38 
soon bring the laud to a state of barrenness. 
It is useful when the laud contains a large 
quantity of undeveloped plant food which it 
decomposes; but unless there is a constant sup¬ 
ply of organic matter for it to act upon and 
a deficiency of the lime in an active condi¬ 
tion in the soil, it rapidly exhausts the land. 
Commercial fertilizers used judiciously will 
certainly improve the fertility of laud and 
soon enable it to produce crops large enough 
to feed stock that will manure it adequately. 
But special fertilizers, as superphosphate of 
lime, lime or plaster alone will not do this. 
The fertilizer must contain all the elements 
required, as nitrogen, phosphoric acid, potash, 
magnesia, etc., and not one of these elements 
alone. There is no better business for a poor 
farm than keeping cows and selling butter 
for 30 cents a pound and rearing calves and 
pigs on the skimmed milk. This takes the 
least from the soil and makes the most ma¬ 
nure. To help feed in the summer, fodder 
corn and clover should be grown, with some 
mangels for winter feeding; grain food at 
first can be most profitably purchased; hom¬ 
iny waste can be procured in Baltimore as 
well as cotton-seed meal and bran and these 
foods are exceedingly valuable for making 
manure. This would be a safer business than 
rearing market lambs which requires more 
care, skill and experience than any other 
branch of agriculture. On 60 acres of land at 
least 10 cows could be kept at the start, and 
in five years 40 cows should be kept with the 
help of purchased feed. At 200 pounds of but¬ 
ter per cow equal to $60 per head, this would 
give a yield of $40 an acre for the farm. The 
skimmed milk fed and some market crops and 
fruit gi'own for sale in the city should pay all 
expenses. But only good cows should be kept, 
as these are easily seen to be the very key to 
the whole secret of success. 
VALUES OF VARIOUS FEEDING STUFFS: TREAT¬ 
MENT OF COWS BEFORE CALVING. 
,7. C., Montpelier , Ohio. —1. In what pro¬ 
portions should I mix oats and corn to be 
ground for feeding store hogs and young pigs? 
2. For this purpose what are the relative 
values of ear-corn, corn-meal, ground oats, 
“shorts,” bran, oil-meal, and the above mix¬ 
ture of corn and oats? 3. What would the 
Rural recommend as a proper and economi¬ 
cal grain ration for cows just before calving, 
and for milch cows in connection with corn- 
fodder? 4. Three grades of mill-feed are 
obtainable at the local mill;—“shorts,” “mid¬ 
dlings,” and bran at 80, 75 and 70 cents'per 
100 pounds respectively. Which is the cheapest 
for the pigs and the milch cows? 
Ans. —1. Oats and corn may be mixed in 
equal proportions for grinding for feed for 
growing pigs. But as there is still too much 
carbonaceous matter and not sufficient nitro¬ 
gen for perfectly healthful and rapid growth ip 
flesh it would be well to add one equal part of 
coarse bran and grind all together. Such food 
is mixed better in the grinding than it can be 
by hand if ground separately, the grain being 
mixed before grinding. 2 The nutritive ele¬ 
ments of each of these foods and of all to 
gether are here shown: 
Corn, 
Albumi- Carbo- 
lioltls. hydrates. 
Fat. 
Ratio. 
10 
62 
6.5 
1 to 8% 
Cats, 
12 
55.7 
6.0 
1 to 6 
Bran, 
12 9 
59 
3.5 
1 to 5X 
34.9 
176.7 
16. 
1 to 6 
The 
bran is rich 
in phosphoric 
acid, the 
Albumi¬ 
Carbo¬ 
noids. 
hydrates. 
Fat. 
8.87 
69.3 
4 7 
10.00 
62.0 
6.5 
12 
55.6 
6.0 
11.1 
66.5 
2.8 
11.4 
66.8 
2.9 
12 9 
59.0 
3.9 
33.2 
38.7 
2.0 
31.4 
31.5 
11.6 
* A - -J 
bone-making material,containing 32 pounds of 
it in 1,000 pounds and hence its great value in 
the mixture; oats and corn containing only 
one-sixth as much. The relative feeding 
values of the substances mentioned are shown 
in the following table: 
Ear Corn, 
Corn Meal, 
Oat Meal, 
Middlings, 
Shorts, 
Bran, 
Linseed oil meal, 
(uew process), 33.2 
(old process), 31.4 
These figures tell their own story, giving 
the fat 2% times the value of the carbohydrates 
(starch, sugar, gum, etc.) The money value of 
each is then found by estimating the album¬ 
inoids at four and one-third cents per pound, 
the fat at the same price, and the carbohy¬ 
drates at nine cents per pound. 3. Cows just be¬ 
fore calving should not have any grain food, 
and only good hay or straw with an equiva¬ 
lent of bran to make it equal to hay. This 
avoids much trouble at calving, by reason of 
garget, milk-fever, etc. For cows in full 
milk an excellent food in every way is corn 
and bran ground together in equal parts. 4. 
Ju an at 80 cents per 100 pounds is the cheap¬ 
est of the three foods mentioned. In this 
estimate of bran its large proportion of phos¬ 
phoric acid is not counted and this is ad¬ 
ditional. 
SHORTS, CORN-MEAL, FOR FEED, ETC. 
L. Oak fields N. Y .— 1. Is it economy to 
41.5 per cent. 
24.4 
13 to 18 “ 
purchase shorts at $21 per ton to be mixed 
with corn-meal,half and half,for winter feed¬ 
ing to two and three-year-old steers for the 
market, their other feed being Timothy hay 
and corn fodder; and what proportion should 
they be fed, and how much daily for the best 
results? 2. What is the best thing to be done 
with an old meadow that, owing to the over¬ 
flow of a stream last winter, was filled with 
Canada thistle, so that the hay iu some places 
was more than half thistles, and in the fall the 
ground was completely shaded with the pests. 
Ans. —1. There is not sufficient difference 
between shorts and corn meal to make it 
worth while mixing the two. The two feeds 
are thus compared: 
Albumi- Carbo 
01 , . noids. hydrates. Fat. 
bhorts contain in 100 lbs., 11.4 66.8 2.9 
Corn-meal “ “ 10. 62 1 6.5 
The deficiency in fat makes the shorts dearer 
at $21 per ton than corn at 60 cents a bushel. 
Cotton-seed meal, on the other hand, is a cheap 
food to use with corn-meal for fattening at $45 
per ton with corn at 60 cents, and it can be 
bought cheaper than this price. The compo 
sition of cotton-seed meal is as follows: 
Albuminoids, 
Carbohydrates, 
Fat, 
It is the most nutritious of all grain or other 
concentrated foods, with one exception, which 
is that of almond cake meal, this being more 
digestible than the other, but containing a 
little less fat. 2. The best means of exter¬ 
minating the pests is to smother them to death 
by plowing and replowiug as often as the 
plants poke up their heads, 
WOUNDS IN HORSES; LICE ON CATTLE. 
1. F. B., Wolf's Store, Pa. —1. What should 
be done first to a wound on a horse caused by 
kicking or anything else? 2. What is the best 
treatment for proud flesh in a wound. Can 
it be burnt with caustic? 3. My horse was 
kicked on the hind leg between the knee and 
hoof: the wound is healing but there is still a 
lump or thickness in the place; how can it be 
removed? 4. What is the best remedy for 
lice on cattle? Can the Rural recommend 
the Cold Water Rip sold by Lawford & Co., 
Baltimore, Md. ? 
ANSWERED BY DR. F. L. KILBORNE. 
1. The extent of the injury would largely 
determine the proper course of treatment. In 
simple kicks, pricks, biuises or sprains, a wet 
bandage until the inflammation is relieved, is 
as good general treatment as can be given. 
This is very often all the treatment necessary. 
Of course, iu such cases rest is essential to a 
speedy recovery. When the skin is broken 
antiseptic dressings are desirable, especially 
in warm weather, (or a 10 per cent, solution 
of carbolic acid, carbolated vaseline, boracic 
acid solution, etc.) If there is much local 
swelling and inflammation these dressings may 
be covered with the wet bandage. 2. Either 
cut it away with a sharp knife or scissors, or 
burn out with caustic. 3. Try painting three 
times a week with compound tincture of 
iodine, and continue for one or two months. 
4. One of the simplest remedies is washing 
with a solution of tobacco—one pound of 
tobacco stems steeped in three gallons of 
water—water saturated with kerosene is 
equally effectual, but the odor would be ob¬ 
jectionable for dairy cattle. In cold weather 
pulverized tobacco—snuff—may be well dust¬ 
ed into the hair. I have never used the thy 
mo-cresol dip of T. W. Lawford & Co., but 
would consider it worthy of trial. It is high¬ 
ly recommended by stockmen who have used 
it, among whom are noted such Rural con¬ 
tributors as Col. F. D. Curtis and H. Stew 
art. 
SWELLING ON MULE’S LEG: AILING CHICKS,ETC 
J. H. B. , Oakland, Fla. —1. My mule is 
troubled with a swelling on the knee-joint or 
just below it on the outside. It was first 
noticed about four weeks ago when the ani¬ 
mal would limp after aiun. It is hard and 
about the size of a small egg of a hen. There 
appears to be no pain except when the mule 
runs; then he continues to limp until he is 
unhitched. Rubbing it with liniment has 
done no good; what should be done? 2. I’m 
keeping a dozen Plymouth Rocks in a dry 
and airy house 10 by 10 feet. They are not a 
year old but they are so stiff in their legs 
that some of them can’t get on to the roosts, 
so that they lie on the ground all night. 
What should be done for them? 3. Will the 
Cyclone Nozzle fit the Lewis Combination 
Syringe? 
ANSWERED BY DR. F. L. KILBORNE. 
1. We judge from your description that the 
swelling is firmly attached to the limb, not 
movable with the skin, and therefore prob¬ 
ably the result of some injury. Being so 
near the knee joint, we cannot safely pre¬ 
scribe the vigorous treatment we might if 
located elsewhere. Try painting two or three 
times a week with tincture of iodine. The 
animal should ,be allowed to rest until the 
swelling is reduced or the lameness disappears. 
If there is no improvement after three or four 
weeks apply a blister. 2. We suspect the 
trouble with the fowls is due either to the 
feed or to constitutional weakness from “in- 
and-in” breeding. Change the food, feeding 
largely on such grains as wheat, bran, barley, 
or oats with little corn. Supply burnt bones 
or oyster shells pounded fine. It is also well 
to give some green food, as cabbage, cooked 
potatoes, and scraps from the table, so as to 
give a variety. Cooked meat of any kind is 
one of the best foods that could be given. If 
the animals are over-fat feed sparingly. See 
that the small quarters are constantly kept 
clean, sweet, and wholesome. An occasional 
coat of whitewash will be excellent for this 
purpose. 3. No. 
TREES FOR LONG ISLAND. 
W. R., Wading River, L. 1. Will Eng¬ 
lish walnuts, pecans or almonds grow on Long 
Island successfully? 2. I have a hill lot an acre 
in extent. It is a light gravelly soil, the cen¬ 
ter being the highest part. What trees shall 
I plant on it and what mode of cultivation 
will be most successful. 3. I am about to 
plant a lot of locust seedlings on rich, rough 
soil, is there any need of cultivating them? 
ANSWERED BY ISAAC HICKS, QUEENS CO. 
1. There are a few large English walnuts 
that succeed on L. I. in sheltered places. We 
have tried them twice in our nursery and all 
of them died whenever the winters were as 
severe as the present, and we will not try to 
grow them or almonds and pecans again. 2. 
There is a hill near us of such coarse gravel 
that scarcely anything would grow there ex¬ 
cept running blackberries. About 20 years 
ago it was planted with White Pines,and they 
are now from 12 to 18 inches in diameter and 
make a very beautiful grove, and the owner 
says no investment in tree planting has given 
him more satisfaction than this. Austrian Pines 
grow equally well, even among gravel stones 
the size of marbles, and these two varieties 
will be far more thrifty and profitable than 
any deciduous trees we have tested, and we 
have had many. We have faith in the Catal- 
pa speciosa, although we have had only six to 
seven years’ experience with it, but our trees 
grow very well on poor soil,and are exceeding¬ 
ly rapid growers in good ground. The Balm 
of Gilead and the Balsam Poplar will succeed 
on very thin soils. The Carolina is the best 
variety, but we have had no experience with 
these trees on thingr avelly land. If for 
beauty without regard to a rapid growth, 
the Norway Maple is superior in all respects 
and will grow and live better than any 
of the good class of deciduous trees on poor, 
thin soils. The ground should be kept 
mellow with cultivation for a few years, un¬ 
til the trees are so large that it will injure the 
roots to cultivate longer, and if coarse man¬ 
ure is spread liberally abound the trees every 
year in spring, success will be gained and 
beautiful trees will be the result, 3. It is not 
customary to cultiv ate locust trees, as they 
grow readily almost anywhere, but no doubt 
they will grow faster with good cultivation. 
BUILDING AN ICE HOUSE. 
W. W. S., Clarendon, Mich —What is the 
best way to save ice. Which is the better 
plan—to lay the ice on supporting sawdust on 
the ground, or to put sleepers five or six inches 
high underneath, and then put on the saw¬ 
dust, leaving an empty space between it and 
the ground? 
ANSWERED BY PROFESSOR R. C. CARPENTER, 
I have built several ice-houses and so far 
have had no difficulty in keeping ice. The 
principal point to be looked after is drainage 
and the removal of damp air. If these two 
precautions are neglected no amount of cover¬ 
ing will preserve the ice. A floor elevated 
above the ground will secure good drainage; 
but is usually an entirely unnecessary expense. 
If the ground is sandy and elevated a foot or 
two above the surrounding ground, or if it is 
clay and elevated and paved with stone, am¬ 
ple drainage will be secured. A plank floor 
may be used, but a thick layer of good, clean 
stone is just as good and much cheaper. To 
secure ventilation that will remove the damp 
air, a hole the size of which will depend on 
the size of the ice-house, can be left in each 
gable. This, I think, is better than a ventila¬ 
tor in the roof. Ice will keep better if the 
ice-house is in a shady place. This is especial¬ 
ly true iu ice-houses made with single walls. 
The house itself may be a very simple affair- 
its main office being to keep out the sunshine 
and the wet; hence the roof should always be 
tight. A double-walled house, boarded inside 
and out, and with the space packed with saw¬ 
dust to the thickness of six or eight inches, is 
much better than a single-walled house. If 
the ice is properly packed, however, it will 
keep well in a house with uprights 2x4 inches 
and one thickness of boards. The ice should 
be packed in a solid body. All the cracks be¬ 
tween the cakes should be rammed full of 
powdered ice or snow. A space of about eight 
inches should be left between the inside of 
the building and the ice. This space should 
be well tilled with sawdust or with cut straw. 
Over the top of the ice a layer of sawdust or 
cut straw, eight inches to one foot in depth, 
should be spread. 
A PROFITABLE HAY CROP. 
C. D. A., Wellsville, N. Y. —Can hay be 
raised at a profit at $9 per ton, where land 
will produce one and a half ton to the acre 
to start with, having to depend on commer¬ 
cial fertilizers, generally speaking? 
Ans.—I t probably will not cost $13.50 per 
acre to cut, cure, harvest and market the hay, 
but allowing for interest on land, reseeding 
and fertilizing, there will be very little left. 
The only way to make money at that crop 
value per acre, would be to have such a large 
area that all the labor-saving hay tools could 
be used, including a baling machine. Figure 
how many bushels of wheat, corn or potatoes 
must be raised per acre to realize $13.50; will 
there not be more money in feeding the hay 
to stock, selling steers or colts and applying 
the manure to the fields ? According to the 
U. S. census in 1880, your county contained 
5,454 farms, averaging 112 acres, with the fol- 
ing statement of values: 
Value of farms, fences and 
buildings . $16,994,924 
V alue of farming impli- 
ments and machinery. 767,950 
Value of live-stock. 2,778,713 
Fertilizers purchased. ’ 7516 
Estimated value of farm 
produce. 3,396,873 
There were an average of three horses, 
eight milch cows, five other cattle, 11 sheep 
and two hogs on each average farm of 112 
acres. The average grain product per farm 
was 12 bushels barley, 21 bushels buckwheat, 
50 bushels corn, 200 of oats and 35 of wheat. 
Each farm averaged 30 tons of hay, 20 head 
of poultry, 10 pounds of honey, 125 bushels of 
potatoes, orchard products valued at $50 and 
wool valued at $55. These figures may be of 
service in determining a profitable crop. 
GERANIUMS, ETC. 
N. E. B. (no address). —What kind of a 
geranium is the White Swan? Is the White 
Clipper geranium a good bedding variety? If 
not what is the best? Is B. K. Bliss a good 
bedding geranium. Is Jean Sisley a tall- 
growing sort? I got a Dracaena terminalis 
last spring, and planted it in good garden 
soil; but it neither lives nor dies—it merely 
languishes; what does it require? 
Ans.— White Swan is one of the finest of 
all double white pelargoniums; White Clip¬ 
per is a medium grower and a very good 
single; B. K. Bliss we have not grown; Jean 
Sisley is not a rank grower. We do not 
recommend white flowering pelargoniums as 
satisfactory bedding varieties. Pelargoni¬ 
ums in shady places grow spindly and weak, 
and do not blossom as well as they do in 
open quarters, besides, encroaching tree roots 
are apt to impoverish and dry up the soil 
about them. Dracaena terminalis should have 
light, open soil and a mod-rately small, well- 
drained pot; shade from warm sunshine at all 
times, and keep in warm, winter-quarters. 
Much water will rot its roots. Roses affected 
with mildew or red spider will have unhealthy 
leaves, and poorly rooted stock in over¬ 
heated quarters often send out leaves, that, 
after a few days, assume a sickly appearance 
Other questions will be answered next week. 
SULPHATE OF COPPER FOR SMUT IN WHEAT. 
W. II. C., Looking Glass, Neb. —How much 
blue vitriol is used with a bushel of wheat to 
prevent smut? How should the mixture be 
made, and how soon after the application can 
the wheat be sown? 
Ans. —Dissolve a pound of sulphate of cop¬ 
per or blue vitriol in a couple of gallons of hot 
water, pour the solution into a tub and three 
or four gallons more of water. Then place a 
basket in the liquid and turn the wheat into 
it. Let it soak 20 minutes, then take it out 
and spread it on the floor and sift plaster over 
it to dry it, and sow at once. 
A FIRST-CLASS SEEDER. 
J. F. P., Wuukon, Iowa.— What kind of a 
team and seeder did that man in Valley City 
Dakota, use to sow 60 acres of grain in one 
day? I think that seeding with one span of 
horses 10 acres a day is pretty good; but 
when it comes to 60 acres it leaves me out en¬ 
tirely. 
Ans. —The correspondent referred to replies 
as follows: “I use the Strowbridge broad¬ 
cast-seeder, a cut of which can be seen in the 
advertising columns of the Rural. It 
requires two horses only, and with it one man 
can sow without difficulty from 60 to 80 acres 
per day. I have used this seeder for wheat 
oats, rye, barley, flax and grass seed to my 
entire satisfaction. It costs very little and 
does good work, but requires also a common 
seeder to go once around the outside edge of 
each piece first. There is one very decided ob- 
l 
