be sown per acre with wheat in the spring; 3, 
whether alfalfa can supply the place of clover. 
(T) Muck is totally inert until it is decom¬ 
posed. and it decomposes slowly while it is 
saturated with water. It is in the best condi¬ 
tion for use when it is a year old. Muck that 
is dug now can hardly be made ready for use 
in the spring, unless it comes out loose and 
60 ft, so that it can be worked up easily : when 
in that condition it may be mixed with wood- 
ashes and thrown into heaps where it will heat 
and ferment. Otherwise it may he mixed in 
equal proportions with stable manure and 
thrown in compact heaps to ferment until re¬ 
quired for use. There is usually considerable 
acid in fresh swamp muck,which renders it in¬ 
jurious rather than beneficial; this is neutral¬ 
ized by mixture with lime, wood-ashes or 
potash salts. It would be best to keep the 
muck above referred to in heaps until next 
fall and then to use it largely, when dry and 
fine, as bedding for cattle, pigs and poultry; 
in fact in every place where it can be made 
serviceable in that way; and then to throw it 
into compact heaps, that it may not freeze, 
but will decay and become soluble through the 
winter months. 
(2) If the. clover is sown alone, 12 pounds 
per acre would be a proper quantity. (3) By 
no means. Alfafa can never become a substi¬ 
tute for clover in ordinary agriculture where 
clover succeeds well. It is an excellent crop 
to use iu place of clover where the climate is 
too dry for the latter. Where heavy manuring 
can be given, alfalfa may be made useful as a 
soiling crop to come after clover and to be cut 
two or three times in the season, but it will 
not sneeeed for this purpose excepting upon 
rich soil. (4) Yes. 
lien Manure and Ashes. 
T. L. M.. Hartford, Trumbull Co., Ohio, asks: 
1. whether it would be safe to mix hen manure 
and \vood-ashe6 now aud let them lie until 
spring ; 2, what is the best method of apply¬ 
ing the manure to corn iu the hill. 
Axs.— No ; mixing ashes and lieu manure now 
and letting the mixture lie for two or three 
mouths, would certainly cause the loss of the 
greater part of the ammonia in the manure. The 
poultry droppings should be stored away safely 
in barrels or elsewhere, covered with earth or, 
better still, with dry muck, uutil just before it 
is wanted for use. It should then be reduced 
to a powder and mixed with, say, three times 
its own bulk of mold or dry muck, so that it 
can be more easily spread aud to lessen the 
risk of its burning the seed. Dry ashes may 
be added just before its application,so that they 
will not act upon the manure before it is buried. 
2. In applying the manure to corn in bills, a 
thin layer of earth should be left between the 
manure and the 6eed, to pievcnt injury to the 
latter. If a planter is not used, drop the corn 
by baud in the hills, cover it with half an inch 
or so of earth, then drop a small handful of the 
mixture, spatter it a few inches about and cover 
it with a little more earth. Or a handful of 
manure may he thrown down where the hill is 
to be, aud quickly mixed with the earth by two 
or three strokes of the hoe, aud the corn drop¬ 
ped and buried (lie usual way. If care is taken 
to always allow a layer of earth between the 
manure and the seed, the labor of mixing loam 
or muck with the manure before applying it, 
can be dispensed with. This information has 
been given at greater length more than twice 
in different articles during the year. A thor¬ 
oughly live paper dislikes repetition, but cour¬ 
tesy to our loug list of new readers must staud 
our excuse in this and several other cases. 
The Hose-Bug Puzzle. 
A. B., Syracuse, A r . Y., says: "I wish to get 
some Information about Rose Bugs. Have a 
vineyard of three acres, planted 8x8 feet, aud 
eight to twelve years planted, mainly Con¬ 
cord. No rot whatever and no mildew on the 
Concord. Most of the time since my first crop, 
in 1800, they have given good, well-matured 
crops of grapes, yielding five tons in 1877. 
Three years ago a few Rose Buga made their 
appearance here for the first time as fur as we 
know. They did very little damage the first 
season, but they came again the next season, 
1877, in much greater numbers, and last sea- 
sou, 1878, they tame iu such immense numbers 
as to destroy my grape crop completely. Now, 
what X wish to learn is this : ] L s the Rose Bug 
likely to he a permanent institution where they 
once make their appearance—like rats aiul 
mice, do they come to stay? I have studied 
the habits of this pest in various books and 
papers, but cannot learn from any of them 
what 1 most wish to know. Are they likely to 
show themselves in large, numbers many years 
in succession In the same, plucc? If so, l must 
rip out my grape vines, as there seems to he 
no method of destroying or driving away this 
pest, without costing nnre than the value ol' 
the crop. My vineyard is on sandy land, and 
from what I cau learn,ihe bugs an-not trouble¬ 
some on heavy clay soil, being generally found 
on sandy or gravelly lands." 
Axs. Din ing some seasons we are overrun 
with Rose Bugs—then, again, w r e see little of 
them lor several years. We would recommend 
our friend to plant near the vines a hedge of 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
plants which they prefer to the Grape,'such as 
Roses, Spiraeas, etc. 
Price of Oil-cake. 
0. F. B. Rufihford, Alleghany Co., A r . K, says 
that while oil-cake is quoted in a late Rural 
at $28 per ton, the best figure at which he can 
get it at Buffalo, is at the rate of $38 per ton 
for Western cake, and he asks the cause of so 
wide a margin, and whether there is any dif¬ 
ference in quality between Western and East¬ 
ern cake. 
Ax8.—We do not know how to account for 
the extreme difference in prices otherwise 
than on the ground that New York quota, 
tions are based upon 50-tun lots for export, 
which are to-day quoted at $27.25. while our 
friend probably buys unimportant quantities 
at retail. There is no material difference in 
the quality of Western cake from that ground 
East, Whenever considerable quantities of 
the cake are used, it would be well for the pur¬ 
chaser to correspond directly with some 
Western or Eastern mill instead of buying it 
near home. A number of farmers who use 
the article in the same neighborhood, could, 
with little trouble, combiue their purchases, 
and thus be enabled to secure what they want 
at better figures than if each bought the com¬ 
paratively small quantity he might need. 
Sowing Orchard-Grass—Barbed Wire-Fence. 
W. IT. B. Lincoln, Loudoun Co., Va., asks : 
1. What is the best time to sow orchard-grass 
and ought it to be harrowed in; 2, how to 
kill the sand thistle which he describes; 3, 
can barbed wire-fence be recommended by 
those who have used it. 
Axs.—1. The best time to sow' orchard-grass 
is early in the spring. It should be 60 \vu upon 
the harrowed soil and then covered lightly by 
means of a brush harrow. The seed is very 
light and should not be covered deeply. 2. To 
kill the weed mentioned (which cannot be re¬ 
ferred to by name without a specimen by which 
it cau be identified), the best plan would pro¬ 
bably be to improve the soil bv manuring and 
• coltivation.wheuthe crop's growth would soon 
smother it out. 3- The barbed wire-fence may 
turn out to be as dangerous to the owner as for 
a trespasser, and it is a question if it is wise to 
use a feuce by which a neighbor's cattle may 
be iujured aud a cluim for damages arise. It 
is as durable as any other wire fence and no 
more. See the article on snow-drifts elsewhere 
in this issue. 
Field Peas for Vermont. 
S, C. So. Vernon, Vt., asks what kind of 
peas should be itsed as a field crop thereabouts : 
should they be sown with oats ; broadcasted or 
drilled ? 
Axs, —The Common Canada Field Peas (now 
quoted in market at 90c.@$1.00 per bushel) 
are the best for field sowing. They should be 
broadcasted, at the rate of three peeks of peas 
aud two bushels of oats to the acre. The two 
are easily separated iu the fanning null after 
thrashing. Ten bushels of hard-wood ashes 
and a barrel of good ammoniated superphos¬ 
phate form a fair dressing for an acre on re¬ 
versed sod, and arc better than stable man¬ 
ure which makes the peas run loo much to 
vine. The ground should be thoroughly har¬ 
rowed both before aud after sowing, and fin¬ 
ished by rolling When phosphate is not at 
hand, 20 bushels of ashes and one bushel of 
salt make a good dressing. 
t'plunlnu-Flax. 
S. K. P. Chesterfield, Conn., asks where flax 
prepared ready for spinning, can be bought, 
and its price. 
Axs.—Though there are iu this country a 
number of places, especially iu Ohio, where 
flax is water-retted, and dew-retted, dried, 
broken, scutched and hatcheled and thus 
made fit for spinning, we do uot now call to 
miud the name of auy of those engaged in this 
industry. 
Miscellaneous. 
Young Veterinarian, Oaks, Pa., asks: 1. In 
what part of the country would he be most 
likely to succeed iu starting in his profession ; 
2, the name of i good work ou diseases of 
stock. 
Axs.—There are so lew skillful veterinarians 
in ail}- part ot this country, and so much in¬ 
jury and loss are constantly caused by ignorant 
treatment of stock by farmers aud quacks, 
that an educated, honest veterinarian should 
have little difficulty in establishing a profitable 
business in any part of the stock-growing 
States, such as Kentucky, Illinois, Kansas, 
Colorado, etc. Select some point and write to 
the local postmaster there cither asking bis 
opinion us to the prospects for a veterinarian 
in that neighborhood, or requesting him to 
scud the iuuiui of some one likely to be posted 
On the matter. 3. The best wo know of is 
Law’s Farmers’ Veterinary Adviser, price, 
$3.00. 
M. II., Kearney, file!)., asks : 1, whether 
Yucca fllanicntosa is a bush or u tree ; 2, also 
if that and Calllcarpa Americana, Hibiscus 
Syriaeus, Weigela, Dcutzia crenata and Gera¬ 
nium sanginenm live out-of-doors all winter; 
and, 3, how they must be planted. 
Ans.—1. Yucca lilamentosa is nearly stem¬ 
less with leaves of a sword shape, from one to 
two feet long. It is a plant quite hardy, hav¬ 
ing endured with us 20 degrees below zero.and 
of striking appearance. It belongs to the Lily 
family, sends up a stalk four feet or more in 
bight, which in summer bears a great number 
of bell-shaped, nearly white flowers. The 
leaves are evergreen aud it is in every way a 
highly desirable plant- 2. Most of them are 
perfectly hardy. We must refer our friend 
to Rural of Nov. 9 for further particulars. 3. 
Instructions as to sowing seed will be given in 
a few weeks. 
•J. F., Paata, Kansas, desires to know if we, 
or any of our readers, have had practical ex¬ 
perience. in making sugar from sorghum or 
corn-stalks by the process invented by F. L. 
Stewart, Muri ysville, Pa., and described in the 
Agricultural Report for 1877. nr by any other 
process that has been successful 2. He also 
asks if there is any kind of cane seed that has 
been used for sugar making, and 3, if there is 
a market for dried sweet corn and its price. 
Axs.—1. We cannot give, any fuller account 
of the process than is’fonnd iu the Report above 
mentioned. For a short description of the 
process see the Rural of Oct. 5,1878. 2. We 
do not know of any. 3. For seed, sweet corn 
is sold for 25 cents a quart. For cooking pur¬ 
poses it sells for $4.00 a bushel. 
IF. W., Newburgh, A r . Y., asks. 1. the name 
of a reliable New Jersey firm from which peach 
trees can be bought; 2, the name of some 
good late varieties of Peaches. 
Axs.—Hauce & Sons. Red Bank, N. J. We 
do uot know of auy nurserymen at Newburgh 
who sell peaches, 2, Oldmixon Freestone, 
Jacques, La Grange, Red-Cheek Meloeoton, 
Smock Freestone. Lemon Cling, Morris’s 
White (for canning). There are mauy new 
varieties, but we do not know how they may 
thrive in your seetiou. 
J. H. P., Selah, Yakima Co., Oregon, asks : 
1, whether an experiment in raising Chufas 
would be likely to pay well ; 2, where Chufas 
ean be bought. 
Axs.—We have tried them for three years. 
It does not pay to gather them by hand labor. 
Hogs like them and fatten upon them. There 
is often much gained aud seldom much lost by 
an experiment on a modest scale. 3. See our 
advertising columns and notice of cata¬ 
logues. 
C. II., Glendale, Mich.., asks whether J. J. 
Gregory’s White Russian Spring wheat is the 
same as Defiance wheat. 
Axs.—It is not the same. Mr. Gregory 
charges $2 25 per bushel for White Russian; 
Mr. Bliss charges $15.00 per bushel for Befi- 
aneo. They arc both ivliite and beardless. 
We have tried them both. See Rural of Sept. 
14, which gives the result of our trial, also en¬ 
gravings of each. 
■I. M. K., Alice Grundy Co.. In., asks the 
name of a periodical devoted to tobacco and 
its culture aud where it can be purchased. 
Many arc about to engage in tobacco culture 
in his neighborhood. 
Ans.— The Tobacco Leaf, 14.2 Fulton Street, 
this city; subscription price $4.20per annum. 
Tobacco News, and Tobacco and Grocery 
News. 82.50 each, both published at Louisville. 
Ky. 
L. R. P., Helm's Store, t o., asks how many 
varieties of field corn are known to the Rural. 
Axs. There are varieties without number. 
Study our “Corn" number soon to be issued. 
Communications rbceivkd for tue week ending 
Saturday, January 31st. 
I). W. C'.-N. C. 1».—W. \V\—H. S.-E. F. M.-G. 
K-—J >L. T., we will te glad to nave you and all 
or our subscribers report what they think ot the 
plants which grow from the seeds we offer —W. 
B. G.—A. M. V. A.—K. M. s.-r. q . |.j. \v. s.—F. 
M. B.—F, D. C.—“ Anon ’—M. A. A.—\V. [. C.—II, 
T. J.—II. V. A.—N. W. IS.—M. G. R.— ,T. M. B.—T. 
It. II. N. R„ thanks—N. C.-g. B. B.—J. s.—o. t' 
lb—“ Ivy"—B. 11.—W. .1, F.-J. W. M.-J. B. A.— 
W. V. G.—S. H. M,—K. I.,—M. W.—T. L M.—VI. J. 
i. u. w.—-Anoir— j. e. s.— e. u.— s. c. g.— 
I). N. K.—W. F.—S. G. It.—D. It. !*.—F. D. C.—A. 
I.. J. M. i\ W.—s. l. -g. >!.—•* Medicine,” Apoth¬ 
ecaries will understand the name--A. s. \. -_\\ .), 
8.—'w. (>.—“ Practical"—P. S. W.—w. B. .J—A. E. 
8. —LS. F. T.—D. E. 8.—8. F., thanks. 
®ucs, giants, 
IT WILL PAY 
t? F.row u liberal family supply of the best kinds of 
I*nut. For first-class Trees. Plants ami Vines to pro¬ 
duce tlia same, amul to F. X J. C. WILLIAMS, 
Catalogues free. Montclair, N. J. 
5 Cents Per Bushel Saved 
in raising Corn. For Illustrated Pamphlet, givin 
portieulars and prices to agents, address TtlOMAi 
SMOOTHING HARROW CO., Geneva, N. Y. 
For TWlT.VK Ever-Glooming 
OSE 
I Strong Plains, your «hoiee. labeled, 
I free t>;/ iiwi/. lL.V finest sorts 1.1 r 
1 assortment of f low : " 1 1 ' I si 
aamo price AVjfl ten /.Vs ,-,k e 
I nratie an 83 ortltrr. Catalogue live. 
INNISI'ALLEN GREENHOUSES, Springfield, 0 
GOOD CURE FOR HARD TIMES. 
A PLANTATION OF EARLY PROLIFIC 
iintl RELIANCE R ASPBERRIES. 
100 rtflO 1 /. l . tt, L t " !’;«« S VI,E; „ e 200,000 
A ( iii'li'i'ct/u amt <fiiithu nlni Strnirhci i / 
riant*. Millions of other Plaid-. Trees, pto. Kverv- 
tiling neve, not el and rare, /•, in < loir. Semi for 
Jieseriiitiiw Circular to CIBsON »V IJENNETT* 
Nuixertinenumt Fruit Grower*, woodlnt '.A' 1 
glantiei, &c. 
PAMPAS RICE,:™ 
oz.. 15c.. pkt., toe. KENNEY'S 7 A HBElf SU¬ 
GAR CORN, per iitturt. IX)c.; pint. ZCr.; pkt., 10c. 
PEA RL VITLLET, per lb.. $1; * l(>.. 38c.; oz., 15c.: 
pkt., 10c. FIJI FAS, per quart, 75 c.; pint. 40c. ; 07 ... 
lac.; pkt., Ule. For 25 cts. tvs send 8 okts. CHOICE 
Fl.OVV Ell SFKIL All prepaid. Illiist’d Garden 
Guide and Cnta I ague of :ih paves, describing 50) va- 
Addr _ ar — ■ 
rioties, seat J i ce. 
men, Pelln, Iowa. 
rcss FOJJS Ar BRO., Seeds- 
RELIABLE HOME-GROWN SEEDS. 
Ten Packets for 25c. Rural New-Yorker with 
Extra Premium ftir f2. Also Rabbits, etc. Send 
Postal for Circular. 
TUISCO GREINER, Naples, N. Y. 
F OR 2 DIMES.— One pkt, each of Verbenas, Strip¬ 
ed Petunias, Double Hollyhocks, Balsams. Phlox 
and Pansies. L. D. Snook, Barrington, Yates Co., N. Y. 
1800 ACRES IN SEED. 
ESTABLISHED OVEK HALF A CENTURY. 
Ceotetinbtl Gram! Prix«* JIpiIaI fitr:tri?»*ii for Purity, and 
Diploma of Honor for Hupfl’iuf tyiiilttj. 
This popular brand of CrAfdci* Sficda »* exclusively of 
our own from t>h6 cbotc^dt fclfclPJ v»»fM't:tble$.; 
they fire the only Scotia In fho market that arc War¬ 
ranted Pirnc. Knrsu, aud Tructo Name. 
J/rf’c/idwh, Vlrniitrs, fjrjn/rotve, ,vitl all Rural Resi¬ 
dent* desiring Seeds of undoubted purity and quality, 
should plant them. letter r.tump (»• r Uuist’s 
Garden Manual ami Almanac for 187H- 1S3 pages cf 
useful information on gardening, w ith prices nf Euist's 
Seeds by the mineo, pound and bushel A Northern and 
Southern edition is published. Address, 
ROBERT BVI8T. JR., Seed Grower, Philadelphia. 
E. P. ROE’S $5 
List of 
SMALL 
FRUIT 
Plants, 
For family use. 22 VARIETIES. 
The most LI BE HAL OFFER of the Season. 
$13 WORTH OF PLANTS FOR $5. 
rSend for Descrinti ve Catalogue. Address 
E. P. ROE. Corn wall-on-Hudson, X. Y. 
Seeds, Plants, Trees. 
Our combined CATALOGUE OF FLOWER AND 
VEGETABLE NEEDS.. GREENHOUSE AND BED¬ 
DING PLANTS, FRUIT AND SHADE TREES AND 
EVERGREENS, SHRUBS. SMALL FRUITS. &c., Sc., 
mailed to any applicant. Address 
CROMWELL A- CONGDON. 
51 Light St., Baltimore, Md. 
Shaker’s Carden Seeds. 
True nn,l Genuine. Fresh and Reliable. 
One of the oldest seefi fii ms in the country. Seeds 
sent by mall, postage free. Special prices and terms 
to Granacrs. 
“ The excellence of (he Shakers' Garden Seeds is 
generally admitted-”— Kits. Am. Aaricnlturist. 
Illustrated and Descriptive Catalogue of Vegetable 
and Flower Seeds Free. 
Address FHAKLES SIZER, 
IHoiiut l.rbntion, Fol. Co., Y. 
tA.FERRY&Co 
Will! 
m-iile-l FREE Co" 
all Applirtaut®. If. *v»n- _ 
trims i colored plutcs, 500 ongritrlnrO 
about 150 p.ig«*s. and full .Icier•cOons,' 
prices and flirenijntis for plaining m*>i* jjfio 
varieties of Veect,ii»]n »vtd Flower Seeds, Plants, R'uses, Efco. 
Invaluable tn all. Send, for It Addr£'$ 
D. M. FERRY & CO. Detroit Mich. 
MARKET GARDENERS! 
Buy Fresh Seeds ot the Grower, 
BE THE FIRST IN MARKET 
And you will COIN MONEY. 
Garden Manual and Price List for )S7\)sent free. 
Address J. B. ROOT, ltockiord. Ills. 
A beautiful work of 100 Pixgr*. One Colored 
Mower Plmo. nud tfOO 11 In -trn i imis with 
Descriptions nf the best Flowers and Vegetables, 
and how to(jigwtiioni. All fora Igvk Cent Stamp 
I n English.o: (ionium. 
.The Flower nud Vegetable Garden, 175 Pa ees 
glx C'dored Plates, and tuany hundred Engravings 
For .'■() cents tn t aper covers: (I in elegant cloth. In 
Gel man or Knclish. 
VicU's 11 1 it* i ru led Vlomhly >laan*iue —32 
Page-, a Colored Plate in every number and many 
flue Kn tiuvlngs. Pitcc ?l.-5 •» year. Five Copies for 
*5.0(1. 
Vick’s Seed* ate the best in the world Send 
Five Cent Stamp for a Floiial Guu>k, containing 
List ft'd Prices and plenty of information. 
Address JAMES VICK, Rochester, N. Y. 
MIPS VISES 
Also Trees, Small Fruits, etc. Wholesale 
rules very low to Nurseiymcn, Dealers and large 
Planters. Send stamp for Desc.iptive Mat. Price 
List Free. T.S. Itnni.VKI), Fredouia, N. V. 
ARTICHOKES. 
Rod Brazilian aud White French varieties; cheap¬ 
est hog food known. Send for Circulars. 
E- F* BROCK WAV, Am worth, Iowa. 
