THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
likely to continue so for a time, but we do not 
complain. The Rural gives us about as 
much solid comfort as we can get out of any 
literature. Since it comes cut and pasted we 
can go right through it without calling on the 
wife or daughter to come and put a stitch in 
it. Western farmers are nearly always in a 
hurry, and when the Rural comes we want 
to see it all through. s. w. R. 
Indiana. 
Southport, Marion Coimty, Sept. 27.— 
Corn above an average. Potatoes good. A 
strip of country, three or four miles wide, 
running east from Indianapolis, failed to get 
rain in time to make good corn and potatoes. 
Corn not as well filled as usual on the tops of 
the ears; on clay ground, light. Wheat about 
half crop, grain plump. Oats above the 
average. Not much fruit. Seeding mostly 
done; more than usual sown. Grass-hoppers 
and black crickets are pleuty, and have 
worked on ibe wheat somewhat in spots. No 
frosts yet to amount to anything. Corn ready 
to cut up, a good many ehiuch bugs on the 
corn. Hay an average crop, and put up in 
good order. The Johnson Grass and Rural 
corn did well until the cows got in the garden 
and destroyed them. The flowers were 
beautiful. c. h. 
Kansas. 
Fort Scott, Bourbon Co., Sept. 30.—We 
have had a very changeable season; Spring 
very cold and late, which caused late seeding. 
After planting was dor e, we had three weeks 
of very wet weather, which caused almost a 
flood, and weeds took possession of many corn 
fields. Then the weather became very warm 
through June and July; temperature from 
80 to 104 degrees, average 93 degrees. In 
August it was very dry and hot for four 
weeks. Late potatoes almost a total failure. 
The plants from my Rural seeds were doing 
very well until the hot sun scorched them. 
The beans were very full of pods, but they 
withered and dried off. I saved a quart of 
half-grown beans. My peas looked fine, but 
one night the rabbits took over half of them 
off close to the ground. Com very good. 
Hay a very large crop. t. g. o, 
Frankfort, Marshall Co., Sept. 28.—After 
a cold, wet Spring, more seasonable weather 
came, and with warm weather, heavy rains. 
No damage in this section, except flooding of 
bottom lauds for a time, and delay in working 
corn; so, of course, more com got choked 
with weeds, and there will be less corn to the 
acre than last year. Rather dry in August 
and at the present. The Rural Union Cora of 
last year did well, and seed of that kind has 
done well this year, but the yield was not 
equal to that of the dent common here, and 
the grain was too hard for feeding dry. The 
mixture of 50 kinds of corn has not done 
well, not being worthy of cultivation. 
a. N. Y. 
New York. 
Groton Crry.Tompkms Co.—Of the Rural 
mixture of 50 different sorts of corn, one ear 
that got ripe will be good for this climate; the 
rest will be rather late. Some of it did not 
even get any kernel on the ears. Had a nice 
crop of beans, and also of the peas. The 
Johnson Grass did not even come up. We 
had a nice lot of flowers from the Garden 
Treasures. 1 had four-aud-a-half pounds of 
the Thousand fold Rye, which I have sowed 
again this Fall. I had three pounds of the 
Diehl Mediterranean Wheat, which is up and 
looking quite promising. 1 raised 40 bushels 
of Blush Potatoes this year from the little one 
that I planted two years ago. There were but 
very few rotten ones among them, some kinds 
are rotting very badly. I have four grape¬ 
vines from the Niagara grape seeds. This 
Spring I tried the Rural advice about plant¬ 
ing corn. I spread 25 loads of nicely rotted 
horse manure on three quarters of an acre, 
and dragged it thoroughly in, and planted 
eight rowed flint corn in hills three and a half 
feet apart each wav. It turned out to be the 
most uneven piece of corn I ever saw. I think 
I would have got more and better corn if I bad 
saved part of the manure and put it in the hill 
so as to have given it an early start. G. A. b. 
Ohio. 
Granville, Licking Co., Sept. 27. —Did not 
the Rural pay too much for the Flageolet 
Beans? (Yes, unquestionably.—Ed.) With 
me they have proved almost worthless, and 
in one other instance to my knowledge they 
have proved the same. They are not a string 
or snap bean. They are too small for a green 
shell bean, and unless the quality is more than 
xx., they are a poor, dry sort. There are pods 
enough,but the beaDS are few and far between. 
The White Kidney are superior in every way. 
Of the peas sent lastseasou, the Rural N, Y. 
will prove an acquisition; taking the American 
Wonder as the standard of earliness, they 
are at least one week ahead, and yield an 
abundance of well filled pods; quality not the 
bast, but very good. The Horsford Market 
Garden proved worthless last season and this. 
Of the peas sent tbiB season, the Stratagem, 
came up well and had plenty of pods, but they 
were not as well filled as the Marrows, though 
in quality uo better, and with me they were 
uo earlier; mildewed somewhat. The Prince 
of Wales did not come up very well, and then 
I did not bush them as I should have doue, so 
they got down and did not do as well as they 
otherwise nvould, but they bore some splendid 
pods. I think they are worth trying another 
season. It is clear to my mind, that it 
pa 3 r s to bush or support peas in some way, 
whether the}' grow one foot or seven. 
This year’s tomatoes were worthless; but 
those from last year's seed were large, smooth 
and nice. The Blush Potato stauds A. No. 1 
with us as au eating potato, and yields as well 
as any. I selected some of the best white aud 
yellow corn (last Spring’s Distribution) and 
planted them. We have had a rather wet 
season and the land is inclined to be wet, 
so that my test is not satisfactory; but I 
think the yellow coru may prove some¬ 
thing worth saving. According to present 
Indications, it is earlier than an} thing around 
here. I shall be likely to try it another 
year. The white corn planted at the same 
time, has grown much taller, has two or three 
ears (or cobs) on a stalk; will be ripe, I think, 
sometime in October; the ears look like exag¬ 
gerated ears of pop-corn, a little thicker than 
a stout broom handle I expect the frost will 
get a bite at it before I shall. I have a small 
patch of the Shoe-peg Corn that I am pleased 
with. Last season was very dry with ns and 
the corn was planted on a dry knoll, con¬ 
sequently I got but a few nubbins. Of them 
I selected three or four of the best for plant¬ 
ing. It has made a large growth of stalks 
and there are some very Dice ears nine or ten 
inches long, well filled out, and should the 
kernels prove as nice as the seed I planted, 1 
shall be much pleased with it, aud if I can 
breed a little shorter stalk and a little longer 
ear, it will about meet my ideal for corn. 
Corn is very backward in ripening or harden¬ 
ing this season, but I think most of the Shoe- 
peg would grow were it picked now and well 
cured. w. R. H. 
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS 
[Every query must Do accompanied by thename 
and address ot the writer to Insure attention. Before 
asking a question, please see If It Is not answered In 
our advertising columns. Ask only a few questions 
at one tlme.l _ 
TUMOR ON POINT OF ELBOW. 
L. D., Nc«j York City .—What will remove 
a “shoe-ball” from my horse’s elbow? 
Ans.— By a “shoe-ball” is probably meant 
the tumor or callus sometimes produced ou the 
point of the elbow by the heal of the shoe being 
brought against it when the horse lies on his 
breast with bis fore feet bent UDder him. 
First, prevent further irritations of the 
shoe by placing the animal at night in a 
staff wide enough to allow him to lie on bis 
side. A largo box-staff is preferable. If he 
then persists in lying on his breast, a soft, 
thick pad covered with chamois leather, must 
be strapped around the pastern at night, and 
so applied that nothing hard can come in 
contact with the point of the elbow. Relieve 
the inflammation by tying a wet rag over the 
elbow, and keep the animal on a laxative diet 
of green food or frequent mashes. Bathe the 
swelling frequently with an infusion of oak 
bark or gaffs, and when the inflammation has 
disappeared, use tincture of iodine to reduce 
auy swelling remaining. This should be suf¬ 
ficient where the swelling has not become 
large. If the swelling is large and contains 
considerable liquid, it may be drawn off with 
a eanula and trocar, after which compound 
tincture of iodine reduced with twice its bulk 
of water, should be injected into the sac. Or, 
the sac may be opened at its lowest part, 
allowing the liquid to escape, aud the opening 
to heal as an ordinary wound. Finally, if a 
hard, movable mass remains after some time, 
it may be cut open and removed through a 
vertical iucision made in the skin, the edges 
being brought accurately together with 
stitches, aud treated like a common wound. 
CnRONIC COUGH IN A HORSE. 
II. L. T., Colvintms. Ark .—For some time 
my horse has had a cough, and is ci otitmally 
blowing hisnose.from which passes a watery, 
mucous substance. The sides of neck are 
slightly swollen, aud it is difficult for him to 
get his head down to drink. Appetite good, 
but he continues to “fall off.” I have a mule 
affected the same way. The breath has an 
offensive smell. What should be the treat¬ 
ment? 
ANSWER BY K. L KILBORNE, B. V. S. 
If there is swelling between the boues of 
the lower jaw, apply a bran or oil meal 
poultice, and steam the nostrils occasionally 
by feeding hot brau mashes from a nose-bag 
hung on the head. If an abscess forms and 
points, it should be freely opened with a lance. 
Give twice daily. One ounce of liquid acetate 
of ammonia, four drams of sweet spirits of 
niter, and one-half dram of extract of 
belladona. Relieve any costiveness by warm 
water injections, or one half pint of linseed 
oil. The diet should consist mainly of green 
food, roots, or mashes. Later, if the animal 
does not pick up, give one-half ounce each 
of powdered cinchona bark, gentian root, and 
ginger, twice daily. Special attention should 
be giveu to the care of the animal. A clean, 
dry, airy stable, free from drafts is essential. 
Blanket the auimal, if necessary, to make it 
comfortable. 
WEAK BACK IN A MARE. 
-4. M., Waterloo, la.—I. Shortly after foal, 
ing, my mare became very weak across the 
loins. In walking she twists her body so that 
the near hind leg follows the off fore one. A 
surgeon says the kidneysand adjacent muscles 
are affected, probably owing to the strain of 
carrying the foal. She is four years old;is 
she likely to recover? 2. What are the best 
works on veterinary surgery and medicine 
and on stock breeding? 
Ans.— 1. There has probably been some in¬ 
jury to the back, which may or may not be 
complicated by kidney difficulty, as can be 
satisfactorily determined only by a personal 
examination of the auimal and its urine. If 
there is no constitutional difficulty, the mare 
would probably recover in the bauds of a 
competent practitioner, and we would sug¬ 
gest that such be employed if possible. 
The treatment we can recommend will only 
be goneral: Give a pint of olive or raw lin¬ 
seed oil, unless the bowels are already quite 
loose, and keep on a laxative diet of green 
food, roots, and frequent mashes. Blister the 
regions of the loins with mustard or ammonia 
and oil. If there is much difficulty in rising^ 
place in slings in a narrow stall so that the 
auimal cau just reach the floor with her feet, 
and thus be able to stand or rest in the slings 
at pleasure. At least one or two months will 
be required for perfect recovery. 2. The 
Farmer’s Veterinary Adviser, $3.00, by Dr. 
James Law, of Ithaca. N. Y., to be had of the 
author; this is especially suited to the needs of 
the farmer. A larger work, the Principles 
and Practice of Veterinary Medicine. $5,00, 
by William Williams, published by William 
R. Jenkins, of New York City, is more adapted 
to the veterinarian. Stock Breediug, $1.50, 
by Manly Miles, published by D. Appleton & 
Co., of New York City, is as good as any. 
FRUIT QUERIES. 
IV. K. B., Kokomo, Did.—1. Is there a 
blight-proof pear; and, if so, what is it? 2, 
What are the two or three best varieties of 
early grapes? 3. Have the Kieffer or Le Conte 
pears been thoroughly tried in the North; ami 
if so, with what success? 4. I wish to plant 
an orchard near Wichita, Kansas, what va¬ 
rieties shall I plant? 
Ans.— 1. There is no blight-proof pear; 
but some varieties are rather more likely to 
be affected than others. Plant the kinds most 
successful where your farm is situated; watch 
them closely, cutting out all blighted limbs, 
on the first appearance. 2. Wbat the beat 
early grapes are deponds upon the soil and 
the climate. Try Moore’s Early, aud Worden 
for black; Brigbtou and Delaware for red. 
and Lady and Niagara for white. S. Yes, in 
many cases. They are too late of course, at 
least, when grown at the North; we have 
seen Kieffers there lying on the ground all 
Winter and even the mice would uot eat 
them. 4. The better way is to consult people 
in the immediate vicinity of the place where 
you propose to plant. Plant at first only a few 
varieties which you find do the best, and care¬ 
fully test other sorts that promise well. If 
your orchard is for market purposes, you will 
probably find most profit in only a very few 
varieties. We have 30 acres of orchard and 
only about five varieties that pay well, 
OBSTRUCTION ON COW’S TEAT. 
IV. O Q., Delavan, 1 Vis.—About three 
weeks ago one of my cows cut her teat so 
badly that I had to use a milking tube to draw 
the milk. The iujury was cured in u few 
days; but since then I have uot been able to 
draw the milk from that teat by band, and 
she resists the insertion of the tube. I can 
find no obstniction: but there must, I suppose, 
be some stricture; how can it be removed ? 
Ans.—I f the duct through the teat is still 
open, so as to admit of the passage of the 
milking tube, it cau probably be gradually 
dilated by first passing a tube or probe that 
will pass with slight difficulty, and then pass¬ 
ing another a size larger, and continuing until 
the duct is enlarged to the desired extent. 
The milking tube, If of silver or gutta-percha, 
may then be kept tied in the teat until the 
latter is healed, If this course fails, the duct 
may be opened by a bistuory cacb6 (a small 
knife made for that purpose, about one line in 
breadth, hidden in the groove of a narrow 
pointed director, but from which it can be 
pressed to any desired extent) or, less desir¬ 
ably, with a sharp-pointed probe, the milking 
tube to be tied in as before. If the cow re¬ 
sists too vigorously, she may be held by the 
nose, or one hind foot may be tied back so that 
it cannot reach the floor. 
KEEPING GRAPES, ETC. 
IV. F., Mitchell, Ont., Can. —1. What is the 
best method of keeping grapes? 2. Should 
they be picked when thoroughly ripe, or a 
little before that time? 
Ans —1. In keeping grapes, as much depends 
upon the variety as upon the mode of pack¬ 
ing. It would be useless to try to keep thin- 
skinned grapes, and such as crack easily very 
long by any process. The best method we 
have ever tried is to lay the grapes (handled 
very carefully, and all broken or imperfect 
berries cut out) in layers scarcely touching 
each other, between white paper, such as used 
by newspapers, placing not more than three 
layers in depth in a box, the whole to be stored 
in a cool, dry place, where the temperature is 
very even. Packing in sawdust has no ad¬ 
vantages over this mode; nor has packing 
into air-tight receptacles. Where grapes are 
grown in bags, there is no better way than to 
leave them in tbe bags, packing them three 
or four deep in trays or boxes. 2. They 
should be allowed to become fully ripe, but 
should not be allowed to become much over¬ 
ripe before they are gathered, and they should 
be handled as little as possible after they have 
been picked. 
CHRONIC SORE THROAT IN A HORSE. 
A. F., Moriches , N. Y. —For four months, 
my horse has been troubled with a cough and 
frequent sneezing, the food in such cases being 
blown ont of bis nose. At times, it seems 
likely that he will choke to death in trying to 
swallow his food. The glands of the throat 
are only slightly swollen; but be has great 
difficulty in swallowing, gulping his food and 
water. His appetite is good; there is no 
fever; aud he keeps in good condition on 
grass and bran. A white discharge resembling 
saliva, runs more or less all the time from his 
nose. What ails him, and how should he be 
treated ? 
Ans. —Tbe difficulty is chronic or sub acute 
sore throat. Take one dram extract bella¬ 
donna; four drams nitre, and sirup enough to 
make a pasty mass. Mix and smear upon the 
back teeth, so that it will be swallowed 
leisurely. Repeat three or four times daily. 
Give four drams of aloes to unload the 
bowels, and let the diet consist only of green 
food, roots, potatoes or mashes. Frequent 
steaming of the nostrils by feeding hot bran 
mashes from a nose-bag bung on the head, will 
be beneficial; also occasional applications of 
strong ammonia and oil around the throat. 
Rest in a clean, dry, airy staff, with blanket¬ 
ing, if necessary, is very essential. 
BROKEN BACK IN A COW. 
T. W. P., Plots Center, III. —Some time ago 
one of my cows, that had eaten and milked 
well, got strained in the back, which settled 
down, aud one uigbt in coming home she sank 
in a muddy place which she hud been accus¬ 
tomed to cross easily. We puffed her out, but 
she never afterward got up, ami died iu a few 
days; what ailed her, and could any treat¬ 
ment have saved her? 
ANSWERED BY K. L. KILBORNE, B. V. S. 
There was probably a fracture of tbe back 
or loins, and ouly in tbe slighter forms is 
treatment successful. Usually, with decided 
fractures, the animal had better be killed at 
once. If treatment is attempted, all that can 
be done Is to place the animal in slings, keep 
it perfectly quiet and the head steady. If 
there is much paiu, foment with warm water 
until relieved, and then apply mild blisters, 
as mustard or ammonia and oil, to be followed 
later by cantbarides blisters, or more power¬ 
ful couuter-irritauts, if necessary. The diet 
should consist of soft, succulent food, and 
costiveness should be relieved by warm water 
injections or moderate doses of Glauber salts. 
SORE FEET IN AN OX. 
R. O. P., Madison, Ind. —Last Faff an ox 
of miue got hurt on the shin; at the time he 
had “foot-evil,” that is, a very offensive 
sore, very severe in wet weather, existed in 
the hind part of the hoof between the digits. 
We have tried everything to get the uuimal 
lu good condition; and the fever has now 
settled In oue hoof which is very teuder. 
What is the remedy? 
Ans.—I f the inflammation is severe give a 
laxative—oue pound of Glaubor salts—aud 
poultice until relieved. Then pare away all 
diseased or detached horn, so as to expose the 
whole of the diseased surface. With a swab 
apply a dressing of hydrochloric acid diluted 
with two parts of water, being sure to reach 
all diseased parts, after which apply a dress¬ 
ing of tar. At the eud of a week examine 
the foot, aud auy parts not healed should 
again be touched with the acid aud dressed 
