moving the cause, giving special attention to 
the cleanliness of the feet and the application 
of dry calomel or any dry astringent. Clean 
the foot carefully, pare away all detached 
pieces of born or frog, and apply the calomel 
in powder to the deceased surface, pregsing it 
into the cleft on pledgets of tow or lint. A tar 
dressing may then be applied over the whole. 
Where inflammation is severe, it will be desir¬ 
able to apply a poultice, to which has been 
added some sulphate of zinc, or copper, or 
other astringent, until relieved. Keep the 
feet clean and do not let the animal stand or 
run in wet or filth of any kind. 2. The disease 
was canine distemper, a febrile, infectious, 
and contagious disease of domestic caruivora, 
attacking especially the young. This was 
the nervous form, terminating in chorea and 
paralysis, and, like other complicated forms, 
usually fatal. The disease frequently rages 
as an epizootic, but the simple form is, as a 
rule, not fatal. Success in the treatment of 
the simple form depends largely upon careful 
nursing and comfortable surroundings. The 
food should be restricted in quantity but given 
frequently, and be the most easily digestible 
that the dog will relish. Milk, porridge, or 
bread and milk, are perhaps the best, if the 
dog will eat them, otherwise beef tea, meat 
in small quantities, or whatever the dog can 
relish. At the outset a laxative is usually 
beneficial to remove any indigestible materials 
from the intestinal canal,—a teaspoonful of 
castor oil for a small dog or puppy, or one 
or two tablespoonfuls for a large dog. Then 
take of ipecaeuana ten graius, extract of 
belladona twenty grains, nitrate of potash one 
dram, gentian one dram, mix, and divide 
into ten to tweuty-flve doses, according to 
size of dog, and give morning and night. It 
is very difficult to prescribe for a disease which 
varies so greatly and is liable to so many 
complications, each particular form demand¬ 
ing special treatment. 
ECZEMA AND SPLINT IN A HORSE. 
J. C , Nunda, N. Y .—'There are little bunches 
all over the legs of my horse; whenever he is 
heated and gets a chance he bites himself all 
over. There is matter in the bunches and 
after a while they turn to scabs; what ails him! 
2. He has also a splint; what should be the 
treatment? 
ANSWERED BV F. L KtLBORNE, B. V. S. 
1. It is an eczematous eruption due to faulty 
nutrition, improper feeding or unwholesome 
surroundings. The treatment should be di¬ 
rected to the improvement of the general 
health and the removal from the system, by 
the bowels or kidneys, of those morbid pro¬ 
ducts which are now being eliminated by the 
skin, causing the eruption. Give five drams 
of Barbadoes aloes and two drams of ginger, 
made into a ball with sirup, and administer 
it by placing it well back in the mouth, and 
holdiug up the bead until swallowed. Then 
each morning give four drams bicarbonate of 
soda and one-balf ounce each of powdered 
geutian and cinchona bark, to be followed in 
the evening by one dram of colc.hicum, two 
drams of nitrate of potash, and three or four 
grains of arsenic in Fowler’s Solution. To re¬ 
lieve the itchiness, wash the parts with a solu¬ 
tion of potassium carbonate, or if relief is not 
obtained, with a solution of one dram hydro¬ 
cyanic acid in each quart of water. The diet 
should consist of easily digested, wholesome 
food in moderate quantities. Do not over¬ 
feed, especially on stimulating or heating 
foods, and avoid coarse or other inferior 
foods. 2. If the splint is an old one, produc¬ 
ing no lameness, it will probably uever inter¬ 
fere with the usefulness of the animal, and had 
better not be disturbed. But if it is of recent 
formation, or causes lameness, it may be bene¬ 
fited by treatment. Any heat or tenderness 
is to be relieved by cooling applications or 
the wet bandage, followed by a cantbarides 
blister when the heat and tenderness subside. 
(See ‘•Lameness in a Mare” iu F. C. of July 
18th, for directions for blistering). The blis¬ 
ter may be repeated when the effects of the 
first have passed off. A rest of one to several 
mouths will be necessary to effect a cure. 
STRAIN AND GOITRE IN A COW. 
E. S., Macedonia, Ohio, —1. What can be 
done for a cow that is weak and stiff in the 
hind-quarters! It is thought to be due to a 
slip on the ice last Winter; one hip is higher 
and sharper than the other, and on that side 
the leg is thrown out too much in walking. 
2. Ou another cow there has been for several 
months a large swelling ou the neck just for¬ 
ward of the dewlap, and it is increasing. It 
seems like goitre, if cows are subject to that 
ailment. What is it? 
Ans. —l. Repeated blistering over the seat 
of the injury will probably be most effective: 
powdered cantharides, two drams; croton oil, 
ten drops; oil of peppermint, two to three 
drops; lard, one ounce; mix thoroughly. Cut 
the hair from the part aud apply", rubbing in 
well against the direction of the hair for sev¬ 
eral minutes. When the blister is well raised 
THE RUBAI. HEW-YORKIR/ 
wash off with" Castile soap suds and smear 
daily with vaseline. The cow must be kept in 
the stanchions or tied short to keep the mouth 
from reaching the blistered surface. Repeat 
the blister as often as may be necessary after 
the effects of the first have passed off. 2. Cat¬ 
tle are subject to goitre the same as any of the 
other domestic animals, and the treatment is 
the same as for other animals. Externally 
apply iodine ointment daily with smart fric¬ 
tion, sufficient to keep the surface nearly but 
not quite blistered. Internally give one-half 
dram of iodide of potassium twice daily If 
tbe swelling is very large, any liquid it may 
contain may be drawn off with a hypodermic 
syringe, aud inject a weak solution of iodine 
into the cavity of the goitre—compound tinc¬ 
ture of iodine, one part; water, five parts. 
Usually treatment has to be continued for 
several weeks or even months. Some old 
cows require a surgical operation, which can 
be performed only by an experienced vet¬ 
erinarian. 
POULTRY QUERIES. 
A. E. II., Souris, Manitoba, Canada. —1. 
Can a person manage an incubator and 
brooder solely with the aid of the printed 
directions? 2. Are they reliably automatic 
ai d can their use be made profitable under 
ordinary conditions? 3. Who makes the best 
incubators and brooders? 4. What are the 
best poultry books, and from whom can they 
be purchased? 5. Where can I find directions 
for eapouizing fowls? t>. Would Florida be a 
good State for a Northern man to raise poul¬ 
try for a Northern market? 
Ans.— 1. We think it is much easier to 
manage an incubator than a brooder; at least 
we bear those who use them say it is much 
easier to hatch chicks than to raise them. It 
is possible for a novice to learn to use one from 
printed directions and experience —mostly ex¬ 
perience. 2. Many are reasonably automatic, 
but all need careful watching, and success 
largely depends upon care bestowed. Some 
are making incubator* successful, and yet we 
should advise everybody to commence care¬ 
fully and go slow, proving the thing for 
theu selves. The large establishments that 
we were told were going to revolutionize the 
chicken business haven’t done much in that 
way yet, and it may be the old hen will oome 
out ahead. 3. We have not tried any and so 
can’t say. Send to each maker for circulars 
and study the matter for y ourself. We would 
like to hear from those who have used them. 
•L Lewis’s Practical Poultry Book, $1 50; and 
Wright’s Practical Poultry Keeper, $2.00, are 
as good as any. Both can be obtained from 
the American News Company, New York 
City. 5. Full directions are given in the 
above works; and in back volumes of the 
Rural. 6 We think it is pretty far south, 
and too far from the large markets; yet we 
do not like to advise. 
ANiEMIA IN A COW. 0 
J. C. L., West Leroy, Mich ,—Ever since 
she calved in the Spring of 1884, my six year- 
old cow has been thin and feeble, and failed 
to yield as much milk as she gave previously. 
Last June she dropped a calf a month too 
soon, without any enlargement of the udder or 
any secretion whatever of milk. She swelled 
between the fore legs to such a size that she 
couldu’t walk, and soon the swelling extended 
over tbe entire body. On making iucisions 
a yellowish, watery discharge occurred. There 
wasn’t enough blood iu the swelling to color 
the discharge, and the flesh seemed composed 
of round, yellowish-while bunches about a 
quarter of an inch in diameter. Whatailsthe 
beast? 
ANSWERED BY F. L. KILBOBNE, B. V. S. 
The condition appears to be what is called 
anaemia, a term applied to that condition of 
the system in which there is a deficiency and 
poverty of the blood. It is the effect of vari¬ 
ous disorders rather than a disease of itself. 
The first requisite in the successful treatment 
of the condition is the removal of the cause, if 
it can be discovered, that is depleting the sys¬ 
tem. Give special attention to the hygienic 
surroundings of the animal. Let the food be 
of the first quality, of easy digestion, aud 
moderate iu quantity. Ground oats, barley 
or beans, with wheat bran, and an allowance 
of oil cake, are excellent. As a tonic, give 
two drams of sulphate of iron, and one ounce 
each of powdered gentian and ginger, twice 
daily. After giving the iron several days, 
withhold it for a few days, after which con¬ 
tinue as before. Free access to salt and good, 
pure water is esseutial. 
CLOVER SOD FOR CORN. 
C. H., Southport, Ind. —1. Which will insure 
the best corn crop, to plow clover sod this Fall, 
or let it stand and plow in Spring just in time 
for planting ? 2. W ould it pay better to leave 
a good crop of second-growth clover until 
Spring to be plowed down for corn, or to cut 
it now for feed? 
Ans. -1. Weshould prefer letting the clover 
gvo*Y until nearly planting time, proyidUig 
you do not let stock eat it close off. If left 
without pasturing off, it will afford a heavy 
growth for plowing down by planting time, 
2. If to be fed to stock in connection with 
grain and the manure is saved and spread this 
Winter upon the clover stubble, we should 
greatly prefer to have it cut and fed out: 
but if not to be fed and returned, we should 
expect a much better crop by leaving it and 
plowing it under with that which may grow 
in the Spring. 
Miscellaneous. 
J. W. W., Deer Park, Md.—l. 1 have 
dammed a stream, to obtain power to force 
water to my buildings on the top of a hill; 
the craw-fish make holes through the dam, 
which draw off a large part of the water; 
how can I destroy them or prevent their mak¬ 
ing these holes? 2. Where can I buy a shep¬ 
herd dog cheap? 
Ans. —1. We know of no way of destroying 
them, or of preventing the injury, except by 
making the dam stronger, or by building a 
narrow stone wall np through its center, using 
water-lime in its construction. 2. W. Atlee 
Burpee & Co. sell these dogs, as do many of 
the breeders of fine stock. 
G W. S , Otsego, Wis. —Three months ago 
my yearling colt began to jerk up his hind 
feet with a quick motion; the habit has grown 
worse, and he drags the hind feet; when 
he moves them he does so with a jerk. The 
muscles from hip to stilfle are shrunken and 
rigid. What ails him? 
Ans. —The symptoms are not sufficiently 
definite from which to give a very satisfactory 
diagnosis. There was probably sprain of the 
hips, which appears to be aggravated by some 
reflex reverse action resembling stringhalt. 
For treatment of the lameness see the F. C. of 
July ISth, for "Lameness in a Mare.” The 
administration of thee or four grains of nux 
vomica and one dram nitre, twice daily, may 
prove beneficial. 
H. C. R., FranklbUon, N. C. —1. What 
shrub makes the best hedge fence for general 
purposes, and where can I procure it in large 
quantities? 2. What kind of seed wheat 
(winter) would you recoin mood for this lat¬ 
itude, and where can I get it? 3 Are all the 
advertisements in the Rural New-Yorker 
reliable? 4. Which is the best corn-and-cob 
crusher for steam power, for general use. 
Ans. —1. We know of nothing better for gren- 
erat purposes than the Japan quince. 2. Diehl- 
Mediterranean, Martin’s Amber, Landreth. 
Try some of each. They can be had of any 
seedsman. 3. No. But there is no paper that 
tries harder to have them so. 4. See adver¬ 
tisements in Rural. 
J, L. B., Bay Shore, Fa.—1. My Worden, 
Eldorado, Brighton and Concord grapes have, 
to a great extent shriveled and dried up, 
dropping from one-third to one-half their 
leaves before the fruit is matured; the vines 
have received good culture; what was the 
cause? 2 How is the Perkins grape received 
in the N. Y. market? 
Ans —1. They were probably attacked 
with mildew of some kind. 2. Itisnotknown 
in the market as yet. And in our experience 
it drops considerably from the cluster. 
C. B. G., Mt. Vernon, Ohio. —1. What are 
the six best varieties of strawberries, when 
productiveness and size are alone cared for? 
2, What are the best dozen grapes, all good 
qualities being considered? 
Ans. 1. Lincoln, Jewell, Sharpless. Hen¬ 
derson, Parry, Jersey Queen. 2. Eldorado, 
Niagara, Victoria for white; Delaware, 
Brighton and probably Woodruff Red for red ; 
Moore’s Early, Herbert, Concord for black. 
C. B. IF., Washington, Pa.—I have one or 
two hundred barrels of fine Albemarle Pip- 
ins; will you recommend some reliable firm to 
whom I can send them in New York City? 
Ans. —There are so many good firms in this 
city it would be unjust forus to single them 
out. Examine onr advertising columns; those 
advertising there are O. K. 
M. S , Ddcvan, IFw.—The insect you sent 
is the commonest of our Horn-tail flies, and is 
known as Trernex columba. It bores into a 
uumber or forest and shade trees, such as elm, 
maple, sycamore, hickory aud oak, and lays 
its white, oval eggs under the bark. The 
larva* are wood feeders, and sometimes occur 
in sufficient number to kill a large tree. The 
egg-laying is done in July, August, and the 
early part of September. It is not known 
how long the insect remains in the larval 
state. 
Z. Z.—l have a wistaria that was trans¬ 
planted six years ago and has not blossomed 
since. Why? 
Ans. —They are often as long as that in 
blooming, after being transplanted. 
C. J. B-, Dayton, Tenn .—We can only 
advise you to try unleached wood ashes and 
also raw-bone tiour, if you can get it. 
& E-, fiv't, Afic/i.—Ab?olqtQly QQtWug i¬ 
sold at this office except the Rural New-Yor¬ 
ker. Onions—How to Raise them Profitably, 
price 20 cents, can be had through the Ameri¬ 
can News Co., this city. 
DISCUSSION. 
J. J. B., Platte City, Mo.—Surely G. C. B, 
of La wrence.Kans., w ho says, in a late Rural, 
that the Crimson Beauty Raspberry was 
killed on his place, hasn't the genuine 
Beauty. I have it from A. M. Purdy, and 
it withstood the extreme cold of last Winter 
perfectly; doc even the smallest part of the 
canes was injured in the least. I saw hun¬ 
dreds of vines on the grounds of Dr. Stay- 
man, Leavenworth, Kan?., and none was 
injured, while Cutbbers was injured con¬ 
siderably. 
W. J. O , Crawfordsville, Ind. —My ex¬ 
perience with the Pocblington Grape is quite 
different from that in a late report from the 
Rural Grouoda Tbe bunch and berry on my 
soil are larger than the Concord,and it ripened 
with the latter. The skin is tender; the pulp 
melting, tender and jucy, and the flavor 
was pronounced delicious by all who tasted 
it. 1 have a Prentiss vine that has been 
planted three years and has borne no fruit 
yet. The vine is perfectly healthy and ha s 
made a fine growth this season. You certain¬ 
ly have not the genuine Crimson Beauty 
Raspberry, there is a difference that anyone 
can detect. I think more of the C. B. than 
of any berry in my collection. 
CULTURE OF CORN. 
J. M. S , Quincy, 111.—I must take except¬ 
ions to what is said in reply to a correspon¬ 
dent in Northwestern Nebraska, in a late 
Rural, advising surface culture of corn. 
I am perfectly willing to admit that upon 
some soils surface culture is the best. But it 
has been demonstrated, time aud again, that 
tbe man who depends upon surf ace culture on 
an Illinois prairie soil in a wet year, will get 
sadly left. It is not because he cannot keep 
the weeds down i though if he stayed out of 
the field for ten days he would have some 
very respectable ones to contend with), be 
cause under such treatment the [corn has too 
little heat and too much moisture. This is 
especially the case while it is young. There is 
enough rain nine Springs out of ten to “run 
together and beat down” our fields of loose, 
black soil, from the time the corn is planted 
till it is two inches high; and it will turn 
yellow and almost stop growth, (and if, the 
season is wet, will die), oq matter how well 
you keep down weeds and grass, so long as 
you skin over the surface. You must get into 
the field with the double-diamond and throw 
the ground into ridges. Then the water will 
drain down into the furrows and run off; the 
sun and air will have access to a greater sur¬ 
face and dry the ground more rapidly; and 
the sua can get near the root3 of the corn, 
warming the ground abont them. In nine 
seasons out of ten such treatment is required 
when the corn is small, for in nine seasons out 
of ten we have too much rain at this time. 
As the roots of the corn are small, but few of 
them are cut. If the season proves unusually 
wet, it is better to continue this treatment— 
using the double-diamonds. That I am cor- 
cect in this I am sure 90 percent, of the wide¬ 
awake farmers who have tried cultivating 
corn on such land, will testify, and I am pretty 
certain that the same cultivation will prove 
the better in Northwestern Nebraska, especial¬ 
ly in Sioux County. 
And it is our common experience that riding 
cultivators are a nuisaaoe. They have been 
tried and are being tried, and although I was 
travelling over Illinois aud adjoining western 
territory, by rail, fully one-tbird of the time 
duriog the past season, I saw only four riding 
cultivators in use, and I am certain two of 
these, at least, were being tested. Manu¬ 
facturers and agents may talk as they please, 
but the best work can not be done here—iu 
large, even fields, where there are neither 
roots nor stones to obstruct—with riding culti¬ 
vators, and I can not see how the best work 
can be done with them else where; andyouwelt 
say that we want only the best work. 
CosntrsiCAnoNs Reokivrd roa the Week Ending 
SA.T m.DAT, October I?, 188s. 
J. R. W.—C. M. G.-C. S. M -P. M. S.—S. B. H.—F. 
E a-F. C.-W. M. K.-R W.-J. E.-J. H.-J. J.- 
D Z. C.—O. A B.—J. E. P.—J. a K.—G. R.—J. W. S. 
—B. V. M.-R. M—L. K.-W. E. J.-R. F.—C. A G.— 
L. L a grass received.—C. W. L.—J. J. B.—L. B. H., 
weed rev ived.—A. M. P.—W. B H.—S. I,., grass re¬ 
ceived.—P W.-B -L_ a S.-J. P. W.—L. B. H.-G. 
L —W. F. K.—P. W.—A. H. McC.—M. E. J.-C.— 
R.W, F.-R. F.-W, B. T.-J, M.-A. S. B.-F. D. K. 
—J. D. L-E. 8. G.-P. E., thanks.—R. S.-P. J.B.— 
E. J. B—W. F.—P. B. U.-V. M-W. F. B.-K.F.-J. 
D —"HortlcolA R. L <Ont.), thanks.—H. A B.,no.— 
B 8.—C. A. G.—D. R.-C SI. II-A H. McG., grass 
received —O. C., Domestic Economy—we can not 
answer by mall.—H B.—P. B. L , thank*.—A. J C.— 
L H. B„ Jr.-C. L B., thank*.—L. M. Jt.-J. L—J. W , 
F —G. W. G.—J. T. R.—"A new subscriber.”—C. L — 
1L E.C.—J. T. T.-ff, G.W., Sr., with much pleasure. 
—G. I. P.—R. C. H.—F. L. K., thanks—‘‘Progress.’*— 
0, M P.-f, W, S-W, gad a. F. 
