I860 
THE BUBAL MEW-YOBKEB. 
559 
you can. Charge me up with what you are 
obliged to throw away.” And a great deal is 
thrown away which has already cost a goodly 
expressage. This is the beginning of the end 
of such men. Shortly the mortgage will arise 
and, like Banquo’s ghost, refuse to down. 
Whoever goes into the business after 
the plan of the fabled roasted pig which had 
a knife and fork stuck in its back and went 
about squealing: “Comeeat me,” will doubt¬ 
less one day be eaten. What else can we 
expect of dealers, who are thus daily led into 
temptation. There are men who make their 
appearance on the streets of certain cities 
selling here and there bunched turnips, beets, 
radishes, etc., at ten cents per dozen bunches. 
What a slaughter of the innocents ! The 
season is just a grand one for all vegeta¬ 
tion, which includes weeds. Our market 
gardeners could not this season endure to 
hear the eloquent Patrick Henry thus de¬ 
claiming : 
“ Gentlemen may cry Peas! Peas 1 but 
there is no peas.” 
I suppose I have 60 to 80 bushels of vari¬ 
ous kinds, and no market for them. The 
agricultural outlook in this vicinity is so 
favorable that we are prepared to hear an 
outcry that produce brings nothing. I wish 
we could raise fruit to advantage, but thus 
far, we have not been greatly encouraged, 
except with small fruits. o. H. 
Indiana. 
De Soxo.Delaware County.— I have been en¬ 
gaged in small fruit growing here for the last 
five years, but this has been the poorest season 
in the whole five to make money. Prices have 
ruled very low on the account of such wonder¬ 
ful crops. The average price for berries of 
all kinds has been about $3 per bushel. I think 
the Snyder Blackberry is the most prolific of 
all the kinds that I have. The Wilson Junior 
is no good with me. T. M. G. 
Pendleton, Madison County, August 3. 
—Wheat is variable in yield and quality. 
Some fields produced 25 bushels per acre ; 
others five to 10. The quality varies with 
the yield. The best yield is generally of the 
best quality, and the best farmer usually 
has the best wheat. The practice of thrash¬ 
ing from the shock, delivering the grain at 
the ware house, and selling at once, is becom¬ 
ing general, in this part of the State. It saves 
time, labor, waste, and shrinkage. The price 
is from 40 to 70 cents per bushel. Oats are 
good, but hard to harvest, as they have been 
prostrated by rain and wind. Local price 18 
to 20 cents. Corn is good for so wet a season. 
It has not been as well cultivated as usual. 
Many fields are verdant with weeds and 
grass. A larger amount than usual of old 
corn is held by farmers. 
Indiana girls will have a good chance to 
win premiums in the potato contest, as the 
yield is large. s. w. h. 
New Jersey. 
Cranford, Union County, August 12.— 
In common with other sections, wo have been 
blessed (?) with an extra amount of rain, but 
the weather now is clear and cool. The prin¬ 
cipal occupations of farmers in this section 
are milk-dairying and truck-farming. The 
rains have kept pastures in prime condition, 
so that cows have held out well with their 
milk, but the ground has been too wet to 
work, and much of the truck is overgrown 
with weeds, and is in very poor condition. 
Much hay was secured in very poor order. 
Oats and rye are the only grain crops raised; 
the latter was considerably below an average 
crop, and the former was nearly ruined by 
the wet weather. Potatoes are rotting badly, 
especially on low and heavy laud. There are 
a great many of the “ farmin’-don’t-pay ” 
farmers here. The laud needs draining; it 
needs fertilizing, and should have a few brains 
applied to it. The villages are occupied by 
people who do business in New York, and 
many of the land owners think it will be a 
question of but a few years whon the country 
will all be required for such residences, and 
they can dispose of their laud at fabulous 
prices. There is a surplus of garden-truck, 
but first-class fruits are scarce, and sell at 
prices that will pay baudsomely for the extra 
care needed to produce them. Eggs are worth 
30 cents per dozen, but it is too much trouble 
“ to fuss with hens.” The farmer who will 
not “fuss ■’ with these smaller matters, is the 
one who generally lets the larger ones go at 
loose ends, and says that “ farmin’ don’t 
Pay.” H. v. 
Vermont. 
Whiting, Addison County, August 10. 
—We are having a very unfavorable haying 
and harvest season, and much of both hay 
and grain in this section will be entirely 
ruined. Such an excessive rainfall, such a 
succession of “ cloud-bursts,” were never be¬ 
fore known in this section. We have a rank 
growth of all kiudi of vegetation, Corn on 
the uplands looks well, while rust has injured 
nearly all the small grains, and the rot is 
already making its appearance in potato 
fields. Rust has also ruined many fields of 
onions, which are raised quite extensively 
here. The agricultural outlook with us is 
anything but favorable. f. d. d. 
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS 
[Every query must be accompanied by tho 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. J 
ARSENIC IN POTATOES. 
A. H. B., Mansfield, Mass .—Can the con¬ 
tinued use of Paris green as a means of killing 
the potato beetle possibly affect the quality of 
the tubers? Some farmers about here at¬ 
tribute the bitter taste discovered in potatoes 
for the past few years to the use of the 
“ green.” 
ANSWERED BY DR. E. H. JENKINS. 
It has been abundantly proved by examin¬ 
ation of the tubers that potatoes do not take 
up the smallest trace of arsenic even when 
Paris-green is used very abundantly for 
poisoning potato bugs. The bitterness spoken 
of must have come from some other source. 
New Haven, Conn. 
from'dr. peter collier. 
I have no information going to show any 
evil results following the application of Paris- 
green as usually made for killing the potato 
beetle. I question whether the bitter taste 
noticed by your correspondent in the tubers 
proceeds from such cause. But apropos to 
this matter, my attention has recently been 
called to very injurious results from the ap¬ 
plication of London-purple to fruit trees in 
this vicinity, and I am inclined to believe that 
the observation merits careful attention, 
since the two poisons would, I think, affect 
vegetation very differently. 
FROM DR. HENRY STEWART. 
The question as to the possibility of any in¬ 
jurious effect upon the soil or the tubers from 
the use of Paris-green to destroy the striped 
beetles which do so much injury to the potato 
crop, came up for discussion five or six years 
ago, and was then considered settled in the 
negative. No injury was believed by theory 
or hypothesis, or perceived by observation 
and experiment in any form or manner. But 
since then the use of arsenical poisons for the 
destruction of predaceous insects has increased 
enormously, and in such a manner as to favor 
the spread of arsenical vapors in the atmos¬ 
phere, the question limy well be extended, and 
in reviewing the experience of the past years 
in regard to the possibility of injury to the 
potato tubers, the possibility of danger in an¬ 
other way might be usefully discussed, or at 
least suggested for discussion. As regards 
potatoes, there can be no question, I think, of 
their perfect safety and inviolability from the 
Paris-green. Plants never take any solid 
matter into their circulation by their leaves, 
either in its solid condition as the most im¬ 
palpable powder or even in a state of solution. 
The leaves do not even take in water through 
their own agency; it is contrary to the very 
nature of the leaves, which are beautifully 
varnished with a coatiug of wax and furnish¬ 
ed with fine hairs for the'purpose of resisting 
water and shedding it as it* may fall upon 
them. The bright drops of dew or rain which 
may be seen upon the leaves are instances of 
their repellant disposition and power, and we 
may consequently dismiss from our minds 
any fear of danger from this source, and rest 
assured that the plants will not absorb any of 
the poison through their leaves. But it is well 
known that plants take up soluble matter, 
that is in solution in the water of the soil 
by their roots, and it is believed by many 
competent, intelligent persons that they 
do not possess the power or instinct of selec¬ 
tion whereby they might choose the food 
which is nutritious and necessary and refuse 
that whieh is unnecessary or hurtful. Al¬ 
most every inorganic element in the soil can 
be fouud in plants not only those which are 
nocessary to their growth, but many which 
are not necessary. Traces of the metals have 
been fouud in the ashes of plants, as of iron, 
lead, copper, silver, lithium, arsenic and even 
gold and the rarer metals have been perceived 
m the spectrum analyses of vegetables. This 
being so, we cannot doubt that any substance 
that can be dissolved in water—and water is 
a universal solvent—must be absorbed to 
some extent by the roots of plants. The ab¬ 
sorption of food from the soil is a mechanical 
process, the digestion and assimilation are 
chemical processes, hence there can be no se¬ 
lection by the roots of plants (hypothetically 
considered) of such substances only in the 
soil as are useful and necessary for the plants, 
and as practically studied by experiment this 
supposition has been completely confirmed, 
for by watering plants with solutions of cer¬ 
tain injurious substances, the plants have be¬ 
come diseased or have been killed outright. 
In practice this has been proved by experience 
innumerable times. An over dose of chloride 
of potash or of common salt; a very small 
dose of sulphate of iron or of sulphuric acid 
and the alkali (soda) of the Western plains, as 
is very well known, will kill the useful plants, 
sparing only a few which are naturally capa¬ 
ble of resisting their injurious effects or even 
of assimilating them. 
But arsenic and copper do not exist in the 
soil except very rarely and where they are 
found in a soluble condition to any extent 
the soil is barren because the vegetation is 
killed by them. They are only sparingly solu¬ 
ble, and cases are very rare where injurious 
results from their presence have been noticed. 
As to Paris-green, the arsenic and copper con¬ 
tained in this compound, are practically in¬ 
soluble and the small quantity used of this 
insoluble substance would leave the merest 
trace of it—a quantity too small for weighing 
in the most delicate chemical analysis—in an 
acre of soil. Thus I think we may equally dis¬ 
charge from our minds any fear of danger to 
the tubers, or through them to those who con¬ 
sume them. But I would like to suggest to those 
readers of the Rural who are interested, the 
question whether the prevailing practice of 
spraying fruit trees to destroy the apple 
moths and leaf-eating insects, may not be a 
source of danger through the well known easy 
sublimation or evaporation of arsenic. It 
has been proved beyond question that Paris- 
green and other arsenical compounds used 
for coloring wall papers in dwelling-houses 
have produced disease in persons through 
breathing the poisonous vapors. The arsenic 
contained in the color of the wall paper of one 
sleeping-room might not amount to more than 
one drachm or even less and the portion volat¬ 
ilized in the air is only a small part of this, 
yet it has had a most serious effect in numer¬ 
ous cases. An orchard may have a pound of 
Paris-green sprayed over it and this will con¬ 
tain nearly 12 ounces of arsenious acid, of 
which undoubtedly a large portion will be 
volatilized and mix with the atmosphere dur¬ 
ing the warm summer months. Is there not 
a serious danger to health lurking in this un¬ 
suspected source? Some of the symptoms of 
the prevalent summer complaint and of cer¬ 
tain fevers may easily be mistaken for those 
of arsenical poisoning, such as pains in the 
bowels, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, clammy 
skm, cold sweats, hectic fever, sense of weari¬ 
ness and mental depression, and it may be 
that these symptoms are due to the effects of 
the arsenic in cases in which the causes are 
too obscure to be easily determined. 
NON-CONDUCTORS OF HEAT IN WALLS OF 
BUILDINGS. 
R. M. C., Chiswold , Del .—I am building a 
house for the winter storage of sweet pota¬ 
toes. It will be weather-boarded with inch 
hemlock, and covered with tarred-felt roofing, 
and I propose having a four-inch or eight- 
inch wall, either filled with sawdust, or with¬ 
out filling, if it is safe to have such a one. Is 
it a settled fact that a wall with a dead-air 
space in it is as safe a protection against frost 
as one that’s filled? 
Ans. —A dead-air space is not an effective 
non-conductor of heat. The radiation of 
heat is more easy and rapid through still air 
than it is through porous substances which 
contain air. Dry sawdust is about one-third 
more effective than au empty air space. The 
best non-conductor is a substance which has 
the largest number of air spaces of the 
smallest size. Hair, felt and the so-called 
mineral wool, which is really fine fibrous glass, 
are the best non-conductors reaching an 
efficiency of about 80 per cent. Fine char¬ 
coal comes next with an efficiency of about 
70 per cent.; then dry sawdust is next with 
about 60 per cent., and an air space is the last 
of all with an efficiency of about 45 per cent. 
But air spaces differ very considerably in 
efficiency with the various materials of which 
the walls are constructed. As the material 
is more absorbent of heat the resistance of 
the air is lessened. A mere space between 
common boards is the least effective of all, 
but if the boards were made air-tight and 
were painted a light color or covered with 
smooth bright reflective metal, the efficiency 
would be the highest; so that practically 
ordinary board walls not air-tight, with an 
air space between them, would be but little 
better than a mere doubled board wall, with 
paper between the boards. Tarred roofing 
well lapped and fastened would be a consid¬ 
erable help, but it offers a poor resistance to 
heat on account of its color; ail black sub¬ 
stances absorb heat more rapidly than light- 
colored ones. The best sweet potato houses 
are provided with stoves for use in danger¬ 
ously cold weather. 
THE KEROSENE EMULSION. 
E. H. G., Mattsville, Ind .—What is the lat¬ 
est way of making the kerosene emulsion, 
and for the destruction of what insects is it 
especially adapted ? 
ANSWERED BY PROFESSOR A. J. COOK. 
I find that soap is best to use to make or form 
a permanent mixture of kerosene and water. 
Every one knows that oil and water will not 
mix unless compelled to do so. The object of 
the soap is to compel this mixture so that we 
can dilute kerosene oil at-pleasure. I use one 
quart of soft-soap or one-fourth of a pound of 
hard soap—whale-oil preferred—to one quart 
of water and one pint of kerosene oil. If 
desired, we may use larger quantities in the 
same proportion. I now stir violently till all 
the ingredients are permanently mixed. I 
accomplish this by pumping with a force 
pump, throwing the liquid violently back 
into the vessel from which it is drawn. After 
the mixture has become permanent we can 
dilute it with water to any extent. I use one 
of kerosene to 15 of all else. Thus 15 gallons 
of liquid ready to use contain one gallon of 
kerosene oiL With this strength it is effective, 
and never injures foliage. 
While I find this a specific against many 
insects, I think it most valuable for destroy¬ 
ing plant and bark lice. To use it with the 
best effect, it should be thrown violently on 
to the plants by use of a force-pump. This 
insures contact with all the insects, and as it 
is contact that destroys this is very impor¬ 
tant. I have never failed to destroy plant- 
lice, or the eggs of the same just before they 
hatch in spring by use of this valuable insect¬ 
icide. 
ACTINIDIA. 
F. G. B., Gratiot , Wis. —I was very much 
interested in the Actinidia polygnma, after 
reading the notes on it in a late Rural and 
would like to learn some more concerning it. 
1. How long would it take it to cover an ar¬ 
bor or trellis to make shade for about 50 colo¬ 
nies of bees? 2 Is it a honey-producing 
plant? 3. Where can I get the vines? How 
far apart and at what time of the year should 
they be set? 4. Does the American Linden 
or Basswood grow from cuttings? If it does 
at what time of the year should ;they beset? 
What is the best method of propagating it? 
Ans. —1. The third year the vine would cover 
an arbor say 10 by 10 feet. After that it 
grows with great rapidity. As the R. N.-Y. 
specimen has been permitted to grow whith¬ 
ersoever it would, its growth has been up¬ 
wards at the expense of lateral growth no 
doubt. e can not definitely answer this 
question. 2. Bees were not noticed among 
the flowers. 3. Our vine came from Ellwan 
ger & Barry of Rochester, N. Y. 4. We 
do not think it does, since the usual plan 
adopted by nurserymen is to layer the 
branches in June. It may be raised from seed 
sown as soon as ripe. They will sprout the 
next spring. As told in last week’s issue of 
the Rural it appears that a mistake has been 
made with regard to the varietal name of 
this vine. That to which the name Actinidia 
polygama, has been given, is in reality, it 
seems, A. arguta, and vice versa. 
LIQUID MANURE. 
S. P. Q ., New York City. —My method of 
making liquid manure is as follows: I put 
horse droppings direct from the stable into a 
barrel, pour water upon them and let the 
mass stand for a few days. Into another 40- 
gallon barrel I put 25 gallons of water, draw 
the liquid off from another barrel and fill this 
one up with it. To do this takes 12 gallons. 
I add one pound of nitrate of soda. I use the 
mixture for forcing the growth of the mam¬ 
moth pumpkins I am growing, applying six 
gallons to a hill at a time, repeating the ap¬ 
plication twice a week. Can the Rural sug¬ 
gest any improvement ? 
Ans. —You do not state what quantity of 
horse droppings you steep in the barrel. But 
supposing you use two-thirds of a bushel of 
droppings to 40 gallons of water, and to this 
add also a pound of nitrate of soda, and of 
this liquid give 12 gallons a week to each hill 
IftimUautoujd gidmtijSittfl. 
“Herbrand" i'ifth Wheel for Buggies, 
