807 
DEC 8 
THE RURAL HEW-YORMER. 
market price of other potatoes. Of the White 
Elephant, the first crop was only one peck. 
I was not so well satisfied with them as with 
the Beauty; but the next season I got 23 bush¬ 
els of splendid potatoes, and this season I have 
got GOO bushels of potatoes that can’t be beat 
in quality and size, Of the Blush I received 
three very small potatoes, which I cut to one 
eye in a piece, and planted in good soil, with¬ 
out any manure, and dug 05 pounds of splen¬ 
did potatoes—very few small ones. It sur¬ 
prises me to see the reports of the Blush. 
Almost all received small potatoes, and report 
crops of largo ones. Will that do every time 
in planting small potatoes? [Nothing is posi¬ 
tively known to the contrary.— Eds.] The 
potatoes alone have paid me the cost of the 
Rural for many years to come. f. a. b. 
New York. 
Fluvanna, Chautauqua Co.—My Blush 
Potato was planted one eye in a hill, and I 
l.ad eleven hills from which I harvested about 
37 pounds. They looked fine, and I am much 
pleased with them. The Shoe-peg Corn grew 
large stalks, but it is quite too late for this 
climate. The frost killed it before any ker¬ 
nels were formed. The Garden Treasures 
were a complete success, though we were care¬ 
less enough to let our folige plants be killed 
by the frost. 1 believe that the Rubal's sys¬ 
tem of free seed distribution is to be the source 
of much good to the rural population. It is 
better than money at interest, and ought to 
do much to extend the circulation of this most 
valuable paper. Way back in its infantile 
days I became a subscriber, and have con¬ 
tinued my patronage from the first number 
of the first volume until the present time, 
almost 34 years, and I expect to welcome it 
each new year while I live or it is published. 
Why, I could not well do without it! It is as 
necessary as any other indispensable article 
in a household—and of more benefit than 
tobacco or any of the alcoholic bever¬ 
ages. The frankness and candor with 
which it treats all subjects, should commend 
it to all. There are many statements from 
which I should differ; but as one locality re¬ 
quires one system of crops and culture, and 
another locality another system, therefore we 
each should decide for ourselves w hich system 
to adopt. H. A. w. 
Wisconsin 
Livingston, Grant Co.— My Blush Potato 
was cut into 11 pieces and planted in 11 hills. 
Yield, 36 pounds of fine potatoes. I would 
not sell them for the price of the Rural. 
The Beauty of Hebron and White Elephant 
have done very well with me. Subscriber. 
Ltnxvtli.e, Crawford Co.—My Blush Potato 
was planted in 11 hillr, one of which failed; 
but from the remaining 10 hills I got 75 pounds 
of tubers. I sowed one package of the Black- 
bearded Centeimial Wheat. About one-third 
of it headed out, but too late to mature; so I 
sowed the other package this Fall. I have 
over 60 bushels of the "White Elephants to sell 
for seed next Spring. The}' are splendid. I 
earn money out of the Rural, besides 
getting the benefit of reading a first-rate 
paper. w. d. 
<£h t (flumst. 
y 
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
[Every query must be accompanied by the name 
and address of the writer to Insure attention.! 
MRS. COTTON’S “NEW SYSTEM” OF BEE¬ 
KEEPING. 
N. R. M., Montreal, Can., sends a circular 
about the “new system” of bee-keeping’ 
widely advertised by “ Mrs. Cotton ” by c-ir. 
culare and through some papers, and asks as 
to its merits. 
ANSWERED BY PROFESSOR A. J. COOK. 
Personally 1 have had no dealing with Mrs. 
Cotton; but no beo-keepor could road her 
circular without at once detecting the exag¬ 
gerated and misleading statements. No ex¬ 
perienced bee-keeper could bo deceived. Mrs. 
Cotton’s book gives no original ideas of value. 
The most important advances of modem bite- 
keeping are not mentioned at all. The idea 
of stimulative feeding, which she announces 
as her discovery, was publicly advocated in 
our bee papers before she was ever heard of 
as an apiarist. The idea. how r ever, is a good 
one. Mrs. Cotton and N. C. Mitchell are no¬ 
torious among bee-keepers as the two persons 
in the country who have procured money 
from the uninformed in bee-keeping matters 
through promises which were never fulfilled. 
Concerning these two porsous I have had 
many and bitter letters of complaint, of prom¬ 
ises not kept and offers which were never 
satisfied. One of the largest., best and fairest 
of our bee journals has published Mrs. Cotton 
in the column of “ humbugs ’’ and swindles for 
months together. No bee-keeper of the 
many who have grown rich by adopting her 
methods arose to protest. The old relishle 
American Bee Journal has frequently called 
attention to her doubtful methods and the 
complaints of those who had been deceived 
by her. [The Rural has several times spoken 
of “Mrs Cotton”as a humbug.—E d.] Mrs, 
Cotton claims that the opposition comes be¬ 
cause she is a woman, an inventor, and the 
writer of a book. Mrs. Dunhour is an inven¬ 
tor, and who has ever heard a word against 
her, or other than praise ? Every bee-keeper 
is proud that a woman has given us such a 
valuable aid as the Dunhour machine. There 
are several writers of bee-books, and all, if 
genuine and honest, are treated with respect. 
No! the better explanation Is this—“ The way 
of the transgressor is hard.” It is hard to 
write this, especially of a woman. Yet when 
such papers as the New York Tribune adver¬ 
tise for Mrs. Cotton when she has been so long 
known and exposed, and even in its own 
columns, some one should speak. 
SHORT-HORNS IN NORTHERN NEW ENGLAND. 
P. N., South Chestermlle, Me .—Where can 
I get a Short-horn bull of the Bates family in 
this part of the world? 
Ann. —Short-horns have not generally prov¬ 
ed profitable in your section. One of the best 
herds, that of the Winslow Brothers, of Put¬ 
ney, Vt., has been removed to Illinois. Mr. Le 
Grand B. Cannon, of Burlington, Yt., has or 
had a considerable herd, formed a few years 
ago, which, we believe, has lately been offer¬ 
ed for sale. The oldest and best herd now in 
northern New England, 26 years established, 
and highly bred in the Bates strain, is that of 
Henry C. Cleveland, of Coventry, Yt. The 
cows are first-class dairy auimals, and are 
profitably kept ns a batter herd. This herd 
was established by Mr. Cleveland’s father, the 
late Judge Cleveland, recently deceased at 
nearly 90 years of age. His first stock was 
obtained from Kentucky in 185S, and has been 
constantly strengthened, always with a view 
to dairy excellence, and for this j t is unexcelled. 
POTATOES FOR HOG8. 
E. P,, MayvMe, D. T -—What is the value 
of potatoes as compared with corn, bushel for 
bushel, for feeding hogs, and what is the dif¬ 
ference hi price, and how should they Vie fed? 
Ans,— To get the full value of potatoes, they 
should be cooked, as this 1 ireuks do wn the starch 
cells aud puts the tubers iu a condition for 
full digestion. Cooked potatoes have about 
two-thirds of the value of corn; uncooked, not 
more than half the value, “bushel for bushel.” 
The price varies in localities. At less than 
half the price of corn they would be the cheap¬ 
er food and healthier as a single food. About 
buying hogs depends upon the cost of the hogs 
and the price the pork would bring. With 
cheap hogs and comparatively dear pork, it 
would pay well. The potatoes should be 
boiled to make pork, and some meal should be 
mixed with them. A hog will not eat enough 
raw potatoes to get fat. 
Miscellaneous. 
J. & P. Jr., Bridgeport , Conn .—L Jfc>w 
can I make grape wine ? 2. I hava/a p^m- 
tree that blossoms full every yeapf'but bears 
no fruit. 8. I have also aBeauty 
Pear tree that blossoms fulTench year without 
bearing fruit, although it has been trimmed 
back several times; how should it be treated ? 
4. What is the best blackberry for Connecti¬ 
cut ? 
Ans. —1. See recipe in Querist of November 
10, page 742. 2. The plum tree probably has 
imperfect floral organs. If the stamens are in 
fault (as probably they are) planting another 
plum tree alongside will furuish pollen for 
both. That is the only way we eau get fruit 
on the Minor Plum while the trees are young. 
In that variety the flowers are better on trees 
over ten years old. 8. A very thriftily-grow¬ 
ing pear tree is always slow iu coming to 
fruit. Pruning at the wrong season will 
aggravate rather than obviate the difficulty, 
and, at auy season, is of doubtful efficacy. 
Moderate Summer-pruning (June) is advised 
and also root-pruning, but we prefer to let a 
good, healthy, thrifty tree go ahead, and 
bear when ft gets ready; it will pay in the 
end, rather than to worry the tree to death to 
make it bear a few yea is sooner. 4. The 
Dorchester, Kittatinny, Lawton, Snyder and 
Taylor are all “starred” equally for Con¬ 
necticut. In quality Dorchester and Lawton 
are preferred. 
J. R. P. S. East Tollin, N. II. —1. What varie¬ 
ties of upples on Paradise stock would be best 
for family use where only from 15 to 20 trees 
are needed, and a succession is do si ruble, and 
where can they be obtained l 2. What straw 
berries would be best for family use in' the 
hard soil of Central New Hampshire I 8. 
In crossing a small very early sort of corn and 
a largo kind medium in time of ripening, 
from w'hich should the tassel be removed, 
when the object is to increase the size of the 
eursof the small sort while re taining its pow er 
of early maturity ? 
Ans —For the' Paradise stock, we shouid 
select Al e x a nder, Northern Spy, Tetofsky. 
[ Wagener, Gravenstein, Duchess of Oldenburgh 
and Primate. If you know of any trustworthy 
nurseryman near you, order the true Paradise 
stock of him. We purchased ours of Ellwanger 
& Barry, Rochester, N. Y. 2. Try Cumber¬ 
land Triumph, Hovey’s Seedling (pistillate), 
Charles Downing and Sharpless. 3. We should 
remove the tassels from the early kind, thus 
making it the mother plant. Of course, you 
will have to plaufc it later than the other, so 
that its pistils (silk) will lie receptive when the 
pollen of the later kind is ripe. 
J. C. A., Jonesboro, Tenn.—l. Will Con¬ 
cord or Maderia grapes make raisins? 2 
What grapes are best for making raisins, and 
will they thrive in East Tennessee ? 3. Will 
grape vines brought from New York ripen 
their fruit earlier here than home-grown, 
vines? 4. Will peaches bloom and mature 
earlier on trees brought from the North than 
on those grown here ? 5. What is the dif¬ 
ference in time of ripening between the same 
varieties in New York and here ? 
Ans. —L The Concord Grape will not make 
raisins,.nor in fact will any other American 
variety, though some come nearer than others 
to it. 2. It is not probable that any of the 
foreign raisin grapes could be grown success¬ 
fully in Tennessee, or if grown, made into 
merchantable raisins. It requires a dry, 
warm climate, like that of Spain or Cali¬ 
fornia, for raisin making. 3. No. 4. No. 
5. Six or eight weeks; less in cool localities 
among the mountains of East Tennessee. 
H. S. Larchwood, la .—What can I do for a 
four-months-old sow troubled with kidney- 
worms? 
Ans. —Bathe around the loins with spirits of 
turpentine daily for two days, and if she is 
not cured give, in a tin or cow’s horn, at the 
mouth, a tea or table-spoonful of spirits of tur¬ 
pentine, according to the size of the animal. 
Dilute the turpentine with milk. The turpen¬ 
tine will be absorbed and pass to the kidneys 
and kill the worms. 
Subscriber, Ingersoll, Texas. —1. What hand 
plow would be best for a one-acre garden? 2. 
Where can I get Maltese goats? 3. What is 
the inclosed grass? 
Ans.— 1. Write S. L. Allen & Co., Phila¬ 
delphia, Pa., also, J. C. Vaughn, Chicago, IU. 
3. There is no variety of goat known by that 
name? Does our friend mean Angora or Cash- 
mere goats? 3. It seems to be Texas Panic Grass 
—Panicutu Texanum. Cattle like it. It is 
tender and nutritious, whether green or dry. 
R. B., Ontario, Canada .—What will kill 
chickweed ? 
Ans. —Chickweed thrives in moist, cool 
soils, and is almost as ineradicable there as 
purslane in the opposite kinds; yet if none is 
allowed to go'to seed, it can be kept under 
though not exterminated, because, with both 
weeds, the small, light seeds are conveyed 
everywhere on the feet of men and animals, 
on the wheels of vehicles, and by the wind. 
W. E. K., New Windsor, III. —1_ What is the 
name of the grass, a specimen of which is in¬ 
closed? 2. Would a reader of the Rural. 
who is not a subscriber, be allowed to compete 
for the prize essays mentionedin a late RuraiI? 
Ans. —1. From the very poor specimen re¬ 
ceived we guess it to be Bermuda Grass. 2. 
Oh, yes. 
J. H. P., Petersburg, Rl .—Where can I get 
fuU-blood Light Brahma chickens, and also 
Wyandottes ? 
Ans.— You can get the L. B. of C. S. Coop¬ 
er, Scraalenbnrg, Bergen Co., N. J., and Dr. 
I. H. Mayer, Willow Street, Pa., the Wyau- 
dottes, of Benson, Maule & Co., Philadelphia. 
F. A. P., Delaran, Wis .—Should potatoes 
be sold now for what they will bring, or be 
kept for possibly better prices later on ? 
Ans. —Our opinion is that they will not 
bring enough more later to pay for shrink¬ 
age and probable loss in other ways. 
T. S. L., Blossom Hill, Va —Is there any 
sweet corn earlier than Adam’s Early? 
Ans. —We do not know the variety. Early 
Narragansett and Moore’s Early Concord are 
the earliest kinds we have tried that bear a 
fair-sized ear. 
C. D. Baker, of Milton. Iowa, wants to 
know where pure Wyandottes can be pur¬ 
chased. 
Ans. —We do not know of any Western 
fanciers that offer them. 
Communications Received fob the week Ending 
Saturday. Dee. 1. 
E. S. G.-T. T. L.-C. C.-J. P. T.—M. W.-J. G. B.- 
J. V. D. P.—T. W.— J. G Seltzer, thanks.—E C. R.— 
W. Z. D.—B. F. J. — G. W. —J. B. P. S. —"A Subscriber." 
E. K.—J. H.-W. P.-J. B. R,—T. T. L -O. G -J. B. A. 
many thanks.—H. S.—W. P. A.—G. W. C—N. W. F 
—B. B. C.-D B. H -T. R.-F. A. B.-R. B.-W. D. G 
-I. H. P.-C. D. B.-C. J. O.-T. S. L..M. D.-J. B.- 
L. S. H.-G. L. O.—T T. L.—Sarah J. Bonsall. thanks. 
E. A.-L. E. K.-T. G. C -J. P.-T. H. H.-R. I. Y — 
A. R A.-C. B -A. R. C.-A. J. P.-G. C. C.-W. F. B. 
—••Growler,” we do not think your note fair, but 
we shall print It.—S. M —C. A. S., we do not want 
long articles.—E. A. H., Maron, N. H., corn and po¬ 
tatoes arrived. Thanks.-d. s. W.-J. p.—j, m. S, 
JHiMtllaneous Advfttisinj. 
THE PRUDENT MOTHER 
Always keeps a bottle of Ayer’s Cherry 
Pectoral in the house, and by so doing, 
saves herself many anxious and sleeepless 
hours. When the baby is breathing hoarsely 
ac night, and the mother’s quick ear recog¬ 
nizes 
croup 
In the sound, she administer’s Ayer’s Cherry 
Pectoral, which relieves the obstructed 
breathing and soothes the child to healthful 
slumber. The thoughtless mother who does 
not keep Ayer’s Cherry Pectoral in the 
house, sits up all night trying various doubt¬ 
ful remedies on the poor baby, and may well 
be thankful if it is alive in the morning. 
I find nothing else so efficacious as ayer’s Cherry 
Pectoral In. the treatment of rolds and roughs, 
and have used It Incomes of croup, u.sl bum. and 
incident consumption, with groat success.”— Dr. 
J. Wilson, CfaUetviUe, Iowa, 
My children have takon A tug's; Cherry Pectoral 
for cougos ttnd crou p, and have found It gave im- 
mediata reUef, followed by cure.”— Mrs, T. Gregg, 
Lowell, Mass. 
_ -—' — uiuuuut-n ii'j auouyne 
expectorant so good as Ayer’s Cherry Pectoral. 
It la Invaluable for the throat and lungs.”— Prof. F. 
Sweetzer, (Maine Medical School), Brunste Idfc, Me. 
W hen the prudent mother's children are at¬ 
tacked by 
WHOOPING COUGH, 
She gives them Ayer’s Cherry Pectoral, 
which relieves the severity of the disease and 
shortens its duration. The thoughtless mother, 
who does not have at hand Ayer's Cherry 
Pectoral, when her children are attacked 
and are almost coughing up their little spines, 
lameutingly wonders why they always have 
so much worse attacks than fail to the lot of 
other people's children. 
-- i nuviua muic I cuci 111 
hooping Cough than any other medi¬ 
cine ”-Dr. Arthur Y. Cux, st. Louis, Xto. 
“There is no other remedy which I consider sure In 
its effects as Ayer’s Cherry Pectoral.”—Dr. F. E. 
Pape. Sandusky, O. 
At all seasons, but especially in the winter 
and spring, children are liable to 
COUGHS and COLDS. 
The prudent mother at once gives to her 
children Ayer's Cherry Pectoral, which 
speedily relieves and quickly cures; while the 
children of the thoughtless mother, who keeps 
none of Ayer’s Cherry Pectoral at hand, 
continue to suffer from colds and coughs until 
their ailments become chronic, and perhaps 
incurable. 
_ "In cases of colds and congha we take Ayer’s 
Cherry Pectoral and Pills, and the Inconvenience 
passes off like magic.”— Mbs. Wm. C. Reid, Freehold, 
‘"Hie best remedy that can be had for coughs and 
colds Is Ayer's Cherry Pectoral."—E. M. Sargent 
Lowell, .Voss. 
TORAL for rough* and cold* In my own family, and 
I unhesitatingly recommend it to my customers and 
friends.’’—G. W. Pbtton. (Merchant! Keatahic, La. 
’Ater’s Cherry Pectoral Is the best remedy I 
have ever found for coughs and colds i In fact It 
never falls.”—J. Depot . Londonderry. Ohu>, 
When the prudent mother’s husband brings 
home that bad cold which threatens to 
SETTLE OX HIS LI NGS, 
She gives him Ayer's Cherry Pectoral, 
and he is cured; but the thoughtless mother 
who has no Cherry Pectoral to give her 
husband under like circumstances, sees him so 
hurried by pneumonia that he hasn’t time to 
make his will 
ET mptooa*. My physician ordered aykr’s Cherry 
Pectoral. The result wag a rapid and permanent 
eure.”-H. R. Simpson, (formerly of Fitchburg, Ky.i, 
IvOtf « rs, TexxU >. J 
“I was troubled with an exceedingly severe cough, 
which became so fixed upon me that although I 
used a number of different remedies. I was unable 
to rid myself of It. 1 wasgolng Into C on-u motion. 
I Purchased a bottle of Ayer-sT herr? Pkc?.'ra£. aid 
before I had used one-fourth of It was entirely cured.” 
—W. H. Thornton, i Editor Lawrence Journal,) Law¬ 
rence, Kans. 
“We have been selling your Cherry Pectoral for 
thirteen Years, and and It U unsurpassed as a remedy 
for coughs of a chronic nature, or for anv sudden 
cold or pneumonia. E. Kart, QaulterciuZ, 11L 
the faU and winter. After using several preparations 
without effect, I finally tried Ayer's Cherry Pecto¬ 
ral, and before using one bottle was completely 
cured. I have entire confidence la It, and take pleas 
ure in recommending Itcoourfrlemleandcnatomers, 
many of whom have u<ed it with the best results.”— 
H. W. Crittenden, (Druggist), Burton, O. 
When the prudent mother, from some un¬ 
avoidable exposure, herself experiences an at¬ 
tack of 
LARYNGITIS or BRONCHITIS. 
She finds prompt relief and cure in her ever 
ready bottle of Ayer’s Cherry Pectoral ; but 
the thoughtless mother—who never has 
Cherry Pectoral handy— when she suffers 
from like maladies grows worse and worse 
and iu due course of time her children get a 
stepmother, more prudent than she was, it is 
to be hoped. 
”1 had severe Laryngitis, which resulted in 
chronic hoarseness. By the use of a Yes’s Cherry 
Pectoral I have entirely regained my health C R_ 
Phillips, IHttsburyb, Hi. ’ * 
“A severe Bronchial trouble, pronounced bv a 
skillful physician to be very dangerous, and liable to 
terminate In l’neuiuonin. atHietea me. After one 
bottle of Ayer’s CMumuir Pectoral 1 found relief 
It has extended my life ten years at least.” John J. 
I human, Brooklyn. A. 1. 
M I have been troubled with Bronchitis since mv 
youth- l owe my life wholly to Ayer’s-. Cmekby 1 ec- 
TORAL. ’—Dr. W. K Gann. VOIr/U-rllj, Ky 
‘My wile was troubled with violent coaching, hard 
anil dry, for SO years, and got so low I thought It 
would kUlher. She took ater’s Cherry Pectoral 
and now Is entirely cured.’’—G. 54. Carr, French 
Cam}>, .Vise. 
Ayer’s Cherry Pectoral 
PREPARED BY 
Dr. J. C. Ayer & Co., Lowell, Mass. 
(Analytical Chemists.) 
Sold by All Druggists. 
