water swimming like a fish, near the bottom. 
2. He asks whether the Smithsonian Institute 
pays anything for such specimens. 
Ans.—1 . Tt is Belostoma grande—the Gigan¬ 
tic Water-Bug. It lives in the water and feeds 
on other aquatic insects and small animals. 
It is figured in the American Entomologist, 
1809, vol. I., p. 2411, and mentioned in the 
Run a i, for Sept. 20, 1878, p. 187. 
2. The Smithsonian Institute does not pay, 
generally, for any specimens. 
]j. P. M., Danville, Montour (Jo., Pa., refer¬ 
ring to the article. How Ninety-seven Bushels 
of Corn per acre were raised, in the Rural for 
Dec. 7, '78, asks whore he can get some of the 
Rennie’s New White Field Corn therein 
plants, 
■ Olt IIOCK.Y 
■ fOltN»perlb, 
■ J .<81.50; q lb., 6flc; 
S 7 AMBEIi si - 
pint, sue.; pKt., ]oo. 
‘.i lli.. :;r>e ; ox., ; 
760.; pint. <l(h;.; 07,., 
I S plits. ( IIOK l! 
1. llluHt’il (•iir(k'ii 
oh. describing 500 va- 
! iV M IIO„ Sceds- 
nz. Inc.: pUt.. 10c. 
If A It CANE, per! 
I'E \ltl, UII.LET, 
pm., toe. ( Drews. 
I5e. • pkt.. 10c. for 3f> 
FLOWER SEED. 
Guide mid ( n in li.u 
rfeHett, sent free. Ami 
men, Pel In, jinvn. 
BEAUTIFUL, KVF.It-IU.OOr.IIND 
THE BEST IN THE WORLD* 
Onr Great Specialty is prowl riff fttrl (UstrOniftlur 
I'a. i) Heniitlfnl Itoses. H e Strong X'oi 
l’I.-i ots, suitable for immitelwtc bloom ,safety by mall 
i’.t all post-ofliees, 5 Splendid Varieties, your 
choice, nil labeled, for t l <s for $55i 10 for '-i?ri t 
J4tl ibr $■!( 35 for 85; 75 f,,r 810 j ICO for filS, 
e ■, • :'(’.rnl fur onr New (iiddr to Hose Cajlturo— 
CO p." -os,elegantly illustrated—and ehorm ln«mover 
Five Ilundrid Finest Sorts. A<Vlri' r U 
THE DKVGJ3E & t'OIURU to., 
Kose Growers, W«wt Grove, Chester Co., Pa. 
ans.— oc forwarded the letter containing 
this inquiry, to Mr. Rennie, Toronto. Canada, 
and lie replies that ho cannot give the desired 
information, as be has sent, out several varie¬ 
ties of corn, from time to time, tolas Canadian 
customers, and cannot decide to which of them 
the above name lias been given, 
W. S. IF, Hnrbourton, JV. asks where can 
he obtain information as to the method of 
capon izing cockerels. 
Ans.— Full information with regard to differ¬ 
ent. modes or performing (he operation, was 
given in lengthy articles in the Run a us for 
April 20th; November 23d and December 28th 
last year. Instructions are also given on the 
matter in Lewis’s Practical Poultry Book, 
Divon & Sear’s Ornamental and Domestic 
poultry, American Poulterer's Companion, and 
in most standard works on poultry. 
N. O. B., Jamestown, CluitUauqm Co.. N. 1'., 
asks where cau lie get the seeds ol Chinese 
yams. 
Ans.—H e cannot get seeds in this country, 
that, we know of. 'Hie male and female Mowers 
are borne on different plants, and we have only 
the male. Upon this bulbletsgrow iu the. axils, as 
large as peas, and thosu are sold by most seeds¬ 
men for seed, from which plants readily spring. 
J. C., Ashley, III., asks, 1, where can lie 
get the Beauty of Hebron potato for seed and 
at what price; 2, where can he get Pearl Mil¬ 
let seed; 8, where can he get alfalfa seed and 
at what price. 
Anb.— 1. It will be advertised in our columns 
later. 2. Of half-a-dozen now advertising it in 
our columns. 3. Of most seedsmen. Price 30 
cents per lb. 
A. L. M., DarbyviUe. Baker Co., Fla., intend¬ 
ing to ship J00 crates of vegetables to this city, 
besides a good deal of fruit, asks the name of 
a reliable house here, to which he can with 
safety consign Ihe goods. 
Ans. — C. W. Hell. 333 Washington street, is 
quite trustworthy and has won a reputation 
forgiving satisfaction to those who ship goods 
to him. 
>/. 1). T.. Rrookside, AT. J., asks whether dip¬ 
ping chestnut shingles in coal tar and then 
allowing them to dry before laying them, will 
be beneficial. 
Ans. —1. Yea. The coal tar can be applied 
the same as if it were paint, ami sand sifted 
upon it before it dries. 
II. J. S-, Chillicothe, Jloss Co., O., asks where 
the varieties of Apples mentioned by Dr. Hos¬ 
kins in the Rural of Jan. 18th can be found, 
and at wliat prices. 
Anb. —If ho means trees, or cions, of the 
Dr. himself. His address is Newport, Ver¬ 
mont. lie will send a price-list free to our 
subscribers. 
“ Medicine," Strafford, Conn. : asks whether 
Grindclia robusta, spoken of as a remedy for 
bronchial and asthmatic affections in Rural 
Brevities, in issue of Jan. 28, is the name by 
which it is known in materia medica. 
Ans.—A pothecaries know it by that name. 
J. W. II., Pitman Groce, N. J., asks where 
can he get Banana seeds or plants. 
Ans.—D o not know as to seeds. Plants of 
several different kiuds are sold by such florists 
as Geo. Such. South Amboy, N. J.—John Saul 
D. C. 
C. M, asks whether the account of Wet 
Mountain Valley, Colorado, given in the Rural 
of Jan 1st, 1878, is trustworthy. 
Ans.—W e are not acquainted with the writer 
of the article, nor do we personally know as to 
the correctness of the description. 
Several Inquirers wish to know where Ply¬ 
mouth Rocks and their eggs can be- procured. 
Anb. —C. S. Cooper, Schraalanburg, N. J. ; 
George S. Josselvn, Fredonia, N. Y. ; A. M. 
llulsled. Rye, N. Y. 
or GROUND NI TS. DM) DILI 
paid, for 36 rt.s. Y. i>. i ■ iorris, 
Kirby Homestead, Charlton, N. Y 
A bountiful work of 100 Page*. One Colored 
blower Pinto, mid 3«M> (llnatrntiona. with 
Iieyorii'tlonn .of the best flowers nrul VeectaMes, 
sad bow loan \s i.liem. All fora Iu ve Cunt 8tamp 
I n English or (ionium. 
The Plnworaml Vcgof ttlile Garden. 175 Pn tea 
Six Colored Pin ten, and lOuuy hundred Kiatriiviogs 
for il) cents In i.npor covers ; ( I in decant eloili. In 
unman or English. 
Vick’s !llu»rrated monthly Mnansr.ino — .77 
Fugos.n Colored Pluto In every munhor and many 
Hno Kn<ilivings. Price #l.*5 a year, five Copies for 
Vick’s Seeds me the best in tlie* world Sen I 
Mvk Cisn't STAMP fur a Fi.oua i. Dui ok. i-oiiI win ini' 
Last and Prices, and plenty of infoi niatioe. 
Address JAMES VICK, Rochester. N. Y. 
Cnrponnle of Lime—Pear nud Apple (tuluces. 
A'. C. It., Ml. Airy, Hamilton. Co., Ohio, asks, 
1 . wliat is carbonate of lime; 2, what, if any, 
is the difference betweeu the pear and apple 
quince. 
Ans. 1, Carbonate of lime is a salt composed 
of one equivalent of carbonic acid and one of 
lime. Artificially prepared, it is a white amor¬ 
phous powder, quite insoluble in water. In its 
purest natural form it is the mineral calcareous 
spur. The pearl is almost entirely composed 
of it. It is also the principal ingredient in 
limestones and marbles. Carbonic acid is one 
of the most feeble acids iu the formation of the 
compound substances called buses, and is easily 
expelled with effervescence by nearly all llic 
other acids. This fact cau be readily illustrat¬ 
ed by placing a piece of chalk or limestone in 
a vessel and pouring any acid, such oven us a 
good strong vinegar, upon it. It is also ex¬ 
pelled when the limestone containing it is 
heated to redness, hence when limestone, is 
burned the carbonic acid gas escapes and the 
lime remains. 2. The Apple is the more popu¬ 
lar of the two. For certain places, Rea’s Seed¬ 
ling is better than either. The Pear Quince 
ripens about two weeks later than the apple; 
is not so large or of so good a quality. 
The Market lor Gilt-Edged Rutter. 
C. A. 0., Cornwall, Orange Co., Af. Y., asks 
how he can best, secure city purchasers who 
will be willing to pay top prices for his Golden- 
leaf butter, which has received several eertiii- 
cates. 
Ans.—T here is a good deal of humbug about 
the reports of extravagant prices given for so- 
called “gilt-edged” butter. The fancy grocers 
arc overwhelmed wtih applications front mutt¬ 
ers to sell buc’U butter, if any mutual friend 
can pursiiado any of these to accept a consign¬ 
ment, one mi(jhl get a trial, but the demand for 
fancy butter at extravagant prices is so limited 
that there is hardly any possibility of finding 
purchasers at more than the ordinary market 
prices. The best way to fluff a special market 
for a choice product, la flrst to make it; then 
send it, packed in half tubs of 30 pound weight, 
to a respectable auil honest Commission agent 
who will look out for a permanent market for 
it, and who will suggest the proper sort of 
packages to meet the ideas of his customers iu 
future. Our correspondent, may, perhaps, 
gain his point by communicating with a good 
commission agent, such as C. W. IdelC 333 
Washington St. 
Miscellaneous. 
Mrs. G. B. B., Somet'oille, Tenn., asks what 
variety of cabbage is best for winter, and what 
will destroy the cabbage worm. 2. She also 
states that her early cabbages head well, then 
decay iu the center of the stalks, whereupou 
the heads fall off, and she wants to learn the 
cause, and how to prevent it. 
Ans.—1 . Large Flat Dutch ancl Drumhead 
Savoy arc good laic varieties. 2. Hot water 
thrown upon the worms will kill them. Of 
course, it must not be so hot as to scald the 
cabbages. A market gardener who grows cab¬ 
bage on a large scale, recommends a mixture 
of twenty parts of superphosphate of lime, one 
part ol carbolic powder mill throe parts of 
fresh air-sink.ul lime, a small Immltul of 
which should be scattered over each head. 3. 
Club-root. Lion* ami bone-dust have been 
recommended. 
A Rural Reader, Rich ford, Tioga Co., A r . Y., 
semis a beetle for name. After a flood, caused 
by the bursting of a dam, it was found iu low 
^.FERRY&Co’ 
~^^7llusthate& 
^fSCRI pfjic 
tfibri 7 
IV» (--h:**. Did f»iM' 
prims ami ilir«y*t|nni for planting over 1700 —■■ 
variolic* »»f VVgetnMe ami Ktmvor ftwil*, Hunts. 
luvuluaMc u» nil. S'mmI for it. AiMrosi 
D. M. FERRY & CO. Detroit 
MARKET GARDENERS! 
Buy Fresh Steens of the Grower, 
BE THE FIRST IN MARKET 
And you will COIN MONEY. 
Gnrdon Manual and Prion List for 18711 
Address .1. R. ROOT. I look 0 
To the Flower and Vegetable Garden. BenulduMy 
Illustrated, and will be mailed FREE tr. anv address. 
Address CKOSMAN BRfl’S, 
OtjUhlilhcJ 1310.) Koairsl'ER, X 
Ton Packets for 25c. RURAL NEW-Yokkkr with 
Extra Premium tor *2. Also Rabbits, etc. Send 
Postal for Circular. 
TTJISCO GREINER, Naples, N. Y. 
HOVEY & CO.’S Boston , 
CATALOGUK 
ot .Select Garden nnil Flower Seed-, 
including NoveHiesaud New Vurietir * t free. 
Sends sout by mail to all yurts of the i'. s. and 
Canada, ami guaranteed to roach t nnha. cr*>. 
JJsiqhliehnl Aaty years. HOVEY tY CO., 
M> Souili Marker •»(.. Bortoii, Mn»s. 
Shaker’s Garden Seeds. 
True and Genuine. Crew a and KHiaibie. 
One hi the oldest see i ilnns m the country. Seeds 
sent by mail, postage tree. Special nr ices an4 ti rins 
to Genu,ye*. 
‘•Tho excellence of iho Shakers’ Garden Seeds is 
generally admitted.'’ -LUs. . 1 AyrirutturM. 
lllust ntedaud Descriptive ( alnloRiici.f Vogt table 
it k lower Seeds Ercc. 
Address CHARLES SIZES}, 
Mount Lebanon, Col. Co., N. y. 
Communications KKCKivHV) kok tub wkbk ending 
Satuhday, Febbuahy lotll. 
L. \\. K,—E. W. 8.—E. t\ M.—B. I*. AI.—J. Le R. 
N—V. It.—11. F. S.—H. \V. F., thaiils—8. 1). W.— 
II. T. W.—L. 8. 11.—C. K. A.—A. A. C.—U. K. M.— 
J. 1). J.—M. o.—W. K. per J. s. I)., thanks—j. T.— 
P. W.—1). Mcf,.—O. N. li.—1«. I.. T.-.I. o. 8.—H. 
L. K.—C. W. S—A. M. It.—W. 15. D.—•* Working- 
mati”—A. W. M.—K. \V. S.—,1. R.—N. K. P.—H. 12. 
McC.—M. L. D.—M. M. I,.—8. A. C.—8. McN.—W. 
J. F.—F. D. C.—!#K. W»—G. F. \V.—11. M. 8.— J. 
T.—F. A. It.—M. At.—I). E. S.—D. A. F,—J. R._S. 
i ii.—w . n. i>.— f. p. a.— g. o., thanks—\v. a. 
| A.—K. 12. M,— A. 1*.—S. A. M.- K. S. J. J|, 
3T WILL PAY 
to grow a liberal family supply ot the l i t Med 
Fruit. For first class Trees, Plants and Vinos ro 
duee the same, send to 12. X J. o. wild.I \ us 
Catalogues fret*. Vlotitchir \ 
