©EC. 20 
THE BUBAL NEW- YORKER. 
tions, we have lately adopted the plan of using 
suckers of the present year’s growth, setting 
them in May or June, using two or three 
strong plants for a hill. If carefully set, they 
will make a fine growth, and bo ready for 
bearing the next season. J - R- 
__— -- 
AN IDEA. 
I do not know that it is new, but think *it 
good—the plan of sotting apple trees among 
Raspberries or other small-fruit bushes, the 
bushes serving as a protection for the trees 
against the summer’s sun and heat, and also 
against the winter's cold and wind. 1 find that 
the trecB, as they grow larger, are no disad¬ 
vantage to the bushes. 1 know that those 
tiees set among my Raspberry bushes look 
healthier, arc more thrifty and have made u 
better growth than those set at the same time 
and receiving the same care and cultivation in 
the open ground. 1 set a row of trees In about 
every fourth row of Raspberries, they being 
about eight feet apart. Then, as the bushes 
grow and All up the rows, they serve to 
still further protect the trees from the plow 
and whitlletrecs. Those who have hud young 
trees “barked" by a careless plowman, will 
appreciate this point. The bushes should not 
bo allowed to crowd the trees while young ; as 
they grow older they will look out for them- 
BC ] VCB> John Rusticub. 
Outagamie Co., Wls. 
NOTES FROM THE RURAL FARM. 
Corn Fertilization. 
Manx will say, when we publish our pre¬ 
mium reports, that the test of a fortieth of an 
acre of Blount’s corn is not a fair test; that it 
is easy to give high cultivation to so small a 
plot, and that competitors have manured and 
Bultlvated, in the expectation of gaining one 
or more of the prizes, far beyond what il. 
would pay them to do were they working for 
a profitable crop only. This would be true 
of most competitions of the kind—but it is not 
altogether true of Blount’s corn, or, iudecd, 
of any corn. Most ol our readers pi obably 
know that often -if not In a majority of cases 
—the silk of an ear does not receive the polleu 
from the tassel of its own Btalk. Probably in 
a majority of eases the pollen and silk of a 
given stalk are not ripe at the same time. V\ e 
remember last summer to have shaken a cloud 
of pollen from the tassels of stalks before the 
Bilk had appeared outside of the husk. Wo 
also tried the experiment of planting 150 ker¬ 
nels of sweet corn (“Wushtngtou Market’’) in 
a single row, 10 inches apart. Many of the 
ears were imperfectly "filled out, some of 
them had not filled at all. In this experiment 
it is evident that unless the silk (pistils) were 
pollenuted by the tassels (stamens) on the 
Bame stalk, the silk was dependent upon some 
of the other plants for polleu—a very uncer¬ 
tain dependence, too, if the wind chanced to 
blow briskly away from, Instead of with, the 
row during the maturity of the pollen. The 
advantages, therefore, derived from the high 
cultivation of small plots of corn are oil set in 
some measure by (first) the fact that the male 
and female organs are not ripe simultane¬ 
ously, and that, therefore, (second) the smaller 
the area under corn, the more pollen there iB 
scattered ineffectually by the wind. This 
diehogainous character (t. c., the two kinds 
of reproductive organs maturing at different 
times) of some varieties of corn is that which 
causes them to intercross to a fur greater ex¬ 
tent than they would otherwise. A hundred 
different varieties of cairn might be planted in 
the same field, without the slightest danger of 
mixing, If their respective reproductive organs 
performed their functions at different, periods. 
Our reuders will remember that last spring we 
planted, iu one end of our live-acre corn-field, 
about tit) different kinds, at least 15 of which 
were distinctly marked, as, for example, whiff 
and yellow Flint, white Dent, red, variegated, 
etc., ete. All of these sorts were selected from 
those sent to us by subscribers us having pro¬ 
duced large yields, and they were genei ally 
splendid specimens. During growth previous 
to earing out, all who saw the field predicted 
that thut part of it upon which the mixed lot 
was planted would yield much lioaviei than 
the rest—and so it would have done, had it filled 
out ur well. But it yielded an immense quan¬ 
tity of imperfect cars and nubbins, and the 
yield was considerably less. But, to return to 
fertilization. On some kinds, as. for iustanee, 
the variegated or Calico, the cars were filled 
out perfectly, and there was no evidence of 
any crossing having taken place at all. All 
were striped, as In the parent seed. Occasion¬ 
ally among the other kinds mongrel kernels 
appeared, hut there was no such a grand mix¬ 
ture as we were led to suppose there would bo 
from the number of dissimilar kinds planted. 
The “Calico’’ was among the first to ripen— 
possibly the first. If so, there was no chance 
for crossing. But wo cauuot account for the 
ears being so well filled out, except on the 
supposition that the male and female organs 
matured at the same time, and that there was 
little wind at the time of their maturity. The 
white Dent sorts wore mixed very little, but 
the ears were very imperfect—sometimes there 
were Icsh than half the usual number of rows, 
the other side of the cob being bare or having 
only u struggling kernel or part of a row. 
Now, so far as we have observed, the male 
and female organB in white Dent sorts do not 
mature simultaneously; for which reason, as 
the plants were scattered here and there, 
poorly-filled ears were to have been looked 
for. It was tlie same with the Flint varieties, 
It may or may uot he worthy of remark that 
though not a kernel of blade corn was planted, 
nor was there an ear of black corn harvested, a 
great many black kernels were found among 
the Dent sorts. 
--» ♦ ♦--— 
MAKING SUGAR FROM SORGHUM. 
Seveuap of our friends, particularly in the 
West, who during the past season have been 
experimenting iu making sugar from Sor¬ 
ghum, have met with considerable difficulty 
especially in clarifying the sirup before it goes 
into the pans, and In producing granulation. 
Among the most successful and exteusive 
manufacturers of sorghum sugar In the coun¬ 
try, are A. J. Russell, Vico-President of the 
Northern Caue Growers' Association and gen¬ 
eral manager of the Amber sugur refineries, at 
Crystal Lake, 111., and Mr. C. W. Schwarz, of 
Kdwardsvllle, 111., who has on several occa¬ 
sions given our readers the results of his ex¬ 
perience III this connection. Both of thoBe 
have kindly furnished us with their views on 
this subject, and although it is too late to profit 
this season by the Information, yet the very 
difficulties or failures some have experienced 
in their attempts at sugar-making will tend to 
impress the lessons here given more deeply on 
their minds for use next seaBou. 
Mr. Russell says: *‘ Our experience In mak¬ 
ing a little over two car-loads of beautiful 
sugar this year has taught ns that the Industry 
can ho profitably carried on in no other way 
than by having proper maeliiuery to clarify, 
evaporate aud finish the sirup at the low¬ 
est possible temperature, thereby making 
a beautiful light-colored sugar and sirup free 
from sorghum flavor. Borne times the juice 
requires special treatment, information on 
which can he given ouly on knowing the na¬ 
ture of the soil on which the cane was raised. 
There Is no special propuration that will cause 
granulation; that can only be brought about 
by the proper manipulation of the juice with 
machinery adapted to the purpose add opera¬ 
ted by those who thoroughly understand the 
business, or who are working under instruc¬ 
tion from some one who has had practical 
experience and who lias succeeded In making 
this sort of sugar. 
The mechanical appliances now in general 
use make too much caramel and glucose In¬ 
stead ol sugar, to make a financial success In 
making merchantable sugar that will be fit to 
compete in our large trade centers with the 
best product from sugar-cane. We have de¬ 
monstrated, however, that this can be done 
by the intelligent use of proper machinery. 
But we would have added another failure to 
the long list of former onus to produce sugar 
from sorghum In paying quantities, had wo 
not discarded old-fogy notions and appliances, 
aud taken a new departure In this promising 
iU Mix*Schwarz says that ho has found the 
following method of making sugar from Early 
Amber cane, most successful Iu his practice:— 
“Work up ripe cane fresh from the field; heat 
the juice to about 180 deg. Fahr., aud neutral¬ 
ize with milk of lime mixed witli about a 
pound and a half of sulphate of baryta to 100 
gallons of Juice, so as to change blue litmus to 
purple. Bring the juice to the boiling point 
and let it settle. Draw off the clear juice and 
add to It about five pints of alumena jelly (made 
by dissolving porous alum and sal-soda sepa¬ 
rately in water and pouring together, making 
a jelly compound) ; then boil on evaporator to 
320 Fulir., and finish in a separate pan to about 
234 dog. Juice thus manipulated, has granu¬ 
lated solid by the time it has cooled down to 
00 dog. 
This process looks simple, buttliere are some 
difficulties lu it:—first, the sulphate of baryta 
Is patented under the Clough Process, aud its 
use restricted; second, it is almost impossible 
for a beginner to judge the right quautity of 
lime for a good defecation, as by an over-dose 
the sediment becomes very bulky and restless 
in the tank, tempting the operator to use still 
more, which would darken the juice. Dioxide 
Of sulphur has been recommended as an anti¬ 
dote against an over-dose of lime, but the dif¬ 
ficulty of getting this of standard strength in 
market this season, haB caused many failures. 
1 have, In my later experiments, been able to 
reduce the quantity of lime over onchalf, dis¬ 
carding the litmus test as unreliable; lor the 
very bulky sediment is not all impurities, but 
a great waste of sugar. It iB now too late iu 
the season to make sugar but these difficulties 
will all bo overcome by next season. 
The following method works the best for 
late cane in making sirup:—To 100 gallons 
cold juice add 1$ pint of lime with or without 
baryta, and run It into the settling tank Im¬ 
mediately ; vary the quantity of lime accord¬ 
ing to results. As for a granulating compound, 
there is no such thing; if the sugar is not in 
the cine, none can be got out. Such Is the 
case with cane long exposed to the weather. 
Light sirup made early In the season can ho 
made Into sugar any time, if the conditions are 
complied with In the first boiling. 
I am still very busy with late cane. Farmers 
are yet hauling from all directions : but 1 hope 
to get through before Christmas. The Hon¬ 
duras eano 1 spoke of lu my last, haB been 
made up and made the largest yield of any. I 
made It into sirup only, which Is very fine aud 
shows a tendency to granulate,hut, Its lateucss of 
ripening makes it risky to plant ii extensively. 
«$arm (ftonomi). 
THE IMPROVED HOME-MADE SMOKE¬ 
HOUSE. 
®jjt Ijfrtoman. 
Last season I presented to the notice of the 
RuitAi, readers a sketch aud description of a 
home-made smoke-house, using an under¬ 
ground furnace and a barrel. It was very ex¬ 
tensively copied and used with good results 
Our own worked first-rate, but the trench 
needs digging over every season, and this year 
I have made il more permanent arrangement 
above ground; and as it Is so simple and 
cheap, I send a description of this one, for the 
beuofil of those who have not something more 
pretentious. 
Having Bovcral stones and mortar left over 
from some building done this fall, we resolved 
to construct a smoke-house; so one afternoon 
last week father aud I went to work. 
Fig. 1 is a sectional view, and shows the 
arrangement very plainly. We first laid, In 
mortar, a foundation of Hat stones, about three 
by three and a half feet square; then raised 
the sides and one end about a foot, and covered 
the top with Hat stones, leaving an opening at 
A for the exit of the smoke. The front end is 
left open, and is closed by a board or short 
piece of plank, as shown at B, and held up by 
a stone. A less primitive way can easily be 
adopted it desired. C shows the pun of smok¬ 
ing cobs. Over the opening, A, may he placed 
a headless barrel, D, which will accommodate 
three or four good-sized hams or shoulders. 
They are hung from a stick placed across the 
top of the barrel, and the whole should be cov¬ 
ered by an,old blanket or oil cloth, to keep In 
the smoke. The advantages of placing the 
opening, A. at one end, iustead of directly over 
the pan of cobs, are, to avoid the bout, aud, in 
case one of the hams should drop by the break¬ 
ing of its string, it will not be injured by get¬ 
ting into the coals. 
Instead of the barrel, a more commodious, 
square house may bo built of hoards, as shown 
iu fig. 2, giving an outside view of the house 
and a partial sectional view of the same 
foundation or furnace us shown complete in 
fig. 1. This house may be three feet square 
for the above, and of any eonven lent bight, 
and would smoke a largo number of hams, 
shoulders and pieces of bacou. Of course, the 
eutiro arrangement may be built much larger, 
if desired, and would work equally well. 
C’o., N. Y. Wm, R. Bkooks, 
WINTER FEEDING OF STOCK-No. 1. 
PHOVE88011 1C. W. STKWAHT. 
The live-stock Interest of the United States 
has grown into very great proportions. Our 
exports of atnmal products amount, in round 
numbers, to $140,000,000 annually, and are 
likely to reach $200,000,(KM) within a short 
period. But those exports represent hut a 
small proportion of our live-stock Interest. 
The home consumption of animal products is 
some six times greater than our exports. This, 
then, may be considered the great agricultural 
interest, and all the economies relating to it 
should bo thoroughly studied and practiced. 
The common mistake has been to consider 
feeding animals a matter so simple as tore- 
quire no particular knowledge; whereas, a 
little reflection will show it to be, perhaps, the 
moet complicated industry pertaining to agri¬ 
culture. 
The elements of animal bodies arc very di¬ 
verse, and nature has furnished a great variety 
of foods to nourish and build them up. But 
farmers are too apt to think their animals can 
thrive on a single food, although they well 
understand the necessity of a variety of food 
for themselves. They do not study the laws of 
animal growth as their interest requires them 
to do. The largest part of all the labor per¬ 
formed by farmers has relation to the feeding 
of stock. All the hay and other fodder raised, 
and more than half of all the grain, Is for the 
consumption of their animals. Look at the 
labor expended in fencing pastures, amount¬ 
ing. as many have estimated, to more than all 
the other Improvements upon farms. How 
important, then, that all these results of labor 
Bhoul/1 lie used with the greatest economy. 
And as I propose to discuss the feeding of 
animals during the cold season, let us first 
consider the question of 
Temperature In Feeding. 
Farmers are learning every year more of the 
laws governing animal life, and few. perhaps, 
can now be found who do not know the effect 
of a low temperature upon animals. They 
have a general understanding that it takes 
more food to keep an animal warm in cold 
than iu warm weather, yet few have an accu¬ 
rate idea of the extra food required during ex¬ 
posure to severe winter weather. I have had 
reports from careful open-air feeders in Illi¬ 
nois, that, during a severe February and 
March, thuy could not add anything to the 
weight of steers, when feeding even three- 
quarters of u bushel of ear-corn per day, con¬ 
sidered equal to one-half bushel of shelled 
corn; while upon half that amount they would 
make a respectable gain m moderate weather. 
This presents a pretty strong view of the food 
required to keep up animal heat In very cold 
weather—28 lbs. of corn to prevent steers 
from losing weight. 
The writer tried an experiment with 10 steers 
for three months, during December, January 
and February. Five wore fed in a warm sta¬ 
ble, aud five In a yard haviug a high fence that 
broke off much of the wind. The steers iu the 
stable weighed 5,800 lbs. and those iu the yard 
5,825 lbs., and the two lots were lu equal ap¬ 
parent condition. Each lot was selected for 
the purpose of making an equal division of the 
two lots. Twenty pounds of good hay per 
A tool' worn j^ivdu to tiotti lots uh ii lnuiiitcu&iicc 
ration ; and, to thosu In stable, 12 lbs. of corn 
meal, and, to those In yard, 10 lbs. or corn 
meal each per day, for the first month, and for 
the next two months 14 lbs. of meal to those 
in stable and 20 lbs. to those iu the yard. At 
the end of three mouths those lu tin; stable 
weighed 0,225 Bis., and those in the yard (5,500 
lbs. ;—the former had gained 24 lbs. per day 
and ibe latter 1$ lb. per day. If we are to 
suppose the 20 lbs. of hay sufficient for main¬ 
tenance, then the 1.200 llis. of corn meul made 
225 lbs. of Increase on those In the stable, or 
1 lb- of gain to 5.83 lbs. of meul; and as those in 
the yard gaiued only 185 lbs. each* this would 
require 720 lbs. of corn meal, and us they con¬ 
sumed 1,080 lbs. of com meal each, It must 
have takeu 000 lbs. of corn meal extra to main¬ 
tain them in the cold, open air ; this Is 11 lbs. 
of corn meal extra per day expended to keep 
up animal heat in the cold air. The weather 
was somewhat colder than average seasons, 
but It. shows what may be lost In extreme 
eases, even with the shelter of a high fence. 
This may be considered almost as great a loss, 
proportionally, as 28 lbs. of coru led lu the 
West, In hard winters, as a maintenance ra¬ 
tion without gain. This experiment was made 
In the uurly part of the winter’s feeding, and 
was sufficiently Impressive not to require a 
repetition. Five steers were fed because a 
test with a single animal would tie unreliable. 
It is quite safe to say that, In average win¬ 
ters, It requires uu addition of 75 per cent, to 
the maintenance ration of an animal, If exposed 
to the temperature of the open air, over that 
needed if it is kept in a warm, well-ventilated 
stable. Temperature has, therefore, much to 
