I8S9 
297 
' m RURAI MFW-YORKER. 
of arnica. The puffs or galls disappeared, but 
after a while they returned. I then discovered 
fever in the back part of the leg just above 
the pastern,but there was no heat in the front. 
I blistered with Gombault’s Caustic Balsam 
four times, the fever returning after each 
operation; though not for a time after 
the third blistering. I have just blistered him 
again, and the wind puffs have disappeared. 
What should be the treatment? 
Ans. —The treatment you have given was 
good, but evidently not thorough enough. 
Poultice the foot for three days with ground 
flaxseed, changing the poultice once daily. 
Then wash off, rub dry, and cover the whole 
hoof with a hoof ointment of equal parts of 
pine tar and vaseline melted together. Use 
an old paint brush or a shoe-blacking dauber, 
and apply this ointment to the hoof once daily 
for several weeks. As soon as the pastern Is 
well dried after removing the poultice, apply 
a cantharides blister to the front and sides of 
the whole pastern—powdered cantharides two 
dra ns, vaseline one ounce, spirits of cam¬ 
phor 10 or 15 drops. First, clip the hair short 
and then rub the blister well in for 15 
minutes. When the blister is well raised— 
requiring about 34 hours—wash off with 
warm Castile soap-suds, after which 
anoint on^e daily with vaseline. Do not for¬ 
get to tie the horse’s head well up so that he 
cannot reach the foot with his mouth and 
blister lips and tongue. 
THE STRAWSONIZER. 
R. B. K., Or and Rapids, Mich. —In some 
English papers I see accounts of a new ma¬ 
chine called the‘‘Strawsonizer.” What is the 
machine and how does it work? 
Ans.— The “ Strawsonizer” is a machine for 
distributing chemical fertilizers, poisons,sand, 
deodorizers, etc., etc., or for sowing grain or 
other seeds. It was invented by an Englishman 
Mr. Strawson, hence its name. The follow¬ 
ing description writtten by Prof. Fream, gives 
one a clear idea of the machine and its man¬ 
ner of working. “ Imagine a light cart on a 
pair of wheels. It is easy to conceive how, 
as the cart is drawn along, the revolutions of 
the axle may be communicated, by chain¬ 
gearing, or similar means, to any other body 
capable of turning round its axis, and that 
the revolutions per minute of the latter may 
be increased a thousand-fold or more. Sup¬ 
pose a fan is thus made to revolve on its axis, 
there will be considerable commotion in the 
adjacent air. If this fan is adjusted to work 
inside a horizontal tube, the axis of the fan 
extending diametrically across the tube, a 
furious blast of air will be driven out at the 
end of the tube so long as the cart continues 
to travel. Further, it is perfectly easy to un¬ 
derstand that at the end of the tube whence 
the powerful air-current issues horizontally, 
another tube mfly rise vertically, and if this 
leads up into a hopper in which any material, 
solid or liquid, is carried, it must follow that 
when the cart is in motion the material, as it 
descends from the hopper down the vertical 
tube, will, when it crosses the sectional area 
of the horizontal tube, be suddenly subjected 
to such a blast as will send it flying right and 
left and backward, but, nevertheless, in style 
at once regular and uniform.” 
KEEPING POTATOES IN COLD STORAGE. 
L. B. J., Hillsdale, Mich. —On page 288 of 
last year’s Rural somebody gave a short ac¬ 
count of some experiments with seed potatoes 
kept in cold storage by the Horuellsville farm¬ 
ers’ club. I would like to know bow the ex¬ 
periment came out. If potatoes can be kept 
in cola storago and thus prevented from 
sprouting until ready for planting, it will be 
a great boon for potato growers. 
Ans. —Mr. C. C. Thatcher, the Editor of 
the Farmers' Club Journal, sends us the fol¬ 
lowing report of this experiment:—The ques¬ 
tion whether cold storage is a success for the 
keeping of seed potatoes is not decided beyond 
a doubt. The seed stored in 1886 kept until 
the spring of 1888; but none grew. The po¬ 
tatoes looked as hard and perfect as ever, but 
on being cut open they were black inside and 
their vitality was gone. We can only judge 
that so long a storage at almost the freezing 
point gradually kills the germ of the potato. 
For seed to be sent to Bermuda, Early Rose 
potatoes were put in the st.re-house in March 
last year aud kept until August 1st; then 
shipped. They were 80 days in reaching their 
destination, aud of course had commenced to 
sprout. The yield from them was not equal 
to the native potatoes, yet the same parties 
are going to try the experiment again. It 
gives them at least an opportunity to get 
American seed, which is quite an advantage. 
Experiments are still being tried, such as put¬ 
ting seed in storage about April 1st to be held 
tor the first of June planting. So far such 
retarding of sprouting has not proven an ad¬ 
vantage; the cold is too near tue freezing 
point for potatoes, except to keep them fresh 
for eating. 
ANGORA GOATS AS PROTECTORS OF SHEEP 
FROM DOGS. 
L. O., Union Village, Ohio. —It is claim¬ 
ed that Angora goats will keep dogs from a 
flock of sheep: what does the Rural know on 
this subject, and if so where would be the 
nearest point to purchase full-bloods, and what 
would be the probable price? 
ANSWERED BY MILLER & SIBLEY, FRANKLIN, 
PENNSYLVANIA. 
We havo a lot of pure-bred Angora goats— 
probably the largest strictly pure flock in 
America The nannies will not always pro¬ 
tect themselves against dogs. They have to 
be looked after when the males are removed, 
but the males are very combative and will 
hold their own against any dog. They are 
inclined to stand their ground and fight it 
out for the rest of the flock. We have 
never kept them with sheep, but are informed 
that the practice is to allow one or two males 
to run with the flock of sheep and that where 
such a practice is followed there is no danger 
from dogs. We have further been informed 
by those who have kept Angora goats with 
sheep that there is no danger whatever in 
permitting goats and ewes to run together as 
they will not breed together. For a choice- 
bred Angora our price is $25. 
ABOUT POTATO GROWING. 
S.S, Yorkville, III.— I have an old cow pas¬ 
ture aud an old hog pasture both fall-plowed 
and in splendid condition this spring. Which 
would be best for potato culture ? I have the 
Early Ohio and Charles Downing for early; 
the White Elephant for interme diate, and 
Burbank for late potatoes, the last three 
being new varieties to me. Which is the 
most productive ? Would leached wood ashes 
and unleached cob ashes be of use as a fertiliz¬ 
er ? I furrow my ground tor potatoes with a 
two-hoise cultivator, setting the outside 
shovels the right distance apart,and go twice 
in a row,dropping the seed pieces 12 or 14 inch¬ 
es apart, stepping on each piece and covering 
them with the cultivator. 
Ans. —The R. N.-Y. would choose the hog 
pasture, all else being equal. We would 
choose the Charles Downing for early, unless 
the earliest (potato were desired. Then we 
would choose the Early Ohio. Burbank 
might well be chosen for yield. The White 
Elephant is better in quality. Yes, the ashes 
(both leached and unleached) will, no doubt, 
help the crop. We should avoid stepping 
upon the seed pieces. 
CRIBBING MARE OUT OF CONDITION. 
S. A. V., Clyde, N. Y .—I have a young 
mare that will eat but very little hay or grain 
and as soon as she is worked or driven she 
falls off in flesh. Stillshe appears to feel well, 
her coat looks good and so does her counte¬ 
nance. She cribs somewhat on coming into 
the stable after being driven. What is the 
matter with her and what should I do ? 
Ans.— The falling off may be due to indi¬ 
gestion from the cribbing. Try the follow¬ 
ing powders:—Sulphate of iron one-fourth of 
a pound, powdered gentian and ginger each 
one pound, mix; dose: two table-spoonfuls 
night and morning in the feed. Omit this 
powder the second and fourth weeks and, in¬ 
stead, give one tea-spoonful of powdered nux 
vomica for the first three days and two tea¬ 
spoonfuls the rest of the week. For preven¬ 
tion of cribbing, see answer to F. H. W. else¬ 
where in this department. If there is no im¬ 
provement after three or four weeks,treat for 
intestinal worms, as advisedlin the Farmers’ 
Club in the Rural of May 12, 1888. 
WALKS IN A COUNTRY^LAWN. 
E. P., Chatham, Pa .—What is the best aud 
most durable material for walks in country 
lawns, and how should they be laid? 
Ans. It is best for durability ^either to use 
gravel (by which we mean small, roundish, 
granite stones found near the seashore, etc.) or 
to macadamize the walks. For the latter pur¬ 
pose, various kinds of rock are broken up by 
machinery aud sold at prices varying with 
the supply aud demand. The R. N.-Y. has 
been macadamizing about 125 feet of carriage- 
road and paths. The earth was dug out to 
the depth of a foot. The bottom was paved 
with stones of various sizes as gathered ii» 
the fields, using the larger ones in the bottom 
and filling in the spaces with the smaller. 
Then two inches of sandy earth are evenly 
strewn over this, and finally two inches of the 
crushed stone spread over all. This makes in 
time a perfect road or pathway. 
LUMP ON JAW OF COW. 
W. K., Ontario, Kan— There’s a lump on 
the neck of a six-year-old cow near tne jaw¬ 
bone. It isn’t soft, but it causes her to wheeze 
in breathing, especially in wet damp weather. 
A veterinary surgeon said it was quinsy and 
gave me some remedies, which have done no 
good. She ..lias been in this condition since 
she was 2J£ years old. In other respects she 
is in good health and fine condition. What is 
the trouble? 
Ans.—A personal examination would be 
necessary to ascertain the nature and cause 
of the lump, which from your description, 
may be due to any one ot two or three causes. 
Try painting it three times a week with com¬ 
pound tincture of iodine. Clip the hair as 
short as possible, rub the iodine well In and 
continue the applications until the skin is 
quite well blistered. It is not quinsy. 
CATTLE SHEDDING THEIR HORNS. 
C. E. FI., Detroit , Mich. —Up in Minnesota, 
from December last until March 1st, I win¬ 
tered a herd of about 30 head of cattle, con¬ 
sisting of cows, heifers and steers, feeding 
nothing but oat-straw. The cattle were 
warmly boused and regularly watered. They 
seemed to be healthy and in fair condition. 
Lately three or four cows are losing their 
horns. The horn decays about the root and 
drops off. The other animals are in a healthy 
condition, and so are these with the exception 
mentioned. The affected animals will all 
calve soon. Why are the cattle losing their 
horns? 
Ans.— The shedding of the horn is probably 
due to injury or freezing. As soon as shed, 
the core should be lightly wrapped in the best 
pine tar. A new horn will soon grow. 
CHRONIC COUGH IN A STEER. 
C. P. P., Stafford, N. Y.— My yearling 
steer has had a cough for several months, 
probably from takiDg cold. His appetite is 
good, but he continues to grow poor. In 
other respects he seems all right. Is there 
any remedy? 
Ans. —Mix one table-spoonful of saltpeter 
and 25 drops of tincture of belladonna with 
sufficient honey or sirup to make a thick 
paste. Give this dose three or four times 
daily by placing it well back on the tongue 
and back teetn to be swallowed at leisure. 
Apply ammonia liniment to the throat twice 
a week. If the bowels are not moderately 
loose give one-half pound each of Epsom salts 
and common salt as a drench dissolved in one 
quart warm water. 
PLANTING POTATOES LATE. 
5. M. R., East Jordan, Mich. —I sowed 10 
acres of rye early last fall with the intention 
of plowing it under the first of June, and 
planting the ground to potatoes. Would it 
be advisable to do so, and how should I plant 
them ? Would it be a good idea to drop them 
in every third furrow ? 
Ans. —The R. N.-Y. cannot give advice on 
this subject, and would be glad to hear from 
others. Our experience with late-planted po¬ 
tatoes has always been against the practice. 
We should suppose that rye or any other 
green crop turned under in June would ren¬ 
der the ground excessively dry, unless, as is 
not usually the case, June, July and August 
should prove to be wet. 
CRIBBING. 
\V. A. F., Homewood, Pa. —I have a valu¬ 
able young mare that has been sucking wind 
or cribbing of late; what is tne cause and 
what can be done for her ? Would it be ad¬ 
visable to breed from her? 
Ans. —It would not be advisable to breed from 
such a mare. Neither should she be allowed 
to stand by or run with other young horses. 
They sometimes acquire the habit by imita¬ 
tion— i. e., acquire the habit by standing near 
a cribber. For treatment and prevention, 
see answer to F. H. W. above. 
PAINT FOR TREES. 
L. M. W., Shelbyville, III. —Will young 
trees be injured by soft-soaping or painting 
them? What should be the color of the paint 
used? 
Ans.— Soft soap should be diluted. It is 
well to mix the soap with a light white-wash, 
coloring it with red mineral paint and lamp¬ 
black to imitate the color of the bark. Paint 
should not be used, although a band about 
the lower part of the tree serves to repel the 
borer. 
there is not much choice between them. The 
Shropshire is the most popular of the three, 
and is a good enough sheep for any farmer to 
keep. The common price of all of them is 
about $10 each tor pure-bred ewes, and $15 to 
$30 each for the best rams. 
J. M., Leigh, Neb. —My two-weeks-old colt 
is beginning to eat a little hay. I noticed yes¬ 
terday that he passed no dung, but the pas¬ 
sage was filled with it as far as my finger 
could reach. It was cleaned out but is just 
as full to day. It doesn’t seem harder than 
ordinary horse manure; but it is very dark 
and emits a very offensive odor. I gave an 
injection of soft water and soap, but it had 
no effect. What should be done? 
Ans. —The colt should have received two 
ounces of castor oil, followed by frequent in¬ 
jections of warm Castile soap-suds,until a free 
evacuation of the bowels had been obtained. 
E. A. R., Rockland, Ind. —1. How much 
hen manure should be used in a hill of corn? 
2. Should it be put in the bottom of the fur¬ 
rows and a layer of soil be placea upon it be¬ 
fore planting the corn ? 3. Would corn raised 
about 80 miles north of this place be suitable 
here? 
Ans.— 1. Of pure hen manure use one 
handful to the hill and mix it with the soil of 
the hill. 2. We would mix it with the soil 
of the bottom ot the furrow, raising it some¬ 
what above. Then cover and plant. 3. 
There is no reason why it should not; but one 
should not trust a large area to an untried 
variety. 
J. C., Monroeville, Ind. —In November, 
1:87, I bought a pedigreed Holstein-Friesian 
bull calf, duly registered in the Holstein-Frie¬ 
sian Herd Book. Why do all his calves come 
red? There isn’t a black hair among all his 
progeny. 
Ans. —We suppose these red calves are from 
native cows and not from cows of the same 
breed as the bull. A pure bred bull may not 
always get calves like himself from native 
cows, but usually the calves should have some 
likeness to the bull if he is a good one. The 
explanation may be that the bull is too young 
to make a decided impression upon the calves, 
or that he may have been overworked, and 
his vigor reduced. Wait another vear. 
D. R., Bernardsville, N. J. —1. For a hay 
crop, how many pounds of clover and Timo¬ 
thy seed should be used per acre ? 2. How can 
I learn the number of acres, in fields that are 
of all shapes from square to triangular ? 3. 
How many bushels of oats should be sown to 
the acre in l his section ? 4. How many tons 
of city manure should be applied per acre on 
rather poor land, to insure a good corn 
crop ? 
Ans. — 1. Sow 12 to 15 pounds to the acre of 
Timothy if sown alone for hay. When no 
grass seed is sown, from 10 to 20 pounds of 
clover are sown. Much depends upon the 
preparation and fertility of the land. The 
more seed sown, the smaller and weaker will 
be the individual stems. 2. Wefshould require 
to know the exact shape. If square, multiply 
the length of one side by that of the other. 
So, too, if the angles are right angles, the 
length by the breadth will give the area. 
There are 43,560 square feet to the acre. 3. 
We prefer to sow from 1}£ to 1% bushel on 
fertile land. Some varieties of oats tiller 
more than others and less or more seed is 
required. 4. We should not use, to insure a 
good corn crop, less than 30 tons to the acre. 
Had it been applied in the fall 20 tons might 
have answered as well. Horse manure is very 
slow to yield up its plant food. 
Misoellaneona. 
DISCUSSION. 
H. M., Saltillo, Mexico. —We should say 
that the Acme harrow would suit you. 
A. H., East Orange, N.J.— The magnolia 
flower sent for name, closely resembles that 
of Magnolia stellata. 
F. S., Ithaca, N. Y.— What is the relative 
value of Shropshire, Oxford, and Hampshire 
Down sheep for farmers in Central New 
York, who usually keep small flocks well? 
What would they cost? 
Ans. —There is so much similarity between 
these three breeds, all having their best points 
through South Down crosses originally, that 
RAISING BEANS WITHOUT POLES: GROWING 
SEEDS IN THE SOUTH. 
A. W. S., Americus, Ga.—A fter reading 
the article of E. T. Ivey on “ Raising Lima 
Beans without Poles,” I must dispute his 
claim to originality unless he commenced 
more than four years ago. Four y^ars since 
I adopted the method except that I used posts 
six by six inches, 12 feet long, of which four 
feet were put in the ground. The posts are set 
75 feet or more apart with No. S galvanized 
wive for the top and No. 15 for the bottom, 
about six inches from the ground I would sug¬ 
gest the latter distance, for when the vines do 
not have the bottom wire to steady them they 
frequently break the string, or else they 
are damaged by the winds whipping them 
about, both of which mishaps the bottom wire 
by its steadiness prevents. This year I will use 
this plan for the growth of different varieties 
of Moon-flowers, cobieas and other climbers: a- 
bout 20,000 feet of No. S wire for the top. I shall 
use besides, No. 15 for the bottom, and I shall 
discard strings, substituting No. 20 wire. I find 
tnat here too many strings break if we have 
wind before the vines reach the top wire and 
j “ Herbrand” Fifth Wheel for Buggies. 
