
North Blenheim, Schoharie Co.. Sept 24. 
—Two years ago from the small White Ele¬ 
phant Potato received in Rural’s seed dis¬ 
tribution, 1 raised 34 pounds, and last year I' 
had over 20 bushels. Sold all I had to spare 
for $1.50 per bushel and this year I think my 
White Elephants are as fine as any potatoes 
1 ever saw. The “Blush” received last Spring 
had 11 eyes, was cut iuto 10 pieces and planted 
in as many hills, May 14. Sept. 11 I dug 157 
potatoes iu all, weighing 77,L pouuds, and 15 
of the 157 were not larger than a walnut. 
Twenty-five of the largest potatoes snugly 
laid iu a half bushel, rounded it nicely and 
weighed 31}$ pounds, averaging more than 
pound apiece. Oue potato weighed one 
pound 10 ounces: another oue pound nine 
ounces, and others were nearly or quite as 
large. 1 highly prize your paper and the seed 
distribution has been a source of profit to me. 
j. p. c. 
Odessa, Schuyler Co., Sept. 24.— 
I received two Blush Potatoes; gave one to a 
friend and cut the other into ten pieces. 
Eight hills grew, two rather spindling. 
Blight struck them and stopped their growth. 
Dug 117 potatoes that weighed 20}^' pouuds; 
fair garden soil. s. J. C. 
Palmyra, Wayne Co., Oct. 5.—Mauyof the 
Rural flowers were very fiue. Many of the 
Niagara Grape seeds grew and the vines are 
doing nicely. The melons nearly a failure, 
owing to extremely wet and cold weather. | 
The Shoe-peg Corn is a mammoth sort, but 
too late for tins climate—none matured. My 
Blush Potato weighed two ouuees and was 
rather a poor specimen; but I gave it very 
good care, and us the result 1 have saved 91 
pounds of liae potatoes; besides, three rotten 
oues had been exposed to the sun. I did not 
count the tubers, but one hill gave It) large aud 
four small oues. The five largest weighed t>}$ 
pounds. They cook good and ripen about with 
Burbauk; but they spread over the ground too 
much. c - K- 
Ohio. 
Green, Licking Co , Sept. 23.—Planted my 
two small Blush Potatoes, weight of both 
three ounces, iu eight hills, two eyes in each, 
in my garden. May 1. Dug September 1 oue 
bushel or 00 pouuds. Cooked the two largest; 
fouud them equal to the best Peach blow. ihe 
two next in size weighed respectively 28 aud 
30 ounces, Wysor’s Shoe-peg Corn failed to 
mature. 8> B - N- 
Hull Prairie. Wood Co , Sept 24.—My 
Blush Potato had nme eyes. 1 cut it iuto nine 
pieces aud planted iu uiue hills tvvo-aud-a-half 
foe. apart, manured with hen manure aud 
ashes. I dug two weeks ago 104 potatoes, 30 
of which wore smaller thau the oue I received. 
The 100 smallest, together weighed U% 
pounds; 45 medium, 14 >'4 pouuds; 19 larg¬ 
est, 10 pounds; 101 weighed 30 '.4 pouuds. A 
neighbor weighed them on large steelyards 
and said they weighed 3 7> a pounds, m. e. p. 
Kim BOLTON, Guernsey Co., Sept. 25. 
My Blush Potato contained ten eyes, making 
ten hills l planted them May 8 , using 
Cleveland bone-dust, t have dug 37 pouuds of 
potatoes. K - s - 
Pennsylvania. 
New Berlin, Union Co., Sept. 34.—Last 
Spring 1 received from you two small Blush 
Potatoes weighing two-aiid-a-half ounces and 
having 13 eyes, which 1 plautod iu 1 - hills, 
May 13th, and iu return, Sept, loth, I got 35 
pounds of very nice potatoes, tuu five largest 
weighing four pouuds aud ten ouuees. All 
the seeds 1 received from you were of first 
quality, aud did splendidly. The season being 
very wet 1 was unable to give the potatoes 
the cultivation 1 would otherwise have done. 
A. H. 
• 
Otter Creek, Mercer Co., Sept. 24.—I cut 
my two Blush Potatoes iuto four pieces each, 
and planted them two pieces in a hill; worked 
them nearly flat culture; no manure except 
wood ashes; and dug 33 j>ounds good weight. 
1 feel well paid now for the cost of the Rural. 
Have any of your subscribers tried any of the 
broad-cast seeders vs. the drill for wheat, aud 
if so, what is tho result t T. R. w, 
Parkwood, Imlitlua Co,, Sept. 24. — l 
received two ounces of Blush Potatoes. 1 cut 
iuto pieces of oue eye each. I planted them 
iu the garden as soon as the ground 
was fit in a row eight feet lu length, 
Iuto which l put with the jnvtatoes a small 
quantity or Shillings’s Alliaua Premium 
Bone, i dug on September 30th 30 pounds of 
P 'taloos fully ripe—ISO potatoes iu all; the 
J it rgovt weighed 20 ounoh* Iintuiting tho s(iot 
of ground three by eight feet, it would equal 
24 square feet,which would give a yield of 1,089 
bushels to the acre. d. w. a. 
Wisconsin 
Viroqua, Vernon Co., Sept. 24.—Your an¬ 
nouncement of 1,100 bushels of potatoes per 
acre startled me a little—dropped paper, 
grabbed fork and dug my Rural Blush. 
Planted 2>£ ounces of seed containing 11 
eyes, in stiff clay loam, lately cleared land that 
has been used as a hog yard for several yearn. 
Ten eyes came up anil grew vigorously' until 
killed by frost, and seemed to be the latest of 
15 varieties, except Peachblow. Dug forty- 
one pouuds nine ouuees of clean potatoes, of 
all sizes, the smallest evidently not matured. 
This by your way of computing (and it is 
O. K.), would give me over 1,000 bushels per 
acre, so 1 conclude that 1,100 bushels are not 
only possible, but not much to brag about any 
way, when one can almost reach it without 
special effort. s. h. r. 
Whitewater, Walworth Co.— I think the 
Blush Potato deserves the praise it is receiv¬ 
ing from all parts of the country. 1 planted 
23 ,ounces and dug 27 pouuds of fair-sized 
potatoes. 1 found a great many small ones of 
the sizs of peas. The tops were still green 
when cut by the frost early in September. 
The Shoe-peg Corn was cut by the same frost 
when the ears were in the milk. j. d. s. 
Vl)C (?ht crist. 
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
|Every query must be accompanied by the name 
and address of the writer to Insure attpntloD.l 
THE TREE CRICKET. 
J. M. N , Angola, N. Y. —When engaged in 
layering Gregg, 1 found that some of the canes 
broke quite easily. Upon examination I 
found on many of the strongest canes a little 
mark from one to two inches long extending 
about half way through the bark. Closer iu- 
speetiou showed that this mark consisted of a 
“row of little holes” extending iuto tne heart 
of the cane. Upon cuttiug the cane open l 
found a large number of small larva? from 1-10 
to of au inch iu length, of an amber color 
aud about the size of a very small cambric 
needle. I have hunted through my file of the 
Rural hoping to find some mention of this; 
what is itf 
ANSWERED BY W. L. DEVEREAUX. 
The skillful and obviously very difficult ovi- 
position in the raspberry canes is the work of 
a whitish, slender and frail cricket, it 
is the Snowy Tree Cricket — LEcantbus 
niveus, Harr. On page 411 of the Rural, 
Prof. Riley gave a good exp]ana. ion of this 
insect. The slender, bright yellow and worm¬ 
like granules in the **row of little holes” are 
not larvae, but eggs. These eggs well-nigh ap 
proueh the appearance of the larvae of some 
insects, and, indeed, the larva begins to de 
velop withiu tbe egg in the Autumn immedi¬ 
ately after it is deposited, and may be easily 
seen in that position with the aid of a micro¬ 
scope. It, however,does not come out until very 
warm weather in the following season. The 
puuetured canes do not always die outright; 
still they are most certain to be broken off at 
the injured place by wind, hoe, or whitfietree 
before fruiting time. The row of punctures 
made by the pests on grape-vines is not only 
injurious, but very exasperating, especially 
when they escapenotice on canes which have 
beeu selected to lie tho principal bearing ones, 
for it often happens they are broken off at or 
before tying. Blackberries, roses and eldeis 
arc excessively punctured by them, also peach* 
plum, cherry, and apple trees. The curious 
fact that the insect makes only a single punc¬ 
ture, instead of a row, on these and other 
trees seems to point to another species of 
cricket; but all entomologists agree on its be¬ 
ing the same species that injures the raspberry. 
No clear aud complete history of its varied 
habits has been given. Quite recently, how¬ 
ever, Mr. H. Ayers, of Ft. Smith, Ark , a 
member of the Lawrence Scientific School of 
Boston, was awarded the Walker cash prize 
for his brilliant essay on this insect. 
THE BLACK BLISTER BEETLE. THE HAWK 
MOTH. 
G. A. S , Lawrence , Mass. —1. What is the 
name of the black, wasp like beetle that has 
eaten all the petals of my asters ? 2. V\ hat is 
the insect closely resembling a humming 
bird, that feeds on the verbenas every evening 
at dusk l 
ANSWERED BY W. L. DEVEREAUX. 
1. Exactly enough information is given in 
the above to indicate that the pest is the black 
Cantharis beetle or Pennsylvania “ Blister 
Fly” -Epicaut« Peuusylvauica, Do 0. it is 
eqiitil to ' ‘ Spanish Fly ” for hlistering, and it 
has beeu collected aud sold for the same pur¬ 
poses Simply snddipti and carefully dry 
ing them prepare them for market. 2. Quite 
a number of moths, while sipping nectar from 
verbenas, petunias and many other flowers, 
simulate the movements of hnmming-birds. 
They belong to the family Spbingidae, al¬ 
though there are some little silver-marked 
Plusias of the Noctuidae family, which often 
take nutriment from flowers in a similar way 
—on the wing. Day-flying Sphinx Moths are 
called true humming-bird moths, while those 
flying at twilight and at night are called 
Hawk Moths. The insect referred to is un¬ 
doubtedly the White-lined Maiming Sphinx— 
Deilephila lineata, Fab. Most other Hawk 
Moths, like the Tobacco-worm Moth, are now 
out of season. The larva of D. lineata feeds 
mostly on Furslane. 
THE POTATO STALK BORER. 
S. C. if., Beliefontaine, Ohio. —1. Isend for 
name specimens of insects found in the po¬ 
tato vines. They generally enter near the 
small end of the stalk and eat their way down 
to the roots. They do not seem to be bred in 
the vine, but eat their way iu from the out¬ 
side, as the perforation is only large enough to 
admit the larva 2. How can grub-worms be 
prevented from destroying strawberry plants? 
ANSWERED EY PROF. C. V. RILEY. 
1. The specimens referred to in the above 
communication were never received, but the 
description of the habits of the borer in potato 
vines leaves no doubt that the insect in ques¬ 
tion is the Potato ttalk Borer which is the 
larva of a noctuid moth—Gortyna nitela. 
This borer is not confined to potato vines but 
attacks also many other cultivated and wild 
plants. The moth itseli is of a brownish-gray 
color and can be readily distinguished from 
others by a narrow, arcuated, pale line run¬ 
ning across the outer third of the fore wings. 
There is no other remedy known for this 
pest than to destroy all wilting vines. 2. The 
grubs working underground on tbe roots ot 
strawberry plants are the larva: of several 
Chrysomelid beetles, especially those of Paria 
aterrima and Heteraspispubeseens. Rotation 
of crops and resetting the plants every year 
would be the best way to escape the injury of 
these pests. 
MISCELLANEOUS. 
W. IF., Story, la —1. What is the insect 
which is injuring my fuchsias? It resembles a 
diminutive speck of cotton. 2. What will rid 
geraniums of the green aphis! 3. Would a 
solution of whale-oil soap be advisable? 4. 
Where can I obtain whale oil soap! 5. How 
can an amateur propagate fuchsias, gerani¬ 
ums, etc? 
Ans.— 1. Undoubtedly they are infested by 
the mealy bug. If the bugs are not very 
numerous remove them by means of a small 
brush, otherwise throw the plants away and 
start afresh. 2. Fumigate slightly two or 
three times a week or until the pests are all 
destroyed, and weekly afterwards as a preven¬ 
tive rather than a remedy. 3. No, 4. At 
any seed store. 5. Obtain a common saucer 
or plate, and fill it with clean sand to the 
depth of an inch or so; insert cuttings of the 
half-rqieued wood close enough to touch each 
other; water and then place on the the shelf 
Of a greenhouse or in a sunny window where 
it can he fully exposed to the sun. Keep the 
saud continually saturated with water or in 
the condition of mud until the cuttings are 
rooted, when they can be removed to small 
pots, keeping them in a moist and shady situ¬ 
ation for a few days. 
C. C. B., Waterloo, Ind. —I can get un¬ 
leached ashes at ten cents a bushel, stable 
mauure for drawing it away, and there is 
muck near the barn on my own farm; how 
should these manures be applied? 
Ans. —Pray take full advantage of so ex¬ 
cellent an opportunity. If the opportunity 
were ours, we should first spread the manure 
as carted aud plow it under; we should then 
spread the ushes and harrow them iu. The best 
way to compost muck is with lime—a layer of 
each alternately. The apple pomace is of no 
particular value. Compost it with the muck 
aud lime. 
W. FI. W„ Madden, Mass. How can I most 
easily and successfully eradicate from my 
lawu the coarse grasses which have taken al¬ 
most entire possession of it ? The s>il was so 
thin aud poor that I had the whole removed to 
the depth of eighteen inches aud replaced by 
good rich surface soil. It was sowed with 
abundance of choice lawn-grass seed and care¬ 
fully rolled. I hoped l was to have a fine 
velvety lawn. But the new soil was seeming¬ 
ly full of the seeds of various coarse aud vig¬ 
orously growing grasses. and these have al¬ 
most appropriated everything for themselves. 
Ans. —This is an unusual case. Have you 
used the lawu mower as often as the grass 
needed cutting \ We should doubt tbe purity 
of the seed sown. We can ouly ad\ise you, if 
the lawu is small, to spade it under; rake and 
roll the surface and then sow Blue Grass and 
Top liberally-again rake aud roll _ 
I. R., Friendship, N. Y. Row can I raise 
peppermint on dry ground ? When had the 
plants best be set out, in the Sj ring 01 Fall? 
Ans.—I n so far as we are informed pepper¬ 
mint will not yield a profitable crop cn what 
may be termed dry ground. Cultivated tor 
its oil, the land is usually plowed in late 
Spring, furrowing in one direction, tbe fur¬ 
rows about two feet apart. The best roots 
are those of a year's growth. These are drop¬ 
ped in the furrows and covered and pressed in 
with a hoe. The plants will strike roots in a 
month, and must then be kept free of weeds. 
J. H. S., Middlebury, Ohio. W T hat varie¬ 
ties of pototoes gave tbe largest yield reported 
from the Rural Grounds ? 
Ans.—A s soon as we have tested the quality 
of our many new kinds of potatoes and had 
portraits made of those which have not before 
appeared in print, w e shall give all the partic¬ 
ulars as to our various experiments, the eul. 
ture, fertilizers, yields, etc. Tbe care which 
we have taken as to these tests should render 
our reports of value to farmers. 
S. P. C., West oxer, Md. —Who is a trust¬ 
worthy dealer in pure-bred pigs? 
Ans.—C ol. F. D. Curtis, Charlton, Sara¬ 
toga Co., N. Y., is a breeder of Victoria 
swine; a medium sized white breed, and also 
of Duroc or Jersey Red hogs. T. R. Proctor, 
Utica, N. Y.. breeds Berkshire's and Small 
Yorkshires. W. Atlee Burpee & Co., Phila¬ 
delphia, Pa., deal in all the breeds of swine. 
All these are trustworthy. 
W. J. B ., Salina, Kans .—I intend to cross 
the Rural Thoroughbred Flint corn with the 
common yellow dent; should I plant the yel¬ 
lowish kernels or the lightest colored ones? 
Ans.—T he true color of this variety is a dull 
buff and seed of a yellow color should be 
selected if a cross is desired, and the yellc-w 
kernels grow on the R. T. Flint plants. We 
cannot name plants without flowers as well 
as leaves. 
E. D. M., Brooklyn, Mich., There are two 
kinds of potatoes here called Beauty of Hebron. 
One is purple with a pink stripe around it near 
the stem; the other is white; whieh is the 
Beauty? 
Ans.—T he general shape of the genuine 
Beauty is like that of Early Rose. The skin, 
however, is not so rosy except sometimes at 
the seed end. It is never striped or purple. 
H. C. K ., Cortland Co. , A". 1'., asks what is 
the best way to manage asparagus to prevent 
the seeds scattering and growling. 
Ans.—T he female or seed-bearing plants 
may be cut down before the fruit falls. 
Otherwise cultivating in the Spring and Fall 
is needed. No leaves were inclosed. Other 
question will be answered later. 
J. D. S ., Whitewater, 11 h—Will the grape 
seeds g.iow another year if they are exposed 
to the action of frosts this Winter' 
Ans.—A es, if not kept in too wet a place. 
W • E. V., Milan, Pa. —Where is the Econ¬ 
omist plow made? 
Ans.—S outh Bend, Ind., Economist Plow 
Company. 
H. B. S , Roekport, Ohio .—From whom can 
I get genuine vines of the Victoria Grape? 
Ans.—F rom Mrs. T. B. Miner. Linden, N. J. 
J. C. TV, Crest on , la.— Where can I get a 
good, cheap roofing ? 
Ans.—I ron-Clad Can Co., 22 Cliff St., N.Y. 
C. VV. I., Junction P. O., Fa,—The flower 
sent is an Evening Primrose. We cannot 
name the two plants, leaves of w’hieh were 
sent. 
C. E, I., Indian Grove .—The plant is Perilla 
Nankenensis, one of our best annuals for 
ribbon borders. 
THE TOPS OF ASPARAGUS. 
“.4,” Tom's River. X. J. Can any one in¬ 
form me which is best, to cut off the tops of 
asparagus m Oe|£»bor and take them away, or 
to let them remain on all W inter ? I do not 
see any necessity for the latter, as people say 
there is, for a covering to the roots, it atrer 
cutting off the tops,the plants are well mulch 
ed with manure before hard freezing weathei 
sets in. The objection to letting the tops re¬ 
main is that their seeds fall on the ground 
aud vegetate, andthusmake a superabundance 
of stalks in the asparagus bed. 
Communications Received for the week Ending 
Saturday, Oct. IS. 
C. A. G-—W. E. M., thanks. Applas received—J. 
H. S.-T M. A -A. L. J.-T. T. L.-C. C. B.-C. E. I.- 
C. E.S. -J. M. &.-C. M. C.-J. H. T.-J. E. H.—M. W 
F.-S A. L.—M. C. -A B.—G. E. M.-A S.-A. B. A.— 
C G. A.-W. J B.-C.Y. R.-H. S.-F. D. C.-A J C. 
-X, G — J. L. B.—F. A. L.-J. S. XV.—E. S. S.-H. H - P. 
B. -4.s> —E D. P.-'“Elm f, -XV. L D.-C S,—XV, H. C. 
-yr A. H.-W. H. W.-C. V. R.—W. W, W., thanks- 
a L jr.->‘Rustic"-C. G,-J. T.-A, E E B.- 
f f P thunks—G H C.-M B P 
