THE BUBAL MEW-YUBIEB. 
S25 
Crops of all kinds are good. We bad just rain 
enough in May to sprout corn. We had lots 
of rain in .Tune and we had three heavy rains In 
the fore part of July and the weather contin¬ 
ues wet. Harvest is about over, and the grain 
is growing in the shocks. Wednesday, 17, was 
the hottest day of the year, the thermometer 
stood at 102 in the shade. The Rural Potato 
No.2 was cut in pieces and planted. One hill 
was destroyed; the rest are doing well. The 
tops are dark green and very heavy lapping 
over the ground. The blossom was purple 
In color. P. P. n. 
Kew York. 
Medina, Orleans County, July 18.—Good 
crops of hay and wheat are now being har¬ 
vested. Barley and oats are looking well. 
Corn and beans acreage small and looking 
bad, and on account of continuous wet 
weather they are very weedy. Our apple 
crop will be light, and what we shall have 
will be mostly early varieties. Of peaches and 
grapes, we have a few—perhaps a quarter of 
a crop. It has been very wet all the spring, 
but so far in July, we have had fairly good 
harvest weather. M. 
Tennessee. 
Northville, Cumberland County, July 20. 
_TPe have had one of the wettest seasons 
known for years. Corn looks well; ears are 
just forming, but the weather is too wet for 
vines. Grapes are rotting badly. Farmers 
are having a bad time to cure their hay. Po¬ 
tatoes are splendid. There are no bugs and 
the 17-year locusts have all been killed by 
so much rain and hail—the first time I ever 
knew hail to be a “blessing.” Fruits of all 
kinds are plentiful. H. H. C. 
Virginia. 
Bohannon, Matthews County, July 16—We 
have been troubled here much less than usual 
by the Colorado Beetle, but the wire-worm 
has gone to work in pretty good earnest; he 
has not confined his work, however, to pota¬ 
to tops, but has been paying his respects to 
melon and squash vines as well. I. I. P. 
Wisconsin. 
Brillion, Calumet County, July 18.—Tak¬ 
en all in all, the season in Eastern Wisconsin 
has not been so favorable for farmers in many 
years. A larger area of winter grain than 
usual was sown in this section. The crop has 
just been cut and the yield promises to be 
very large. Oats are very heavy; spring 
wheat good; barley ditto: hay an enormous 
crop. The corn crop is backward, and unless 
frost holds off until late in the fall, it will not 
amount to much, still this is not a very im¬ 
portant factor in the harvest, in this immedi¬ 
ate vicinity. Prices of milk, butter and 
cheese remain low; yet the abundant pastures 
and heavy yield of milk in part compensate 
for the low prices. Prices of cattle are low. 
This seems in part to be owing to the large 
receipts at the centers of trade and in part to 
a combination of packers to keep prices down. 
Armour & Co., of Chicago are destroying our 
local markets here in Wisconsin. Formerly 
our flourishing manufacturing cities furnish¬ 
ed a market for a large quantity of meat at 
about Chicago prices. Nov in every city 
of any considerable size this company has a 
distributing depot for its dressed meats, and 
compels local butchers to purchase of it, 
threatening, in case of refusal, to open retail 
houses ana destroy their trade, by undersell¬ 
ing them. In Wausau an indignation meet¬ 
ing was held among the ousiness men, and citi¬ 
zens generally to protest against this action on 
the part of the above firm. It is claimed that 
farmers must send good stock to Chicago, at 
ruinously low prices; while poor beef is sent 
back to them and butchers must pay the mon¬ 
opolists their price. There is a screw loose 
somewhere, since every man that buys a piece 
of meat must pay a tax to add to Armour's 
millions. E. G. f. 
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS 
[Every query must bo accompanied by the name 
and address of the writer to Insure attention. Before 
asking a question, please see If It Is not answered In 
our advertising columns. Ask only a few questions at 
one time. Put questions on a separate piece of paper.] 
OATS FOR THE SILO. 
T. J, H. Wheeling , IF. Va .—Have any of 
the RURAL readers had experience with 
oats for the silo ? At what stage of its 
maturity should it be siloed. What would 
be the quality of the silage ? 
FROM DAIRY COMMISSIONER, J. K. BROWN. 
I have used nothing as yet for the silo, 
except corn. I have found it to be of very 
great value as a soiling crop. 
FROM SMITHS, POWELL & LAMB. 
We have used green oats for ensilage with 
good satisfaction. The yield was very large 
per acre. We cut it a little too green—just 
as it was coming into the milk, not fully 
headed—and put it into the pit very green 
and damp. Cattle ate it well and cows fed 
on it milked well. Had we dried it a little— 
just enough to prevent any escape of sap—we 
are confident the result would have been 
mo 3 t satisfactory. Clover for ensilage is 
probably second only to corn. We have 
tried rye, but think little of it. Wheat is 
good. We have had good results with Tim¬ 
othy and nearly all other grasses. Our 
experience favors, first, corn; second, clover; 
third, oats, etc. 
FROM H. S. WEEKS. 
I have never used any crop in the silo except 
corn, for the reason that, all things consid¬ 
ered, it is the cheapest; but I believe that if 
cows are kept up the year round, (and I am 
looking toward that system) there are other 
crops which can be grown expressly for silage 
to advantage; for while corn silage has been 
fed to milch cows continuously for 18 months 
without apparently doing them any harm, 
and with profit in their performance at the 
pail, yet on the ground that a more perfect 
ration can be secured cheaper than by balanc¬ 
ing corn silage wholly with grain, by filling 
the silo partially with some other forage crop, 
notably clover, I propose to put it in prac¬ 
tice another year. In the absence of clover, 
which is not a sure crop every year in this 
latitude, peas and oats, it seems to me, should 
make an excellent substitute, and I am pre¬ 
pared to experiment in that direction in a 
moderate way this season, having a few acres 
of oats put in late expressly for the purpose. 
I also hope to put some Hungarian in the silo 
provided it is not all needed for soiling, and 
with the continuance of the frequent showers 
with which we have been blessed this abund¬ 
ant year, pastures bid fair to hold out till 
corn fodder is far enough advanced to bridge 
over any shortage which may occur later. 
After three successive years of protracted and 
severe drought, we have all learned to be 
well fortified with soiliug crops to arrest the 
terrible running down of our cows in milk at 
this season. When, I say “all.” I mean all who 
are farming for profit. 
PREPARING A FIELD FOR HAY. 
J. I. L., Tranquility, N. J. —I have a field 
I wish to use exclusively for hay. I sowed 
Timothy and clover in oats, but was much 
disappointed when I mowed the field last 
year, so I acted on advice and let it lie until 
this year, with the same results. I am a 
young farmer. I want to treat this field in 
the best way. How can it be done ? 
ANSWERED BY HENRY STEWART. 
The very meager statement given precludes 
any specific advice in this matter, for not 
knowing the condition of the field, it is quite 
impossible even to suggest any cause foi the 
failure except the poverty of the soil. Grass 
and clover, contrary to the prevalent belief, 
or rather, practice—for farmers frequently 
seed down land to grass and clover in spite of 
their knowledge that the land is not in fit 
condition to produce a crop of auything else— 
require as good soil for successful growth as 
corn or grain. No doubt the disappointing 
result in this case is due to want of the requi¬ 
site fertility of the soil, which grass and clover 
need. Had the land been manured or fer¬ 
tilized, no doubt the result would have been 
different. The description of the methods 
practiced by farmers who make a special crop 
of grass for hay, recently given in the Rural, 
fitly applies to this and all other similar cases. 
Grass, either with or without clover, is the 
most valuable and profitable of all farm crops, 
and it is indispensable that the land for it 
should be prepared in the very best manner, 
In many years’ practicelhave never failed to 
get a good catch of grass and clover, or either 
alone, with whatever other crop it was sown, 
or when sown alone, when the land was well 
prepared by good culture and was liberally 
manured or fertilized; and I havo never had 
a satisfactory result when seeding land under 
any other circumstances. 
It might be suggested that this land should 
be plowed and resown, for a poor grass crop 
is like a poor cow, wholly unprofitable aud 
wasteful of labor, time aud money. But the 
ground should be well turned and harrowed 
thoroughly; if there is no manure at hand 500 
or 600 pounds of the complete artificial ma¬ 
nure should be applied; moro would be better, 
up to 1,000 pounds to the acre. Rye may 
then be sown and one peck of Timothy seed 
per acre sown as soon as the rye is harrowed 
in. The land may be leveled over the grass 
seed with a smoothing drag, a heavy plank 
drawn so as to pass diagonally over the har¬ 
row marks, for grass seed needs covering 
quite as much as rye does. Early in the 
spring when the land is loosened by a light 
frost, one peck of clover seed should be sown 
to the acre. I prefer the Perennial, or Crimson 
Clover, commonly called Pea-Wne Clover for 
several reasons: it makes a heavier growth; is 
fit for cutting with the Timothy, (my clover 
of this kind with Timothy, is now, July 25, 
ju 9 t half in bloom with the other half just 
ready to bloom) and it lasts several years, 
making, the second and third years, the very 
best of hay and the heaviest yield I have ever 
secured. The thick seeding is necessary to 
avoid the too heavy and sappy growth of 
vine. Then I have no doubt the result will 
be fully satisfactory. 
SHOE-BALLS ON ELBOW OF A HORSE. 
L. D. C., Detroit , Mich .—My horse has a 
shoe-gall—a lump on the fore-leg just below 
where the leg joins the body—caused by injury 
from the calks when the animal lies down. 
About three weeks ago it broke, A veterin¬ 
ary surgeon on three visits prescribed bathing 
the sore for 15 minutes, nights and mornings, 
with warm water, and then injecting some¬ 
thing to cause inflammation. The sore, how¬ 
ever, is no better than it was three weeks ago. 
How should it be treated ? 
ANSWERED BY DR. F. L. KILBORNE. 
If you have employed a competent veteri¬ 
nary surgeon we would advise you to follow 
his directions carefully. These “shoe-balls” 
or “shoe-galls” are often very obstinate and 
difficult to remove when large or of long 
standing, and several weeks or even months 
may be required to effect a cure. In the 
meantime the foot that caused the injury 
must be kept well padded at night or the 
horse must be kept standing to prevent further 
irritation to the elbow. Without this precau¬ 
tion, treatment will be of little or no use. 
The following is a general line of treatment 
which may be varied to suit special case?: 
when the tumor is recent and un¬ 
broken, bathe frequently with hot water 
imtil the heat and tenderness have 
subsided, then blister or apply compound 
tincture of iodine daily until the swelling is ab¬ 
sorbed. When discharging, the cavity should 
be thoroughly washed oat once or twice daily 
with some astringent, or antiseptic wash, as 
carbolic acid one ounce in a quart of water, 
chloride of zinc one-fourth to one-half an 
ounce in a quart of water, lead acetate 
and sulphite of zinc each one-half ounce in a 
quart of water, or other similar wash. The 
outside should be painted daily with the io¬ 
dine as above. An iodine wash or ointment 
for the open sore, if unhealthy, may some¬ 
times be alternated with the above washes to 
advantage. Finally when reduced to a mod¬ 
erate s ; ze containing a hard lump or tumor, it 
may be carefully dissected out and the cavity 
be allowed to heal as an ordinary wound. 
CAULIFLOWER CULTURE. 
S. S., Renton Harbor, Mich.—l. How is 
cauliflower raised? 2. Would well-drained 
muck pasture land, as yet unplowed, be desir¬ 
able? If so, when should it be plowed and 
how prepared for next year’s crop? 3. 
Which are the more profitable—the early or 
late varieties? 4. What mistakes would a 
beginner be likely to make that would cause 
failure or mar success ? 
Ans.— 1. The seeds are sown, the plants 
transplanted, aud the after cultivation given 
the same as for cabbage, except that the dis¬ 
tance between the rows must be greater, not 
less than three feet, and more for the large 
varieties. 2. Yes; but it would have been 
better, had it been well manured, and planted 
with corn, or some other hoed crop this year, 
but it may be plowed in the spring, being 
careful to have the sod well inverted, and then 
thoroughly and frequently worked until it is 
time to set the plants. Stable manure should 
not be applied the same year the crop is 
grown, unless for an early crop, but com¬ 
mercial fertilizers, strong in potash, or 
ground bone are beneficial. The cauliflower 
growers on Long Islaud use fish guano with 
excellent results. 3. Market gardeners in this 
vicinity say the very early, or the late crops 
pay best, but this depends on the demands of 
the market. We should not plant very ex¬ 
tensively for an early crop, as the demand is 
limited, and the crop cannot be held. 4. 
Some of the mistakes that occur to us are 
sowing cheap seed, that is, seed which is low 
in price; going into the business on too large 
a scale before any experience has been ac¬ 
quired, and not giving thorough cultivation. 
Frances Brill, Riverhead, Long Island, and 
J. J. H. Gregory, Marblehead, Mass., each 
publish a small pamphlet ou cauliflower cul¬ 
ture, which we would advise our friend to get 
and study thoroughly before beginning oper¬ 
ations. 
periodic opthalmia; worms in a colt. 
H. B., Belle Plaine , Iowa .—A mare of 
mine is troubled with a bad eye. First the 
sight appeared weak, and water would run 
from the eye. Gradually the pupil became 
cloudy until the animal was almost blind, and 
the eye looked as if it were a glass ball filled 
with milky water. In time this became quite 
e’ear, and the animal could see again. This 
has happened several times. She has a suck¬ 
ling colt which is troubled with worms; what 
should be the treatment? 
Ans —For the mare see treatment for per¬ 
iodic opthalmia. frequently given in these 
columns. She will probably eventually be¬ 
come blind. Colts may have several kinds 
of worms and in different parts of the system, 
on the lungs, intestines, etc., each of which 
requires special treatment. You will have to 
be more definite. Locate and describe the 
worms if you have seen them; if not, how do 
you know the colt has worms? We can then 
advise treatment. 
GRASSES FOR A LAWN. 
F. H , Paterson , N. J .—What kind of grass 
seed would be best to make a good clean 
lawn ? 
Ans — Blue Grass and Red-top or either 
separately. For the Middle and Northern 
States th 9 seare the basis of all the high-priced 
lawn mixtures. They areas good as any. 
Miscellaneous. 
W. E. B., Richmond, Ind. —Where can I 
procure Actinidia polygama, lately described 
in the Rural ? 
Ans. —Fiom Ellwanger & Barry, Roches¬ 
ter, N. Y. 
E. C. D., Waunakee, Wis .—Where and at 
what price can I purchase- a dozen Parker 
Earle Strawberries i 
Ans. —Write to T. V. Munson, Denison, 
Texas We do not know the price. 
M. W. H., Carlisle, Ky. —Grub-worms are 
destroying my strawberries; is there any 
remedy for them ? 
Ans. —We do not know of any remedy 
except winter plowing or spading or a change 
of plot. They are usually worse on a 
freshly turned under grass sod. These grubs 
are the larvae of the May-beetle. 
C. T. S., Siuanton, Md .—Where strawber¬ 
ries are kept in hills ani fruited only one 
year, what are the objections to seeding to 
clover in the spring before fruiting ? Would 
the young clover keep the berries clean 1 
Ans. —The clover would shade the plants 
too much besides drawing heavily upon the 
moisture and nutriment of the soiL 
Elva, Bucks County, Va. —How should 
snap beans, tomatoes, etc., be prepared for 
evaporating. 
Ans.— The R. N.-Y. knows of no method 
by which snap beans and tomatoes may be 
successfully evaporated on a small scale. The 
large evaporators have special machinery for 
preparing fruits and vegetables rapidly and 
economically. We should like to hear from 
any of our readers who have had experience 
in this direction. 
A. S., Jacksonville, Fla .—Is “mullein tea 
good for relieving hide-bound horses? If so, 
how should it be prepared and where can it 
bo obtained ? 
Ans. —We are not aware that mullein tea 
possesses any special value as a remedy for 
hide-bound horses. If you had given the age 
of the horse, general condition, feed and 
surroundings, and probable cause of being 
hide-bound, if known, we might have advised 
suitable powders to relieve the condition. 
E. T. R., Mew York City. —Would a Hack¬ 
ney stallion on Thoroughbred mares make 
good hunters and coachers? Whom England 
breeds Hackneys and what do they cost? 
Ans. —This cross would probably make ex¬ 
cellent hunters for light weights. For heavy 
weights, however, less of the Thoroughbred 
blood would be better. For first-class coach- 
ere a cross of a stallion of the French Coacher 
or Cleveland Bay breed would doubtless prove 
more satisfactory on a half-bred thorough¬ 
bred. John J. Lewis, Cardiff, England; Sam¬ 
uel Rose, Huntington, England; and Alexan¬ 
der Morton, Gowanbauk Marvel, Kilmarnock, 
Scotland, advertise Hackneys in the English 
papers. 
pftisscjfUsueim* 
“Hcrbrand” Fifth Wheel for Buggies, 
