342 
SUPPLEMENT T© THE BUBAL NEW-YORKER. 
MA'B 
them grow six feet high, and we think they 
would have to be winnowed very close to 
weigh more than 40 pounds per bushel—at 
least that is our experience with them. 
W. H. C, Lorane, Ind —What are the 
habits of the striped melon bug? 
Ans. —The eggs are laid in the ground. 
The larva is a long, slender, white cylindrical 
grub with a small, brownish bead. It hiber¬ 
nates while in the pupa state, and the beetles 
appear on the melon vines as soou as they are 
up. Several hroods are produced in the 
course of the Summer, a single beetle living 
only ahout two months from the hatchiug of 
the egg to its death. 
C. H S„ Oneida Co., N. Y.—We want all 
the good advertising patronage we can get. 
But when the results of our tests conflict with 
the equanimity of advertising patrons, we 
shall publish them all the same. The Rural 
does not live for the sole purpose of pleasing 
advertisers, and will not at any price publish 
known frauds, as many of our respectable 
and esteemed contemporaries do. Neither 
will it make one rate to one advertiser and 
another rate to others. 
L B,, Orangeburgh, N V —1. Can you sup¬ 
ply back numbers of the Rural? 2. Can you 
supply missing numbers for 1884? 3. Do you 
have binding done for subscribers, and what 
is the cost ? 
Ans. —1. We do not. 2. We cannot even 
supply back numbers for this year. 3. We 
do not; but if they are sent by express ac¬ 
companied by $1 50 to Tbos. Russell, 17 Rose 
Street, this city, they will be bound in a good 
substantial manner. 
S. IB., no address — How do the White¬ 
faced Hornet and the little Yellow Jacket 
build their nests? When do the young leave 
the nests? 
Ans. —They begin by constructing one cell 
and adding to this as the family increases A 
few females escape the rigors of Winter. Their 
first brood consists of neuters which assist 
in rearing the subsequent brood of males and 
females which leave the nest about the begin¬ 
ning of Autumn. 
K. S. W., Kent, Md. —Of what value are 
coal ashes on sandy or sandy loam land in¬ 
tended for vegetable and fruit gardening, 
and will it pay to haul them 1 mile for such 
purpose? 
Ans —In most ashes from coal stoves there 
are more or less wood ashes; aside from these, 
there is very little manurial value iu them, 
and still fop very light land it will pay to haul 
them that distance for the mechanical effect 
they will have. 
D. W, F., Hanover. Ind —What are the 12 
best roses for out-door culture in Southern 
Indiana? 
Ans. —The best varieties for a warm climate 
are Catharine Mermet, Mad. Jos. Schwartz, 
Queen’s Scarlet, Marie Van Houtte, Etoile de 
Lyon, Arch duke Charles, Aurora. Adam, 
Chas Rovolli, Coquette de Lyon, David Pra- 
del. Ducbesse de Brabant, Glorie de Dijon, 
Hermosa, Mad. Margottin, Malmaison and 
Marie Ouillott. 
S. H. M., Crow Lake, Dak. —The inclosed 
sample is from the scale that gathers on the 
inside of my tea kettle from the water from 
my well. What is it, nod do you think such 
water unhealthful? 
Ans.— From appearance, without an analy¬ 
sis, we call this simply impure carbonate of 
lime. The water would not be any more un¬ 
healthful than any hard water, and nine out 
every ten people drink such water. 
C. J. H., Ansonia, Conn .—1, Ha9 the Ru¬ 
ral tested the Crimson Beauty Raspberry? 
2. Where can the White Victor Grape be ob¬ 
tained? 3, What are the best grapes and 
berries? 
Ans. —1, We have twice sent for Crimson 
Beauty plauts, but they died. We learn that 
it is an early red raspberry of good quality. 
2. The White Victor is not for sale yet we be¬ 
lieve. 3, See other answers. 
G. W. S., JonesviUe, Mich. —From whom 
can I procure Wyandotte fowls? 2. What is 
a good poultry paper? 
Ans —From A. C. Hawkins, Lancaster, 
Mass.; J. T. Colhran, Greenwich, N. Y.; C. 
S. Cooper, Schraalenburg, N. J., or C. W. 
Good, Waynesboro, Pa. 2. The Poultry 
World, monthly, 81.25, and American Poul¬ 
try Yax'd, weekly, §1.50, Hartford, Conn., 
or the Poultry .Keeper, 81.5U, Chicago, III. 
C. W. C ., Terryville , Conn .—Would saw¬ 
dust do instead of straw for mulching pota¬ 
toes according to the Rural’s method? Can 
all or a part of the mulcn be put on the sur¬ 
face, instead of all being put under it? 
Ans. —We should use two inches of sawdust 
in the absence of straw, We hope you will 
report results. Surface mulching interferes 
with cultivation, and would require three 
times as much material. 
T. L. S.,Mifflinsburg, Pa.- 1. On removing a 
considerable amount of snow can I make a 
hot-bed by putting on a good deal of borse 
manure? 2. Would coal ashes mixed with 
manure make a good fertilizer for limestone 
clayey land? 
Ans —1 Yes. 2. There are little or no fer¬ 
tilizing properties in coal ashes Mixed with 
manure, they will have a mechauioal effect on 
the soil, making it lighter. 
O. C. G.,Afton, Iowa. —Can we get more 
than 825 per tbousaud for black walnut lum¬ 
ber by shipping? 
Ans.—Y ou should; it is worth from £100 to 
£150 here. Write to Berkey & Gay, Furni 
ture Co , Grand Rapids. Mich., or the Graud 
Rapids Furniture Co., at the same place. 
Ask furniture dealers in your town for the 
name of some company using such lumber in 
Chicago. 
C. O. H., E/b'n, Va —1, Where cau the 
Green Mountain Potato beobtaiued? 2. Wbat. 
are the best early, medium ami late potatoes? 
Ans.— 1. It is not yet offered for sale. 2. 
Our friend should read the Rural tests with 
uew kinds. There is as yet no potato that 
combines first earliness, perfect shape and 
great prolificacy. We at present prefer 
White Star for medium and White Elephant 
for late. 
D. K., Allentown, Pa.—Where can I get 
pure Nova Scotia laud plaster, and what does 
it generally cost? 
Ans —From J. B. King & Co., 18 Coenties 
Slip, N. Y. “Double ground,” 60 cents per 
bag (10 bags to a ton); 75 cents per barrel 
(eight barrels to a ton) or $6 per ton. delivered 
free to cars or boats, with two per cent, dis¬ 
count for cash. 
J. II , Massachusetts, —Does mildew on pea 
vines injure the peas for seed where they ma¬ 
tured so that the peas look well? 
Ans —If the peas are plump and nice, the 
mildew did them no material harm. 
L. G , Center Family, TT. V., Shaker P. O., 
N. Y —What is the address of the party who 
manufactures $5 bone mills? 
Ans —Frank Wilson. Easton, Pa. . 
B. J, West Lake, Ont. —Cau cranberries be 
cultivated on low, black ground, very damp, 
but not subject to overflows? If so where can 
I obtain plants? 
Ans.—' They would undoubtedly grow on 
such land, but you could not rely on a crop, 
as success often depends on flooding them on 
occasion of late frosts, etc. The plauts can be 
obtained of J. T. Lovett, Little Silver. N. J. 
A. G., Big Pond, Penn. —1. What is the in¬ 
closed barley, and is it good for malting? 2. 
Can you recommend the Gold Cure of the Les¬ 
lie E. Kelley Co , Dwight, Ill., bo cure neu¬ 
rasthenia? 
Ans.— 1. The inclosed barley was what is 
called Nepaul or Hulless Barley. It is of no 
use except us a curiosity, and is entirely worth¬ 
less for malting purposes. 2. We cannot. 
II. T. P, Henry Co , Dakota. —1. Full in¬ 
formation about Johnson Grass has been 
given in late Rukals, ami we must refer our 
friend to these, 3. We’sell absolutely nothing 
at this office except “the best agricultural 
weekly in the world.” S. The laws of the dif¬ 
ferent States regulate the procedure of the in¬ 
surance companies in tnem to a considerable 
extent. 
W. T. I) , Carry, Pa. —Near my well are 
twc pine trees, the roots of which cover the 
sides of the well so thickly that there is not a 
stone visible: do they injure the water in any 
way? To all appearance, it can’t be bettered. 
Ans —Yes, they surely will injure the water 
in time. When the roots have become matted 
and crowded, portions will die and in decom¬ 
position will vitiate the water. 
C, A, G. Portland, Oregon —How can I 
raise Coleus plants from slips? 
Ans.—T hey may he started in sand, or in 
light, rich soil, shaded until they strike roots, 
and care must be given that they do not 
“damp off” from an excess of moisture. They 
grow readily aud rapidly in rich garden soil, 
when set out in beds. 
P. S., Wichita , Kas .—What is the best grass 
for an orchard ami when should it be sown? 
Ans.—I f you sow auy (which is not a good 
practice unless you mulch the trees heavily) 
sow Blue Grass, White Clover and AUike in 
early ripriug. Don't sow the grass with auv 
crop; certainly' not with oats, as they are the 
worst crop ever put among trees. 
J. N, M., Buckeye, Ky .—Where can Havana 
and Sumatra tobacco seed be obtained, and 
wbat is the price per ounce? 
Ans.—H avaua seed from J. M. Thorburn, 
15 John St., N. Y„ Samuel Wilson, Mechan- 
icsville, Pa,, W, H. Maule, or Johnson & 
Stokes, Philadelphia, Pa., or from any large 
seed firm in Louisville or Cincinnati: price, 50 
cents au ounce. There is no Sumatra seed iu 
the market. 
IB. H, C., Block Island. —Where is a horse¬ 
power thrashing machine made suitable for a 
farm where only from 200 to 300 bushels of 
grain are raised, aud what is its price? 
Ans. —The A. B. C. Thrashing Machine Co., 
Cohen & Co., Agents, 197 Water Sc., N. Y. 
would probably prove satisfactory. Write to 
above address for prices of the various sorts. 
F. M , Bridgeport, Ont. —Where can I get 
cions of the Yellow Transparent, Charlotten 
haler, Lougfleld aud Wiuteraput Apples; and 
also of the Kessemianka Pear ? 
Ans —Borne, if not all, of them can be sup¬ 
plied by Dr T. H. Hoskins, Newport, Vt.; or 
by Prof. J L. Budd, Agricultural College, 
Ames, la. 
R. M. C\, Fisherville, Va. —Where can Wy¬ 
andotte eggs and poultry be obtained? 
Ans. —They have been advertised for some 
time in the Rural, and are offered by J. T 
Cothran, Greenwich, N. Y.; C. S. Cooper, 
Schraalenburg, N. J.; A. C. Hawkins, Lan 
caster, Mass.; and Geo. A. Preston, Bingham¬ 
ton. N. Y. 
F. II., Erie, Pa. —For a number of years I 
raised first class radishes on a piece of flue 
sandy land. Last year, however, they were 
injured by worms; what can I do to get rid of 
the pests? 
Ans —Better grow the radishes for a year 
or two on another piece of land. 
IB H,, Baptist-town, N. J. —Is muriate of 
potash for sale, ready ground, fine enough for 
use? 
Ans. —We hardly think so; but it can lie 
pounded with tbeback of a shovel ora wooden 
maul, and soon reduced to sufficient fineness, 
and mixed with loam. 
A J. S., St Paul, Minn. —The prize contest 
of the Pearl of Savoy Potato, fertilized with 
the Bowker Chemical fertilizers, resulted in 
awarding the prize to a man that raised at 
the rate of 712 bushels to the acre. It is an 
early and first-rate potato. See our test and 
report. 
IB A. P., Edinburg, III. —How can I make 
a hot-bed ? 
Ans —Our friend will pleasesend for some 
of the seed or plant catalogues noticed iu our 
reading columns, and announced among the 
advertisements. These will give him explicit 
directions for which we can hardly find space. 
"Farmer," Van Buren, Pom.—What is the 
difference between Norman aud Pereheron 
horses? 
Ans.— No more difference than between 
Robert and Bob, when applied to the same 
boy. They are two names for the same breed 
of horses. 
J. V. T., Aztec, N M. —Who makes a mill 
with burrs expressly for cutting oat-meal? 
Such a mill would have to cut clean, instead 
of grinding, like a feed mill. 
Ans. —Send to the Simpson ft Gault M’f’g. 
Co., Cincinnati. Ohio; or to W. L. Boyer & 
Bro., Philadelphia, Pa. 
G. E. S .Old Mission, Mich. —Where cau I 
get a good work ou crauberry culture? 
Ans —Cranberry Culture, by Joseph White, 
price 81.25; to be had through the Am. News 
Co , N. Y,, or any book-store. Good accounts 
are also given in works on small fruit culture. 
D. I),, Dundaff, Pa ,—Who buys grouud 
hemlock bark, aud how much per ton is it 
worth? 
Ans.—T. P. Howells & Co., 77 Beekman St, 
N. Y. It is worth about 810.50 per ton; but 
is usually bought uuground. 
H. G. G., Vanceburg, Ky .—Where can I 
get a good work on veutriloquism, clairvoy¬ 
ance aud magic? 
Ans —Of the Excelsior Publishing Co., 29 
aud 31 Beekman Sc., N. Y. We can’t answer 
the other inquiries. 
A. M., La Plata, N M.— How aud where 
cau German carp be obtained? 
Ans —By applying, turough your Repre¬ 
sentative in Congress, to Spencer Baird, 
Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries, Washing¬ 
ton, D. C. 
J. C. V , Fort. Scott, Kans. —Is there any 
book treating of orchard, garden and flower 
seeds? 
Ans.—W e know of none; the seed and fruit 
catalogues, “uoticed” in the Rural, will give 
you information on the subject. 
II. G., Hamburg, Conn .—Are the Bronze 
Turkeys superior to other kinds? 
Ans. —The}’ are one of the best breeds, their 
weight sometimes reaches 40 pouuds, and they 
grow rap d ly 
A. C., Como, Montana.— How can I make 
robes of elk and moose skiu9? 
Ans.— For the right way to tan them, see 
Rural of March 14, page 168, and after they 
have been suitably tauued, line them, 
M. M., Pekin, Ind .—Who sell the Hodg- 
mau’s Seedling aud Green Mountain Pota¬ 
toes? 
Ans.—T hey are not iu the market at any 
price at present. 
R. W., Jr., Newark, N. J .—Where can I get 
good silk worm eggs and what is the price per 
thousand ? 
Ans.—O f Sterns and Co., Union Square, 
New York City. About 50 cents. 
G F. IB., Fitchburg, Mass .—What are the 
best oats tried at the Rural Grounds? 
Ans, —White Australian gave us the largest 
yield. Of late black side-oats, Black Tar¬ 
tarian. 
R. S.A., Vinitarille, Va .—Of whom can I 
purchase Irish potato “seed” grown in Maine? 
Ans.— From Charles P. Walworth, 22 Ful¬ 
ton St., N. Y. 
J. A B , Hage's Store, Fa.—Where can I 
get instruments for eaponizing cockerels? 
Ans.—F rom H. H. Stoddard, Hartford, 
Conn. Write to him for prices. 
To Various Inquirers. — The Aspinwall 
Potato Plauter, Incubators, wire netting for 
poultry, Holstein cattle, chemicals for making 
up fertilizers at home, commission bouses, 
hand cultivators, milking tubes, the Stray 
Beauty Potato, the Acme Harrow and Clod 
Crusher are all advertised in the present or 
recent issues of the R. N.-Y. Subscribers are 
solicited to examine our advertising columns 
before asking questions. 
DISCUSSION. 
J. K. P , Knoxville, Tenn.—My farm of 20 
acres is within oue mile of the city stables, 
and I pay 50 cents for a large two-horse load 
of manure, aud haul it myself. The sani¬ 
tary officials send me, without charge, about 
40 large carcasses a year. I treat them as fol¬ 
lows: I surround each completely with 12 to 24 
inches of coarse uew manure, for warmth; 
pour over this, for each carcass. 200 pounds of 
g'ouud sulphate of lime (cost 811 per ton); 
covey the pile three feet deep with new com¬ 
post (manure and soil equal parts, and a sprin¬ 
kle of sulphate of lime); cover the pile now 
with inverted sod; after 30 days pall down 
the heap from its hemispherical shape to a 
brick shape three feet high; cov*r with an¬ 
other 200 pounds of sulphate, aud this with an 
inch or two of dry, pulverized soil or clay. 
I’heu 1 put two-or three inches deep all over 
of spent tan bark, which costs only carting 
one mile Iu 90 days the bones seldom have 
strength enough to resist a wooden maul. In 
opening and spreading into heaps with a wheel 
scraper, have sulphate ready iu case of there 
being auy appreciable odor—odor is too val¬ 
uable to lose Spread on plowed and harrowed 
ground, and harrow in. It works well in 90 
days: but for top-dresaiug, six months is bet¬ 
ter. Io some cases, bones are still found pretty 
hard after 12 months. 
Commercial fertilizers here would not pay 
me, costing about 840 per ton. The remaining 
bones may be treated here with sulphuric 
acid, costing three cents per pound. I prefer, 
however, to remove them to a new heap 
with a new carcass. Will the Rural give its 
suburban readers a criticism ou above subject, 
that will help me I have a variety of soil and 
exposure, but mostly clay with 15 to 25 per 
ceut, of sand. 
R. N.-Y.—We cau do nothing but commend 
the above practice. This makes the best kind 
of fertilizer, and utillizes what under ordinary 
circumstances i3 a nuisance; keep on using all 
the carcasses you can get. 
O. H. R . Warren, O.—You can not get a 
good article of potato fertilizer for less than 
840 per ton Do not be deceived. It should 
contain four per cent, of ammonia, five per 
cent, of available phosphoric acid.and ten per 
ceut. of potash. Now. suppose you buy a fer¬ 
tilizer that costs you 820 a ton, that will an¬ 
alyze just hal f as much ? Do you gain any¬ 
thing? Is it any more trouble or expense to 
apply the ton that costs 840 than the ton that 
costs 820? Rest assured that fertilizer dealers 
are not fools, aud that they are not going to sell 
gold dollars for SOcents. Unfortunately some 
of them are kuaves, aud impose upon credu¬ 
lous farmers by representing that they sell a 
fertilizer worth 850 a ton for half price. Rest 
assured, again, that you never will live to see 
the day when you cau buy a fertilizer at much 
less than its actual current value—except it 
may be owing to accident or mistake. 
J. O. N , New Csssel, Wis.—W e have 
seen the Rice Pop-corn in some catalogues this 
Spring, but have forgotten which. You 
should get permission from your neighbor to 
put up the barbed-wire fence. He cun hold you 
for damages to his stock. Thanks for corn. 
O. S. B., Queens Co., L. I.—If we wanted 
to throw our money away, not knowing what 
our land needs, we should buy a 825 super¬ 
phosphate aud feel moderately confident that 
our wish would be fully gratified. 
J. A. P M Perry, Ga.—T he Eucalyptus glo¬ 
bulus should prove hardy during most seasons 
with you. It is valuable ouly on account of 
its rapid growth. The Sciadopitys verticillata > 
during six years at the Rural Grounds, has 
proven perfectly hardy. It is a wouderfully 
distinct aud beautiful tree. 
