466 
THE ft ORAL NEW-YORKER 
JULY 14 
old-style steel instrument, and showing how 
and why sueb an appliance can and does 
cure hernia. To all interested persons this 
circular will be gladly sent upon application, 
mentioning the Rural. 
Peter Henderson & Co., 35 & 37 Court- 
laudt Street, New York,—Catalogue of celery, 
cabbage, cauliflower and pot-grown straw¬ 
berry plants, with a list of turnip seeds. The 
new Rose Celery is praised as combining the 
best qualities of all kinds. A full page en¬ 
graving is given of the Henderson Straw¬ 
berry. Wo Ihnl that the quality is all that is 
represented. Another year, however, must 
pass ere wo can with justice speak of its size 
and productiveness. The catalogue will be 
sent without charge to those of our readers 
who apply as above. 
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS 
IBvery query must be accompanied by thename 
and address of the writer to Insure attention. Before 
asking n question, please see If It Is not answered In 
our advertising columns. Ask only a few questions 
atone time.] 
THE N. C. “THERMAL BELT’’—TEMPERATURE 
IN VALLEY AND ON HILL, ETC. 
8., Tioga, Penn. —1. What does the Rural 
think of the Thermal belt region of N. C. for 
such fruits as apples, pears, peaches, plums, 
cherries, grapes, and what are the facilities 
for reaching market ? 3. During the past 
Winter 1 noticed that at the bottom of a val¬ 
ley the thermometer showed live or six de¬ 
grees greater cold than at the top of a hill 100 
feet high and exposed to the sweep of the 
northwest winds. Would it be probable that 
on a hill 800 feet high it would be still warm¬ 
er ? 3. There is a sheltered depression in the 
south side of the mountain about 300 feet be¬ 
low its top; would that possess-any advan¬ 
tages as to exemption from winter-killing 
and late spring frosts over the valley 800 feet 
below? 4, After a strawberry bed is through 
bearing, how shall 1 proceed to put it in the 
beet order for strawberries next Spring, with 
enough stable manure to give it a light dress¬ 
ing aDd several barrels of ashes, leached aud 
unleaehed i The soil is a sandy, gravelly 
loam, well drained, and on which ashes pro¬ 
duce good results. 
Ans. —With regard to the “ Thermal Belt,” 
Mr. Henry Stewart, who is at present residing 
there, writes us ; “ There is no room for 
thought or opinion about the Thermal Belt of 
the Blue Ridge country in North Carolina. 
The facts are well known and admit of no 
dispute. At elevations of 1,500 feet from the 
foot of the mountains up to 2,500 feet,there is 
a well-marked belt in which there are never 
any early or late frosts, and in which the 
temperature in the 8priug, Fall and Win¬ 
ter is 15 to 20 degrees higher in the even¬ 
ing, night and morning than it is above or 
below the belt. In January last tomatoes 
were in blossom and fruit in a portion of this 
belt, and locusts and chestnuts were green, 
while above and below, the trees were in 
their scarlet and gold livery. Naturally such 
a locality is excellent for fruit of all kinds 
whose flavor and perfection depend upon slow 
maturity and complete ripening; for the 
crops, of course, never fail from frosts at any 
time.” The facilities for getting to market 
are at present rather poor, there being no 
railroads within several miles. 2. It is a fact 
that the cold is always most severe in the 
bottom of the valleys. The cold air, being 
heavier than the warm, runs down to the low¬ 
est part, aud, besides, wind makes the air no 
colder; if anything, rather warmer. We 
hardly think, however, thut it would be found 
as warm at 800 feet of elevation as at I0O or 
200; but much would depend upon surrouud- 
iug hills and the general conformation of the 
surface. 3, If the depression is sufficient to 
amount to a valley, the cold would settle into it 
as readily as into the one 800 feet below; but 
if gradually ascending, it would be much 
le&s subject to the cold and late frosts; and, 
besides, vegetation would be later in starting 
up there and thus lie more likely to escape 
harm. It would lie still better if on the oast 
side. 4. Apply the manure aud plow the bod 
as soon as through fruiting. Apply the uBhes 
and keep cultivated all Bummer, plowing the 
second time just aa Winter closes in. If you 
are willing to put on extra uiauure, the land 
may be used to grow late sweet corn, late 
cabbages or turnips after the berries are har¬ 
vested. Next Spring apply more manure and 
plow it in; then put on more ashes and some 
bone flour, if you can get it, and plant the 
strawberries. 
COVER FOR GRAIN STACKS, ETC. 
J. M. F., Burlington, Ind. —1. I wish a 
cover 24x84 feet for stacks when putting up 
grain, how can I make it water-proof ? 2. 
What are a good raspberry and blackberry 
for Northern Indiana, and where can they be 
had? 
Ans. —1. It is by no means necessary to 
have a stack cover water-proof. The best 
thing to buy is a piece of regular canvas of 
that size. If the stack to be protected, is 
long, stick a stake or crotch in each end and 
in the middle; on these place a pole or piece 
of scantling so that the cover may have a 
slant each way; or a pile of bundles or loose 
material n ade along the center of the 
cover, will keep all beneath as dry as a biscuit. 
If it is made water-proof, the composition is 
apt to rot the cloth. It can be protected 
against mildew by soaking it in a solution of 
one ounce of yellow soap in two gallons of 
rain water for 24 hours. Hang it up and 
when well drained, put it into a solution of 
half a pound each of sugar of lead and alum 
in four gallons of water, and let it soak five 
hours. Then spread it out to dry, 2. If you 
had studied our Small Fruit Election you would 
have seen that for Northern Indiana the pre¬ 
ference was given for red raspberries, to 
Turner and Cuthbert, and for black to Tyler 
and Gregg. We should say add to this the 
Ohio, and for a blackberry, plant Taylor and 
Snyder. 
RAISING WATER. 
R. B. IF., Livingston, Iowa. —1. I have a 
well 26 feet deep, 60 rods from my house, 
which is on ground 10 feet lower than the 
surface at the well: can I put a hydraulic ram 
in the well to force water to the house, by 
pumping the water to drive the ram, with a 
wind mill? 2. What kind of piping is it best 
to use, and what would bo the cost? 
Ans —1. That way of getting the water to 
the house would be quite similar to a mao’s 
trying to lift himself by his boots, though not 
quite so bad. The best way, and one perfect¬ 
ly feasible, is to put up a wind-mill, and at¬ 
tach to it a force pump, forcing the water 
directly into the pipes leading to the bouse. A 
wind wheel 10 feet in diameter would be 
ample. 2. Thu best pipe to be used nowadays 
is one of galvanized iron, providing the 
water is not sulphurous. The suction pipe, or 
that below the pump, should be l)£ inch; that 
above the pump should be one inch, and 
not cost, in your place, over 10 cents per 
foot, including the couplings, 
LUMP ON HORSE’S LEG. 
J. IV. K., Denton, Md. —On one of the hind 
legs of a horse, in front aud immediately above 
the pastern joint, a lump or soft swelling has 
appeared. When first noticed—three or 
four months ago or more—it appeared 
about as large as half of an ordin¬ 
ary sized walnut. Thinking it was only a 
slight bruise and would disappear without 
treatment, it was left to have its own course; 
but as soon as it seemed to increase in size, I 
bathed it with iodine three times a day for 
two weeks. Still it seemed to increase in size. 
I then blistered with “Kendall’s blister” oint¬ 
ment; the blister is now well, but the enlarge¬ 
ment Is still the same. It produces no lame 
ness, and the auirnai seems to experience no 
paiu from rubbing or handling the lump, yet 
it is quite a blemish in the appearance of the 
leg; bow should it be treated to remove It 
without leaviug scar or injury? 
ANSWERED BY F. L. KILBORNE. 
If the contents of the swelling are liquid, 
draw oil' the liquid with a hypodermic syringe, 
aud compress the sac with a firm, cool, wet 
bandage. Should the contents prove to be 
solid or only semi-liquid, a free incision is to 
be made at the lower part of the sac, the con¬ 
tents removed, and the bandage applied as 
before. 
RED CLOVER FOR GREEN MANURE: KILLING 
BLACK ANTS. 
W. W.F., Wellsville, Ohio. —i. In reply to 
T. J. S. you say that Red Clover, sown in the 
Fall, will produce a good crop the next year. 
Now, what I wish to know is when It should 
be sowu on a sandy loam soil, not liable to 
heave? 1 wiBli it for plowing in for manure. 
2. How cau I drive out or destroy the black 
ants that infest the sugar barrels and pautry ? 
Ans.— 1. Clover will do splendidly for this 
purpose wherever it will endure the Winter. 
It should be sown as soon aa the summer 
drought is broken by the first heavy rain, and 
may be aceuinpanied with two bushels of 
oats per acre, which will do much to catch the 
snow und protect the clover from winter- 
killing. It may also be slightly covered with 
straw. When successfully passing the Win¬ 
ter, it will make a tine growth. 2. If the nest 
can be reached, pour in a quantity of kero¬ 
sene, or kerosene emulsion; or scatter ail over 
the nest quite thickly chloride of lime, Bu- 
hach will also kill them. They may be caught 
in great numbers with a sponge moistened 
with sweetened water, and when it is swarm¬ 
ing with ants, throw it into a dish of boiling 
water and set it again. They can also be 
poisoned with water containing arsenic and 
sugar, but this is a very dangerous remedy 
and should not be used except as a last resort. 
MEASURING CORN IN A CRIB; FEEDING CORN 
TO HOGS. 
S. E. B., Eudora, Kan. —1. Is there any 
legal standard of measurement for ascertaining 
the number of bushels of corn (in ear) in a crib? 
2. Which is the most profitable way of feed¬ 
ing shelled corn to hogs—dry, soaked, or 
boiled—where wood costs $3 per cord and 
labor 65 cents per day and cookers from #20 
to $50? 
Ans. —1. There is not. But for convenience 
people have a rough rule by which they buy 
and sell by measurement. First ascertain the 
cubic feet in the crib by multiplying the 
length, breadth and bight, in feet, together. 
Flint corns are sold by giving two heaped 
bushels of ears for a bushel of corn, and as a 
heaped bushel contains one-fifth more than 
the “struck” measure, and as 56 cubic foot 
contain 45 bushels, we find that three cubic 
feet contain two heaped bushels of ears, or 
one bushel of shelled corn. So if we divide 
the cubic feet by three, it gives us the bushels 
of shelled corn, and multiplying this by two 
gives the bushels of ears. As dent corn is 
sold by giving only three heaped half bushels of 
ears instead of four, we shall find the number of 
bushels of shelled com, if dent, by adding 
one-third to the bushels of flint, or by multi¬ 
plying the cubic feet by .445. 2. Buy a corn 
mill; grind it at your leisure, and soak it 24 
hours in hot weather, aud twice as long in 
cool, or int.il it is the least bit sour, aud It will 
be much better if mixed with bran, half aud 
half. 
-- 
Miscellaneous. 
J. Buckliorn, Col. —1. A farmer of this 
county claims to have lost a cow by a barley 
beard working up her nose into her brain; is 
such a thing possible? 2. At what stage in 
the growth of corn can rye be cultivated in 
without injury to the corn? 3. Will rye sown 
on the ground aud pastured till time to plow 
for a succeeding corn crop, benefit the land? 
4. I use 36 feet of one-inch rubber hose as a 
siphon to draw water from a ditch over the 
bank for stock watering purposes. It works 
well, but is too short in low water; could I 
use one 50 feet long as well, and would on® a 
half-inch work equally well, ouly slower? 5. 
1 have seen it stated that manure from a 
stallion is best for making a mushroom bed, Is 
it true? 6. A couple of years ago the Rural 
illustrated the Balome Apple aud spoke in 
high terms of it as an iron-clad; does it still 
think well of it? 
Ans.— 1. Such a thing is not possible; yet 
we much prefer to separate the beards from 
barley straw as much as possible when it is to 
be used for feediug purposes. 2. At the time 
of last working or about the time it “tassels 
out.” 3. The growing rye adds nothing to 
the soil, if eaten olf closeaud the animals drop 
the manure on other ground; but if you feed 
grains when pasturing, and the manure is loft 
upon the ground, it would add much; or if 
allowed to grow and plowed in as green man¬ 
ure, it would, whtlo not adding much, put 
much material gathered in the soil within 
reach of the corn. 4. A hose half an inch 
would have only a quarter of the capacity of 
one one inch, and practically would not de¬ 
liver one-eighth as much water. It would 
work providing the bight from the water to 
top of the bank does not become more tliau 20 
feet. The better it ay is to got a piece of hose 
of the same size, and couple on to what you 
have, being sure to get the joint air-tight. 5. 
The manure from one horse is as good as an¬ 
other, providing both eat the same kinds of 
food. 0. The Balome Apple is proving hardy 
and productive, but is not of very high 
quality. Try it in a small way. You can 
get the trees of the Bryaut Nurseries, ITiuce- 
tou, Ill. 
T. H., New Albany, Ind. —1. What is the 
best remedy for sheep ticks? 2. What will 
break heus fromsittiug? 3. How thick a wood 
can be seeded, aud what is the best mixture 
for that purpose? 
Anb,— 1. The sheep dip3 made by Morris 
Little & Bou and by Ness, are sure death to 
ticks. So also is a mixture of kerosene and 
lard, equal parts, and the latter may bo ap¬ 
plied by rubbing on with a cloth or sponge. 
There is no doubt that a dip made of tobacco 
leaves or stems, will also kill the ticks; but it 
is a barbarous remedy thut uo humane persou 
would apply. 2, I’ut the broody hen each day 
in a coop, the bottom of which is tilled with 
pegs or plus three fourths of au inch square 
and 2% inches apart each way, and extending 
four inches above the bottom; feed her well, 
aud let her out with the rooster a half hour 
before roosting time each night, aud see that 
she roosts with the other fowls. 3. The trees 
should not bo so dense that the sun cannot 
reach the ground occasionally. A good mix¬ 
ture for seeding would be, one bushel of 
Orchard Grass, one bushel of Meadow Oat 
Grass and six pounds of Wood Meadow Grass 
per acre. 
D. E., San Francisco, Cal. —1. What is the 
difference between sorghum and southern 
sugar-cane? 2. Should the young stalks 
sprouting from the bottom of the main one be 
removed? 
Ans.— 1. They both belong to the same 
tribe, the Andropogonem, but of different 
branches. Bugar-cano (Saccharum) is a 
perennial plant, and is propagated by cut¬ 
tings or pieces of the canes. Sorghum (Sor¬ 
ghum valgare) Is in most countries an annual 
plant, and it is propagated from seed. There 
are other differences, though these are suffic¬ 
ient to distinguish them. They are both, how¬ 
ever, sugar plauts to a greater or less extent. 
2. Yes, whichever is meant. The third ques¬ 
tion is so vague we cannot guess what is 
meaut. 
D. W., Dover's Woods, Texas, semis grasses 
for name. 
Ans. —No. 1 is I’hnluris arundinacea—a spe¬ 
cies of Canary Grass. It is a large, showy 
grass, but of no value. No. 2 iB Agrostis 
scabra, Rough Hair Grass, Thiu Grass. This 
grass is remarkable for its thin and delicate 
panicles, but it is of no value as stock food. 
T. R. IF., Roselle, N. J .—Where can I get 
Buhach and what is the price? 
Ans. —We think it is kept by most drug¬ 
gist at about $1 per pound. If you can’t get 
it from a drug store, you cau get it of the 
Buhach Producing Co., 4!) Cedar Street, 
N. Y, aud they will deliver it to the express 
company at the price we have uamad. 
J.H.H., Farmingdale, N. 1'.—Ilow can I 
destroy the grubs working in apple trees? 
Ans.—T here is only one effectual way of 
destroying “grubs” Jiorers) in apple or peach 
trees,and thut is, to cut them out with a sharp 
knife or kill them by running a small wire 
into their burrows. 
SPECIAL. 
WHIT WILL THE HARVEST BE ? 
LATEST CROP REPORTS. 
lit all, Reports from 3,500 
Different Sources. 
EASTERN - STATES. 
Maine. 
Kennebunk, York Co.—Wheat, oats and 
barley looking fairly well; about the usual 
breadth sowu. All hod crops, such as corn, 
potatoes, etc., are backward, owing to late 
Spring,a-s are also all garden vegetables. In 
most parts of this section, the hay crop will be 
very light indeed. Very dry here. In many 
sections tho grasshoppers are doing great 
damage to vegetation. Very little old hay 
left over. Fruit crop promises well, and wild 
berries will be abundant. G. W. 
Now Hampshire. 
Keene, Cheshire Co.—Grass looking well; 
hay 90 per cent, of au average; areas for hoed 
crop fully up to the average. Corn and po¬ 
tatoes looking well; former coming forward 
very fast. Winter rye aud spring grains 
never looked better. Fruit prospects very 
promising; grape-vines splendid with a very 
full set of fruit. Everything is looking flue. 
_ A. M. H. 
Vermont. 
Bridgewater, Windsor Co. About the 
average area of corn, oats, rye and potatoes; 
barley aud roots nothing to speak of. Grass 
looking better than last year, but about 10 
days later, us are all other crops. Grass will 
bo about au average,as last year was much be¬ 
low. Fruit is likely to bo light, as there was 
not a very full bloom. Condition of all crops, 
but grass,under the nverugo on account of the 
lateuoss of the season. W, c. R, 
East Charlotte. Chittenden Co.—Full 
average in acreage of all crops as compared 
with last year. Corn not promising well no w, 
on account of cold season so far. Other crops, 
especially potatoes, giving excellent promise. 
Apples will probably be a good deal less than 
au average yield, this being “off” year for 
many of our larger orchards. Small fruits, 
and pears and plums and cherries will likely 
be abundant. R. n. 
Newport, Orleans Co.—The average of all 
crops in acreage is about as usual. The hay 
crop will bo very light on account of drought 
this Spring. The other cropa are fair, but 
will soon suffer for rain. The fruit prospect 
is very good, as this is our berry year. 
K. B. T. 
ItinMNachusctts, 
Wakefield, Middlesex Co.—Potatoes 
