4885 THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
on one of the hind feet of a two-year-old heifer. 
After a short time,it became a raw sore, and 
other bunches began to form about the first. 
After the animal had been on pasture some 
time, the sore healed; but the bunches con¬ 
tinued to grow. Now the leg is considerably 
swollen from the gambrel down, and there is 
some fever. The heifer does not flinch when 
the bunches are rubbed with the hand, and 
she has continued to give milk: what should 
be done for her? 
Ans —The trouble with the heifer is caused 
by a scrofulous habit, and should be treated 
internally as well as externally. Give her a 
pound of Epsom salts, and when this has oper¬ 
ated, give one ounce of hyposulphite of soda 
daily, with one dram of Peruvian bark pow¬ 
dered. These may be given in a feed of scald¬ 
ed bran. The swollen limbshould be foment¬ 
ed with hot water and gently rubbed for 10 
or To minutes,aud then dried with a soft cloth. 
Some active liuiment should then be rubbed 
in with the hand. A daily feed of wheat or 
rye bran should be given; the phosphates in 
this food will be very useful to an animal in 
this condition. 
REMEDIES FOR PLUM CURC.ULIO AND APPLE 
WORM. 
F. P., Maine, Mich ,—What is a .ernedy for 
the plum eureulio and the apple worm? 
Ans. — For the former spread a sheet 
under the trees, jar them aud kill the cur- 
culios that fall. The jarring should he com¬ 
menced when the plums are as large as 
peas and be continued daily, for several 
weeks, or until the insects become scarce. 
There isau apple eureulio whose larva inhabits 
apples; but the larva of the codling moth is 
most common. The most effective remedy 
for this is to destroy larvae and chrysalids. 
This is done by wrapping the trunks of the 
trees with bands of cloth or paper; the larva? 
will hide aud transform under these, aud can 
be killed. The band3 must be applied in June 
and examined frequently until the crop is 
harvested. Spraying the trees with Paris- 
green and pasturing the orchard with hogs or 
sheep, have also been tried with good effect. 
SORGHUM LEAVES AS CATLLK FEED, 
C. E 7'., Bismarck, la .—I send a clipping 
from a Chicago paper, telling of the death of 
many cows, a few months ago, by eating sor¬ 
ghum leaves. Now the Rural has advised 
the use ot these as cattle feed, is it correct? 
Ans. —There is nothing in sorghum leaves 
to do any harm to cows or any other cattle. 
Certainly there is nothing in this fodder to 
provoke auy symptoms similar to those of 
mineral poison. If the leaves were frozen or 
damuged or rusted, they might then be un¬ 
wholesome. The report referred to is prob¬ 
ably one of those sensational affairs which 
young Chicago reporters love to get up for the 
amusement of their readers, and what the 
French people term Canards or “ducks” 
probably from their wildness and the rapidity 
with which they fly abroad. 
FEED FOR A COW BEFORE PARTURITION. 
J. IF. It L., Buchanan, Mich .—What is the 
best food for a cow the month before parturi¬ 
tion? 1 have corn aud oats mixed, aud ground 
wheat bran, new process-oil meul, Lane’s 
sugar beets aud rutabagas. 
Ass.—Feed lightly of bran aud oil meal, just 
euough to have the cow thrifty aud strong, 
and feed liberally of either sort of the roots 
until after the delivery and the milk is good; 
then the sugar beets are much the best. The 
roots are u laxative diet, aud correct any ten¬ 
dency to fever. If the cow has much milk 
before paturition, milk her twice a day. The 
other questions will be answered soon. 
BEST FERTILIZER FOR POTATOES. 
S. O., Waynesboro, Pa. —1. What is the 
best potato fertilizer and what would it be 
worth? 2. How much should be put on au 
acre? There is a fertilizer being made here 
and sold at $30. 
Ans.— The best potato fertilizer should con¬ 
tain about 8‘/tf to 4 per cent, of ammonia; 
from 8 to 10 per eout. of soluble phosporic 
acid, and about 8 per cent, of potash, and 
should be sold at about $40 per ton. 2. It all 
depeuds on how rich the land is to start with, 
and each one should use different quantities 
aud watch results. A fertilizer sold at $30 
should be carefully analyzed to ascertain its 
ingredients. 
Miscellaneous. 
R. P. U., Quincy, III.— 1. Which is the 
nearest place where I can get a pure chemical 
potato fertilizer? 2, Would it pay to raise 
sugar beets here? 3. What would bo the cost 
of biudiug tho full yearly volume of the 
Rural? 
Ans.— 1. We think you could get some high- 
grade superphosphate at Chicago or St. Louis, 
and mix hard-wood ashes or muriate of pot¬ 
ash with it ho as to raise the proportion of 
potash to at bast six per cent. 2. Not for 
sugar making at the piesent time; aud if they 
are intended for stock feeding,it would pay bet¬ 
ter to raise mangels. 3. You can probably 
get it done near you for about $1.50. The ex¬ 
press charges would be too great to send it 
here. 
J. L., Sherbrooke, Canada. —I have only 
300 bushels of turnips, while I have 50 steers 
30 months old. In feeding the turnips for 
three months would it be better to feed a few 
every day to all, or a larger quantity every 
alternate day, or to feed them to only a few 
of the animals, giving a good amount to each ? 
They are only stock cattle, and Igive no grain, 
only hay. 2. One of my steers urinates in 
dribblets and the parts are swollen, how 
should I treat him? 
Ans.— This would be six bushels to each 
steer, or two bushels per month, which would 
be about two quarts daily. We should em¬ 
phatically say feed every day, keeping the 
turnips well covered and cool so they will not 
become pithy. This amount of succulent 
food, with the dry hay, will be worth much 
more as an aid to digestion than for the nu¬ 
tritive elements in the turnips. 2. Inject a 
solution of Little’s Carbolic Sheep Dip, say one 
part of dip to 25 of soft water. It is a splendid 
disinfectant. 
J. B. .S'., New Britain, Conn. —1. We have 
a young orchard near a turning mill, where 
there is au immense pile of hard wood saw¬ 
dust, and turning chips; are they good litter 
for the stables, and can they be used without 
injury to the manure? 2. Are they a good 
mulch for an orchard in land too stony to 
plow? 
Ans. —Such d6bris makes a fine bedding, 
and does not injure the mauure; but, of 
course, the same bulk half or two thirds of 
this material, is not as valuable as pure drop¬ 
pings; but properly forked over, so that 
it shall not tire-fang, and will become well 
rotted, there is considerable virtue in the 
rotten wood for orchard application, and it is 
a splendid absorbent. 2. Such a mulch kept 
over the surface, not so thick as to heat, but 
thick enough so as to prevent the grass from 
growing, would be a lirst-rate application. 
It would be a good plan to apply half a bushel 
of wood ashes, or caustic lime, about each tree 
once in a while, as it would correct any sour¬ 
ness, and drive away all grubs and insects that 
might be barboriug in the mulch. What say 
our practical subscribers? 
F. C. McC., Beech Croce, Ind. —1. Is a strip 
of ground lying under a hill, rich and always 
moist, now a Timothy meadow, suitable for 
celery ? 2. What variety is best for market? 
3. W bat work gives the best information about 
celery? 4. If peas are planted thinly, are they 
inclined to run to vine? How can a large crop 
be raised from a small amount of seed? 5. Is 
a mare nearly three years old, but small for 
her age, old enough to breed? 
Ans.— 1. Yes. 2. We prefer the half dwarf 
Golden Heart well. 3. The Rural has told 
the whole story over aud over again. 4. They 
will grow stronger and taller when not crowd¬ 
ed. Givo each plant all the room it needs; 
cultivate well, and brush it carefully. 5. A 
mare throe years old is usually old enough to 
breed: but in this particular case the results 
for dam and foal would probably be better if 
breeding were delayed some mouths longer. 
J. M. It, Fountain Oity, Wis. —l. Would 
the Jessica Grape be good for this cold climate? 
Would heavy clay be improved for grapes by 
mixing straw with it? 3. How deep should 
grapes be cultivated? 4. Which is the best 
bee-hive for this northern country? 
Ans —1. It would be well to try the Jessica 
aud Early Victor, laying both down and 
coveriug them in Winter. 2. Heavy clay, 
well drained, is good for grapes without straw? 
3. Cultivate only a few inches of the surface 
soil; if that is kept mellow’ the lower earth 
can’t get very dry. 4. Frame hives are the 
best; aud those of the Langstroth style are 
preferred by tho most successful apiarists. 
Full directions for making these have been 
given more than once during the past year by 
Prof. A. J. Cook in the RURAL. The pro¬ 
tection given to the hive in Winter is more 
important than the form of the hive in a eold 
climate. 
F. C. McC , Beech Qrove, Ind. —1. Is a strip 
of grouud lying uuder a hill, rich aud always 
moist,now a Timothy meadow, suitable for cel¬ 
ery? 2. What variety is best for market? 8. 
Whatwork will give the bestiuformatiouabout 
celery ? 4. If peas are planted tbinly, are they 
ineliued to run to viues? How can a large 
crop be raised from a small amount of seed. 
5. Is a mure nearly three years old, but small 
for her age, old enough to breed? 
Ans. — 1. Yes. 2. We prefer half-dwarf 
Golden Heartwell. 8. Tho Rural has told the 
whole story over aud over again. 4. They will 
grow stronger and better when not crowded. 
Give eueh plant all the room it needs—culti¬ 
vate well,brush it carefully. 3. A mare three 
years old is usually old euough to breed; but 
in this particular case the results for dam and 
foal would probably be better if breeding were 
delayed some months longer. 
C. W., Seiad, Cal —1. What will cure 
mange in hogs? 2. Which is the best white 
table grape, when I can afford but one? 
Ans. —1. Feed a little sulphur daily for a 
week, and thoroughly oil the hogs with coal 
oil, having washed them with strong soap¬ 
suds first. 2. If you could get three other 
subscriptions in addition to a renewal of your 
own, the Rural would send you the Niagara 
Grape, free, and you would be thoroughly 
pleased with it. It can’t be bought for less 
than $2.00. 
P. B. O., Elkhart, Ind. —1. What is the 
best crop to sow on rather poor sandy soil in 
Spring, to be turned down for wheat next 
Fall? 2. Could I buy one of those stop-thief 
scales of you, or would I have to send to the 
factory, and how should I address that? 
Ans.— 1. Sow to corn as early in Spring as 
it will be safe from frost, applying a little top¬ 
dressing of manure, if you have it, or 200 
pounds of a good superphosphate. Plow the 
corn down about August 20. 2 We sell noth¬ 
ing but the Rural. Jones of Binghainpton 
is all the address you need; but how much 
easier to get it and do good at the same time 
by sending us two subscriptions. Tell any two 
of your good neighbors to subscribe for the 
Rural, and if at the end of the year they are 
dissatisfied, you will refund their money; if 
they want it we will reimburse you. Try it. 
M. M., Freeburg, Minn. —Though getting 
the same feed as the other cattle, which are 
thriving well, one of my steers keeps in poor 
condition. Four mouths ago a bony enlarge¬ 
ment began to appear on each side of his face 
just below the eyes, obstructing his breathing; 
wbat ails him? 
Ans —Tnis steer is constitutionally diseased. 
The bony enlargements iudicate scrofula, and 
are really a form of the incurable disease 
known as big-bead when it affects horses. It 
is cured sometimes by long-continued doses of 
one ounce of hyposulphite of soda, daily. The 
animal should be well nursed, and have plenty 
of brau and oat-meal. It is possible it may 
recover in the course of a few mouths. 
S. W., Henderson , N. C. —My fruit farm 
of 25 acres has a barbed wire fence consisting 
of two planks at the bottom and six wires, 
with posts 5}^ feet out of the ground, and 
ten feet apart, aud still I am annoyed by par¬ 
ties climbing over, by putting their hands 
on top or near top of posts and using the wire 
as steps. Does the Rural, or any of its 
readers, know of any means of protecting the 
tops and sides of posts so as to prevent thieves 
climbing into the orchard? 
ANS.— Any one that would climb such a 
fence, deserves to be treated to a dose of the 
law. We know of no remedy, does any of 
our readers? 
J H. W., Lucas Co., Ohio .— What can I 
afford to pay for oak and elm ashes, paying 
3X cents for hauling? 2. What is the best 
month for cutting fence posts for durability? 
Ans.— 1. Such ashes would contain at least 
three pounds of potash to each bushel, and be 
worth 18 cents, to use where needed. 2. Strip¬ 
ping the bark off and thoroughly seasoning be¬ 
fore use has much more to do with the lasting, 
than cutting at any particular season. The 
best time probably is as late in Summer as 
the trees will peel readily. • 
L. P. M., Madison Co., .V. Y. —Which is the 
best graiu drill for all practical purposes? 
Ans.—W e have not used all oroue-fourth of 
them, and it would be presumptuous in us to 
say. We thiuk there are u number of good 
oues that will satisfy the user. We recommend 
our friend to seud for the catalogues of all, 
and carefully compare them. We have used 
three different ones, and would be hard- 
pressed to say which is absolutely best, when 
all are good. 
Wm. F., Sandusky, Ohio .— 1. How would 
the potash made in our asheries do for the 
soil? 2. Where can we get pure bone flour? 
Ans. —1. The potash made at asheries is 
usually largely adulterated with salt; better 
buy the ashes and apply them, as you then 
get all the potash they contain, save cost of 
manufacture, and get the other valuable 
elements of the ashes. 2. At Cleveland, or 
Detroit, we think; certainly at Buffalo. 
IF. B. T, Ida, N. C .— Where can nitrate of 
soda be purchased, and at what price? 
Ans.—O f the Mapes Formula and Guano 
Co., of this city, at $50 per ton, or 8% cents 
per pound, retail. Perhaps you may be able 
to get it of the Ashley Phosphate Co,, Char¬ 
leston, S. C. 
C. W. C ., Stirling Valley, N. Y .— I have 
2,000 bushels of potatoes and am offered 80 
cents per bushel, shall I sell or hold? 
Ans —We dislike very much to advise in 
these cases. We will simply say we are hold¬ 
ing our own. 
A. T. H., Campbell, Minn — Where is the 
Gaboon broadcast seed-sower manufactured? 
Ans. —At St. Louis, Mo., by the Whitman 
Agricultural Company. 
J. V. O., Van Or strand, N. Y .—What will 
kill willows that grow on low ground? 
Ans —If the trees are small, a liberal appli¬ 
cation of salt will kill them; but the surest 
death would be to grab them up and burn 
them. 
J. T, East Pippin, Wis .—Who is a trust¬ 
worthy dealer in poultry, by commission, in 
New York city? 
Ans.—E. & O Ward, 279 Washington St. 
IF. M E, Troy, N. Y .—Where can I get 
the Blush Potato? 
Ans.—W e shall soon begin to notice the 
new catalogues of 1885. Many of them will 
offer the Rural Blush. 
To Many Inquiring Friends: Many inqui¬ 
ries about Johnson Grass are answered in the 
article under “Field Crops” in this issue. 
DISCfUSSION. 
R. S. P., East Palmyra, N. Y.—In the 
Farmers’ Club of Jau. 3d, you say you wash 
your creamer cans in Winter once a week, 
and twice in Summer. Now, the best butter- 
makers agree that cream ought not to be kept 
longer than three days, and churning oftener 
is all the better, not because it becomes too 
sour, but. because it gets too old. On the 
principle that a little sour cream will soon 
sour the whole batch, I claim that the old 
cream which adheres to the can will taint the 
rest. One cannot be too neat and clean in 
making butter (especially to command high 
prices', and having tried both ways, I am sat¬ 
isfied that cans ought to be washed every day 
in Summer and every alternate day in 
Winter. Will you please inform the readers 
of your valuable paper how you dispose of 
your butter—in prints or packages—and at 
what price? 
As to the best feed for milch cows: do you 
think bran preferable to oats for butter¬ 
making? that is, can you get better results 
from a ton of bran than from a ton of oats 
mixed with corn meal? Would one derive as 
good results by feeding oil meal to milch cows 
for butter as for fattening animals? If so, 
what ratio of oil meal should be used’ 
R. N -Y.—If cream were shut from the air 
and maintained at 32 J , it could probably be 
kept any length of time. We keep our cream 
only about three days,but we place it in a warm 
room to ripen. The cans are constantly covered, 
and ice is kept in the surrounding ease so that, 
except when the warm milk is strained in, 
the temperature is not above 40*, and there 
is never such a thing as sour milk or cream 
in the cans, or such a thing as old cream 
either. You are very right, one caunot be 
too clean in making butter for high prices: 
it is as easily injured by bad surroundings as 
the hearts of the young. We. too, have tried 
washing every day, every other day, and 
once a week, and we find the latter amply 
sufficient in Winter. We usually put our 
butter into one-gallon stone jars holding about 
to S pounds: but this Winter one institu¬ 
tion takes all we can spare (from UK) to 125 
pounds a week) except enough to supply a cou¬ 
ple of regular customers and we get 30 cents 
per pound; they prefer it in large crocks. 
We think that, at the prices named, bran 
is more desirable than oats to mix with corn- 
meal. In fact, bran is worth more for this 
purpose, ton for ton, than oats. We feed 
new-process oil meal largely to our cows— 
three parts corn meal, two parts bran and oue 
part oil meal, is a good proportion: old pro¬ 
cess meal and has too much free oil; it is apt 
to make the butter taste oily. We are greatly 
pleased to have any statement made or 
answer given, criticised and discussed; that 
makes the Club lively. 
L. T , Batavia, N. Y.— I wculd sav to J. 
H. C., Lithopolis. O., in regard to the Rural’s 
advice as to heating water to 196 to 200 degrees, 
F., for scalding hogs, “Don’t do it.” Water 
heated to 150 or 155 degrees will make the hair 
come off much easier, cleaner, and nicer. 
R. N.-Y.—Almost any temperature between 
140 and 200 degrees will do the work, the time 
required depending inversely upon the tem¬ 
perature of the water. Much also depends 
upon the weather and surroundings, it being 
better to use hotter watei in cold weather. 
Communications Received kor the Week Ending 
Saturday, January 17. 1885. 
S. A. K.-E P.-T. P. H.-C. M. H.-C. E. F-James 
Hunter, pleased to hear Irons you attain. Thanks.— 
W. D.—J. A L.—W. L. R. F., wo can's ilo It.—R. B.— 
\v. H. 8., wo tio not sell anything except the R. N Y. 
to subscribers.-W. B, thanks.—A. L. J.—A. R. D.— 
C. E. C.-H. 8.—-Border.”—Mrs. S. C. J.. the Rural 
Is always slopped at the expiration of subscription 
term.—J. M. C,. no, thanks —O. L.—J. F. K., thanks. 
-E. A. S.—O. L.-H. 8.—W. R -J A. W.—C. E. P.— 
A. N. R.—E. S. G.-W. R. S.-R N.-T. .B MoM.-G. B. 
J. P. S.-a.O, M.-U. G., thanks.-G. H. G.-R. W. B. 
B. C. D.-S. It.-A. C. O.-R. J. B.-T. J. K.-C L. H., 
seeds rec.'d, thanks.—D, W. B.—S. R. MoA., greetings 
to you aud yours, —H. 8 H-—L. H. B.—J. S. B.—J. 8. A. 
—D. I. K.-A. S. D,—J. B. K.—J. B. A.-E. A.-R. H. M. 
D- W. B.-A. 8. C.-P. M, G.-M. C. A.-G. W.-R, H. M. 
A. L. J.-S. A. K.—H, A. Z., aus. by mall. 
