<8 r 
THE RURAL HEW-YORKER. 
N1AB 24 
(Every query must be accompanied by thename 
and address of tlie writer to Insure attention. Before 
asking a question, please see If it is not answered In 
our advertising columns. Aslc only a few questions 
at one time.] 
FEEDING COWS FOR BETTER AND BEEF; AN¬ 
ALYSES OF WHITE AND YELLOW CORN. 
L. H S., Fairhaven, Vt .—1. How does Mr. 
Woodward feed and how and when market 
the cows which he feeds for butter aud beef? 
2. Is there any difference in the analyses of 
white and yellow com; 
Ans.— 1. The cows are yotiog—from four 
to seven years old—and are purchased in No¬ 
vember, aDd immediately put into the stables, 
which are so warm that no frost is ever seen 
in them. The animals are kept in these stables, 
only going out twice daily, in squads of seven, 
long enough to allow their stables to be 
cleaned, and to drink. They are fed regularly 
each day. Mornings and nights they get all 
they will eat of good clover bay, aud at noon 
good, bright straw. They are also fed twice a 
day a mixture composed of 800 pounds of corn 
meal, 100 pounds of bran, 100 pounds of new- 
process oil-cake meal, and 100 pounds of malt 
sprouts. Of this the ration is at first light, 
but it is gradually increastd until they get 
all they will eat and digest well; in addition, 
they each get a daily feed of one peck of 
mangels. Of course, no two will eat the same 
quantity, the aim being to fted each one the 
largest quantity she can be made to eat aud 
digest well. We look upon a cow simply as a 
machine for changing rich food into butter, 
meat and manure, and the more food she eats 
and digests iu a given time, the more will be 
returned to us in huttcr and meat and the 
more manure will be made. Some cows give 
more milk and make more butter on the same 
feed than others; but usually the less milk 
they give the more rapidly they fatten. This 
high feeding also makes a superior quality of 
buttei, even better, many think, than ordi¬ 
nary summer butter. The cows are marketed 
at anj’ time they are wauted, the last ones 
going as soon as the middle of May, being, by 
the very high system of feeding, made into 
very good beef, which some butchers say is 
superior to ordinary Western steer-beef. . The 
gain in weight of carcass and advance in 
price between the buying and selling prices 
leave a very satisfactory margin; but the best 
of all is that the big lot of rich manure en¬ 
ables us to raise larger crops and have the 
lands at all times growing better. 2. Practi¬ 
cally none. 
cow POX in a cow. 
Subscriber,Newark, Ohio. 1. Small sores late¬ 
ly appeared on the teats of one of my cows; 
and shortly afterwards on the teats of some of 
the other cows; what are they, and what 
should be the treatment? 2. Small globules ap¬ 
pear in the milk; are they due to the ailment 
inquired about? 
Ans. 1.—This disease is cow pox. or vaccine 
variola. It is contagious, and will usually 
pass through a herd unless special care is 
taken to isolate completely the diseased animal. 
A stable may become infected with it so that 
every new cow brought in will take the dis¬ 
ease. It appears iu the manner desciibed, 
but in addition to the points mentioned, the 
scabs are always depressed or pitted in the 
center and are surrounded by a bright red 
circle. The disease is not at all serious, and 
excepting that it makes the udder and teats 
tender and sore, gives no trouble, and passes 
off in its usual course of about three weeks. 
Some treatment, however, may be advisable 
and some precautions are required to avoid 
difficulties. The course of the disorder is 
much hastened and ameliorated by giving 
daily doses of one ounce of hyposulphite of 
soda for a week or ten days and continuing 
smaller doses of one dram daily as long as the 
pustules remain. These must not be broken, 
or they become exceedingly sore and painful, 
and cause considerable inflammation of the 
udder. The soreness is relieved by painting 
them over with camphorated soap liniment 
mixed with an equal quantity of ether. The 
milking should be done with milking tubes 
when there is danger of breaking the scabs. 
The person who milks the diseased cows 
should not milk any others, or the infection 
will be conveyed in that way. It is advisable 
to put the diseased cows in a buildmg by them¬ 
selves and to tend them by some person who 
must not go near the others. The feed 
should be cooling aud laxative; brau mash or 
beets or carrots are useful during theeontinu- 
ance of the disease, and no corn meal or cotton 
Beed meal should be used. 2. The small glob¬ 
ules referred to are albumen, which is some¬ 
times found quite freely in the milk at this 
season. The milk of cows affected by cow 
pox is always albuminous, aud if the cow 
above mentioned has contributed to the churn¬ 
ing it is a good cause of the trouble. The dry 
feeding in the Winter with an excess of albu¬ 
minous food, tends to produce albumen in the 
milk and so does any tendency to garget or 
any other inflammatory condition of the an¬ 
imal. The remedy consists in removing the 
causes: nothing can be done to avoid it when 
the conditions favor it. After doses of cool- 
iDg. laxative aud saline medicine, as Epsom 
salts, (half a pound), saltpeter, (one ounce), 
or hyposulphite of soda (one ounce), will usu¬ 
ally remove the trouble. 
SUNFLOWER SEED AS FEED, ETC. 
E D. R., Beaver Dam, N. Y— 1 Would you 
advise the use of agricultural salt at $6 per 
ton three aud-one half miles away ? 2 I have 
four tons of poor hay. Shall I pile, wet, and 
rot it, or apply it dry and plow it under for 
tobacco? 3. Is sunflower a better crop thau 
corn for feeding purposes? 
Ans. 1.— At that price we should advise 
its use only in an experimental way. The 
fact is it is hard to tell to what the beneficial re¬ 
sults of salt are due. and no oue can predict the 
result on any soil until it has been tried. 2. 
We should say, use the poor hay as a litter 
for the horse and cow stables, and then draw 
and scattter it and at once plow in very 
shallowly. You will then get all the benefit 
there is in it, while to pile and rot it, is a very 
critical thing to do so as not to lose nearly all 
the ammonia. 3. We once raised a crop of 
sunflower and found the seed worth little ex¬ 
cept for food tor fowls. The crop is also very 
hard on the land and it is almost impossible to 
get rid of the stalks except they be burned. 
There is no part that will make food for horses 
except the seed, and even that they do not 
like very well, and it must be fed very spar¬ 
ingly on account of its great proportion of oil. 
Plant the corn by all means. 
FRUIT QUESTIONS. 
A , C., Boston, Mass.— 1. On au acre set with 
apples 30 feet apart each way, with pears be¬ 
tween, what value of fruit can I expect for 
the first three, five and ten years. 2. What 
would be the cost of the fertilizer which would 
give the best results? 3 Would grapes bet ween 
the rows do well.' 4. What will grapes pay 
the first three, five aud ten years? 5 What 
is the best fertilizer for trees, berries and 
grapes? <3. How much muriate of potash is 
equivalent to a bushel of hard-wood ashes? 
Ans.— 1 On suen an orchard no paying crop 
could be expected the first five years, aud very 
little the first ten. It is easy enough to figure 
out glowing results, but in practice we find it 
difficult to realize them? 2. Knowing 
nothing of the land, we can only say there is 
no danger of an overdose. 3. No ; grapes 
should be grown by themselves. 4. Nothing 
for the third, and after that the amount will 
depend upon the soil, climate, variety and 
market, and no one knows until he has tried. 
It is safe to say not half what you figure the 
proceeds at. 5. Barn-yard manure, with bone 
dust and ashes for trees and berries; potash 
and phosphoric acid for grapes. 6 About six 
pounds of muriate,or 12 pounds of sulphate. 
GRAPE FOR COLD GRAPERY. 
P. D K., Yarmouth, N. S .—What is the 
best white grape for a cold grapery? 
Ans.— Mmcut of Alexandria is the best 
white grape for general cultivation in glass¬ 
houses, be they warm or cold; but so far 
north as N. S., a little fire-heat when the vines 
are in flower, and also when the grapes are 
beginning to ripen, will help them greatly. 
The Sweet-water grapes commonly grown in 
cool graperies, are not much, if any, better- 
flavored than some of our American hardy 
grapes. 
Miscellaneous. 
M. D. S. Chew's Landing, N. J.— 1. Can I 
grow garden tiuck on light sandy land, 
depending entirely on commercial fertilizers? 
2, How would they compare in expense with 
hoise manure at 83 per ton, delivered? 8. A 
man here says that in planting potatoes 
according to the Rural's plan, the fertilizer 
would be placed under the seed; is he correct, 
and if not, why not? 
Ans— 1. We think you can, and still we 
should advise the making aud saving of all 
the stable manure possible. 2. There is horse 
manure, and horse manure! One may be made 
of straw aud shavings principally, aud the 
other be mostly the (hoppings and urine from 
a horse fed on grain and clover hay, so that 
when you say "horse manure,” we know noth 
ing of what you mean. Manure, composed 
of the excrements, including urine, of a horse 
highly fed, would, if properly cared for, bo 
worth more thau $8 per ton. Ordinary horse 
manure, recking wet and badly washed, is 
not worth 81 per ton. 3. The man does not 
know either the habit of growth of the potato 
or the tendency of manure. He has not been 
a reader of the Rural New-Yorker. The 
feeding roots of the potato mostly start from 
the stalks near the surface of the ground, and 
when the ground is properly mellowed, the 
tubers form below so the manure should by all 
means be above the seeds. Try an experi¬ 
ment for yourself. 
O. E P, Queenstown, Out.— 1. On some 
light, sandy knolls fall wheat is rather light. 
Would unleached wood ashes injure the 
blades of wheat, if applied during Winter 
when the snow is on, or in Spring? 2 Onauold 
meadow, Timothy aud clover, would it pay to 
sow uuleached wood ashes? Would plaster 
be of much good, or what would you advise? 
Ans. —1. No; sow 10 bushels of wood ashes 
aud 200 pouuds of superphosphate to the acre 
this Winter, and about the middle of May, 
sow 100 pounds of nitrate of soda per acre 
ou these kuolls and watch the results. 2 Put 
12 bushels of wood ashes per acre on this 
broadcast, aud be surprised at the growth of 
clover. If very long seeded, run over it with 
a sharp toothed harrow. 
J. M. R., Chicago , III —1. Does wheat im¬ 
prove by standing in the stack? 2. Should 
spring wheat be sown shallow or deep? 3. 
Which is the better, drilling or broad casting ? 
4. Is barley a good crop to follow corn? 5. 
Would clover and barley make a good pasture 
crop, and.in what proportion should they be 
sown? 
Ans.— 1- The only advantage to wheat by 
standing in the stack or mow, is that it may 
partially season or cure. If thrashed from the 
shock, it is more liable to heat in the bins. 
There is no definite time in which it becomes 
cured. 2. About one and - one - half or two 
inches; however deeply sowu, it will form a 
set of feeding roots just at the surface. 3. 
Most people prefer drilling, because it puts 
the graiu at a uniform depth, and all is cov¬ 
ered. 4. One of the best. We have raised over 
73 bushels per acre after corn. 5. We should 
prefer oats or spring rye. The clover is of 
veiy little use for pasturage before September 
or October, and should be fed off only very 
moderately the first year any way. 
E. B. P, Atlanta, Ga,— 1- Will oak leaves 
or pine needles make a good potato-mulch 
in the absence of straw? 2. What is the best 
manure for tomatoes or okra? 
Ans —1, Yes; especially the oak leaves, as 
there is considerable iuauurial value in them. 
2. The same as for potatoes. Those rich in 
potash and phosphoric acid—ashes of hard 
wood or cotton seed hulls, with bone dust, or 
soluble S. C. rock. 
R. M., Ahlen, Kansas.—I have a Jersey 
heifer whose back is filled with grubs, and my 
other cattle have a few, what can 1 put on to 
kill them? 
Ans.— These are the larvte of the oestrus 
boi'is or Ox Gadfly. The eggs were laid last 
Summer. Simple pressure by the fingers on 
the tumors around the grubs will readily dis¬ 
lodge them, and they can be killed with the 
foot when they fail to the ground. 
J, G. R. K., Lovettsville, Va .—What size 
do the Retinisporas plumosa and aurea at- 
tain and are they hardy? 
Ans. —They are both hardy at the Rural 
Grounds in New Jersey, within 20 miles of 
New York Both are dwarfs. Our speci¬ 
mens are 10 years old, and not over five feet 
high. They at e among our finest dwarf ever- 
. greens. 
H. S. C., Gaines , Penn .—What do you know 
of the Stump Apple? 
Ans —All about it: it is a long, handsome, 
good fall apple, but the tree is not extra- 
hardy, don’t pay a big price for it. It is 
in the bauds of all the Rochester aud, we 
think, Geneva nursery men. 
J. H,, No address .—We don't think any di¬ 
rections, however minute, would enable an 
ordinary farmer to make a good Incubator— 
one Dy which be would make more money 
than be lost. For general information ou lu- 
cubutors see issue of March 14. 
P. F. S„ Red Bank, N. J .—For answers to 
questions about cabbage culture, see Rural 
of March 7, page 149. 
G. J., Sioux Falls, Dak .—Is Johnson Grass 
hardy in this climate? 
Ans. —Wecau’ttell. Try it. 
DISCUSSION. 
1 
I. H. M. Crow Lake. Dakota.—In the F. C. 
a few weeks ugo there wore inquiries by 
pur ties in N. Y. about West Tennessee, 
which the Rural partially answered. From 
January 1805, to July 1809, my residence 
was in West Tennessee. The lund is easily 
cultivated, the Winters are mostly mild, 
crops are got in early and are the most prom¬ 
ising I have ever seen anywhere; but they do 
not pan out; for too much or too little rain, 
too hot aud too dry weather, too curly or too 
late frosts reduce them below everybody’s ex¬ 
pectations. The buffalo black aud gray 
gnats with other insect pests, malaria or 
fever and ague plague the people, and spoil 
all the first impressions of early Spring. I 
was born and raised in New Hampshire, lived 
several years in Massachusetts, 15 years in 
Texas, Tenuessee and Missouri, 10 years in 
Illinois’, and I saw more consumption in West 
Tennessee than I ever saw in any other State. 
A bad cold seemed to develop this disease in 
people broken down with continued "shakes.” 
Cholera goes through that section when it 
visits this country, and since my residence 
there the yellow fever has twice gathered in its 
victims by the thousands. Two years pre¬ 
vious to coming here, parties iu Illinois con¬ 
sulted me regarding a residence in West 
Tennessee. Contrary to my advice, they were 
over-persuaded and removed there; the first 
year one died; and the balance returned 
broken iu health and nearly all have siuce 
died from the effects of the ague. Middle 
Tennessee is better, and East Tennessee much 
superior as regards health. Persons proposing 
a removalto aud residence in West Tennessee, 
should read "Ibe Fool’s Errand.”—All that is 
represented in that book can be realized, in a 
milder form, in portions of West Tennessee, 
outside the larger towns. A permanent resi¬ 
dence for Northern farmers with families in 
West Tennessee, West Mississippi, or Eastern 
Arkansas, is not recommended as conducive 
to health, happiness, or general prosperity. 
The right kind of people can go there in the 
Fall and W inter aud frequently make a good 
deal of money in trade or getting to market 
the Black Walnut, Oak, Cypress, and other 
valuable timber which abounds there aud 
affords a large profit, when put in proper 
shape for market. Rich as the land is, the 
average is only a bale of cotton to three to 
five acres; aud 10 to 15 bushels of Corn to the 
acre. The people will show a coru field that 
looks immense; it is 12 toll feet high, one 
stalk in a hill, rows four-and-a-half feet apart, 
hills, four feet, oue ear on a stalk, frequently a 
large one. If the malaria could be expelled, 
or rendered harmless, and paying crops be cul¬ 
tivated, years hence it may be a desirable 
country to live in. The malaria that was ab¬ 
sorbed into my system iu West Tennessee dur¬ 
ing 1865—9, continued with me until two years 
ago when I came here; since then I have had 
no sign of ague, aud I am fully convinced that 
it is pleasanter to have very cold weather in 
Winter, as we do here, than the cold ‘‘shakes,’- 
in warm weather, as in West Tennessee. 
J. B. R., Milburn, N J.—W. F. W , asks, 
in the Rural of Fob. 7, as to the health, 
vigor and productiveness of the Delaware 
grafted ou the Concord. I know of several 
vines thus grafted, some of which have been 
in b aring for three years. From the success 
attending these experiments, I can recommend 
extensive trials herein. The foliage remaius 
healthier than on their own roots. In growth 
as vigorous as the Concord, aud as to produc¬ 
tiveness, it certainly shows a marked improve¬ 
ment in size of bunch. In quantity of fruit 
produced, while not equal to the average 
Concord vine, yet so much greater than on 
the Delawar e root as to surprise the grower. 
The ciou iu this variety seems to readily 
unite with the Concord as a stock, which can¬ 
not be said of all varieties. 
I cannot raise Delawares on their own roots 
to profit or even to medium wood growth. 
Have now several grafted as above, and find 
a good, vigorous wood growth. 
W. H. R , Shelburne, Vt.—In the Rural 
of Feb. 21, page 127, iu answer to S. H., you 
say that you do not know of such a straw, 
berry as the Lacon. It is said to be very 
hardy, and from four to six days earlier tbau 
any other 
R. N.-Y.—In a recent bulletin we find the 
Director of the Ohio Ex. Station speaks of the 
Lacon as follows: “This is a marvelously 
vigorous and productive variety. The ber¬ 
ries urerathei soft, often irregular, of medium 
size and not of extra quality. Hence it is not 
likely to become a popular sort, either for 
home use or market. It has, huwever, too 
many good qualities to be discarded. It may 
do better iu hills.” 
Communications Beckivad for the Week Ending 
Saturday. March U ’.SN5. 
A.B. L -L. R.—C. P.-G. W. G.-R S.-H. T. S., thry 
arc a Iruu<1.-G. C. L. - J. T.-Rev. E. D. R . tbanks.- 
A. Met!.. W. W. a !!■ 6. I. \V. McA. 
thanks.—L. G. -H. T.—W. B. M.-S. K.-M. A. K.-O. 
L. —P. H Dr. thanks. S. C. S.—S. H. M.—C B. G. 
w. (I. E. li. ( b. v - E. < . W. H.JD. r. J. H. F. s 
-J. G.-J B„ thunks.-P. H. M. M. C.-H Mock 
thunks for corn.-J. I*. R.—S. A. P.- T. H.H.—J.Ih 
V.-S.C. B-C. L.-C.F.-0. F.-J. A. W.-J F. S J. 
B. —M. L. B. K. It. S. B.—K. Boyle, I hunks. We shall 
try It. If possible T. T. L. R IU. C. S. J B., (Salem.) 
thauks.-C. K P. -C. M. H.-J. P. S. -G A. T , thanks. 
Will try tbem.-J. C.-D. M. W. M. R. H.-J. T. S. 
thunks. Wc are Kind to got such always.-B. J- 
T. s.—W.H B , plense send them.—K H. P.-J. M . K< 
M. D S. G. W. F,. - J. O. J. J. V. O. W. A. C.- J- J - 
C -C. II. L. .T. C.-W. G —C D D.-H S C -J. M- 
R.-J, W. S. A. J, M. j. A.-P S. J. n. B -C. D. s- 
F. A P.—W. G 8., wo will soon —K S. N -S. L. I 
Charles B. W. t thanks.—D. T.—“Susy.” -J. B. R.—!'• 
B.—J. J.—G. O.—J. C. S.. thanks.—J. H. D.— R. C . c 
j W.T. D. W. A. P.—H. W, C, 
