m r 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
STS 
Grass does badly during great drought, but 
its fine quality, permanence, thick sod, early 
growth in spring and Into growth in autumn 
make it very valuable. No substitute of 
equal value has been found for Timothy us a 
grass for hay, but the yield per acre and feed¬ 
ing value per ton are greater if clover is grown 
with it. __ 
More About Prickly Comfrey. —The 
Rural New-Yorker lias raised and talked 
of Prickly Comfrey for 12 years. Y e have 
said that the plants on even moderately fer¬ 
tile land would yield u larger amount of leaves 
than any plant we know; that it may be cut 
back nearly to the ground three times during 
the season of growth; that the roots are per¬ 
fectly hardy; that, finally, we have been un¬ 
able to induce cattle or horses to relish it. 
Now, according to Prof. C. S. Plumb, in the 
Weekly Press, Dr. Foster, of the Clifton 
Springs Sanitarium, feeds it in large quanti¬ 
ties to his cattle. Five acres are grown to 
Prickly Comfrey and five crops per year are 
cut. The plants are grown m rows three feet 
apart, the settings being placed 24 inches 
apart in the row. The young plants grow 
spindling at first and must be cut back two or 
three times so that they may become stocky, 
and tiller. After each cutting the spaces be¬ 
tween the rows are thoroughly cultivated 
once. The plant is cut just before the 
appearance of the bloom. When Prof. Pluxib 
visited this farm 50 milch cows were be¬ 
ing fed Comfrey twice Gaily, with n grain ra¬ 
tion. In uddition to the Comfrey, two feeds 
of silage are given daily. The highest praise 
is aw arded this plant for soiling at this farm, 
and Prof. Plumb was assured that the cows 
preferred this fodder to any other green food. 
At first the animals ate it reluctantly, but on 
sprinkling it with grain they came to like it. 
This farm is run on strictly business principles 
and is not fancy in any sense of the word. 
The products of the place are for the Sanitar¬ 
ium, which uses from fill to 75 pounds of but¬ 
ter per day. A centrifugal is used and a churn 
large enough to hold a churning of 120 pounds 
of butter daily. From the Comfrey feed, 
' milk of the very best quality is obtained and 
the effect on the cow is certainly good, so far 
as health is concerned. W 1th Comfrey the ef¬ 
fect on the milk yield, as compared with si¬ 
lage, is an increase, and the cows do as well 
upon it os in the full flush of June pasture. 
The plant never winter-kills there. 
Early in April Prof. Plumb received from 
Dr. Foster enough settings of Prickly Com¬ 
frey to plant a plot of one-twentieth of an 
acre. The planting was done during ex¬ 
tremely hot weather, and for three weeks af¬ 
ter the drought continued, yet in the mean¬ 
time the Comfrey grew with surprising rap¬ 
idity . As the plants began to form the flow¬ 
ers they w ere cut buck to within two or three 
leaves of the ground. All of the plants w ere 
thus treated once, and many of them twice. 
On July 11 be cut his first crop of fodder and 
tried it upou six cows- four Jersey and two 
natives. An armful of Comfrey was placed 
before each cow. Not one animal would eat 
it, after sampling. Dry meal was then strew n 
over the fodder; this the cows brushed off to 
the bottom of their mangers, and ate, leaving 
the Comfrey, The fodder was then moistened 
with water and meal sprinkled over it; the 
cows then ate of this, but with apparently 
slight relish. Finally salt was strewn on the 
Comfrey, and tliis the cows sought, for with 
avidity. During this test he noted that two 
of the Jerseys ate with more relish than did 
any of tile other cows. The salt application 
seemed to render the Comfrey very agreeable 
to them and they ate completely that placed 
before them. 
«•» ■ ■ ■ 
POINTERS. 
Again we say, gather any seed balls you 
may Hud in harvesting potatoes. The balls 
may bo allowed to dry up as bard as a stick. 
Broken to pieces and planted in February in 
I Kits or boxes, they will sprout as soon as 
tomato seeds. We want our readers to raise 
their own varieties of potatoes.. 
The Monthly N. Y. Agriculturist advises 
its readers to devote a patch or a part of a 
field to raising seed wheat. “This should 
have special fertilizing and the seed should l>e 
m rows far enough apart to allow of cultivat¬ 
ing between them.” Then it says; “Thin the 
plants in the rows so as to give each one 
abundant room. By following this course for 
several years, groat improvement will result, 
t and a valuable strain, if uot variety, will tie 
established.” The objection to planting 
wheat as given in the quotation is that unless 
carefully mulched the plants will badly 
winter-kill. As for creating varieties in this 
way, we doubt if it could over bo effected. 
Don’t sow nitrate of soda or sulphate of 
ammonia iu the fall... 
Ik the soil of the wheat or rye field is fertile 
enough to give the plants a fair start this fall, 
wo would prefer to sow the chemical fertilizers 
in the spring and just as soon as the frost is out 
of the ground.. .. 
Ik you would have hyacinths to bloom in 
January, select heavy bulbs now and pjace 
them in glasses so that the bottom of the bulb 
barely touches the water. Place them in the 
cellar until the roots have made a considera¬ 
ble growth and then give them light. Tulip 
bulbs may now be planted in pots for winter 
blooming. 
Give the lawn a long rest now. Put the 
lawn mower in good order and store it until 
next spring...... 
It is a first-rate plan to cover the soil in 
which next year's vegetables ure to be raised, 
with ftesh manure to be turned under as 
soon as the frost is out. We can not say just 
why ... 
Try a light spread of fine manure upon a 
little piece of wheat as soon as the soil crusts 
with frost. 
There is uo mistake about it, says A. W. 
Cheever, of the N. E Farmer, thut potato 
seed that has exhausted itself by sprouting in 
tho cellar is greatly depreciated in value for 
raising a crop. Not a little of the success of 
the Aroostook farmers is due to their natur¬ 
ally late spring, which keeps the seed from 
growing till it is put in the ground. 
And so says Mr. Terry, of Ohio. Ho con¬ 
cludes, from his own tixperments, that it will 
pay farmers to retard the sprouting of pota¬ 
toes in late winter and early spring by arti¬ 
ficial means, as refrigeration in small ice 
houses or othqr cold storage. .. 
Our readers arc respectfully notified that 
the subscription campaign for ISSN is now 
open. We shall hope that all will interest 
themselves in increasing the Rural’s circu¬ 
lation and influence for another gear. To 
this end we shall be glad to forward , on ap¬ 
plication, four of the senes oj cartoons 
which hare appeared from time to time, 
printed on heavy, fine paper, as well as 
specimen copies as needed. It may prove a 
further aid in obtaining new subscribers 
that we offer the Rural from now until the 
end of next, year for the regular price —$2.00. 
Pick off the green tomatoes before frost 
and place them in the barn to ripen.,... 
Cut out the old eaue.s of blackberries and 
raspberries. Prune the grapevines ami later 
bend the canes over on the ground and cover 
with evergreen branches, or litter of any 
kind, holding the canes in place by stones or 
blocks of wood. It pays to protect grape¬ 
vines, even though of the hardiest varieties... 
Collect and protect enough of rich, mel¬ 
low soil for potting such plants as may be 
raised in the house during the winter—toma¬ 
toes, seedliug potatoes, seedling roses, berries 
and the like... 
The soil for hot-beds may also be collected 
now, so that it will tie ready when needed in 
early spring or late winter. . 
We request our readers to select a few ears 
of seed corn aud keep them during the winter 
in a warm room. Then compare the germou- 
ativo power, of the seed so kept with those 
which have remained in the crib or even hung 
Up in the barn or carriage house. 
The following are the chief them ies that 
have found favor at one time or another with 
regard to the determination of sex in animals, 
as condensed chiefly from Prof. Manly Miles’ 
work on Stock Breeding. 
From the fact that there are two symmetri¬ 
cally placed testicles and ovaries in the higher 
animals It was supposed that the right ovary 
and testicle produced males, mid the left fe¬ 
males. But experience shows that males with 
only one testicle and females with ouly one 
ovary produce offspring of both sexes. 
The theory of Prof. Thury, of Geneva, 
Switzerland, was for a time popular and even 
now has some adherents. He maintained that, 
sex depends oil the degree of maturity of the 
egg at the moment of fecundation— that which 
has uot reached a certain degree of maturity 
producing a female, aud that fecundated when 
this point of maturity is passed producing a 
male. This theory is based on the supposition 
that the production of male organs arises 
from the greater maturity and more complete 
developemeiit of the germ. According to this 
theory, if the females are served during the 
first half of tho period of heat, a large prepon¬ 
derance of females will be the result ; whereas 
if they are served during the hist half males 
will preponderate. Some wonderful results 
wore reported from putting this theory in 
practice; but in addition to several serious 
physiological objections to it, it lias not been 
found effective in experimental or ordinary 
farm breeding. Ou many farms the males 
ruti w ith the breeding females during the sea¬ 
son, so that copulation takes place at the be¬ 
ginning of the period of heat, yet iu such 
cases the male offsprings are generally as nu 
merous as the female. Moreover, it is 
known that the union of the male aud female 
elements of generation does uot take place in 
the higher animals until varying periods af¬ 
ter copulation..... 
The theory of M. Charles Girou do Buznr- 
eingues is that young males should be coupled 
with strong, well-fed, older females to beget 
females, and matured, vigorous males with 
younger and weaker females to produce males. 
Several experiments under this theory went 
to show that a preponderance of the offspring 
were of the sex predicted; but the number ex¬ 
perimented with was iu each case too small 
and the preponderance of the desired sex uot 
large enough to warrant, auy generalization 
on the matter. Observations on a large scale 
among human subjects go to show that where 
the father is younger than the mother female 
offspring predominate; whereas when the 
father is older than the mother male children 
are more numerous; hut the difference is not 
greater than about five per cent, in either 
case. From a large number of experiments 
and observations, the inference is drawn that 
the ''dative age and vigor of the parents has 
an influence, in connection with other condi¬ 
tions, in determining sex; hut that the influ¬ 
ence is so marked as to be of any practical 
utility in breeding the sexes at will, remains 
yet to be proved... 
It is frequently noticed that in the offspring 
of individuals or families there are many 
more of one sex than of the other, so that the 
determination of the sex seems to depend on 
some undefined peculiarity of the parent. 
From an examination of a limited tiumber of 
fucts of this kind, Mr. Kuight came to the 
conclusion thut ‘the female parent gives the 
sex to the offspring,” and lie says that by di¬ 
diving a herd of tfU cows into three equal parts, 
he could “calculate with confidence upon a 
larger majority of females from one part, of 
males from another, and upon nearly unequal 
number of males and females from the re¬ 
mainder;” the age and condition of the dams 
determining the sex. But it is found in prac¬ 
tice that particular males aud females among 
all kinds of animals produce a preponderance 
of one sex or tho other even when coupled 
with several different members of the oppo¬ 
site sex... 
Sir Edward Howe believed that the 
ovum or germ previous to impregnation is of 
no sex; that before the fourth month the sex is 
not confirmed, and that it will prove a female 
or male as the tendency to the paternal or 
maternal type may predominate. According 
to this theory the male offspring should resem¬ 
ble the father, and the female, the mother; 
but experience shows that this is not so. 
One of the latest theories is that of Mr. 
John R. Stuyvesant, of Poughkeepsie, N. Y. 
According to it tho sex of the offspring de¬ 
pends entirely on the female, aud ova ry alter¬ 
nate egg, or ovum, presented for impregna¬ 
tion, is female. Accordingly, after a cow has 
produced a heifer calf, Mr. S. would not al¬ 
low her to be served when first she comes in 
season; but lie would wait till the first; part of 
the second heat, if ho wanted another heifer 
calf. Should she not “ catch,” he would agaiu 
wait till heat number four, passing over num¬ 
ber three, aud so on till she did “catch.” If 
she has produced a bull calf, however, and a 
heifer calf is wanted, she should be served the 
first time she conies in heat. 
Both the assumptions that sex is determined 
by the female, and that every alternate egg is 
of the same sex, are known, however, by ex¬ 
periment aud observation to be without 
foundation. 
Other nameless theories are that if the am¬ 
orous desires of the male are stronger than 
those of the female the progeny will he a fe¬ 
male, and vice versa .That the point 
of origin of the artery of the testicle from the 
main alidominal trank (aorta) w ill determine 
the sex of the majority of the offspring, the 
male sex predominat ing in proportion as the 
origin is anterior....That the nature 
of the food of the parents, aud especially of 
the mother before conception, will influence 
tho production of tho different sexes. 
Several other theories have been formu¬ 
lated ou this subject; but uoue of them de¬ 
serves eveu passing notice. 
Communications Kkckivbd for thk Wkkk Kndi.no 
October i. is87. 
O- II,S., thanks. Mrs. .1. S i\, answer liy mail.-.1 B. 
(hunks U. C., thunks. A. H. H,, answer uu soon as 
jHwtlblo —J. H. - H. It.—L. L.. thunks.—1. O. K. L. M. 
D. II., thanks. —E. E. 1‘., thunk*. —K. E s N. (>., thunks 
-J.ll.H. K, J.H. n. S. o E. s. (>.. thanks s. .1 M 
-J J. B. H. M. K. C. K. 11.-0. H W.-A. P.-B. 1. U. 
11. J. W SU'D.—J. M W -8. 11. Ci.. S, \V. H.-W. D. 
S„ (hunks. J , \V. S. J. H. S. -T. H.. thunks J. R. M. 
L W B., thanks W. J. It. H. K. E. 1> I.. S. II. 
C B. s W 11 . thanks IV D s tln.-iks I. P. It. 
K. E. W.-F. t. 11.-P. 11. J —B A. B. S. W.-T. B. II.- 
H S— MR. J.H. U. J. U„—B. K. J. L. M. B.S.O.— 
O. H. M . Rrapes not roc’tl. H. H.—-s. A. U.—T. s. H. J. 
K, S.—U. l. (J.. answer by mail K. E. H, thanks- K. 
\V„ thunks—l>. S. M.-J. H., (luniks- K. B. 11. M. T., 
thanks A. a A. J. V. J. S. P. W.T. 11. S,-E. K. P. 
-T. 11. H, C., thunk.-B. K. V W. K. K. J. S. O. P. 
B. A. E. II. J. C.-ll. H. C.—W. L. K.-0. R. T. -A. 
a o, !.. (i m.— i. v*. k. a d.-o. e. h.-a. a k. s. u. 
I K. 8. J.O. O E M. W. W, U, W. B. P.-C. W. D. 
Jr.-W. H. M.-C. K U. A. T. T.—A. J. C.-C. B. C.-J. 
II B. Jr. .1. II.-a. \V. S E. A. It.-J. E. M H. J.- H. 
n. J. E. A J l'. S. T, ii.C, T tv 0. H. C.-W. MoS. 
-C.J. P.—L. W. P.-K. H. n. 
S How to Cure 
Skin SeScalp 
Diseases 
with the 
Cl)ticUf\/\ 
• ’V ' Remedie s. 
rpORTURING, DISFIGURING, ITCHING. SCALY 
L ami pimply discuses of the skin, scalp, amt blood, 
with loss of hair, from Infancy to old age. are cured 
by the CtmcntA Kkmepies. 
CrricrnA Resolvent, the New Blood Purifier, cleans¬ 
es the blood uml perspiration of disease sustaining 
clement*, and thus removes the cause. 
Citici ka. the great Skin Cure, Instsnilv allays itch¬ 
ing and inflammation, clears the skin and scalp of 
crusts, scales and sores, and restores the hair. 
CcTtii ua Moat, nn exquisite Skin Remit liter, is In¬ 
dispensable In treating skin diseases, babv humors, 
skin blemishes, chapped and ollv skin. Ct ricuBA 
Rkm i' ciks ure the great skin beautlflers. 
Sold everywhere. Price, CrncuR*. 50 c.; Hfsoi.vknt- 
*1 Soup, 'IV. Prepared by the Potter Drug and 
CitKMiCAi. Co., BOSTON, Mass. 
I*r"Seud for "How to Cure Skin Diseases.’’ 
XI ||TEI' wl,, ‘ die loveliest delicacy Is the skin bath- 
1 I H od with ConccRA Mkdicatk n Soap. 
How to HA VE re shingling, STOP 
leaks effectually and cheaply In 
roofs of all kinds, or lay N K\V roofs. 
Par Honiara FREE If you menllou this paper. 
ROOFINC 
R 
$HAM! $ TEAM! 
Wt build Automatic Engines front 2 to 200 H. P., 
equal to anything in market. 
& Large l ot of 2,3 and 4-H. Engines 
with or without boilers, low for cash. 
B. W. PAYNE & SONS, 
Box 17. Elmira, N. Y. 
PEAKlslON’S 
Hill Grade SimlosiMs 
AT BOTTOM PRICES. 
SOLD FOR CASH DIRECTLY TO CONSUM RS. 
Save agents' pro tit*, and -oeure Reliable autl Lasting 
FERTILIZERS. 
Highest recommendation* where tried side by side 
with other standard brands, 
send for catalogue. 
JOHN M. PEAK SON, Hudson, N. Y. 
DROWNS 
0 FENCE BUILDER. 
Send for circular. 
JOHN P. BROWN 
RISING SUN, IND. 
FARM ENGINES 
Upright and Horizontal, 
Stationary, 
' Portable and Semi-Portable. 
8 to IB Oyrw> Power. 
IlIuotratM rimphlft Yrt*. Address 
James Leffel & Co. 
SPUlNttFIKLO, OHIO, 
or 110 liberty St, New York. 
50,000 us n e 
CORN SHELLER " M0US 
Will shell a 
Bushel of Corn 
in 4 MINUTES. 
Agents Wanted. 
SAMPLE 
SHELLER 
$3.00. 
