®jjf putrid, 
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
Ungrateful, Peculiar and Naughty Poultry. 
I). L. R-, Fredonia , Chautauqua Co., N. Y., 
has a flock of 25 fowls. They hare warm 
quarters, plenty of lime, coal ashes, oats, corn 
and corn meal, yet from August to November 
they gave him not a single egg, ami since then 
only two or three a day, and he sorrowfully 
asks the probable cause of such gallinaceous 
ingratitude. He slaughtered a couple of roost¬ 
ers the other day. and on opening them, found 
one without a hit of gall, and he wants to know 
the reason why, and also why some of his hens 
eat the few eggs they drop. 
Ans.— Probably his fowls are too fat. Over¬ 
feeding often gives such results. Another pos¬ 
sible reason may be their age. Old lowls very 
rarely lay during the molting season ; especial¬ 
ly is this the case with the Asiatics and the sit¬ 
ting breeds. The non-sitters usually do better. 
A6 to tho lack of gall—why should they have 
any? With such a fowl paradise—plenty and 
variety to eat and drink—there is nothing to 
create any “ bitterness." That rooster was too 
happy to live: we’ll warrant he never quarrel¬ 
ed with his fellows, but moved along with a 
quiet cackle of contentment whenever a 
comrade trod upon his toes or his tail. And 
yet ’twerc a pity to kill the noble bird; he 
might have founded a race of Quakor-doodles 
and doodlesses which—beg pardon, we’re mor¬ 
alizing. which we. were not, asked to do. But 
those egg-eaters! When once this habit gets 
confirmed, the only way to break it is to cut 
off the bird’s head. If the nests are so darken¬ 
ed that hens caunot sec the eggs, they can’t 
very well eat them, if they lay in the nests, but 
if they drop their eggs carelessly about, that 
precaution is of no avail. Blowing an egg and 
filling the shell with strong mustard mixed 
with vinegar, and placing it where she can 
get it, are said to sometimes give an egg-eating 
lieu so bitter a lesson that she will not risk a 
repetition of it. 
Treatment of Old Meadow Plowed Land. 
The Rural's Friend, Chenango Co., N. Y., 
has a piece of ground which was old meadow, 
plowed a year ago last fall, and heavily top- 
noanured last, spring, planted to corn and the 
manure plowed in last fall. Wishing to seed it 
this spring, he asks whether it should be seeded 
iust. as it lies, or plowed again, so bringing the 
manure once more to the top. 2. ITe wants 
to know what would be the effect of dropping 
cow manure in the bill on old meadow land 
plowed this spring, a handful of gypsum or 
plaster having been placed on top, before cov¬ 
ing it. 3. Will it pay to buy any of the fertil¬ 
izers so extensively advertised at 840 per ton. 
to be used on corn when the farmer has plenty 
of cow manure which can lie mixed with that 
of the horse stable, pig-pen and hennery. 
Ans.— 1. We would plow this ground by all 
means; that will mix the manure more in¬ 
timately with the soil, which is what is wanted 
for grass; and it would also produce a fine, 
mellow, fresh surface, without, which grass 
seed will not i( take ” very well. 2. As regards 
the manuring of the corn, it would certainly 
be better to spread the manure broadcast upon 
the plowed ground and harrow it in thorough¬ 
ly ; then plant the corn, dropping an ounce of 
Peruvian guano and gypsum mixed, in the 
hill, to give a start to the young plant. By 
manuring in the hill only the crop gets a good 
start, but is short of food when in its greatest 
vigor and at its greatest need, because the roots, 
spreading past the hill, find no nourishment 
there. But it the ground is full of manure, 
the spreading roots can find food as they reach 
here aud there for it, 3. If there is plenty of 
good cow manure, it will still he found that it 
will pay to buy some artificial fertilizer for 
spreading purposes, unless the eows have 
been fed very highly on extra feed. 
Raising Redding Plants. 
Practical, Ilelavmre, (>., desires a few direc¬ 
tions for raising tomatoes aud annual flowers, 
such as Petunias, Primulas, Verbenas. Zinnias, 
Pansies, etc., from seeds in the greenhouse. 
So far he has met with but little success, tho 
plauts usually growing up tall, spiudling 
things that fiually rotted off near the surface. 
Ans. —The trouble probably is that the house 
is kept too warm for some of the varieties here 
mentioned, and the plants arc too far from the 
glass. 8ow r the seed of ull the varieties used 
for bedding plants, in boxes filled wit h light, soil, 
about the latter part of March, and place the 
boxes near the glasB, so that the young plants 
shall not be obliged to reach out after the light. 
When the first leaf appears, place the plants a 
couple of inches apart in other boxes, aud by 
careful watering, shading it the sun becomes 
too hot, etc., our friend will have fine plunts 
to put on bis Dower beds by file middle of May. 
Tomatoes thrive best iu a hot-bed or hot-house, 
but the others require a comparatively cool 
temperature (about 50° F). Pansies, which are 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
MARCH 41 
not annuals, hy the way, are most frequently 
sown in a cold-frame in the fall, and kept there 
with a slight covering during the winter. The 
Primulas, from their willingness to flower 
during the winter and early spring, are used 
for winter decoration, and for this purpose 
should be sown iu the greenhouse in the fall. 
Dr. Hoskins's Answer to Ex-Gov. Furnas. 
In the Rural of February 22d Ex-Gov. Fur¬ 
nas of Nebraska inquires: “"What does Dr. 
Hoskins, your fruit correspondent, mean by 
' the climatic belt just below ms,’ ; thceoldbelt,’ 
and his intimation that the Red Astraehan, 
Maiden's Blush, Talmau's Sweet. Ben Davis, 
Bailey’s Sweet and other varieties he names, 
are ‘ almost hardy !' To what locality docs lie 
refer? The varieties I name are among the 
very hardiest iu Nebraska—we class them 
‘ iron-dads ’ and most profitable." 
To these queries Dr. Iloskins replies: “ Well, 
my dear Governor, I mean that the people of 
northern Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, the 
Province of Quebec, northeastern Vermont, 
northern New Hampshire and Maine, and the 
Province of New Brunswick, are not favored 
with as comfortable a winter climate for fruit 
trees as Nebraska, and other portions of * the 
climatic belt just below us.’ I mean that even 
the varieties named above, frequently winter- 
kill in our orchards, and are not safe for ex¬ 
tensive orchard planting with a view to profit. 
But 1 am happy to say that persevering experi¬ 
ment in this ‘cold belt,’ is revealing aud pro¬ 
ducing varieties of Apples, aud possibly of 
Pears, Pluius aud Cherries, that resist the hard 
wiuters, ancl are of a quality by no means in¬ 
ferior to the fruit grown in Nebraska or New 
York. Thus the area of successful orcharding 
is being pushed from 100 to 200 miles north- 
w’ard." 
Growing Tobacco. 
E. T. T., Oxford, Sumner Co., Kan., asks 
where can ho get tobacco seed ; and what kind 
of tobacco 6ells the best in the market. 
Ans.— Most of the varieties of tobacco seed 
grown in this country, can be obtained of any 
of the seedsmen in this city. Tobacco has 
been grown in Kansas by some few of the 
farmers for a number of years, but not enough 
to determine whether seed-leaf does the best, 
or cutting or plug leaf, If seed-leaf is grown, 
cultivate on soil tbut has been planted to other 
crops. In fact, select laud that was the first 
plowed and planted on the farm. If dark soil 
is chosen, the leaf will be darker than if a 
lighter-colored soil is selected. It will be well 
to try various kinds of seeds, such as Connecti¬ 
cut seed, Havana seed and White Burley seed. 
The last is for chewing tobacco and the others 
for cigars. The farmers ol Wisconsin raise 
Havana tobacco, and doubtless us good, if not 
better, leaf can be grown in Kansas, especially 
in the southern part of the State. The fine 
grades of Virginia and North Carolina leaf, 
known as Bright Wrapper, bring the highest 
price of any tobacco grown in this country. 
About llog Cholera. 
R. S., Sycamore, Wyandot. Co., Ohio, having 
a considerable number of hogs and being ap¬ 
prehensive of hog cholera during the next 
season, asks the Rural to tabulate briefly a 
set of practical rules with regard to the best 
precautions against it and remedies for it. lie 
intends to have the rules plainly copied and 
pasted up Hi a conspicuous part of his pre¬ 
mises in order to promote their strict observ¬ 
ance. 
Ans. —As hog cholera is a strictly contagious 
disease on which food, surroundings or medi¬ 
cines have but little effect, we believe one of 
tile most important things to do is to have 
petitions signed aud 6ent to Congress asking 
for such legislation as is needed to control and 
exterminate it. It is best to keep hogs at a 
distance from public roads and streams of 
running water, which come from infected local¬ 
ities. Not much in the way of medical treat¬ 
ment can he done : a purgative (2 to 5 oun<#s 
Glauber salts), followed by half-drachm to 
drachm doses ol nitrate of potassa (saltpeter), 
has given good results. 
Flesli Of Hogs Recovered from Cholera. 
R. Saunders, DunnviUe, l a., mentions pa¬ 
thological changes in the kidneys and liver, 
seen iu hogs which had recovered from cholera 
and been fattened for use. He asks-if iu these 
cases the animals are diseased so as to lie unfit 
for human food. 
Ans. —There is a great variety of opinion in 
regard to the effect of disease on the healthful 
ness ol the flesh as food. In case the animal 
has entirely recovered from the fever aud fat¬ 
tens well, the presence of these changes would 
not he prejudicial to the meat. Some forms 
of anthrax, which closely resemble hog chol¬ 
era, arc liable to be mistaken for it, and uuless 
the animal has thoroughly recovered from 
these, its flesh is a deadly poison. It is also to 
he understood that dangerous parasitic dis¬ 
eases may co-exist with hog cholera, and cause 
changes which may be attributed to the latter. 
The llesli of animals which are plainly affected 
with the so-called cholera, is not considered a 
dangerous article of food, though it is one 
which most people would prefer not to use. 
Lameness In a Horae. 
R. T. W., Burlington, N. J., says Can 
you tell me what will cure my horse? 
She has a habit of interfering, from the effect 
of which a hunch appeared between the. hoof 
and the first joint over a year ago. A liniment 
was applied which drove it to the knee, and 
last fall more was applied which seemed to 
scatter it altogether; but now she seems to 
have a lameness of some kind in the shoulder. 
The flesh has shrunk and the animal does not 
stand squarely, but rests her foot upon the toe. 
She will not allow me to raise her foot and 
appears in pain if it is done. 
Ans. —The mure is probably not lame in the 
shoulder but iu some of the joints below. A 
careful examination should be made at the 
knee and elbow joints (the trouble is probably 
in the knee Joint) for heat and tenderness. 
When the affected part is found, apply cold 
water for a week and then blister with can- 
tharides ointment (one of eantharides to four 
of lard). The blisters may be repeated several 
times if not successful sooner, 
An Over-sensitive Inquirer. 
An Old Subscriber, Tecumseh, Mich., referring 
to our full-page cut of various kinds of farm¬ 
ers in Rural for February 8th, asks whether 
the space might not have been better employed, 
if occupied with good reading matter; 2, 
whether we can afford to ridicule the support¬ 
ers of the paper by publishing such insulting 
caricatures of farmers. 
Ans.— No. Borne things can be expressed by 
just such sketches, that cannot be told in words. 
The cost to the Rural of such illustrations is 
at least thrice that of “ good reading matter." 
We are as much farmers ourselves as any of our 
readers, and saw uo reason to feci insulted by 
anything in that engraving. 2. We can “afford 
to ridicule.’’ anything or anybody—whether a 
supporter of our paper or not—that merits 
ridicule. 
A Sore Pastern. 
L. M. H., Manor Date, Pa., asks to be in¬ 
formed how to heal a stubborn wound above 
the heel on the pastcru joint of a horse. It 
was cut by the horse hanging his hind foot 
in a long hitching rein nearly four months ago. 
Ans. — A competent person examining the 
wound, could probably tell at a glance why it 
does not heal, but it is impossible for us to 
judge by this description. If either the joint 
capsule or the sheath of any of the tendons 
has boeu opened, it requires careful treatment- 
Jf there is “ proud flesh," this should lie 
touched with lunar cuustic and a solution of 
half a drachm each of sugar of lead and sul- 
phateof zinc in eightouuees of water, should be 
applied two or three times a day. This solution 
could probably be applied with advantage 
whatever the condition of the wound. 
Tanning a null's Hide. 
S. L., Sharon Center, A T . Y., asks for a recipe 
for tanning a bull’s hide with the hair taken 
off, so that it will be soft and pliable, as lie 
wants it for halters and traces. All lie has 
seen tanned for this purpose have the hair on, 
and are hard. 
Ans.— Manufacturers decline to make public 
their recipes for tanning leather, as upon them 
they depend for their success in business. For 
the uses spoken of by our correspondent, we 
should prefer a bull’s hide tanned in the regu¬ 
lar way, as it would no doubt last longer and 
could be kept soft and pliable with oil. Our 
correspondent is not fur from Gloversvillc, N. 
Y-, where leather is tanned extensively in the 
manner lie desires. By sending the hide there, 
he could, doubtless, have it tanned in a satis¬ 
factory manner. 
Making Artificial Mother*. 
A. S. W., asks, 1, what is the best way of 
making artificial mothers; 2, where can incu¬ 
bators be bought. 
Ans.— Much depends on the use to which the 
“Mother” or “ Brooder" is put, and where it 
is to lie used. If in the house, a simple box, 
witli a stone jug filled and refilled with hot 
water, over which a piece of old woolen 
blanket is thrown, will answer every purpose. 
Jf for out-door use, a tight coop or box should 
be used, with some more constant source of 
heat. If one is needed for open-air use, it is 
better to purchase one of some manufacturer 
of these articles. For these as well as for au 
answer to the second query, sec the advertis¬ 
ing columns of this paper. 
Sheep for Sole or lo Rent ? 
M. L. Penwell, Washington, Kan., asks where, 
sheep can he bought or rented in considerable 
numbers. 
Ans. —Sheep can be purchased by the flock 
at Denver, Colorado, at Wichita, Kansas, or of 
owners of Mocks in the western part of your 
State between Hutchinson, iu Reno Co., and 
Great Bend, 100 miles farther west. Sometimes 
some of the owners Who cannot sell, will rent 
their flocks, but this is not often done from I lie 
uncertain nature of the business when iu tbe 
hands ol inexperienced persons. We give our 
correspondent’s address in full, so that those 
who have sheep for sale may correspond with 
him. Such queries, however, should be made 
through our advertising columns. 
Cow* for Cheese and Duller. 
TV. E. P. Fillmore, Allegany, N. Y., asks, 1, 
what breed of cows is best adapted for milk and 
cheese.; 2, what breed for cream and butter. 
Ans.— 1. Holsteins and Ayreshircs are both 
well adapted for milk and cheese. It is a ques¬ 
tion which of the two breeds is the best, some 
preferring one and some the other. The Hol¬ 
steins are the largest, give the most milk, and 
consume the most food. 2. For the richness of 
their cream aud butter, the Jerseys take the 
first rank, though they are inferior to either of 
the above breeds in the quantity of milk pro¬ 
duced. 
Infonfodo Merino Sheep. 
S. T., Onowa City, Monona Co., Ia., asks 
where he can buv a car-load of pure-bred In- 
fantado merino sheep. 
Ans. —Pure-bred Infantado merino sheep 
can be bought in many places East and West. 
E. Townsend, Pavillion Center, N. Y.; Samuel 
Archer, Kansas City, Mo.; A. M. Tyler, Alex¬ 
ander, Ohio; E. Peck <te Sons, Geneva, Ill.; and 
S. B. Lusk, Batavia, N. Y., are all extensive 
and responsible breeders who have been suc¬ 
cessful prize-takers at exhibitions. 
Spring Treatment of the Grape*. 
J. /?., Roselle, N. J., asks for a few hints as 
to the treatment of Grapes in early spring. 
Ans. —As the spring season advances, grad¬ 
ually remove the covering. Rather than re¬ 
move the covering too soon, it would be better 
not to cover at all. March and April are 
sometimes more trying to plants than the win¬ 
ter months. There will no harm result from 
rubbing off any buds that are not needed. 
Miscellaneous. 
Mrs. M. C., Memphis, Mo., asks, 1, for a re¬ 
cipe for coloring.cotton a bright red ; 2, does an 
orange tree need to be grafted or budded. 
Those iu the nurseries, she has boeu informed, 
are merely ornamental and do not bear edible 
fruit. If they hear as seedlings, how old must 
they be before doing so, and what must be their 
treatment. Her’s is six years old and has been 
treated like au Oleander. 3. She asks for some 
information about fig trees, and, 4, where can 
she obtain Muscatel Grapes. 
Ans. — Beaman's Aniline Dyes—Wells, Rich¬ 
ardson & Co.. Burlington, Vt. 2. Seedling 
orange and lemon trees do not bear fruit in 
many years. Occasionally, however, they 
bear early. Root-prune tbe tree aud replant 
it in rich, loose soil. It is always better to bud, 
unless a new variety is desired. Good varie¬ 
ties can be found probably among tier friends 
and neighbors, and certainly at florists’ estab¬ 
lishments. 3. Brown Ischia, Brown Turkey, 
Violette, Pregussata, While Genoa are among 
the hardiest varieties. Tho fig will not be hardy 
enough for northern Missouri. It might be 
grown in large pots or tubs by storing in thu 
cellar during the winter. Fig trees are propa¬ 
gated by layers or cuttings. 4. Muscatel, or 
Museadel, is merely a general name for certain 
tender varieties, 
F. Pros., Burlington, Kansas, ask 1, what is 
our opinion of the Peabody Sweet, potato, and 
where can seed be obtained ; 2, what is the 
best way of propagating Honeysuckles. 3. 
They intend to plant a row of White Elms 
around their farm, fifty feet apart, and ten feet 
inside the Osage-Orange hedge, to alternate 
with some kind of evergreen, and they inquire 
what sort we would recommend. 4. Those 
who are supposed to be competent judges on 
the matter, advise them to cut the Elms— 
which are to be two inches in diameter at the 
base—down to the grouud, aud our opinion as 
to the advisability of doing so, is asked; 5, 
will peas, tomatoes, potatoes, etc., of different 
varieties “ mix " to any extent. 
Ans. —1. It is a good variety. From Peter 
Henderson, we believe. 2. They grow readily 
from seeds or cuttings. 3. The American 
Arbor-vitai or Hemlock. The first will grow 
faster, hut the latter is handsomer. 4. We 
should advise it for your purpose. 5. They 
will mix ;—(hat is, the flower of one variety of 
peas will mix with those of another variety of 
peas—those of tomatoes, with other varieties 
of tomatoes, etc. The fruUs can not mix— 
neither can the. potatoes mix, as they are mere¬ 
ly fleshy, underground stems. 
1). II. Seraiilon. Pa., asks, 1, what are the 
best varieties of Strawberries; 2, the best va¬ 
rieties of Blackberries; 3, of black Raspberries; 
4, of Gooseberries; 5, of Grapes; (>, of Pears 
for culture in northeastern Penn.; 7, what is 
the best method of exterminating the bugs that 
destroy the Cucumber vines; 8, be has au 
apple orchard planted for nearly fifteen years 
on rather thin soil, and which produces now 
but little fruit, and he asks what is the trouble 
with it; f), at what price can we furnish him 
certain specified books. 
ANS.—1. It is not possible for us to specify 
what fruit or plant is best i -r any particular 
situation and soil; for Straw berries, try Wilson 
aud Borden 30. 2. Kitt itinny and Lawton 
3. McCormick or Mammoth Cluster and Doo¬ 
little. 4. Downing and Houghton, ft. Concord, 
.Lady, Delaware, 0. Seekel, Bartlett, Buerre 
