THi AURAL flEW-fORKtH 
DEC 26 
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
[Every query must be accompanied by the name 
and address of the writer to insure attention. Before 
asking a question, please 9ee if it is not answered In 
our advertising columns. Ask only a few questions 
at one time. ] _■ 
LIME AND COMMERCIAL FERTILIZERS. 
X. Y. Z., Newton Hamilton, Pa, —1. On 
land on which commercial fertilizer was ap 
plied last Fall wonld lime applied next Spring 
be of any benefit! 1 2. Wbat would be the 
effect of applying lime with or soon after 
commercial fertilizers; 8. Would it be ad¬ 
visable to spread fresb lime during Winter 
on fall plowed ground Intended for corn, etc , 
next year? 4. Would you advise the use of 
fertilizer and lime on laud without sod or 
manure? 
ANS.—1. Much depends upon the character 
of the land. The fertilizer, if a phosphate, 
contained a large proportion of lime, as much 
as would be required on someoils; other soils 
(especially those that are sandy) are so defi¬ 
cient in lime as to respond largely to an extra 
application. Without knowing more we 
could not tell. 2. Just what effect lime has 
on laud is hard to tell. We know that on 
some soils, and often on those which natur¬ 
ally contain an abundance of it, it works 
wonders; on others it has no effect at all: but 
bow it acts is not so well known, although it 
is believed its greatest benefit is in breaking 
up certain insoluble compounds in the soil, 
and thus setting free previously unavailable 
plant food. Plants also take up a certain 
proportion of it, wheat assimilating from 10 
to 12 pounds per acre. It is thought by some 
that lime causes the phosphoric acid in super¬ 
phosphate to revert, or become insoluble; but 
while such an effeet may be prodneed, we 
doubt very much whether the result would 
detract much from its value; for in most 
soils the soluble phosphoric acid in super¬ 
phosphates reverts in a very short time; but 
in such a form it is very’ different from that 
in ground bone, as the product is much more 
finely divided, so that the phosphoric acid is 
readily taken up by the roots of the plants. 
We should, however, much prefer t> use 
the fertilizer by itself, putting on the lime 
one year before or after its use. 8 On such 
soils as are not subject to overflow and wash¬ 
ing, the Winter is regarded as the proper 
time to apply lime, so that the snows and 
rains of Winter and Spring may thoroughly 
mix it with the soil. 4. On such land as lime 
effects beneficially, we would advise its use. 
But we would not rely on this alone, because 
whatever increase is produced by its use is at 
the expense of the fertility of the soil. By 
the use of proper fertilizers we can keep up, 
and even increase, the fertility of the soil, 
while producing increased crops. As stated 
above, however, we would not apply commer¬ 
cial fertilizers and lime together, or oue soon 
after the other. 
SHEEP ABORTING. 
i?. J. Marlin, Mich .—Why do many of my 
sheep miscarry when about three months 
pregnant? 
Ans. —The cause is probably due to some 
fault in the feeding or management of the 
sheep; and the cure is to be found in the re¬ 
moval of the cause, if the sheep are poor in 
flesh, feed more generously of grains. See 
that the animals have proper shelter; but do 
not confine them in damp, close, ill-ventilated 
8tables, which are sure to breed disease. 
Finally, read the articles in back numbers of 
the Rural on sheep husbandry', especially 
those on the management of sheep at the 
W. N, Y. Rural Farm, and see where you 
can improve ou your present methods. 
WEAK WALL OF HORSE ’8 HOOF. 
A. C. W., Exeter, R. 4—1. The wall of one 
of my horse’s hoofs is very thin, and the foot 
is rather tender in traveling on gravel or 
stones; what should be the treatment? 2. 
How can warts be removed from a heifer’s 
teats? 
Ans.—L Avoid unnecessary weakening of 
the sole and hoof wall by paring and rasping 
when shod. Apply some hoof-ointment (one 
made of equal parts of tar and lard is excel- 
Pijarrtiiuieouisi gitfvtrtteittg. 
lent) to the hoof-wall and coronet to favor 
growth of horn. A mild blister to the coro¬ 
net may be beneficial in stimulating the horny 
growth. 2. Remove with the scissors or a 
sharp knife and cauterize the cut surface with 
nitrate of silver. It would be well to wait 
until the heifer is dry, so as not to have to 
milk her while the teats are sore. 
THOROtJGHPIN—FREE CARTILAGE IN JOINT. 
J. I?., Hampton, N. F.—One morning my 
colt lost the use of bis off hind leg, which 
dragged as he walked; in half an hour it got 
all right, however; but since then he has been 
troubled with such spells. Quite frequently 
there is a “kink” in his gambrel joint; what 
is the matter, and what is the proper treat¬ 
ment? 
Ans.— Draw off the liquid in the swelling 
with a fine hypodermic syringe, and then 
inject a small quantity of compound tincture 
of iodine, diluted with three or four parts of 
w'ater. Another good method is to apply a 
spring bandage so as to press equally upon 
the inner and outer swellings. Rest during 
treatment will be necessary. The short 
periods of excessive lameness which come on 
and disappear without apparent canse, are 
probably due to free cartilage in the joint 
and a delicate surgical operation will be 
necessary to remove it. The colt may, how¬ 
ever, recover in time without such operation. 
CROPS FOR A DRAINED SWAMP. 
E. J. Warren , Orleans, N. F.—1. I have 
several reclaimed cat swamps. The muck is 
from one to six feet deep and well drained, 
the only crop ever grown on them has been 
hay, but I wish to put them to a more profit 
able use; now can’t I raise onions, or vegetables 
for stock? 2. The one I now wish to till was 
plowed this Fall, a heavy sward having been 
turned down; now what preparation does it 
require?' 3. Would cabbage do well od it, 
planted for an early market? 4. How would 
such land be suited for potatoes? 
Ans.— 1. Onions do first-rate on such muck 
swamps in Ohio and Michigan. Mangels also 
do well, and so do the Eoglish turnips, but 
these swamps are quite apt to be deficient in 
both potash and phosphoric acid. On such 
a swamp in Western New York we once saw 
growing an onion crop that yielded over GOO 
bushels per acre. 2. We suggest putting it 
the first year to mangels or cabbage, as it is 
difficult to get it into proper condition suf¬ 
ficiently early for onion sowing The next 
year it can be devoted to onions. As rich as 
such ground looks, we never saw such a piece 
of ground that was not greatly benefited by 
a dressing of stable manure. To fit it for 
cabbages or mangels, harrow well as soon as 
it can be worked, and plow once or twice 
before planting time. Sow on it 26 bushels of 
ashes per acre, if yon can get them,and plant. 
8. We think cabbages would do well; but 
whether they would be ready for an early or 
late market would depend on how early it is 
dry enough to work. 4. Potatoes would do 
nicely unless troubled with scab, which is 
quite prevalent on such soils. But if planted 
to them, we think the ashes and probably a 
dressing of from 200 to 400 pounds of phos¬ 
phate would pay. Celery is a crop es¬ 
pecially adapted to such lands, and also a very 
profitable one. 
RICKETS; RED WATER, IN CATTLE. 
J.McC ., Marlborough, Australia.— 1. What 
is a remedy for "rickets” in cattle. The affect¬ 
ed animals tremble ; and in about a week 
stagger in their walk; then the biod-quarters 
become powerless, though the sufferers still 
feed well, the hind quarters have to be drag¬ 
ged along. Finally they die, after lingering 
a few weeks longer. The bones along the 
spine seem to becotne soft, and the horns drop 
down over the face. 2. What is a cure for 
red water in cattle: diseased cattle die very 
soon. 
ANSWERED BY F. L. KILBORNE, B. V. 8 . 
1. Rickets being essentially a disease 
of faulty nutrition, the treatment consists 
mainly in the correction of any conditions 
which tend to impoverish the system. Feed 
more liberally of fodder richer in bone and 
tlesh-foroiing constituents. Animals ou poor 
or short pastures and those fed on coarse.innu- 
tritious fodder, should receive a liberal daily 
allowance of grain, ground oats, barley, peas, 
corn, or wheat bran, preferably a mixture of 
two or more of these grains—with oil cake or 
cotton-seed meal. Pure drinking water and 
healthy surroundings are also very essential. 
The stables or shelter should be dry, clean and 
well ventilated, and the animals be allowed to 
run out of doors in pleasaut weather. 2. 
Like rickets, the usual cause of red water in 
cattle is defective or insufficient feeding. The 
food may be deficient either in quality or 
quantity. Turnips, or other fodder contain¬ 
ing an excess of water, when fed t5o exclu¬ 
sively,are very liable to produce the disease, 
which is most prevalent o n dam p lands in wet 
seasons._ .TJndrainedJ*impoverished,~or infe¬ 
When Baby was sick, we gave her Castoria, 
When she was a Child, she cried for Castorla, 
When she became Miss, she clung to Castoria, 
When she bad Children, she gave them Castoria, 
rior pastures, and natural pastures with wood 
land containing acrid plants, are dangerous. 
Medical treatment is not altogether satisfac¬ 
tory. The more rational method is to employ 
preventive measure, to avoid the disease. If 
the cause can be discovered, as it can in most 
cases, and be removed, the disease will usually 
disappear. Wet pastures should be drained, 
and pastures containing acrid plants “broken 
up ” Inferior or watery fodder should be sup¬ 
planted in part by more concentrated, nutri 
tious foods, or dry grains. 
FLORIDA PIG MARKET. 
G. T., Bristol, Conn .—Is there any market 
in the North for Florida pigs weighing about 
100 pounds. Where would it be profitable to 
sell them alive? 
ANS. —In what part of Florida are the pigs 
raised? Is it on the Gulf or the Atlantic side, 
and how far from a sbippiug point by rail or 
water? Hogs raised in Florida generally find 
a market there, as the State does not produce 
pork enough for home consumption, a con¬ 
siderable quantity having to be imported 
every year from New York and the West, 
Tbe surplus in any particular part of the State 
is either sold to neighboring points where 
there is a deficiency, or shipped to the West 
Indian Islands from the Atlantic side, or to 
Mobile or New Orleans from the Gulf coast. 
Miscellaneous. 
C. M. Y., Piet on, Out., Can —We can’t tell 
to what varieties the specimens of wheat be¬ 
long. 
J. E. II., Fredonia, Ohio .—The Govern¬ 
ment land offices in Kansas are at Topeka, 
Salina, Independence, Wichita, Kirwm, Con¬ 
cordia, Laroed, Wa-Keeuy, Oberlin and Gar¬ 
den City. For information about puhlic laud 
open to settlement, write to tbe agent in 
charge of the office near the place where you 
want to settle, or to all of them, if you are 
merely seeking an eligible location. No; it is 
not necessary to take your family with you 
to euable you to “take up” a homestead. 
Much better leave them where they are until 
you have made preparations for giving them 
a comfortable home wbereveryou may settle. 
The Indians are sometimes troublesome in 
Southwestern Kansas, but all danger from 
them in that section is fast disappearing. 
Doubtless you can get a good deal of valuable 
information from W. 8ims, Secretary of tbe 
State Board of Agriculture, Topeka, Kansas. 
H. Q., Fulton, N. Y .—Who deal in Wyan¬ 
dotte poultry-? 
Ans.- C. S. Cooper, Scbraalenburgh, N. J.; 
E. B. Thompson, Amenia, N, Y., Geo. A. 
Preston, Binghamton, N. Y, 
.4 T. Dunville —The land offices in Mon¬ 
tana are at Miles City, Helena and Boze¬ 
man. Write to the agent in charge of each, 
for information about land open to settle¬ 
ment, or to the General Land Office, Wash¬ 
ington, D. C. 
“A Subscriber," Iowa .—Four advertise¬ 
ment, if put in 10 lines, would cost you 63 for 
each insertion, or $38 for 12 insertions, or 
for three months. 
E. H. C., Bomansdale, Ha.— Will some 
reader of the Rural tell, through its columns, 
all he knows about the Surprise Apple? 
(Continued on page 885.) 
♦ - 
Tillingba8t's Famous Puget Sound 
Cabbage Seeds are beiDg introduced in every 
section of the count’y in a novel way. Instead 
of depending upon seedsmen to catalogue 
them, Mr. Tillinghast is appointing some per¬ 
son (usually a cabbage grower, who knows 
what good cabbage seeds are) in each town 
throughout the Union, to act as agent and 
sell to his neighbors. Parties interested 
in selling or planting cabbage seeds may learn 
something to their advantage by addressing 
Isaac F. Tillinghast. La Plume, Pa.— Adv. 
PiSwUatttoU!* 
SEND TEN CENTS IN POSTAGE STAMPS TO 
E. & O. WARD, 
PRODUCE COMMISSION MERCHANTS, 
for Circular Bivins Important advice about whip¬ 
ping produce. Also containing recipe for pre¬ 
serving eggs. Established 1845, 
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oa je, r'vnL'mttJil Award, 
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SHERWOOD | 
novelty 
SHERWOOD HARNESS CO. 
HARNESS 
One application of my OINTMENT will relieve, 
and positively cure, the worst cose of C'hilblniiiH. 
'25 cents a Box, by moll. 
iu. h. D,\m 
Elizabethtown, Essex Co., N. Y. 
amt goultnj. 
JKItsn KKit. POU.N 1 M ll!SA 
* hit*, IL-rk.hlrr A York! 
-Mr.- l'ig». Simlhdonn, Col.wnl* 
lent OlTurd Pawn Khrrp&ml I,ubm 
S roti Ii Cullrj Shrpli.nl Dug. u| 
Fnn.y t'oiillrr. Srnrt for (»Llo,r»e 
POULTRY SUPPLIES. 
(•round lleofHemps, Crushed Oyster Shells, 
Gruuulttied Bone. Fine Bone )lenl, etc. 
These goods are ground fre-'h at our own mills and 
warranted equal to tbn best. A No agent for F C- 
Sturtevani’sImperial Egg Food. Send for circulars 
giving prices and particulars Can send email sam¬ 
ples of scraps by mull to all wbo wish, free. 
„ „ C'. A. BABTI.ETT, 
Rendering Work* and Mills, M arrester, IIIn an. 
PERCHERON HORSES 
FOR SALE CHEAP IF TAKEN SOON. 
Grades- 
2 foaled <885, J* blood. 2 foaled NM, 1$ blood. 
7 foaled w., q, blood. 1 foaled 1SS , 13- «blood. 
1 foaled 1377. blood. 2 Imported Stallion!.. 
Registered. 
Write to E. A. 1IENEL.TIKE, 
Iloruellnville. Steuben S. 1. 
HK.VDQl AllTEUS FoK 
The “Standard” Galvanized Wire Netting* 
Garden 
Poultry 
Fencing, 
Kuna, 
Fish 
Ponds, 
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Training 
Lawn 
Avinriea, 
MARK 
Fencing. 
The “Snc'-esn” Hatcher. The simplest and best 
In the market.. How to raise Poultry, Pigeons, Birds, 
Dogs. &e ,und ninko It prod table. Designs of Poultry 
Houses, Dog Kennel9. &e. Polll try and Dog fixture* 
of all kinds. How to adorn the Harden and Lawn. 
Fencing of all kind*. Illustrated Catalogue, quarto 
size. $4 pp., continuing above Information, and much 
more, sent on receipt of 14 cents. Address, 
ltlttM KNF.lt iV EVANS, 
vi'fr’a and itmiortcrw. 422 West Street, N v City. 
can be made In i Year 
. by using the CVnlo ln<> t ba¬ 
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eggs. Almost any one IU FIClid 
are ter ■> few chicken*. Send 2 
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particulars A information of value. 
D. CRAIG, North Evanston, UL 
IMPERIAL FCC FOOD 
»Y/,Z. .11-ih K »'«f« //A'.V.V t.fP, 
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WHOLES vLR AGENTS. 
C. N. Crittenden,N. V.,- Wm Henry Vaule. Pblla.: 
J. C. Lone, Jr , N Y.; Parker ft wood. Boston: Geo. 
A. Kelly & Co.. Pittsburgh, Pa. Western Chemical 
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Geo. <i. Wieksou St Co,, .an PranoUeo. Col; Plant 
Seed Co . St, Louis; Richardson Drug Co , St. LouU, 
J. M. McCullough* Soils, Cincinnati, Ohio; T. W 
Wood, Rt nniond, Vo ; 
F. C. STL It TRY ANT, Prop Hartford, Conn. 
Successor of Cbas. R. Allen & Co. 
ohiHLL. O FEEDER 
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Cirmilur* SMALL & MATTHEWS 
541 Mmilb Murlti't Rtrwl, BOSTON, MANS 
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months old. Best strains of blood, nil registered In 
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etc , ad'iress G EG. W. HAKIM.S, 
C. H WEBB Station R., New Yot k City, N.Y. 
FOR SALE. 
Registered AYR -Hint’. BULL, KKH KNIGHT, 
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prices. Add res- F. CRANK. 
Box 51, Roselle. N. .1. 
General Advertising- Kates oi 
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