1888 
THE RURAL MEW“¥01iER. 
401 
possible to be had, as we had nearly all sold 
out before the storm. It still continues to rain 
every day and the ground is too wet to work. 
I have not been on my land to work this week. 
The damage to land by washing is greater 
than the loss of the crops. It has been a good 
season to set fruit trees; nearly all that were set 
are growing nicely. f. s. w. 
Kansas. 
Walnut, Crawford Co., May 27. 
The season so far has been very favorable 
for all kinds of vegetation. Most of the corn 
was planted in April and it is looking well. 
Strawberries have been ripe two weeks and 
will last another week. New potatoes and 
green peas are now plentiful and early cher¬ 
ries are ripe. Grapes blossomed full and are 
setting fruit finely. Apples and all other 
fruits, except peaches, promise an abundant 
crop. Apples have been a good crop every 
year since 1881 and during a residence of 19 
years here I have never seen fruit or vegeta¬ 
bles or any other plants seriously injured by 
the spring frosts. h. g. 
Minnesota. 
Mentor, Polk Co., May 26. 
With grain all in in good shape, the weath¬ 
er all that could be desired to start the seed 
along, and the price of wheat rising rapidly, 
the average Northwestern farmer feels pret¬ 
ty well satisfied with things generally. Grass 
is backward, but the two days of rainy weath¬ 
er we have just had will hurry it along now. 
At present the prospects for small fruits are 
the best I have seen for years. The late 
spring and cool weather have kept the plants 
from making much growth or any blossoms 
until the danger from heavy frosts is almost 
over. 1 think our lack of fruit is mostly caused 
by a warm spell and consequent early blos¬ 
soming of fruit, followed by the heavy frosts 
we are almost certain to have about the latter 
part of May. F. A. H. 
New Jersey. 
Trenton, Mercer Co. May 23rd.—In my 
35 years of farm-life I have not known a 
time when farmers were so generally behind¬ 
hand with spring work—Corn-planting, usu¬ 
ally over by the middle of May, is but fairly 
begun — many fields are but half plowed. 
Early planted in some instances has rotted 
badly. Potatoes on flat ground, are, in some 
cases rotting, so continously has the wea¬ 
ther been wet and cool, and the wire-worm is 
destroying potato seed, and onions and other 
similar vegetables. Wheat, where the stand 
was good and the ground is not too low, is 
growing nicely ; but on low ground both 
wheat and oats are turning white, and they 
will not recover so as to yield even partial 
crops. There is a fair prospect now for fruit, 
providing our “ insect enemies” let up on it 
this year. Grass was winter-killed and must 
have warmer weather before it will show 
up. w. F. 
New York. 
Fluvanna, Chautauqua Co.,June 4.—Spring 
was cold and dry and consequently late. For 
the last two weeks we have had fine rains and 
grass especially has been making rapid growth. 
Sowed grains of all kinds are looking fine, 
winter wheat is exceedingly good. Fruits of 
all kinds adapted to the region, bloomed very 
full and are well set. Potatoes are largely 
planted and are coming up very rank, and 
with a fine color. Few bugs as yet. Corn is 
coming on finely. In fact the outlook is good 
for a plentiful harvest. Old potatoes are 
scarce at 75 cents; butter 16 cents to 20 cents. 
Most of the milk is taken to the creameries. 
H. a. w. 
Pennsylvania. 
Kane, McKean Co., May 28.—We have not 
suffered for want of rain here this spring; if 
anything the weather has been too wet. There 
has been no frost to injure anything. Grass 
looks well. The season is more than two 
weeks later than last year. Our lilacs are 
not yet in full bloom. We always try to have 
a good garden. We are fighting the worms 
on the gooseberries with hellebore after the 
directions given by the Rural, and I think 
we shall win. The Rural is an ever-welcome 
visitor. I take several papers, but the chil¬ 
dren open the Rural first. May it always 
have success 1 w. w. 
Tennessee. 
Riceville, McMinn Co., May 28.—We had 
a very mild winter; the themometergot down 
to about 10 degrees above zero twice. We 
have bad a tolerably cool spring up to the 
present time. We had frost hard enough to 
bite tender vegetables on May 15th. We are 
having a great deal of rain, which is causing 
farmers to get behind with their work. Corn 
is not all worked over the first time yet, and 
is rather small for this time of year. Wheat 
harvest will begin this week. If nothing hap¬ 
pens to injure it, we will have the best yield 
we have bad in several years. Oats and hay 
won’t be over one-fourth of a crop. We shall 
have about half a crop of peaches. Apples a 
uU crop, fSmall fruits about an average. 
Wheat is worth 90 cents; corn 60 cents; eggs 
8% cents a dozen; butter 16% per pound; live 
stock cheap, cattle, 1% to 3%; hogs 4 cents per 
pound. w. c. D. 
iVUsccll ancons. 
CORRESPONDENTS’ VIEWS. 
Use of Whole Seed Potatoes.— I re¬ 
ceived from the Rural’s Free Seed Distribu¬ 
tion two small Beauty of Hebron potatoes 
quite a number of years since. The first year 
was very dry, and I only got 35 small tubers. 
Next year I raised 4% bushels, and since that 
I have grown hundreds of bushels. I am well 
aware that a great many, in fact I believe the 
majority of potato growers, claim that any 
potato grown for a number of years from one 
strain of seed on the same ground, will soon 
run out. To-day I can show as fine specimens 
of the Beauties as I ever raised. This is the 
same stock I first received from the Rural, 
having never been without them—neither do 
I want to be. My experience the last two 
years with this potato is this: I planted whole 
potatoes very early. I fiDd whole ones throw 
up a larger growth of tops, which shade the 
ground earlier in the spring, and hold the 
moisture better. Hence a better yield, at 
least such has been my experience during the 
last two seasons. Now bear in mind the last 
two years have been quite dry with us. I feel 
confident I am on the right track, and shall go 
on with this practice until I am convinced I 
am wrong. m. m. h. 
Jacksonville, Ill. 
About Milk Inspection.— Under “What 
Others Say” on page 337 some caustic remarks 
are made about the injustice involved in a 
case where one farmer gets as much per quart 
for his milk containing three per cent, of fat 
as another gets for a like quantity containing 
five per cent. Producers and consumers of 
good, rich milk must work together to have 
milk put upon the market for what it is, not 
for what it purports to be. If there are con¬ 
sumers who desire a good, rich milk and are 
willing to pay a slight advance over the price 
asked for the common mixture, there are own¬ 
ers of herds of cows who can put such an ar¬ 
ticle before them, and whose guarantee is per¬ 
fectly trustworthy. Let milk be sold accord¬ 
ing to proof as whisky dealers sell whisky. 
Arrangements can soon be made whereby 
milk can be legally tested and certified to 
dailv, on its way to market. Such a course 
would protect the honest dealer and producer 
of milk and give the purchaser a guarantee as 
to the value of his purchase. This course 
would be better all around it seems tome than 
for a milk inspector (?) occasionally to over¬ 
haul a man’s stock for the day and, maybe, 
dump a can into the street and impose a fine. 
FRANKLIN DYE, 
Sec. N. J. Agricultural Society. 
The Cutaway Harrow—To those who are 
about to cultivate their corn for the first time 
I would like to say that I have found the Cut¬ 
away disk harrow one of the best implements 
for the purpose. I plant my corn with an 
Eclipse planter, thus getting my rows, which 
are from 3% to 4 feet apart—very straight 
and the kernels of corn close together. The 
harrow when driven astraddle of a row just 
about fills the space between the rows, the 
space directly under the hole, which is left un¬ 
touched where the gangs separate, is ample 
for the corn, and it is left perfectly clean 
with the ground well pulverized between the 
rows. It requires careful diiving, but one is 
willing to do this when he sees what a large 
amount of thorough work he can do in a day. 
1 go over my entire crop, taking every alter¬ 
nate row, then go back and straddle the inter¬ 
vening one. After this the corn would be 
too high to.use the harrow, and I use a two- 
horse walking cultivator, and, later, the one- 
horse Planet Jr. or an implement similarly set 
to work shallow. I believe in and practice level 
culture entirely, except on wet bottom land. 
Talladega, Ala. e. a. b. 
The frost on the night of May 17 cut 
down all tne^corn, beans, potatoes and other 
tender plants that were just up. Ice one- 
eighth of an inch thick formed in places. The 
Insecticide number of tneRuRAL is worth more 
than the whole year’s subscription. In fact, 
it is worth more than all the agricultural and 
horticultural books I have ever read. How 
is it that the price of all agricultural and 
horticultural books is so extortionate, while 
the works are verbose, impracticable and of 
no account whatever? Did any one ever try 
an infusion of laurel leaves on insects? I 
tried it last summer on grape-vines and it did 
better than Paris-green, as the latter will 
injure grapevines or anything else in very 
dry weather. If I have time I will try a 
laurel leaf jnfusjop this summer on potato 
bugs and other insects, as it is rank poison to 
insects and does not injure vegetation at all. 
Whoop it up for low postage on fourth-class 
matter, as express charges are getting more 
and more extortionate. Expressage on 3 3-11 
pounds of plants over a distance of 400 miles 
costs me 75 cents, that is, 20 cents per pound. 
Broad Ford, Pa. b. r. 
Exorbitant Prices for Books.— Com¬ 
menting upon the editorial in a recent number 
of the Rural, I too have had some experience 
in buying school books, and have been angered 
at the exorbitant prices asked for them. The 
standard books can only be obtained directly 
or indirectly from one of a few large publishers 
who are in the “combine.” The prices are at 
least 50 per cent more than they could be sold 
for, still leaving a good margin of profit. I 
recently had occasion to purchase a number 
of books for a course of reading required by 
an institution for home study. Although the 
institution itself is professedly philanthropic 
in its character and the publishers have an 
excellent reputation, yet the price asked for 
the books was at least four times what they 
were worth. A publishing house, which, by 
means of methods, which are, to say the least, 
questionable, obtains one dollar for a book 
which can be published and sold for 25 cents 
is as much of a swindle as the concern which 
gets a dollar for a 25 cent sun-dial. 
J. H. G. 
The Average Chicken House— is an 
odd combination of the hot house and 
wood-shed styles of architecture. It has a 
nicely finished front, chiefly of glass, and back 
and sides of old boards roughly put together 
and full of crevices and knot-holes. The re¬ 
sult of building houses in this way is a com¬ 
paratively high temperature in the day-time 
while the sun is shining, and a low tempera¬ 
ture at night. Of course, the hens enjoy the 
artificial heat of the glass front when the sun 
is shining, but, followed as it is by a sudden 
fall in the temperature at night, it is injurious 
and the cause of disease. Fowls can enjoy a 
uniformly low temperature vastly better than 
sudden changes. 
My experience is to the effect that a house 
built partially under ground, well battened 
and with no more glass than is necessary, is 
vastly better than a “hot-”house which is only 
hot for a few hours in the middle of the day. 
J. H. G. 
R. N. Y.: Mr. Hales who has had a great 
deal of experience with poultry, in a late 
article stroDgly objects to houses partially 
under ground, as likely to be damp, or even 
wet after rains, and a fruitful cause of 
disease among the fowls it shelters. 
Experience of a Campaign Against 
Currant Worms. —These appear, with us, 
uniformly on gooseberry bushes, first on their 
lower leaves, and just when fruit trees begin 
to bloom. This year, finding no fresh, white 
hellebore on hand at our druggist’s, I tried 
the cheaper recommended substitute, Slug- 
shot, and blew it on with a common powder 
gun. It seemed effectual; but when, a week 
later, I found some worms that had escaped 
and were nearly full-grown, I had no such 
success with it. After vainly dusting them 
two or three times, I made an infusion of 
some stale hellebore left from last year and 
sprayed it on. That took them—every one— 
and at once. It did equally well last year, 
and I am a full convert to the Rural’s plan 
of thus using it, w. G. 
Extract of Pea-Pods. —Dr. Jacobsen is 
authority for a ready method of utilizing the 
delicious marrow that lies among the fibres of 
the pea-pod, and which is sweeter and better 
than the peas themselves, which, when of the 
best sorts and at their best, are the first of all 
vegetables for fine flavor, tenderness, succu¬ 
lence and nutritiousness. So save for use all 
the tender sweet pulp of the shells, separated 
from the troublesome fiber which prevents 
their use with the seeds in most sorts of peas. 
Dr. J. directs to boil the shells well in water 
to which has been added a little carbonate of 
soda; then strain through a cloth, and, after 
adding some sugar to the liquid, boil it down 
till thick. The extract, thus obtained, will 
keep for any length of time without becoming 
mouldy, and a teaspoonful of it added to a 
bowl of soup, gives to it the flavor of fresh 
green peas, besides adding to its material 
quality. tyronne. 
green or dried. Horses considered it unfit to 
be eaten and as I had also arrived at the same 
conclusion, I have extirpated it. 
Long Island. ISAAC HICKS. 
Pasteboard Strawberry Box. —We are 
asked for our opinion concerning the practic¬ 
ability of using pasteboard boxes for fancy 
lots of strawberries. We will say that a 
paper or pasteboard strawberry box cannot 
be successfully used for the reason that the 
moisture or dampness from the strawberry 
will soon penetrate the paper or pasteboard, 
when the box will become shapeless before it 
gets to market. Besides showing the berries 
to great disadvantage, the paper is apt to af¬ 
fect the taste of the fruit from the acids used 
in its manufacture. SOUTH side. 
Petersburg, Va. 
Lime tried on a soil full of sorrel had no effect 
so far as I could see: the outlay was a total 
loss. Salt for asparagus in quantity sufficient 
to kill all weeds saves hoeing. I cannot say 
there is any other benefit from it. For plums, 
two to four quarts to a tree, sowed broadcast 
under the trees as far as the branches extend, 
have helped me to some good crops for several 
years. 
Hampshire Co., Mass. d. e. h. 
“They are Beauties.”— It is three years 
since I took the Rural’s advice, and tried to 
raise seedling potatoes. Many were very 
small, some very uneven; but two hills gave 
me four marketable tubers. These I planted 
the next year; the year following I took only 
the largest and most regular, this year I shall 
put in an acre. Friends who have seen them 
say they are beauties. t. y. 
The Rural is right about the monkey- 
wrench. It is one of the most useful tools on 
our farm. reader. 
For ]STervous Exhaustion. 
Use Ilorslord’s Acid Phosphate. 
Dr. H. C. McCoy, Algona, la., says: “I 
have used it in cases of dyspepsia, nervous ex¬ 
haustion and wakefulness, with pleasant re¬ 
sults. Also think it of great service in de¬ 
pressed condition of the system resulting from 
biliary derangement.”— Adv. 
PiiSiceUantauis! 
How to SAVE re-shingling, STOP 
leaks effectually and cheaply In 
roofs of all kinds,or lay NEWroofs 
Pa rilculars FREE if you mention this paper. 
UNEQUALED 
For House, Barn, 
and all out-buildings. 
ANYBODY CAN PUT IT ON. 
PRICE LOW. 
Write for Sample and Book. 
143 Duane St., New York City. 
INDIANA PAINT Sl ROOF1NC CO. 
AGENTS 
WANTED 
It" CAMPAIGN BIOGRAPHIES 
Will be first out. BFST, CHEAPEST, and go 
like \viI<1 lire. Secure territory ut once Adoress 
Hi: 11 HA RI) BROTHERS. Philadelphia, 
Boston, or Chicago. 
FARM ENGINES 
Upright and Horizontal, 
Stationary, 
Portable and Semi-Portable. 
8 to 16 Hotko Power. 
Illustrated Pamphlet Free. Address 
AMES LEFFEL & CO. 
SPRINGFIELD, OHIO, 
or 110 Liberty St., New York. 
Zinc Collar Pad. 
Over 3.000,000 of then*, 
have been used. The 
most reliable and dur¬ 
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neck horses or mules. 
Weather or wear has 
no effect on their cura¬ 
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solicit a trial. For sale 
by all saddlery jobbers. 
Ask your harness- 
maker for them and 
Insist on having the ZINC PAD and no other. 
ZINC COLLAR PAD CO., liuchunsan,Mtch. 
WELL DRILLING 
Machinory for Wells of any depth, from 20 to 3 000 feet, 
for Water, Oil or Gas. Our Mounted Steam Drilling and 
Portable Horso Power Machines set to work in 20 minutes. 
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Stamps for illustrated Catalogue H. Address, 
Pierce Well Excavator Co.. IVew York. 
Prickly Comfrey. —Some twenty years 
ago we planted some of this as a flowering 
plant, but under its botanical name, Symphy¬ 
tum asperrimum, notthinking it was a forage 
plant. It is a very coarse, large plant, the 
flowers are pretty, but it is not worth a place 
in the flower garden. 
After noticing it was boomed as a forage 
plant, I tried to entice my cows to eat the 
coarse, prickly leaves ; but as they had been 
used to good treatment, they utterly refund it 
Vir.K’R INSECT EXTEHMMIUK 
11 vlV U Sure Death to all Inseots. 
Water Bugs, Roaches, Flies, 
Mosquitoes, Cabbage Worms, 
Potato or Squash Bugs, Aphis, 
etc. Harmless to plants vege¬ 
tables or health. Invaluable 
in every household. Zinc Bellows for house use, con¬ 
servatories, etc., by mail, 25 cts. Larger size, 60 ets. Exter¬ 
minator, by mail, per pound, without bellows, 50 cts. Large 
bellows for garden use, 81.25. 
JAMES VICK SEEDSMAN, 
ROCHESTER. N. Y. 
PCCDiroe nvee Are the BEST. 
rCUILCOo UlCd sols r» druqoists. 
