MOV 47 
759 
THE RURAL (NEW-YORKER. 
(Querist 
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
[Every query roust be accompanied by tbo name 
and address of the writer to insure attention.] 
FRUIT QUERIES. 
./. .S'. />., FtUmarck, Mu. —1. Will pears 
prow if grafted on apple roots' 2. What kind 
of pears would thrive beat in Southeastern 
Missouri? 3. What sort of fruit is the apri¬ 
cot, and will i.. pay to grow it here for mar¬ 
ket? 1. Will peach trees grafted on peach 
roots grow as well as if budded? 
Ans. 1. Yes, but very few kinds make a 
good union, and consequently the grafts are 
short-lived. It is said the Seekel succeeds well 
grafted upon the apple 2. It is a good pear 
section, except in the low grounds. On all the 
uplands and hills any sort of pear will grow. 
The kinds particularly recommended for the 
State by delegates to the Am. Pom. Society 
are Urban Jsto, Winter Nclis, White Doy¬ 
enne, Vicar of Winkfleld, Tyson, Seekel, Shel¬ 
don, Rostiozer, Onondaga, Napoleon, Law¬ 
rence, Louise Bonne de Jersey, Howell, Flem¬ 
ish Beauty, Duchesne d’AngoulOme, Buifum, 
Bartlett, Belle Lucrative. Beurre Bose, Bourn' 
d’Anjou. 3. The apricot somewhat rasem- 
blos the plum, and, though grown all over 
the Union, is not common in the market, ex¬ 
cept in California. It is very subject to be 
destroyed by the cureulio. It Is also apt to 
fail on account of its early blooming, which ex- 
posas it to injury from frost. 4 The peach suc¬ 
ceeds perfect ly when budded on peach stocks, 
(.rafting is more difficult and is seldom prac¬ 
ticed with this fruit. Plum stocks are used for 
d wai ling the peach. 
THE LAW AS TO “DESERT LANDS,” ETC. 
“ R.Reedsburg, Wig, —1. What is the law 
as to “ desert lands?” Does it apply to Ore¬ 
gon and Washington Territory ? 2. Where 
can information about such lands in Califor¬ 
nia tie obtained ? 
Ans. —The law of March 3, 1877, relating 
to these lands is as follows: 
He it enacti iI b\) the Senate and ltonne of Represent- 
attces of the United State* of Anieetea in Congress 
assembled, Tbut It ahull b<> lawful for any citizen of 
the United States, or auy person of requisite ngo 
“ who rnuy he entitled to become a citizen, and who 
has filed hU declaration to become audi, 1 ' cud upon 
payment of 3.“. cents per acre, to flic n declaration, 
under oatb, with the register nnel receiver of the land 
district In which nny desert land I* situated, that he 
Intends to reclaim a tract of (Insert land, not exceed 
lug one section by conducting water upon the same 
within the period of three years thereafter. Provided 
however , that the right to the use of water by the 
person so conducting the fame on or to any tract of 
desert land of MM acres shall depend upon bona fide 
prior appropriation; and such right shall not exceed 
the amount of water actually appropriated and 
necessarily used for the purpose of Irrigation and 
reclamation; and all Rurplus water over and above 
such actual appropriation and use, together with the 
water of all lakes, rivers, and other sources of water 
supply upon the public landsntid not navigable, shall 
remain and be held free for the appropriation and 
use of the public for Irrigation, mining, and munu 
factoring purposes subject to existing rights, sold 
declaration shall describe particularly said section of 
land If surveyed, and If unsurvoyed shall describe 
the same ns nearly its possible without a survey. At 
any time within the period of three years after filing 
stild declaration, upon making satisfactory proof to 
the register and receiver of the reclamation of 
s ilil tract of bind in the manner aforesaid, anil upon 
the payment to the receiver of the additional sum of 
one dollar per acre for a tract of land not exceeding 
BIO acres to anyone person, n patent, for the same 
shall be Issued to him: Provided, that no person shall 
bn permitted to enter upon more thuu one trnct of 
laud, und not to exceed Wn acres, wblcb shall be In 
compact form. 
Sec. 3. That all lands exclusive of timber luudsnnd 
mineral lauds which will not. without Irrigation 
produce some agricultural crop, shall be deemed 
desert lands within the meaning of this act, which 
fact shall bo ascertained by proof of two or more 
credible witnesses under oath, w hose affidavits shall 
be Hied In the land office In which said tract of land 
may be situated, 
Sheet. 8. That this net shall only apply to and lake 
effect In the Stales of California Oregon und Nevada, 
and the Territories of Washington, Idaho, Montana, 
Utah, Wyoming, Arizona, New Mexico and Dakota, 
aud the determination of what may be considered 
desert laud shall be subject to the decision and 
regulation of the Commissioner of the General Lund 
Office. 
2, Write to tho General Land Office, Wash¬ 
ington, D. 0. 
LARGE YIELDS OF POTATOES AT THE RURAL 
GROUNDS. 
CL," Chelsea, Ohio. —How are such largo 
yields of potatoes obtained at the Rural 
Grounds? What fertilizers ure used? How 
mib’h seed is planted, aud what kind of cul¬ 
tivation is practiced? 
Ans. —We must beg our friend to read the 
reports of the past season's work at the Rural 
Grounds, which, under the head of “ Notes 
from the Experiment Grounds of the R. N. 
Y.,” were begun two months ago. We have 
raised potatoes with all kinds of fertilizers 
and manures; vve have tried every sort of 
experiment we could think of. We have been 
publishing tho results through three or four 
years. It is plain we cannot answer the 
above inquiry except by leferrtngto what 
has already been printed, and what vve pro 
pose to print between now and next March. 
As a mile, we have obtained tho best yields 
from two eyes to a piece, the pieces one foot 
apart in unde drills three feet apart. We 
Mem-place the fertilizer in contact with the 
seed. W hen farm manure is used, it is al ways 
well decomposed and (except for experiment) 
well mixed with the soil. To obtain maxi¬ 
mum yields we should spread farm manure 
in the Fall, and sow both salt, and lime, and 
then plow under. Iti the Spring use chemical 
fertilizers strong In potash spread broadcast, 
or in the wide drills, at the rate of from 200 
to 800 pounds per acre according to the fer¬ 
tility of the soil. Then we should cultivate 
flat, i. c., never use a plow between the rows 
or hill up with tho hoe. All cultivation is 
done by a shallow-running cultivator. It 
will be hard to change our belief that both 
corn ami potatoes are injured by plowing 
uftor they are well out of the ground, since 
the roots are severed to no purpose. Can 
you or any person give any valid reason tch y 
the soil should bo scooped out between the 
rows or hills of potatoes and corn and heaped 
about their stems? What wo want is to pre¬ 
serve every root and fiber that grows, aud to 
preserve the soil loose and mellow. This is 
done by shallow cultivation after the plants 
have sprouted. Five years ago the R. N.-Y. 
began to advocate (1) broadcast manuring 
exclusively; (2) shallow cultivation, and (3) 
flat cultivation for corn, and, finally, for 
potatoes. Thousands of farmers have since 
adopted this method, and they like it. 
ANALYSES OF UNLEACHED AND LEACHED 
ASHES. 
J. H., Detroit , Mich ,—What is an analysis 
of dry and leached ashes, and what are the 
fertilizing properties of each kind? 
Ans,— The constituents of the dry or un¬ 
leached ashes of various kinds of wood differ 
greatly: and there is also some difference be¬ 
tween various sorts due to the conditions 
under which the ashes have been made. Prof. 
S. W. Johnson gives the following analyses of 
three kiuds of ashes prepared in a stove: 
Potash . 
Chestnut. 
• a • J 8.07 
Oak. 
9.37 
Hickory, 
4.56 
soda—. 
.12 
1.92 
.53 
Lime . . 
... 29.15 
29.65 
36.29 
Magneidn,-. 
.... 9.63 
3.65 
5.71 
Iron Oxhle. . 
.... 5.21 
3.73 
2.79 
Phosphoric Acid.. 
... 2.51 
2.42 
1.63 
Sulpharlu Add.... 
... 2.46 
1.88 
.99 
Chlorine. .. . 
.17 
1.19 
.19 
Carhonlo Add. .. 
... 12.80 
16.57 
‘>•4 0*1 
sand aud Sllleu _ 
... 26.70 
18.09 
Char . 
... 3.26 
1 97 
1.5a 
Water nnd Loss.,.. 
... 4.63 
5.28 
4.49 
100.(XI 
100.00 
100.00 
The value of unleached ashes for fertilizing 
purposes is at least three or four times greater 
than that of leached ashes. The value of 
ashes depends chiefly upon the potash and 
soda they contain, and these are nearly all 
extracted by leaching. Most of the other salts 
remaining in the ashes are insoluble in water 
and of comparatively little value. Leached 
ashes, however, sometimes exercise a good 
effect for a year or two, but the action of un- 
leaehed ashes is much more lasting. Of 
leached ashes lime in the form of carbonate is 
the most abundant ingredient useful for the 
soil, but this can generally be obtained cheaper 
in other forms. The constituents of leached 
ashed also differ materially, os may bo seen 
by the three following analyses of different 
specimens by Prof. S. YV, Johnson: 
Potash. 1.00 1.29 
Soila.HI .S3 
Ume. 29.S3 88.59 
Magnesia . 8.22 3.07 
Iron Oxide . 1.13 2.60 
Phosphoric Arid . 1.30 2.02 
SiiIjjIi uric Acid.13 .13 
Chlorine. trace. • trace. 
Silica nnd Insoluble..... 9.82 5.76 
Char. 1.96 3.06 
Water . 26.83 2-1.05 
Carbonic Add nnd Loss.. 33.82 28.90 
100.00 too.uo 
Carbonate of Lime equlv- 
lent to Ltine. 53.2 60.0 
"GRAVEL” IN A HORSE. 
L. L, T., Melon, la .—What are the symp¬ 
toms and treatment of “gravel” in a horse? 
A ns, There are three forms of this disorder: 
< hie in tho kidueys,another in the passage from 
there to the bladder, and the third in the blad¬ 
der. In the first there are tenderness of the 
loins nnd a stiff, straddling gait, with blood or 
pus in the urine and sometimes small pieces 
of stone. For this there is no effective treat¬ 
ment except the giving of soothing mucilug- 
inous drinks and occasional doses of one ounce 
of sweet spirits of niter. The second is mani¬ 
fested by more violent symptoms and great 
distress us the calculi, or bits of stone, pass 
through the duets, and when they are arrested 
in the passage the flow of urine is stopped 
with very serious complications. lu this form 
the only treatment is by unti-spasmodies.astwo 
drachms of lobelia or four d ruelitns of tobacco, 
by which the passages are relaxed and the 
obstructions removed. In the third case t here 
is a frequent straining, the urine dribbles or 
passes in jets and stops; dots of blood pass 
with it nnd occasional small stones are passed. 
To remove these an operation is required 
which only an experienced veterinarian can 
perfoim, und it would, therefore, be useless to 
describe it. All these forms are relieved by 
keeping the system in a cool, laxative eon 
l.w 
.82 
28,71 
2.61 
l.t6 
1.55 
.13 
trace. 
7.65 
1.48 
83.99 
20.76 
100.00 
51.2 
dition, feeding roots, linseed and hay, and no 
bran or oats, aud corn moderately; by giving 
wood ashes and salt freely in the food, and 
using only ruin water for drink. 
THE LAVENDER PLANT. 
M. H. Rich ford, N. Y .—What kind of a 
plant is the lavender, used in commerce? Is 
it an annual or a perennial? How is it saved 
for market, and where is it sold? Where can 
the seeds or plants be obtained? 
Ans. —Lavender (lavender vera) is a plant 
introduced from Europe. It is a low under- 
shrub, barely hardy, hoary, with lanee-linenr 
leaves and slender spikes of bluish, small 
flowers. In the vicinity of Philadelphia 
considerable quantities of it are grown for 
market. The dried flowers are used to make 
scent-bags for perfuming charms, aud the 
fresh flowers distilled with alcohol furnish 
the officinal spirits of lavender. The plant is 
a perenuial. Lavender spica is another species 
which yields an oil that is used by painters on 
porcelain and by artists in the preparation of 
varnishes. This plant may be propuguted 
from seeds or by cuttings from the roots. You 
will find the seed advertised iu every seeds¬ 
man’s catalogue under “Sweet or Medicinal 
Herbs.” The distilled water, together with tho 
oil, is obtained in the greatest proportion 
from tho flower spikes, which should be gath¬ 
ered in dry weather and just before they open. 
It is said that sixty ounces of the dried flowers 
will yield an ounce of the oil. Druggists buy 
the dried flowers. 
ARTESIAN AND OTHER WELLS. 
J. H. M,, address mislaid. —1. How can I 
find out about government lands in Arkan¬ 
sas? 2. How deep must one go to get an arte¬ 
sian well where water is found at a depth of 
70 feet? 
Ans. —1. Write to the General Land Office, 
Washington, D. C. 2. Artesian wells are those 
in which k tho water overflows at the surface. 
This never occurs except where tho “ foun¬ 
tain head” is higher than the place of dis¬ 
charge. In such cases the strata which collect 
the water or through which it flows, serve as 
inverted syphons, and the pressure of the 
water in the longer arm forces up to the sur¬ 
face the water in the short arm. Iu ordinary 
wells the water rises In the well to the bight 
of the “fountain head.” In nearly all parts 
of the country water can lie obtained by sink¬ 
ing wells, boeotiso water-bearing strata under¬ 
lie nearly all parts of the country; but it is 
only here and there that artesian wells can 
be obtained, because it is only here and there 
that the fountain head of the water veiu struck, 
is higher than the surface of the ground 
where the well has boon sunk. Water may 
therofare collect in a well sunk 20 or 70 feet, 
iu hundreds of places where it would not rise 
to the surface and overflow, however deep the 
well may be sunk. 
DlAHRHlY.A IN HOUSES. 
T. A’., Milton, Fa .—My horse has been 
troubled with diarrhoea for some weeks. 
What is the cause, and what should be the 
troatmeut ? 
Ans.— There are several causes for the com¬ 
plaint, such as indigestible and irritating 
food, too much water, purgative medicine, 
disorders of the liver, cold, over-exertion, aud 
a natural tendency to the complaint. Diarrluea 
is also one of the symptoms of several other 
diseases. Uur friend tells us uothiug to enable 
us to decide to what cause to attribute the 
ailment. As a preventive, avoid the above 
causes, if possible- The nature of the appro¬ 
priate remedy must depend greatly, of coarse, 
on the character of the disease and its cause, 
and as nothing lias been said on this point, no 
special prescription can be given. In most 
eases, however, a safe remedy is rice, boiled 
until quite soft, and mixed with warm water 
until of the consistency of a thin liquid. If 
not token voluntarily, it should be given in 
a drench. For a severe case one or two 
ounces of lnuduuiun may be added to a quart 
of milk, and given even' time the bowels act 
violently; or, instead, a thin gruel m iy be 
made with wheat meal, and the laudanum bo 
mixed with it 
HOUSES EATING LITTER. 
M. A’., Hampden, Me - YY'hy does my horse 
persist in eating its litter, and what will pre¬ 
vent it 1 
Ans.—E ating the litter is due to a peculiar 
appetite which occurs chiefly in those horses 
which are kept short of hay on account of 
their tendency to fatten, orbecau.se t he animal 
has been stabled for a long time and requires 
a change. In the former case uothiug but a 
muzzle or the removal of the bedding will be 
of any service; but iu the latter a rim at grass 
or soiling indoors for a mouth or tw-o will 
remedy the disorder of the stomach. Rock 
salt in the mangel will sometimes have the 
desired effect, producing a degree of thirst 
which will render dry litter distasteful. Eat¬ 
ing the litter is often due to indigestion and a 
depraved appetite; then it would be well to 
try a complete change of loud, and, it it can 
be obtained, green food of some sort should 
be given, or if not, carrots or even steamed 
potatoes. In place of hay, sound wheat or 
barley straw cut into <-L;>ir and mixed with 
carrots and oats slmiiid be given, mix 1 with 
a little malt dust once nr twice a week to alter 
the flavor. 
CROSSING POTATOES, ETC. 
E. D. E., Long Fine, Neb. —1. How can I 
get a cross between two varieties of potatoes ? 
2. What good work is there on botany relating 
to farm plunks, for a practical farmer ? 
Ans. 1. Select the yellow powder (pollen) on 
the stamens of the flowers of one plant and 
apply it to the pistil of the flowers of the 
other. The stamens of the latter should be 
removed as soon as the bud unfolds. If then 
seed balls (fruit) form, these will be the result 
of the cross. In this climate we rarely can 
find pollen, and seed balls seldom form. But 
further north they are not so rare. For the 
past five years we have each year planted 
from 20 to 100 varieties, and we have never 
been able to make a cross that we desired, be¬ 
cause there was no pollen. It seems probable 
that in a few' years the potato will cease to 
fruit. 2, “American Weeds and Useful 
Plants,” by Dr. Thurber. To be obtained of 
the American News Company. This is not all 
you want, but the only one we know of. 
Miscellaneous. 
•i. V., Purdy Creek, N. Y.—i. How should 
strawberry plants be mulched, and how 
should nnleaohed ashes be applied to them < 2. 
Will land plowed this Fall for early potatoes 
next Spring require replowing then—soil 
a gravely and sandy loam? 
Ans. —1. We should sow the unleached 
ashes now. As soon as the ground is well 
frozen and not before, we should cover the 
plants lightly with leaves or other material. 
The leaves may be held with the twigs of 
trees, the prunings of grape-vines or ever¬ 
green branches. A very good way is to wait 
until the first snow, and then throw the mate¬ 
rial for mulch or covering on the snow. As 
tho snow' disappears, this will rest lightly upon 
the plants. It is not clothing they require tc 
keep them warm, but merely to prevent rapid 
freezing and thawing. 2. Not for such a soil 
unless the weeds have made a growth t.hia Fall. 
C. K., Cairo, Ohio, —1. Will caustic lime 
applied to straw hasten its decay ! 2. What 
is the Fultz YY T heat ? 
Ans.— 1. It will be very inconvenient to rot 
straw in this way, aud the effect wmiild be 
very slow’, imle-s the straw were kept always 
moist. It would be better and cheaper to 
spread the straw on the ground aud plow’ it in, 
and then spread the limeoL the plowed ground 
and harrow it in. 2. The Fultz Wheat is a 
well known and excellent variety of Fall 
wheat which has been frequently mentioned 
and described in the Rural. 
.4. S. Mansfield, Pit. —1. YV hat are the early 
grapes that ripen before the Concord ? 2 Of 
whom can the Victoria Grape be obtained ? 
3. YY’ho sells the Lady Elgin Crab Apple? 
Ans.— 1. See article by Mr. G. YV. Camp¬ 
bell, under “Vineyard.” 2. Of Mrs. T. B. 
Miner, Linden, N. J. 3. Ellwauger& Barry, 
Rochester, N. Y. 
C. S., Brooklyn, E. 1 ).—After pressing the 
grapes for wine, I use the secoud pressing 
for vinegar, putting molasses in; is that all 
that ts necessary to be done to make good 
vinegar? 
Ans. It will bo best to add a small amount 
ot yeast to start the fermentation. 
C. .4. McC., Prineeton, la .—What does the 
Rural mean by flat culture ? 
Ans. —We mean that the plants are never 
hilled up—that the soil about the stems is as 
low as betweeu the rows. YV e never use a 
plow after the potatoes are planted, but a 
shallow' cultivator only. 
E. F.E., Atlantic, Iowa .—YVhero can I get 
an assortment of the leading hardy varieties 
of apples? 
Ans.—O f almost any of the nurserymen ad¬ 
vertising iu the Rural. 
J. II., Dayton, O .—The specimen proves to 
lie Xanthium spinosum (Spiny Clot bur). It 
is a bad Weed introduced from tropicaljAmeri 
ca. and you should eradicate every plant at 
ouce, 
E. K. F .—We see little prospect for better 
prices for potatoes—not enough tc pay for 
rot and shrinkage. 
Communications Received for the week Ending 
Saturday, Nov. 10. 
F. D. C.-O W. F.-W. F. T. II. II.-J. W.-J. H. 
H.—A H.—E. A. Davis, many thanks. W. H. O. — 
J. I. S.-G. K. K. 8. \V, S.-G M. D.-J. W. F.-J. R. 
-W. K. B.-C. 51, C.-4. V.-A. S. D.- J F. H.-S. H. 
H -D. W. C., Jr. a C. W.-55. H. IL. thunks.-J. P.- 
J. B.-J. B. R.-E. W.-W. P.-F. H.S.-S M.-Chaa. 
U. Bhu-k, greatlyObllxe<l.-K S. ft.—J. T. A -U. A. S. 
—N.|J. S.-ft. W. C. F. K. P.-J. P.-J S. C.-G. W 
S. —A. F. VV.—D. K. Sirs. F. Lewis, very much obliged. 
-M. W, F. J. U. U.-L. G. N.-S. A. L.-C. J.C.-S R. 
O.-W. F. B.-D R.-G. J. S. J. H, H.—51. C. C.—B 
D. N.-E. C.-J. U.-H B.—O. F F. 
