460 
MAR 6 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
either for 'a hedge. As a wind-break they 
would prove serviceable. The Austrian pine 
cannot be confined within hedge limits and 
live many years. For a wind-break we should 
plant 30 feet apart. 
A POSSIBLE PROGENITOR OF A POLLED JERSEY 
BREED. 
A. G. R , Alpena, Mich. —My high-grade 
Jersey cow never had any horns. A month 
ago she dropped a calf which has no sign of a 
horn, though its sire was a full blooded Jer¬ 
sey. If she continues to drop hornless calves, 
would she be more valuable than if her prog¬ 
eny had horns? She Is nearly pure-bred, 
is a fine milker, and has all the “ points” of a 
Jersey except the horns. 
Ans. —We should value that cow highly as 
being the possible ancestor of a race of polled 
Jerseys. Now, if you could but find ahornless 
Jersey bull, the basis for such a race would be 
secured. Otherwise it will have to be effected 
by in-and-in breeding. 
ABOUT THE WOMEN’S POTATO CONTEST. 
J. A. B., Lima, N. Y. —In the Women’s Po¬ 
tato Contest must the plot be square? How near 
the edge must the first hills be—that is, should 
the 33 feet be measured from the first to the 
last hill or would it include a space outside 
equal to the width of the row? 
Ans. —Suppose you make 11 rows, each 
three feet from the other (measuring from the 
middle), and in each row plant 33 pieces. You 
will find you have just one-fortieth of an acre, 
or, in other words, 363 “ hills.” The plot need 
not be square, though it is probable that not 
less than seven rows will be settled upon by 
the judges. In this case there would be 52 
hills in six rows and 51 in the last. The It. N.- 
Y. will give full instructions in a short time. 
ORIGIN OF ISOLATED ROCKS. 
Subscriber, Genesee County, N. Y.— On a 
farm in this section are two rocks of porous 
-limestone with some flint, which weigh sever¬ 
al tons each. They are three rods apart, and 
there is no other rock within 100 rods of them, 
and no rock of the same kind in this entire 
region. Where did these two come from? 
Ans. —These rocks are evidently relics of 
what is known as the glacial period when the 
surface of the earth in the greater part of the 
northern hemisphere was covered with vast 
beds of ice or glaciers. As the climate gradu¬ 
ally changed this ice melted and formed 
floods which poured down the slopes carrying 
rocks, gravel and sand which were deposited 
over great spaces, forming what geologists 
call the glacial drift, which is made up in 
great part of rounded masses. But as the ice 
broke off from the faces of the glaciers—of 
the extent of which we can form no concep¬ 
tion from anything existing now—large rocks 
adhering to or frozen in the ice were floated 
off until the ice grounded in shallow water 
and, melting, dropped the rocks where they are 
now found. The general direction of the cur¬ 
rent was from the northeast, as is shown by 
grooves and scratches worn in bare, smooth 
solid rocks over which the ice and floods 
passed; and if the origin of these masses of 
loose rock is sought it will be found in this 
direction. Geologists have never failed in de¬ 
tecting the birth-places of these strange rocks 
by following the rules indicated by patient 
and skillful investigation. Lyell’s Principles 
of Geology gives an interesting account of 
this glacial period of the earth’s history. The 
rocks have probably come from the neighbor¬ 
hood ot Labrador or the 'region about Hud¬ 
son’s Bay or further south in Canada, a dis¬ 
tance of 300 or 400 miles. 
RAISING ONIONS. 
G.W. L., Napoleon, Ohio. —How can onion 
sets be raised so as to have them the right 
size and shape? A great many onions are 
raised here every year; but none of the grow¬ 
ers knows how to raise the sets, all of which 
are imported from other places. 
Ans. —There are four different kinds of 
sets used by market gardeners and ripening 
in succession as follows: 1. The potato onion 
or multiplier; 2. The rareripe or medium¬ 
sized set; 3, The top or tree onion; 4. 
The pip, or button set. They are produc¬ 
ed or raised as follows: The potato onion is 
grown by setting out the onions in rows two 
feet apart and eight inches in the row. Each 
onion divides and splits up in the ground, 
forming a bunch or cluster of eight or 10 large 
and small onions. The smallest ones are kept 
for seed. 2. The rareripes are any of the 
seed onions of small size; usually the size of 
a black-walnut. They are set out in rows 
two feet apart, and three to four inches apart 
in the rows, the old onion growing and 
forming stalks,a new one forming in its place. 
These are used only for early onions, as they 
will not keep long. 
3.—Top or tree onions are set out the same 
as potato onions. When this onion ripens it 
forms a cluster or bunch of from 10 to 20 
small onions on top of the stalk. These are 
used for seed for next season’s planting, for 
the purpose of raising market onions from 
them. 4. For pip or button sets, prepare the 
ground in the same way as for seed onions: 
rake it down smooth and lay it off in beds 18 
inches wide, with alleys or paths 18 inches wide 
in which to walk when weeding. Drill 
the seed In the beds from three-eighths to one- 
half inch apart, and about a quarter of an 
inch deep; roll down tightly to facilitate the 
sprouting of the seed. The seed will sprout 
in about two weeks and show above ground 
Then go over the ground and clean out all 
weeds and grass. Continue to keep the bed 
clean until the onions are ripe, which will be 
seen by the tops wilting and falling down. 
They should then be pulled and cleaned from 
the soil, by throwing them in a coarse sieve 
and they should then be left to dry thoroughly, 
after which they can be spread out on a 
floor under cover about two or three inches 
deep, until frost comes. Then pile them up 
in heaps, covering them lightly with coarse 
bagging or straw. Increase the covering to 
prevent freezing. They must be kept as dry 
and cold as possible, without freezing. The 
yellow Strasburg is the best for sets. The 
planting of the seed so closely exhausts the 
nutriment from the soil and prevents the 
bulbs from growing large. The distances of 
rows stated above are for raising sets so that 
they can be tilled by a cultivator or plow. 
For garden beds, place the rows one foot 
apart. 
THE RURAL BLUSH POTATO, ETO. 
J. S. G ., Red Bank, N. J.—The inclosed 
potato is called the Rural Blush hereabouts 
where it is extensively grown and well liked 
for its good quality and productiveness. 
Last year it grew hollow-hearted on heavy 
soils, and was inclined to rot, and on this ac 
count shippers objected to handling them. 
Is the specimen sent Rural No. 2? If not 
what name should it go by ? 
Ans. —The specimen sent fairly resembles 
the Rural Blush in every way. The Blush 
and the R. N.-Y. No. 2 must not be confound¬ 
ed. The Rural New-Yorker introduced 
the Blush years ago. It did not originate 
with us at all, but with Mr. E. S. Benham, 
of Attica, N. Y. The Blush has shown this 
tendency before. When cutting seed every 
potato showing a decayed oenter or “hollow 
heart'’ should be rejected. In this way this 
serious objection may be entirely overcome. 
GRASSES FOR EASTERN OREGON, ETC. 
R. A. S., Joseph, Oregon. —My soil is a 
black sandy loam with some gravel in it. I 
have plenty of manure and lots of water for 
irrigation; what grasses should I sow for a 
permanent pasture ? Will buckwheat mature 
here ? 
Ans. —If any one can answer these questions 
without experimenting he will confer a great 
blessing on the farmers of Eastern Oregon. 
Oregon is such an enormous State, embracing 
such a diversity of climate, soil and physical 
characteristics and, withal, so sparsely pop¬ 
ulated, that accurate experiments have not 
been conducted. Prof. Grimm, of the Oregon 
E. S., states that no grasses that he knows of 
have been found to take the place of the native 
Bunch-grasses of Eastern Oregon. The Fes¬ 
cues have been recommended. For irrigated 
land he thinks Alfalfa is the very best crop. 
He says these questions are often asked, but 
a? yet no one has been able to answer them. 
The country surrounding Joseph is new and 
but little is known of its agricultural capa¬ 
bilities. 
“ CURCULIO-PROOF ” PLUMS: THE LE CONTE 
FOR GRAFTING. 
C. C. W., Grand Bay, Ala. —1. Are there 
any curculio-proof plums, and if so, what are 
they? 2. What has been the result of graft¬ 
ing the older sorts of pears upon Le Conte 
roots both as to growth of tree and quality of 
fruit? 3. Is it true that the grafting of Le 
Conte cions upon common pear stock has re¬ 
sulted in producing a fall-blooming tree, and 
in consequence a failure of the spring or sum¬ 
mer crop of fruit? 
Ans. —1. There are, properly speaking, no 
curculio-proof varieties of the plum; though 
the Chicasaw and Americana species have 
each numerous varieties which are believed to 
be less attractive to this insect; and in which 
the eggs frequently, if not even generally, fail 
to develop into mature larvae. There are 
also several varieties of the Domesticaor Gar¬ 
den plum, for which it is alleged, (with how 
much occasion it is yet impossible to deter¬ 
mine), the “ Little Turk” has a dislike. The 
same is alleged to be true of some or all the 
recently introduced, and, as yet, imperfectly 
tested Japan plums. How far all or any of 
these claims will prove valid in practice, is 
yet to be determined, but it is safe to assume 
that the apparent evidence is the mere result 
of preference; and that, when short of pas¬ 
ture, this persistent enemy will be sure to at¬ 
tack even these to him least desirable. 
2. At the extreme South, (doubtless as the 
result of climate and the consequent tempera¬ 
ture and moisture of soils), the Le Conte pear 
is readily propagated by cuttings, which root 
promptly, and make fine stocks on which 
other varieties may be grafted. As we go 
northward, this method of propagation be¬ 
comes less and less practicable; till, in the 
more northern States, this variety is more 
conveniently increased by working, in the 
usual way, upon stocks already rooted. Not 
infrequently the occurrence of warm, moift 
weather, after growth has apparently closed 
for the season, causes a resumption of growth 
and the consequent fall blooming of the fruit 
buds formed for the next season’s crop. This 
occurs occasionally at the North; and, possi. 
bly, even more frequently at the South, in¬ 
suring the loss of a crop the next season. We 
are not aware that this is peculiar to any one 
variety; to the use of any particular kind of 
stock; or to any particular combination of 
varieties. 
FOR THE LARGEST CORN YIELD. 
A. H. H., Rayville, Md. —I have a piece of 
ground I am thinking ot planting in corn. It 
is rich enough to yield 20 bushels of wheat per 
acre by the use of fertilizers. It was in cab¬ 
bage and beets last year and produced fair 
crops. I am putting manure on it over again 
to be plowed under. L How should corn be 
planted on this land so as to get the largest 
yield ? 2. W~uld the Rural recommend the 
Mapes potato fertilizer in preference to others? 
Could I use half a ton per acre with profit ? 
3. Wher ml i.ow should the fertilizer be ap¬ 
plied ? 4. \Y ’ ind of corn should be used ? 
Ans. — „ In four feet apart. Drill in 
the seed abo three inches apart, then cut 
out at the fir?.. hoeing to 14 inches apart. We 
should give frequent shalloiv and flat cultiva¬ 
tion. 2. We know of no fertilizer better 
worth the price. Half a ton per acre would 
be about right. If expense be not regarded, 
use 1,500 pounds. 3. Make the first applica¬ 
tion before harrowing. Use 1,000 pounds. 
Make the second application (500) when the 
corn is knee high. 4. If you don’t mind gi- 
autic s', lbs. Chester Co. Mammoth will give 
ou as lai^e a >ield of grain as any kind we 
&uvW of. 
THE LAWSON PEAR. 
E. R. P., Conway Center,N. H. —1. Will the 
Japan hybrid catalpa be hardy as far north 
as this place? Our coldest weather is 20 de¬ 
grees below zero. 2. Is the Lawson pear as 
good as the Bartlett? Would it be advisable 
to plant it for a home market? 
Ans. —t No. We do not believe it will 
stand your climate. 2. No, its quality is in¬ 
ferior. It is a showy pear and of large size 
for one so early. It is therefore valuable for 
market. 
PEACH AND APPLE QUERIES. 
G. W. D., FalUburg, Ohio. —L Would peach 
trees do well on land just cleared—a sandy 
loam on top of a hill? 2. How old should the 
trees be? 3. What varieties? I want some 
for market and some for home use. I also 
wish to plant 30 more apple trees. 4. What 
kinds should I get? 5. Would a good mulch 
do instead of plowing the orchard? 
Ans. —1. The land described would be well 
adapted to peach growing, assuming that the 
subsoil is sufficiently porous not to be wet or 
springy. 2. Peach trees should never be 
planted older than one year from the bud. 3. 
George the Fourth, Coolidge, Grosse Mignonne, 
Morris's White and Druid Hill will afford a 
good succession of peaches for home use. 
Mountain Rose, Crawford’s Early, Crawford’s 
Late, La Grange, President, Shockley’s 
Early, Stump the World, and Ward’s Late 
are all popular market varieties for Ohio. 4. 
Belmont, Ben Davis, Benoni, Chenango, 
Grimes’s Golden, Jonathan, Maiden’s Blush, 
Oldenburg, Peck’s Pleasant, Rambo, Red As- 
trachan, Red Canada, Rhode Island Greening, 
Rome Beauty, Smith’s Cider, Summer Queen, 
Willow Twig and Yellow Bellflower are all 
double-starred for Ohio in the catalogue of 
the American Pomological Society. The pro¬ 
posed addition to the apple orchard should 
probably be made up from these; the selection 
to be made to supplement what our friend 
already has, and with reference to the season 
and varieties most m demand. Before mak¬ 
ing up the lists, he will do well to learn which 
of these varieties have proved most profitable 
in the vicinity, on similar soils. 5. An 
orchard should be thoroughly cultivated with 
hoed crops, if any, till the trees have been 
five or six years planted. Mulching would 
doubtless be a benefit, by keeping the soil 
cool and moist during the hot season, if culti¬ 
vation be not intermitted in consequence. In 
an old orchard, mulching may be profitably 
practiced, at least as a partial substitute for 
cultivation. 
CHICKS. 
W. H. A., Walton, Del. —I want to raise 
chickens by means of an incubator and 
brooder. Taking into consideration my dis¬ 
tance from market, and the severity of the 
winters in this section, which would I be like¬ 
ly to find the more profitable—to raise my 
chickens in the winter and sell the cockerels 
for broilers, or to raise them in the springj 
andcaponize them? 2. Do all dealers require 
broilers to be dry picked? 3. Can broilers be 
shipped alive, and would the prices make it 
profitable to raise them? 4. Wbat is the ad¬ 
dress of a reliable dealer to whom I could send 
broilers? 
Ans. —Unless you have had experience it 
will be more difficult to raise broilers in win¬ 
ter than in spring. It will pay well to capon- 
ize the cockerels. 2. Yes. 3. They cannot 
endure exposure while en route to market if 
alive: some of them will perish. It is easier 
and cheaper to ship them dressed, by express. 
4. There are so many dealers that it is almost 
impossible to name any claiming to be more 
reliable than others. E. & O. Ward 279 
Washington St. and A. & M. Robbins, Ful¬ 
ton Market, do a large broiler business, and 
are quite trustworthy. 
THE CUCUMBER FLEA-BEETLE. 
E. F. G., East Hampton , L. I .—What is a 
description of the Flea-beetle which was so 
destructive to potatoes at the Rural Grounds 
and elsewhere during the past season ? 
Ans —The Flea-beetle was illustrated in the 
R. N.-Y. of August 18, 1888, to which our in¬ 
quirer is referred. It is a small black flea that 
hops away as soon as disturbed and then hops 
back. It eats holes in the leaves which finally 
become so numerous that the tissue is des¬ 
troyed and the leaf blackens and dies. This 
beetle is known to have been destructive 
(during particular seasons) for 50 years or 
more, though in most cases it was not sus¬ 
pected to be the cause of the destruction. The 
R. N.-Y. was the first to make known its 
depredations the.past season and to show that 
many vines thought to have been killed by 
“blight” were in reality killed by the beetle. 
MONEY FOR EX-SOLDIERS. 
D. K. G., (no address). —Where must sol¬ 
diers apply for their mileage home from the 
place ot discharge, pay for extra duty between 
April and October 1862, and the 28 cents per 
day while in prison or on furlougn? 
Ans. —The above inquiry was doubtless 
prompted by remarks made about New Year’s 
by Private Dalzell. At the time the Rural 
said that a telegram just received from 
Washington, cast considerable doubt on the 
correctness of the “Private’s” statement. 
We sent the inquiry to General Black, Chief of 
the Bureau of Pensions, Washington, D. C., 
and have received the following answer:— 
“There is no law allowing five cents a mile, 
or any mileage to soldiers or enlisted men. 
Nearly all those soldiers entitled to commuta¬ 
tion of subsistence and travel pay, act of July 
22, 1861, have already been paid it. No 
transportation pay is due to soldiers while 
traveling on furlough. 
“ Nearly all volunteer soldiers entitled to 
extra duty pay have received it, and section 
35, act March 3, 1863, repeals all laws in force 
as to such pay for volunteers for extra ser¬ 
vice performed after March 3, 1863, with 
only a few exceptional cases. 
“ Nearly all soldiers who were prisoners of 
war, and their heirs, under act July 25, 1866, 
and act March 2, 1867, have received pay for 
rations allowed under said acts. The Com¬ 
missary General, U. S. A., War Department, 
and the Third Auditor of the Treasury, have 
jurisdiction of these claims, and also for pay 
for subsistence while soldiers were on fur¬ 
lough.” 
GOOD HARDY APPLE TREES. 
O. S. F., Mt. Dora, Fla .—1 have an apple 
orchard in Western New York, on a hill high 
up, at the head of lake Chautauqua, and my 
Baldwins and R. I. Greenings winter-kill a 
good deal. I wish to plant substitutes that 
will be hardier and yet as good in quality and 
size, and I have thought of Ben Davis and 
Wealthy for red apples, and Pewaukoe and 
Peck’s Pleasant as substitutes for the Greening, 
Which would be the better? Perhaps the 
Rural can suggest better kinds. 
Ans —Ben Davis is too poor in quality, and 
Wealthy would not keep long enough for a 
shipping apple, though it is all right for a 
near market or an early winter or late fall 
sort. Of the two, Ben Davis would pay the bet¬ 
ter as it will keep uutil apples begin to get 
scarce in the spring. McIntosh Red is fully 
equal to the Wealthy as a keeper, and might 
prove more profitable, as it is of the highest 
dessert quality. In some places it is subject 
to spotting, but in many it grows quite fair. 
It is as large as the Baldwin. There is no 
first-class long keeper that is tiuly iron-clad, 
