THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
®j)r Querist. 
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
<|uerlea About the South. 
B. F.Townsend, Schuyler Go., N. Y., asks, 
1, whether the timber on the pine lands of 
Georgia is of any value at present; 3, will the 
lauds produce good crops after having been 
cleared; 3, wliut proportion of the population 
are negroes; 4, what are good rice and cotton 
lands iu Louisiana aud Alabama worth, and 
whether much rice is grown there; 5, what can 
be said as to the healthfulness of the above 
three States. 
Ans. —1. Certainly it is; besides a great 
amount of it used for domestic wants, a heavy 
export trade is done in it, from Savannah, Da¬ 
rien and St. Mary’s. The part of the country in 
which it is chiefly found is a saudy belt a short 
distance inland from the sea coast. 2. Yes, 
with proper seed, tillage aud manuring. The 
pine lands of Georgia, aud indeed of all the 
Southern States, are by no means the most 
productive parts of the country. They arc 
usually sandy and yield but scant crops with 
what cure they receive. 8. At the time of our 
lashfcderal census, in 1870, Georgia had a pop¬ 
ulation of GoS,92C whites and Mb,143 colored. 
Since then the relative proportion has altered 
little, if at all. 4, The production of rice in 
Alabama is comparatively small, it having 
yielded only 323,045 pounds In 1870, while 
Louisiana yielded 15,854,012 pounds, and South 
Carolina and Georgia 82,304,825 pounds aud 
22,277,880 pounds respectively. A compara¬ 
tively small part ol the States is suitable for 
rice cultivation as rice Reids need to be drain¬ 
ed and Hooded at will. They must be above 
salt or brakisli water and below the reach of 
freshets, so as not to be flooded at unseason¬ 
able times. The best rice lands are on the 
banks of rivers having a deep soil, chiefly of 
decomposed vegetable matters, and so situated 
as to be overflowed by the opening of tide- 
gates. The price varies so much in accord¬ 
ance with situation, character of soil, facilities 
of transportation, and improvements, that it 
would be unsafe to mention any particular 
figure. Lands suitable for cottou cultivation 
can be bought all the way from 25 cents to $75 
or even $100 an acre according to fortuity, im¬ 
provements, &c. Rice lands can be bought 
cheaper in Louisiana, perhaps, than in either of 
the other Blutce. 5. Georgia, especially the ele¬ 
vated interior of the State, has a good reputation 
for healthfulness, Chills and fever, however, 
are by no means uncommon on bottom binds and 
Yellow-Jack occasionally scares the seaboard. 
Much the same remarks apply to South Caro¬ 
lina. The piue lands of Louisiana arc healthy 
enough, but the most productive parts of the 
State are very unhealthy for immigrants, while 
on most of the lauds suitable for rice cultiva¬ 
tion bull-frogs and alligators alone feci safe 
against chills and fever. Rice lauds every¬ 
where in the South ure the most unhealthy 
parts of the country for Northern immigrants, 
lilood Poisoning by IMuleiujittr. 
F. S., Funville, Fa., has a thoroughbred 
mare that hud the distemper badly but seem¬ 
ed to have recovered from it, and was put to 
work. Suddenly, however, after a light day’s 
labor on a cold day, she was taken sick, her 
legs swelled, her body was marked with knots 
and lumps and she has become 60 very 6tiff 
as to be hardly able to move, though she still 
has a fairish appetite, and ho asks for the 
cause of the ailment and a remedy therefor. 
Ans. —Distemper is a specific fever in which 
the blood is seriously affected and a morbid 
product is thrown off from it through tumors 
beneath the jaws. If by any means—and ex¬ 
posure to cold is the worst possible that could 
occur—the process of throwing off this mor¬ 
bid and diseased product is arrested, it is re¬ 
turned to the blood, aud this becomes poisoned. 
The consequences are just such as are set forth 
above. A dropsical condition of the legs and 
abdomen occurs from the gravitation of wa¬ 
tery matter from the disorganized blood, into 
the tissues; nodular swellings, similar to those 
ol farcy, appear in the skin, or the swellings 
become patchy and a rheumatic condition of 
the muselcs produces stiffness. The treatment 
proper in such a ease is to give diuretics, with 
antiseptics, to remove the poisonous mat¬ 
ter from the blood, and to sustain the strength 
by nutritious food and tonics. The following 
may be recommended: half a drachm of iodide 
of potassium to be given iu the morning, 
powdered and mixed with honey and placed 
on the back of the tongue to be swallowed; 
one ounce of hyposulphite of Boda given in 
the evening In the loud, which should be nu¬ 
tritious but laxiuivc, such as boiled oats, lin¬ 
seed meal with oatmeal, scalded, and mixed 
with cut hay. The limbs should bo well rub¬ 
bed with a coarse woolen cloth frequently and 
for a considerable time. The drinking watJr 
may be made distinctly sour with sulphuric 
acid. This treatment may be continued for 
several days until improvement takes place 
when the Iodide may be stopped, the soda be 
reduced one hall and one ounce of gentian 
powdered be given once a day, with one ounce 
of carbonate of iron if the animal is weak and 
the appetite is poor. Caro should bo taken 
not to break the skin where it is swollen, as 
in that case sores difficult to heal might occur. 
If the skin is itchy and irritable, it may be 
sponged with a solution of bicarbonate of soda. 
A curry-comb should not be used until the 
skin becomes normal again. 
Formulas for Fertilizers, of Very Doubtful 
Utility. 
IF. 0., Tragpe, Talbot Co., Md. f sends us 
three formulas for making fertilizers named 
“ Home Fertilizer,” “ Powell’s Formula,” and 
“Star Bone Phosphate” and asks which is the 
best for wheat and corn, lie already has 
the “right" of making one ol them, and is think¬ 
ing of buying the right of making the better 
of the other two. In ease we should not wish to 
give tho names, he suggested that in naming 
our preference we should employ the figure 
prefixed to each formula. 
Ans.— Answering the last remark first, we 
say once more what we have said before, that 
the object of this Querist Department is to 
beueflt our readers generally by therein an¬ 
swering honestly to the best of our ability, all 
questions of general interest or importance 
to them. In the present instanco this could 
not be done, if wo concealed the names of the 
formulas about which oar opinion is asked. 
These look very much like a humbug or a 
fraud. To sell such a formula for money, is 
something like charging an equal sum for in¬ 
formation on such a common matter as put¬ 
ting butter on bread or using salt with food. 
There is nothing of value in these methods of 
mixing ordinary fertilizers, and any ordinary 
fanner who reads an agricultural paper should 
he well able to compound a better mixture 
for himself. To call common salt "muriate 
of soda" is a disguise which looks suspicious, 
and to advise a single mixture of bone dust 
aud oil of vitriol is a palpable and injurious 
fraud, because it would be a dangerous thing 
for any person to do, and it would he injurious 
instead of beneficial to vegetation, unless the 
combination was made in such a way a6 to 
effect a chemical action which would neutral¬ 
ize the sulphuric acid entirely aud leave none 
free to exert its exceedingly corrosive effects. 
A mere mixture would not do this. Our opin¬ 
ion is here gi ven and our advise is not to give 
one cent for the “right"—as it is called—to 
make a mixture which would be worth much 
less thau its cost, when it is made. 
A Foul Well. Mole Plows. 
8. G. T., White riains, N. F, asks, 1, bow 
to purify a well rendered thoroughly foul by 
the percolation into it of the contents of a 
broken sink drain. All the adjacent ground 
probably equally foul from the same cause. 
2. Having read that a mole plow is u&ed in 
some parts of the country for the purpose of 
making tilelesa drains, he inquires whether it 
would “ work” where the sub-soil is a sort of 
hard-pan. He thinks a flat meadow of his 
would be greatly benefited by drains made in 
this cheap way. 
Ans.— 1. The well is spoiled and should be 
abandoned, as the use of the water is danger¬ 
ous to health, and might cause fatal disease. 
It is a matter in which life is at stake, and 
there should be no hesitation in abolishing the 
danger at #acc. This is an example of what 
exists in umby cases without suspicion of the 
danger involved. 2. A mole plow is useful 
where there is a very retentive sub-soil. Its 
effect Is only ta break up the soil and not to 
opeu continuous passages for the water as in 
draining, because it, i6 impossible to avoid fol¬ 
lowing the contour of the surface, and no level 
can be kept by which the flow atm be led away. 
Where there is a geueral slope, the mole plow 
may do good service by opening passages by 
which the water iiau moro easily percolate aud 
flow off more quickly. As the implement i6 
cheap, aud its use has certainly the advantage 
of sub-soiling, and possibly of draining to 6ome 
extent, more or less of the ground, it would be 
generally of advantage. 
A Cow’s Period of tiestntlan. 
A Subscriber, J&enia, Ohio, asks what is the 
average period of a cow’s gestation, and how 
much ever or under that average have cows 
been known to calve. 
Anb.— The average period is held to be 285 
days. Of 575 cows observed by Mons. Tessier, 
21 calved between the 340th and 370th days, 
the meantime being 259 days; 544 calved be¬ 
tween the 270th and 299th days, the mean time 
being 282 days, and 10 calved between the 399th 
and 321st days, the mean time being 303 days 
Earl Spencer’s record of the period of gesta¬ 
tion In 764 cows gives: the least period 230 
days; mean, 285 days; longest period, 313 
days. But ho was not able to roar any calf 
produced at an earlier period than 243 days. 
Our own countryman, L. F. Alien, reports the 
period of gestation iu 50 cows for a single year 
as follows: shortest period, 268 days; mean, 
384 days; longest period, 291 days. These 
cows were Short-horns, Mcrcfords, Devons 
and their grades, together with some “Na¬ 
tives,” but no difference was noted that could 
be attributed to breed, It has been noticed 
that bull calves are oftenest dropped when the 
average period is overrun, and cow calves 
when the period of gestation falls short of the 
average. In reality there is not much differ¬ 
ence between the number of calves dropped 
each day from the 280th day of gestation to 
the 290tli. 
The Washington Potato. 
M. L. I).. Sherman F. Y., inquired in our 
issue of March 29 about the merits of the 
Washington potato, and we replied that we 
had never tried it. We thank Mr. Jonathan 
Talcot of Rome, N, Y. for the following in¬ 
formation on the subject. He says: 
“I suppose M. L. D. has reference to the 
new potato to be 6ent out this season by 
the Messrs J. M. Thorbun & Co., 15 John 
Street, New York. If 60 . I will say that 
through the kindness of that firm T received 
a sample in the spring of 1878 from them, 
with a request to cultivate and test then) and 
report in the fall. This I did. I wish also to 
state that I have tested most of the new sorts 
of potatoes sent out the past twenty years, 
aud paid out hundreds of dollars for the seed, 
only to be disappointed in the majority of 
cases. I have, however, found a few sorts 
that have proved valuable to myself and the 
country at large. Accordingly I think. I know 
something of the merits or demerits of now 
potatoes, and my advice to M. L. D. is to try 
the Washington, if it does as well under 
general cultivation, as it has done with me, 
it will prove a decided acquisition. In our 
past unfavorable season for potatoes, it did 
well in yield, appearance and quality with 
only ordinary cultivation—much better than 
other sortB on our trial grounds.” 
Planting Currants. 
L. B. 1). R., Backland Mass., asks whether 
in putting out an acre of Currants it would 
not be best to have half of them Red Dutch, 
with Cherry or La Versaillaise; at what dis¬ 
tance apart should they be planted; and whether 
white Currants have only a limited market. 
Ans.— The Currant is the most hardy, pro¬ 
lific and accommodating of fruits, for which 
reason (there can be no other) it is of all fruits 
the most neglected. If well pruned and cul¬ 
tivated, the fruit will grow to thrice the size, 
of that which neglected bushes yield. The 
Red Dutch under such care becomes as large 
as the Grape or Cherry when neglected, aud 
being more prolific, in fact the most prolific 
of Currants, should be given a proportionate 
share of our grounds. We have no doubt that 
the Red Dutch, cared for as wc have intimated, 
will, year in and out, prove the most profita¬ 
ble variety Four feet apart each way would 
be our choice of distance. About 2700 plants 
would then be required for au acre. There 
is less market demand for white than red 
Currants. 
Coloring Instead of Painting Plaster. 
M. E. C., Spring Hill, Hew Brunswick, is 
building u new house aud haviug heard that 
there is a way of coloring the fiuishiug coat of 
plaster instead of paiuting it, asks for a recipe 
for doing so. 
Ans. —There are some very agreeably colored 
preparations made for the purpose above men¬ 
tioned, known as prepared kalsomine. These 
are kept for sale by paiuters, and directions 
are given on the packages for using them. The 
materials consist of Spanish white, glue aud 
mineral coloring matters of the desired shade, 
or the finishing coat itself may be colored of 
any desired shade by adding to it, aud working 
up thoroughly with it the proper pigments, 
always choosing those which would not be 
changed by the action of the lime or plaster. 
It would not be easy for an amateur to make a 
neat job, as the coloring should be perfectly 
even all over the work, and that will require 
much skill. 
Mulching. 
B. J. U., Sandusky, 0., asks whether in view 
of the chances of a dry season, he shall heavily 
mulch a number of plants which he names. 
Anb. —It is hard to get at facts in many seem¬ 
ingly simple things. There is no doubt that in 
dry seasons a heavy mulch or coveriug of ma¬ 
nure, straw, or other substance will be of de¬ 
cided advantage to many plants, such as Cur¬ 
rants, Strawberries, etc., iu the way of produc¬ 
ing larger fruit. We once thought, however, 
that several of our Maguoiias were killed by 
mulching, and have since thought that several 
other plants were harmed by it. Mulching pro¬ 
duces a sour condition of the soil and the 
growth of fnngU, which may he injurious 
to the roots underneath. 
The English Walnut. 
M. J. C., Rowley ville, Ky., asks where she 
can procure English Walnuts of one or turn 
years’ growth, and whether they would thrive 
in western Kentucky. 
Ans.— Any fruit nursery can furnish them, 
such as Ellwanger & Barry or W. S. Little, 
Rochester ; Thomas Mehan, Germantown, Pa., 
etc. The European Waluut (Juglans regia), 
commonly known here os the English Walnut, 
lias not been very extensively in trial need into 
this country yet, where indeed it rarely ripens 
fruit. As it is a native of Asia, and probably 
also of Greece, and grows abundantly through¬ 
out Europe, it would, very likely, find a con¬ 
genial home iu Kentucky. 
Propngntlng a Pelargonium Sport. 
C. A. //., Akron, 0., asks how he can propa¬ 
gate a variegated “sport” taken from a Gera¬ 
nium (Pelargouiura). He says it roots freely, 
but the cuttings lose their color and become 
green. 
Ans.—T he only way is to make cuttings 
from the shoots most variegated and then, as 
soon as these are large enough, to make cut¬ 
tings from them, and so on until the variega¬ 
tion becomes fixed. The variegated blood or 
taint Is sometimes so feeble that it cannot be 
fixed. In some plants—we have in mind a 
Willow and a Begonia—well-defined, variegated 
sports occur which, when cut off and rooted, 
remain variegated while the new growth is 
entirely green aud healthy. 
Shingle Booling, 
J. T., Jnmeston, N. Y., asks whether for farm 
buildings there is any better roofing than 
shingles, cost considered. 
Ans. —There is no roof that is better, cost 
considered, than shingles. A well-laid shingle 
roof will last thirty years, and if the shingles 
arc of pine and are steeped iu crude petroleum 
before they are laid, and receivo a fresh coat¬ 
ing outside once in six years, they will last twice 
as long. The shingles should be laid upon 
lath or uarrow strips and uot upon boards; 
the exposure to the air keeps the under side 
free from damp and prevents decay. 
Tucket t’orn. 
E. C., Forth Platte, Feb., asks where can he 
obtain Tucket corn. It is a sort of pop-corn 
he used to raise years ago in Vermont. It 
made a growth of three feet, had on each stalk 
several ears from two anda-hall to three inches 
long, the grain being small, flinty aud yellow. 
Anb. —This is a local variety aud some Ver¬ 
mont reader can doubtless give the informa¬ 
tion. Yellow pop-corn can be procured of 
Thorburn & Co. All pop-corn has the habit 
of earing at most of the joints and has small 
ears. 
Miscellaneous. 
R. B. A., Germantown , Pa. —1. We cannot 
name varieties of Pelargouium with any cer¬ 
tainty. The flower resembles Asa Gray. 2. It 
is the rule of our office to answer every ques¬ 
tion either in these columns or by mail. In the 
former case they must await their turn. 3. It 
was impossible for us to foresee which of the 
varieties of seeds we offered to our subscribers 
would prove the most popular. In more than 
one instance, those which we fancied would 
receive the fewest applications, received the 
greatest number. Hence our supply was 
soon exhausted. This possibility, however, 
was foreseen and we took pains to state that 
“ Some of the above will be withdrawn and 
others added.” Now our reserve seeds were 
fully as valuable and rare as those at first 
offered, yet many of our friends are disap¬ 
pointed that they did uot receive just what they 
selected. The simple truth is that in any free 
seed distribution of the magnitude of that 
we have just passed through, it is impossible 
to please all. 8tiLl we have learnt a thing or 
two by our late experience and have a plan 
for our next offer, which will at least secure 
to each applicant the kind of seed announced. 
J. B., Jamestown, F. F-, asks, 1, where can 
he obtain 6ceds of the Dutchman's Pipe; 2, are 
the ornamental beets useful or merely decora¬ 
tive; 3, can the seed end of potatoes be cut off 
now and kept until planting without injury, 
and, if so, how should they he treated ? 
Ans.— 1. We do not know. It is hard to be 
found. Try Woolson & Co., Passaic, N. J. 2. 
The roots do not grow large. The leaf 6talks 
(see Domestic Economy, p. 544, in issue of 
Aug. 24, 1878) make an excellent substitute 
for Asparagus. Otherwise they are for orna¬ 
ment. One of the showiest beds we have over 
seen was made of these beets. 4. Should say, no. 
C. McF., Union Springs, F. Y., says ho has 
had a Weeping Silver Fir for five years, and 
that with the exception of one shoot every 
branch grows downward. This one shoot is 
“as straight as a pike-staff." He asks: “Is 
this common ?” 
Anh.—T he Weeping Fir is Itself what iR 
called a “sport,” and it is not improbable 
that tho straight shoot is a reversion to tho 
species. But perhaps it grows from beneath 
the graft, In which case, of course, tho 
“ straight shoot" is the species. Please examine 
and let us know. 
I. G. M., Charleston, S. G., asks which book 
on bce-cuiture we consider the best, and what 
style of hive he should adopt. 
Anb.—C ook's Manual of the Apiary, pub- 
lishcdby T. G. Newman A Son, Chicago, Ill., is 
as good as auy vve have seen. Get a movable 
frame hive. The Laugstrothhivc, with frames 
about one foot square, Is perhaps the best 
style that can be adopted. 
F. W. S., Baden, Pa., asks which method 
is the best for grafting large apple trees— 
cleft grafting or bark grafting. He grafted 
75 trees in the bark last year aud t! j aiq 
