give each animal a purgative dose of salts, say 
one pound each Epsom and common salt as a 
dose for the oxen,and one-half or three-fourths 
of these quantities for a cow, according to her 
size and condition. The solution of sugar of 
lead even if advisable to use it was entirely 
too strong for open sores. We would expect 
such a solution to irritate them. 
THAT COLLIE DOG. 
J. H. G., Queens Co., N. Y .—In the 
article on the “ Collie Dog” in the Rural of 
June 16th considerable attention is given to 
various kinds of sheep dogs, but little is said of 
the modern Collie. Is the picture that of a 
modern Collie, and if so of what variety ? 
Ans.— Considerably more space was given 
to the Collie than to any other kind of sheep 
dog. So far as we know there is in existence 
only one variety or breed of the race. That 
the illustration represented a Collie was plainly 
indicated by the statement of the fact in large 
type under the cut. The engraving showed a 
very life-like picture of the celebrated sable 
and white Collie bitch “ Clifton Maid,” pur¬ 
chased of J. J. Stewart, “ The Elms” Clifton 
England and imported by the Associated Fan¬ 
ciers of Philadelphia, Pa. She has won prizes 
whenever exhibited, among them the cup for 
the best Scotch Collie bred by a member of the 
club at the Crystal Palace Show, at Syden¬ 
ham, near London. 
PRESERVING SWEET CORN. 
D. J. H., Wales Centre, N. Y .—Should 
sweet corn be cooked to set the milk for evap¬ 
orating for market ? Should it be fumigated 
with sulphur to bleach it ? 
Ans.—T he rules for making a prime article 
of sweet corn are about as follows: The ears 
are picked when the kernels are so full of 
milk that they will readily mash when pressed 
between the fingers. The sooner after picking, 
the evaporation begins the better. The eats 
are placed in boiling water for about five min¬ 
utes. They are then taken out and drai ned 
after which the kernels are cut off with a 
sharp knife. They are not cut off whole, but 
are sliced so that each kernel is left in two or 
three pieces. The germs are scraped from the 
cob by means of a blunt knife. The use of 
brimstone is declining with the best makers 
Miscellaneous. 
M. D. F., West Walworth , N. Y.—l. Where 
can I get Meadow Fescue or English Blue 
Crass seed* 2. Will it stand the climate of 
Northwestern New York as well as red clover ? 
3. What is a remedy' for carpet bugs? 
Neither turpentine, tobacco nor insect pow¬ 
der has given any relief. 
Ans. —1. We find it in most of the seeds¬ 
men’s catalogues; D. M. Ferry & Co., Detroit, 
Mich., James Vick and Hiram Sibley & Co., 
Rochester. The price ft (15 pounds to a 
bushel) about 20 cents per pound or $3.00 per 
bushel. 2. We should think it would stand 
better than red clover. 3. This is a vile pest 
and there is really, as yet, no specific remedy 
known except eternal vigilance. We have 
consulted Prof. C. V. Riley without eliciting 
information other than the above. 
W. T. T., Salisbury, N. C— Would it pay 
to get a creamer when one hasn’t any ice, but 
must use well water? He can arrange mat¬ 
ters so as to pump the water and let it run 
through the dairy-room so that the stock 
will alterwards drink it. He has three or 
four cows and sells all the butter he can 
spare at 25 cents a pound. 
Ans.— The creamer will prove a great con¬ 
venience, saving labor and time, ^and it can 
be managed with the arrangements you men¬ 
tion. it will also make a superior quality of 
butter. We should say that you ought to get 
more for the butter to make the creamer pay 
unless the saving in time and labor is very 
desirable. * 
E. A. B ., Long Plains, Mass. —What is 
the matter with the raspberry leaves 1 inclose? 
Ans. —They are affected with the destructive 
orange rust which attacks both the black¬ 
berry and raspberry. Gather all affected 
leaves and burn them. That is the best reme¬ 
dy. We can not recognize the species of berry 
from the little piece sent. 
D. E. S., Herkimer Co., N. Y.— The plant 
sent is a variety of Hieracium—Hawkweed. 
We think it H. scarbrum. .It is a worthless 
perennial, and cultivated crops alone wil 1 
eradicate it. 
E. B. It,, Carmel, Texas.— Is there any ma¬ 
chine for thrashing beans? 
Ans.— Charles H. Bidwell, Albion N. Y., 
makes a bean thrasher. Johnson & Field, 
Racine Wis., make a bean separator. 
E. B. Z., Marshallville, O.—Who is a re¬ 
liable dealer in jewelry? 
Ans.— J. B. Chambers & Co., Clark and 
Maiisoa Streets, Chicago are fully reliable. 
DISCUSSION. 
REPLY TO *' HAAFF ON DEHORNING.” 
Dr. F. L. Kilborne, Department of Agri¬ 
culture, Washington, D. C.— Although Mr. 
Haaff has several years the advantage of my¬ 
self in the experience of dehorning cattle, 1 
cannot allow his criticisms in the Rural of 
June 23, page 412, on my method of operat¬ 
ing, to pass unnoticed, especially since many 
of them are either inconsistent or entirely 
opposed to well known principles of veteri¬ 
nary surgery. As to the method of securing 
the head, l will only add that the various 
methods are largely a matter cf opinion and 
familiarity, so that each operator will select 
such as best suits his circumstances. The 
method proposed was simple,and the apparatus 
needed can be constructed in a short time by 
any farmer. Furthermore, this method re¬ 
quires but two persons to perform the whole 
operation; and in my experience it proved 
satisfactory for the purpose intended. In dis¬ 
tricts where but few cattle are to be dehorned 
some such simple device is preferable to a 
more complicated affair. 
In the use of the tenon saw Mr. Haaff evi¬ 
dently writes from opinion rather than expe¬ 
rience. 1 f he w ill carefully read the directions 
given he will see that the operator can stand 
either in front of or behind the head, as any 
special case may require, and I have yet to 
find a horn that I cannot readily and properly 
remove with the tenon-saw, providing Mr. H. 
will admit that, in his opinion, lean properly 
dehorn any animal. In the special case cited, 
Fig. 21, page 59, of “ Haaff’s Practical De- 
horner,” I fail to see why the horn cannot be 
safely and properly removed with the tenon- 
saw, Mr. Haaff’s assertion to the contrary not¬ 
withstanding. 
I must adhere to my advise to “ cut away 
the hair at the base of the horn .... so 
that you can see where you are cutting.” Mr 
Haaff or any other operator cannot cut the 
horn as nicely and evenly with the hair in the 
way under the saw as he can by cutting the 
hair or in some way brushing it back and re¬ 
taining it out of the way. The horn should be 
cut at the same depth all around the base and 
should not be bungled by cutting a narrow 
ring of the skin on one side and none or a 
broad ring, extending deep into the flesh, on 
the other. 
During cool or cold weather when there are 
no flies about, I grant that it may not be 
necessary to apply anything to the freshly-cut 
surface. You can take your choice between 
stopping the bleeding almost immediately 
with a thin layer of the absorbent cotton, or 
letting the wound bleed for 15 minutes to as 
many hours, with the unsightly—I may say 
ghastly—appearance of the blood trickling 
down and drying all over the face. I believe 
almost any sensitive, humane owner would 
much prefer to have the bleeding checked. 
But “he who glories in gore” cannot be ex¬ 
pected to bother about such trifles. 
While the application of the absorbent cot¬ 
ton (I recommend absorbent cotton be¬ 
cause it is free from grease and readily 
adheres to the freshly cut surface by absorb 
ing the blood) in a thin layer has no injurious 
effects, and 1 say this from experience, not 
belief, it serves other purposes ttan that of 
checking bleeding. It forms a more perfect 
cover or bandage over the cavity, extending 
into the sinuses of the head; it keeps out for¬ 
eign bodies, and tends to prevent the evil ef¬ 
fects of sudden changes of temperature by 
preventing the too free access of outside air. 
I can see no reason for not clipping the hair 
and applying the cotton, except in a certain 
craze to perform the operation as rudely and 
quickly as it can be done with safety, with, 
on;, reference to the comfort and appearance 
of the animal afterwards. 
The recommendation of axle grease in pre¬ 
ference to pine tar sounds very much like 
quackery, and compares very well with 
some other similar statements and writings by 
the same authority, such as his article on “A 
Sure Cure for ‘Hollow Horn,’ ” in the Rural 
of May 7th 1887,page 302. But what kind of 
common axle grease are we to use? The castor 
oil, lard, hen’s or other oil commonly used by 
farmers, or one of the prepared brands with an 
unknown composition? Mr. Haaff also fails to 
state whether this “grease” is to be used be¬ 
fore or after its application to the axle, an 
important (?) omission, since it is commonly 
prescribed in either form by “cow-doctors” for 
use on fresh wounds. 
The statements that “pine tar and turpentine 
are alike irritants,” and that if a sore head 
is desired the use of pine tar will certainly pro 
duce it,” are without foundation, aud could 
only come from one who is unfamiliar with the 
proper uses and actions of our most common 
veterinary medicines. Here again Mr. Haaff 
writes from opinion and not from knowledge. 
Pine tar is oue of the best applications that can 
be made in case of broken, or amputated horns; 
why should it notfbe equally serviceable on the 
wmund made by dehorning? In my experi. 
ence it proved entirely satisfactory; and un¬ 
der Washington weather, with the mercury 
at 80 degrees F. in the shade, and “blow¬ 
flies” in abundance, a single application was 
usually sufficient. Under this thin covering, 
which remains on until the wound heals, the 
healing went on rapidly, and there was no 
soreness, suppuration, or trouble from the 
flies. If the tar is smeared on the hair all 
around the cut, and the cotton is applied im¬ 
mediately, there will be no trouble about its 
adhering. 
The introduction of the cotton batting or 
any other wads into the opening or “inside of 
the frontal bones,” is another example of un¬ 
professional advice, which I would not ad¬ 
vise any operator to practice. This opening 
should soon become closed by a bony growth 
or deposit, and such closing would of necessity 
be hindered by the presence of such a plug. 
My designation of the instrument for de¬ 
horning calves was not as definite as it might 
have been; but if Mr. Haaff will re-read my 
article with a little more care, he will find 
that I did not recommend a simple knife for 
dehorning calves, but a “knife or gouge made 
for the purpose .” It was only through care¬ 
lessness that Mr. Haaff could have so misin¬ 
terpreted my meaning. 
DAIRY LECTURES APPROPRIATION. 
T.L.H., Albany, N. Y.— I was quite surprised 
to see in the last issue of the Rural, unde*. 
“W r hat Others Say,”a quotation from the N. Y. 
Times, intimating that a grant of $30,000 had 
been made by the New York Legislature for 
the instruction of dairymen in practical and 
scientific knowledge of butter and cheese-mak¬ 
ing. The writer goes on to say that the money 
will, no doubt, be spent to enrich a few dairy 
experts, w:thout effecting any improvement 
in butter and cheese-making. The Rural of 
June 30 contained an editorial article on the 
same subject, which took a different view of 
the matter, and which in fact agreed with 
the vast majority of. the dairy-men of the 
State in the opinion that a series of popular 
lectures on the subject must have a good effect 
here, as such lectures have undeniably pro¬ 
duced good results in Canada aud Ireland. I 
certainly think the Rural right on this ques¬ 
tion, and the Times wrong, and I know the 
former is right and the latter is wrong in the 
amount of the appropriation made for the pur¬ 
pose. The Rural said this amounted to 
only $5,000, and that it was especially 
stipulated that the entire outlay must 
not exceed that sum. The Times, to 
give greater force to its carping criticism, 
makes the appropriation six times what it 
really was. The act was approved by the 
Governor on May 15, and here is a certified 
copy of it: 
Section 1. The New York State Dairy Commissioner 
Is authorized, empowered and directed to appoint 
and employ expert butter and cheese makers not ex¬ 
ceeding five in number, whose duty it shall be. under 
ills directions, to examine and inspect butter and 
cheese factories and the methods employed therein, 
and attend at such agricultural fairs, Institutes, 
meetings and conventions, within the State, as shall 
be designated by the Commissioner,to impart thereat 
information as to the best and most approved meth¬ 
ods of making butter and cheese and Improving the 
quality thereof. The compensation of such experts 
shall be fixed bv the Commissioner and their neces¬ 
sary expenses incurred in the performance of their 
duties audited by him; and the same shall be paid by 
the Treasurer of the State npon the warrant of the 
Comptroller thereafter. The sum of five thousand 
dollarsis hereby appropriated for such purpose, to be 
paid out of any moneys in the Treasury not otherwise 
appropriated; and the entire expenses of the Com¬ 
missioner under this act shall not exceed such sum. 
The Commissioner on or before the fifteenth day of 
December of this year shall report the number of 
experts employed under this act aud their compensa¬ 
tion and expenses, which shall be included in his an¬ 
nual report. 
Sec. 2. This act shall take effect immediately. 
RURAL SPECIAL REPORTS. 
Illinoia. 
Champaign, Champaign Co., July 12.—We 
are having a good deal of hot, humid weather 
and deluges of rain, that has compromised the 
winter wheat and oat crops and threatens 
hay. Corn is just magnificent, and vegeta¬ 
tion is as rank and luxuriant as in the tropics, 
three weeks after the rainy season had begun. 
The rains have done much to arrest the depre¬ 
dations of the potato beetle, but with dry 
weather, the pest will multiply rapidly and 
return in force and take the late crop, unless 
the temperature becomes cooler and heavy 
rains come. The chinch bugs nave been 
drowned out. The coddling moth was starv¬ 
ed out by last year’s short crop, and one of 
the largest and by all odds the fairest crops of 
apples in proportion to the number of trees 
alive, is coming out farther on. The rot has 
attacked the vines of early potatoes and it 
needs nothing but continued heat and wet to 
seriously damage the crop aud to reduce th(* 
yield, so potatoes will rise in price to the rank 
of a luxury, as during and after the drought 
’bjf.last year, B - F - J * * 
Louisiana. 
Jennings, Calcasieu Parish., July 7—The 
seasonable raius for the last month have added 
many thousands of dollars to the exchequer of 
our planters. The .rice crop never was more 
promising; a larger area has been planted 
than ever before. The corn crop is excellent. 
The Iowa Colony settled in this parish are 
prosperous. They have good water, good 
health, and a delightful climate. e. r. s. 
Nebraska. 
Dorchester, Saline, Co, July 9, 1838.— 
Perhaps the prospects for good crops of oats 
and corn were never better. Fully one-third 
more of each has been planted than usual. 
Grass, wild, and tame, is looking fine. Very 
little wheat was sown this year. Rye and 
potatoes a good average. The look-out for 
this county is good. wm. a. 
Pennsylvania. 
Emporium, Cameron Co., June 30.—This 
farm is a new one, it having been cleared 
by us during the past seven years. It is lo¬ 
cated on top of one of our Alleghany Moun¬ 
tains, and overlooks the village of Emporium, 
with its 3,000 inhabitants. We have about 75 
acres of cleared land. Our principal crops 
are potatoes, cabbage, and hay. This 
year we have in about six acres of potatoes, 
which took 64 bushels of seed, and we have 
also 3 % acres of cabbages, in which are 15,000 
plants. Two acres of the potatoes were put 
in largely after the Rural Trench system. 
The piece was taken up wild two years ago. 
It was sprout land. We cut and burned it, 
then with a spring-toothed harrow dragged in 
buckwheat. After taking off the buck¬ 
wheat (which was a light crop), we 
plowed it, and the next spring dragged it up 
and planted the potatoes, using 30 bushels of 
seed. We marked it out in rows, 3>^ feet 
apart, and planted the seed, one piece in a 
place, eight inches apart, as nearly as we could 
guess, and covered with a hoe. Before har¬ 
rowing we put on 15 loads of stable manure. 
We dug 90 bushels of potatoes—a very poor 
yield. 0 . t. d. 
Simple Rules for Butter-Making.— [Is¬ 
sued to the press of Great Britain with the 
sanction of the Dairy Committee of the Royal 
Agricultural Society of England.] 
Rinse, in cold water, all dairy utensils to be 
used, such as churn, butter-worker, wooden 
butter hands, etc. 
Now scald with hot water and rinse again 
with cold. 
Always use a thermometer. 
The churn and cream to be at a temperature 
of 56 deg. to 58 deg. in summer, and 60 deg. in 
winter. 
Ventilate the churn freely and frequently 
during churning, until no air rushes out when 
the vent peg is taken out. 
Churn at 40 to 45 revolutions per minute. 
* Stop churning immediately the butter comes. 
This can be ascertained by the sound ; it in 
doubt, look. 
The butter should now be like grains of mus¬ 
tard seed. 
Draw off the buttermilk, and wash the but¬ 
ter in the churn with plenty of cold water. 
Turn the churn two or three times very gently, 
then draw off the water and repeat the process 
until the water drawn off is quite clear and 
free from buttermilk. 
Make a strong brine and pour into the churn 
through a hair sieve. Wash the butter 
thoroughly and draw off brine ; take the but 
ter out of the churn and put it on the butter- 
worker, which use until every drop of butter¬ 
milk is pressed out of the butter. 
N. B.—Never touch the butter with your 
hands. __ 
The Woburn Experiments.— The Mark 
Lane Express, just received, gives some ac¬ 
count of the annual excursion of the members 
of the Royal Agricultural Society to the ex¬ 
perimental fields of Woburn. The battle is 
clearly between nitrogenous and mineral 
manures, and the plots are giving a very de¬ 
cided answer. The average of ten years shows 
that so far as wheat is concerned, the unma¬ 
nured plots gave 17.4 bushels to the acre, while 
those dressed with a mi ud mineral manure 
(200 pounds sulphate of potash, 100 pounds 
sulphate of soda, 100 pounds sulphate of mag¬ 
nesia, and 3% cwt, of superphosphate of lime) 
gave only 17 7 bushels. A second set of ex¬ 
periments for five years only give 17.1 bushels 
per acre. Nitrogen applied by itself gives 
additional yields, but as in the R. IS, Y. ex 
