try not to have inferior grapes. Thinning 
does the business. I know of no way of using 
up inferior grapes on a large scale. We have 
not gone into wine business in West Michigan. 
Green Rapids, Mich. 
from Samuel. Rogers. 
We gather grapes in trays, or carriers, and 
convey them in light spring wagons to the 
packing-houses. Gatherers or pickers are paid 
by the day, and fair prices are from one dol¬ 
lar up, mostly about $1.35 to $1.50. Packers 
are paid by the basket, extra careful hands 
being employed to examine and crate with 
care and taste. They are put up in three- 
pound packages. The prices vary with the 
abundance and quality of fruit. We ship to 
the large cities of the Northern States by 
water, railroad freight and express. Inferior 
grapes make good vinegar or very inferior 
wine. Grapes can be kept, in favorable 
seasons, for a few months by properly storing 
them in a first-class stone fruit, house. We 
plant Copcord, Worden, Delaware and Ni¬ 
agara. 
Highland, N. Y. 
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
[Every query must r>o accompanied by the name 
and nddress nr tile writer to Insure attention. Before 
aakiiiK a question, please see If It Is not answered In 
our advertising columns. Ask only a few questions at 
one time. Cut questions on a separate piece of paper. J 
COUC IN MULES AND HORSES. 
IF. It. IF., Scotia , Neb. —1. What is the 
best remedy for colic in mules and horses? 
A few days ago, one of my umles, while 
coming home from town, had a severe 
attack of colic. I kept him moving, 
but he bloated and grew worse so rap¬ 
idly that I thought he would die. I re¬ 
moved the harness, and from a neighbor’s got 
a tablespoonful of snlaratus disol ved iu water, 
which I gave him, and placed a quantity of 
salt in the rectum. Was this proper treat¬ 
ment.' I also kneaded and rubbed the bowels 
till my hands were blistered; but he groaned 
and rolled in terrible agony, ] asked him to 
get up, and led him home, however, hoping to 
find a remedy iu the Rural. I wet cloths in 
hot water and applied to the bowels, and 
afterwards a poultice of corn-meal and wood- 
ashes iu a sack. The animal’s bowels had 
movtxl freely even while he was in such dis¬ 
tress. Soon after the application of the hot 
water and poultice, he got easier, and next 
day I drove him for a short distance. What 
would be the best treatment in similar cases? 
2. With the usual care, is another attack more 
likely to occur than if he had never had one? 
ANSWERED BY DR. K. L. KILBOKXK. 
1. For a general rule, the best remedy to 
give at the very outset of an attack of colic in 
mules or horses, is a strong purgative—four 
to eight, drams of Barbados aloes according 
to the size, condition and previous feeding of 
the animal. This should be followed by copi¬ 
ous injections of warm water as hot as the 
hand can bear. In mild attacks no further 
medical treatment is necessary. But where 
there is much paiu some temporary relief 
should be afforded without waiting for the 
aloes to operate. For this purpose a great 
variety of prescriptions are commonly given 
that are more or less effectual. Nearly every 
practitioner has a “colic” prescription of his 
own, although this may be, and frequently is, 
varied to suit an emergency. One of the best 
simple prescript ions is, two drums each of sul¬ 
phuric ether and extract of belladonna, given 
iu one-half pint of oil. Sweet spirits of niter 
or carbonate of ammonia may replace the 
ether or two of them may be given together; 
while opium, chloral, aconite, etc., may bo 
given in the place of belladonna, but the bel¬ 
ladonna is preferable. A favorite combina¬ 
tion with some is, one to two ouuees of tinc¬ 
ture of opium with two to three ounces of sweet 
spirits of niter, given in a pint of water or 
gruel. 1 wo grains of morphia dissolved in pure 
water and given hypodermically will afford 
relief in a few minutes; and when at hand, 
may be given iu preference to any of the 
above or in connection with smaller doses. 
Where there is much tympany or bloatiug,one 
or two ounces of oil of turpentine given iu 
milk, oil or eggs, or the carbonate of ammonia, 
two to four drains in a cold solution, are ex¬ 
cellent. Externally, active friction or hot 
bandages to the abdomen afford relief. Walk¬ 
ing exercise is excellent, and should he kept 
up until relieved. Agents like common cook¬ 
ing soda are frequently given and usually af¬ 
ford speedy relief; but there is danger that 
their introduction into a stomach already filled 
with gas may suddenly increase the volume 
of gas, and cause rupture of the stomach. 
Salt is sometimes recommended, but as com¬ 
monly used per rectum, probably affords very 
little relief. The important point in the treat¬ 
ment of colic is the giving of purgatives and 
injections to remove the cause; but iu the 
meantime it is well to relieve the pain by the 
administration of uuodynes and antispasmod- 
ies as giveu above. 2. For a few weeks, yes; 
and it is quite probable that even at any time 
a second attack would occur with less provo¬ 
cation than if the first had not occurred. 
The treatment of colic in horses has been fre¬ 
quently discussed in this department in hack 
numbers of the Rural, as may be seen by ex¬ 
amining the indexes of the volumes for late 
years. The treatment for mules and horses 
is the same. 
RUPTURE IN A COLT; LICE ON HENS; BLACK¬ 
LEG IN CALVES. 
1. C. A. AT., Beattie , Kan .—My two-months- 
old colt is ruptured and appears to have been 
so when foaled; how should he be treated? 2. 
How can 1 get rid of lice on hens? 8. What 
will prevent or cure black-leg in fat calves? 
ANSWERED RT DR. F. L. KILBORNE. 
1. We suppose the rupture or hernia to beat 
the navel, although you do not say. One of 
the best methods of treatment for such cases 
is to return the protrusion—laying the colt on 
his back if necessary—and apply clamps over 
the skin close to the belly, to be worn until 
they drop off. The grooves of the clamps 
should be filled with some antiseptic ointment. 
Another method is to apply a soft pad over 
the navel or rupture, and hold it in position by 
elastic bands passing around the body and 
fixed to a sort of harness to keep them iu 
place. The bauds holding the pad must be 
elastic or they are liable to be injurious. 2. 
Thoroughly whitewash the whole building, 
including nests, roosts, etc., with freshly 
slaked lime, to which add one pint of kerosene 
oil to each bucket of whitewash. Dust the 
fowls thoroughly with fresh wood ashes, air- 
sluked lime, suuff or Persian insect powder, 
and give them u box of ashes and dustiu a dry, 
sunny place in which to wallow. If this is not 
effectual, sulphur ointment or kerosene emul 
sion muy be applied under the wings, on top 
of the head and wherever the lice are found. 
If the sulphur is used the fowls should tie kept 
dry for a few days. Read the Poultry Spe¬ 
cial of the Rural of May 8,1886.and frequent 
answers to similar inquiries in late Rurals; 
also Editorial Brevity in last issue. 8. Black¬ 
leg iu calves is very rarely treated with suc¬ 
cess; but with proper precautions the disease 
can usually be prevented. Feed moderately, 
so as not to keep the calves too fat; over-feed¬ 
ing produces a condition of the system that 
favors the introduction of the disease. Avoid 
low, undrained pastures during the hot 
months, especially at late summer and au¬ 
tumn. A change of pasture to high ground 
usually checks the disease. Avoid exposiug 
the animals to extremes of heat and cold, and 
provide shelter from eold winds and storms. 
In fact keep the animals always in prime con¬ 
dition, but not over-fat. Pastures upon which 
young stock die should be abandoned or used 
for other and older stock. Probably the most ef¬ 
fective preventive treatment is the introduc¬ 
tion of the seton in the breast. Thesefcou should 
be inserted quite deeply and dressed with some 
mild blistering ointment to create IomiI in¬ 
flammation. Internally, chlorate of potash is 
one of the best agents that can be given. 
When the disease appears in a herd the chlor¬ 
ate should be given to the whole herd for sev¬ 
eral days; for calves ouo dram, ami for year¬ 
lings two drams three times daily, given in 
the food or iu a gloss of water. If the ani¬ 
mals are costive give small doses of castor or 
linseed oil until relieved. All dead uuimals 
should be very carefully handled and deeply 
buried iu some place away from the pastures 
and away from running or drinking water. 
OBSCURE LAMENESS IN A MULE. 
D. IF. Benton, La —My mule draws his 
hind leg up and a little out to one side and holds 
it there for a few moments, sometimes with 
a slight quiver. Ti.is he has beeu doing since 
he came to me, five years ago. He frequently 
draws the leg up when standing. Lately he 
has become a little lame, and doesn’t always 
put his foot fiat on the ground, but keeps it 
slightly raised. W hen standing, he often 
places the front of the hoof on the ground; 
that is, turns it over farther than if standing 
on the toe. \Vhat’s the matter? 
Ans. —Obscure lamenesses are very difficult 
to diagnose from description. In this case we 
believe the lameness to tie in the stifle joint. 
Try extreme flexion and extension of each 
joint, in order to discover, if possible, the seut 
of tenderness. Apply a cantliarides blister 
over the stifle joint—or other joint if you con¬ 
clude the lameness is elsewhere—following the 
directions and precautions frequently given 
in these columns. A long period of rest, at 
least two or three months, will probably be 
necessary. Failing in this, you will have to 
consult a local veterinariau, unless you can 
locate the difficulty for us. 
INSECTICIDES. 
L. E. A., Smyrna, Del .—Early in the season 
this State had a prospect of the largest crop 
of peaches that it has ever had, but the cur- 
culio has stung the fruit so badly that there 
will not be more than a third of a crop on an 
average. The rose-bug has injured grapes 
and blackberries considerably, and a green 
worm, an inch long, has been helping himself 
to the gooseberry leaves. What will kill these 
enemies? Have read that to spray the trees 
with a solution of half a pound of Paris-green 
to a barrel of water, would kill the curculio; is 
it not dangerous to put the poison ou the fruit? 
I do not want to kill any two-legged creature. 
Ans.— Our friend will find in this and other 
late Rurals full answers to his questions, ex¬ 
cept as to the curculio. Paris-green would 
kill the beetles when they eat the leaves, but 
it would have no effect upon the grub which 
comes from an egg deposited under the skin in 
the flesh of the plum. The best remedy at 
present known is to jar the trees early in the 
morning. The beetles will fall upon sheets 
spread underneath. The jarring should com¬ 
mence as soon as the plums are well set. 
BOTS. 
G. W., Salem, Va .—What will rid a 
horse of bots? 
Ans.— There is nothing that will kill the 
bots in the stomach of the horse, since they 
are able to resist the action of any medicine 
that can be safely administered to the horse. 
At this season of the year, however, when the 
bots are passing away, their exit may he has¬ 
tened by a good dose of aloes or other physic. 
In the fall when the young bots are being 
taken into the stomach they may be killed by an 
occasional dose of one or two ouncesoil of tur- 
pentine or benzine. Prevention is the best 
and surest method. A little prevention dur¬ 
ing late summer and autumn will prevent the 
introduction of any great number of the bots. 
Clip all of the long hair from the throat, 
breast and limbs of the horse; then wash 
daily with warm soap suds to remove uli eggs 
of the bot-fly, that have been laid during the 
day. A little oil applied to the throat, breast 
and fore-limbs will prevent the eggs from 
readily adhering to the hair, when deposited 
by the fly. 
s WATER-PROOFING CANVAS. 
J. E. P., Odell, III .—How can canvas or 
muslin be made water-proof? 
Ans.—H eavy canvas will not need any pre¬ 
paration. Muslin and cottou are sometimes 
painted with linseed oil, but several cases are 
reported where such painting carelessly done 
has caused spontaneous combustion. The 
waterproof fiber material advertised iu the 
Rural is excellent for the purpose named. 
Miscellaneous. 
-1. P., Norden, Neb. —1. What is Paradise 
stock for upples aud where can it be ob¬ 
tained? , 2. What work will give me plain 
information about the culture, pruning, etc., 
of apple trees, with descriptions of the diseases 
and insects liable to attack the trees, and reme¬ 
dies therefor. 8. My grape-vines started 
nicely last spring, but soon began to look 
rusty and dry up. Some started budding 
again, but the growth is small aud does not 
look healthy. The season is very dry. Is 
mildew the cause ? 
Ans. 1. The Paradise is recognized as a dis¬ 
tinct species of apple. The tree is a mere 
bush, scarcely ever growing over four feet 
high. This is used to dwarf any variety 
worked upon it, aud it answers the purpose 
admirably. Ellwanger & Barry sell many 
varieties of apples worked on the true Para¬ 
dise. 2. Barry’s Fruit Garden or The Ameri¬ 
can Fruit Culturist. The first by P. Barry, 
the second by J. J. Thomas. 8. We can not 
say. Please state the kinds of vines, their 
age, etc. 
C. C., Nunda, N. F.—1. Will it pay to ship 
eggs iu lots of four to seven crates to commis¬ 
sion merchants iu New York, 820 miles away, 
or to Rochester, 50 miles off, and which would 
be likely to be the better? 2. Who is a reli¬ 
able commission merchant who will receive 
such a consignment iu New York? 
Ans.— 1. We should say it would pay you 
to ship smaller lots to Rochester. 2. D. 
Duveuport, corner Maiu and Franklin Streets, 
Rochester, N. Y.; S. U. A E. H. Frost, 100 
Park Place, and E. & 0 Ward, 279 Washing¬ 
ton Street, New York City. 
J. P. Q., Burnt Hill, N. Y .—I had a spring 
calf runtiing iu pasture, that was taken sud¬ 
denly with frothiug at the mouth, and would 
turn round aud rouud, and seemed to be per¬ 
fectly wild, aud died in about an hour; what 
was the cause ? 
Ans. —The symptoms given may be due to 
various causes, as injury, disease of nervous 
system, indigestion, or disease of some inter¬ 
nal organ. We cannot guess the cause in this 
particular case, and therefore cannot give a 
remedy. 
G. S. IF., Narragansett Pier, R. /.—On a 
newly seeded grass plot there are many ant 
holes, anti the little fellows are very busy 
bringing sand to the surface; how can I get 
rid of them? 
Ans. —The kerosene emulsion poured into 
the boles would probably kill the ants. We 
should try in preference pyretbrum water- 
say two tablespoonfuls to a gallon, 
E. E. B ., Nnrthville, Tenn .—What would 
be the best text-book for a farmer about 30 
years old, who wishes to begin the study of 
botany? 
Ans.— Gray’s First Lessons, or How Plants 
Grow. 
J. M. D., Savannah, Ga.— Where can I 
procure the new grape Moore’s Diamond 
spoken of in the R. N.-Y. of May 23d? 
Ans.— Janies F. Le Clare, of Brighton, N. 
Y,, controls ir. 
R. IF., Montague, N. J. —Is there anything 
better than rye to make spring and early sum¬ 
mer pastures? 
Ans.—R, ye gives us our best early pastur¬ 
age. 
J. S. P., Harvard, Fla.— The cyclone noz¬ 
zle is made by Thomas Summerville, Washing¬ 
ton, D. C. It was described on page 188. 
DISCUSSION. 
OH! THE ROSE-BUGS! 
R R. Black, New Jersey.— 1 “We keep our 
rose-bugs iufull check by using the pyrethrum 
powder, dry or diffused in water—and it is 
effectual Think of picking off these pests by 
hand, or letting them drop into hot water or 
kerosene!” 
The above is from the R. N.-Y. of a recent 
date. Tnis may answer when there are few 
of the insects, but what are you to do when 
there are swarms of them in the air ready to 
alight as soon as yon have killed those that 
have alighted; when there are so many that 
there are not enough roses and grapes to go 
round, and they are compelled to get a living 
by eating green apples, peaches, and cherries, 
as well as the foliage of cherry, plum and 
other trees, and even the daisies and weeds- in 
the fields? Just before the close of the straw¬ 
berry season, they attacked the berries and de¬ 
voured the blossoms of the bush beans; in 
fact, there was scarcely any green thing they 
would not eat. This is a discouraging state of 
affairs, and I fear the Rural's remedy would 
not prove effectual. They used to tell me, 
when a boy, that the way to catch birds was 
to put salt on their tails. If you could get all 
the rose-bugs together, aud dose them with 
pyrethrum, that would be all right. You 
could then keep them in “full check.” But 
there’s the rub—to put salt ou their tails. How 
would you proceed ? B. r. b. 
N.—\ —We still recommend spraying 
them with Bubach or Pyrethrum powder. If 
one uses a hand force pump, hose, iron tube 
aud crclone, or other spraying nozzle, he can 
get over hundreds of plants before the beetles 
fly much in the morning, aud one spraying 
will often suffice for several days—one day at 
any rate. It matters little comparatively, if 
we can but keep them away from certain 
plants, how much they may infest others of 
less importance. 
M. D.. New Jersey.— Every old adage is 
not wise, although it may be called a “wise 
saw.’ This applies to the common saying 
quoted by J. B., page 450, that “Nature is the 
bi-st physician..” No doubt •‘Nature,” or as is 
really meant, the natural vital force of an 
animal, will do much, when left untrammeled 
aud unimpeded, to restore a sick animal. In 
most cases over-eating causes the most mis¬ 
chief, and then the natural reaction against 
food, the nausea of the sick stomach, leads on 
to recovery. But while this is true, aud rest re¬ 
stores the digestive functions, it is equally 
true that Nature is a very poor physician so 
far as regards the prevention of diseases. 
Naturally horses do not work in harvesters, 
nor draw heavy loads over stony, rough 
toads, and the simple bruises and injuries a 
wild animal meets with are quickly repaired. 
When horses are injured in nuuatural work, 
as in the case of a sprain of the stifle joint, 
Nature has no means of repair, and science 
must be called upon to help Nature. Then we 
put on a high-heeled shoe to relieve the strain 
on the injured tendons and muscles, and use a 
blister to help Nature repair the damage. If 
the animal were left to Nature it would 
become permanently lame. I am an advocate 
of prevention of disease rather than to cure by 
medicine; but the doctor and surgeon are 
always the “help bearer” which Ovid calls 
him (“Optferqve per orbem dicor ”) in his 
poem, and he saves a vast amount of pain 
and misery to animals and persons. 
