JUNE 24 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
seenitonany other kind. It is hardly pro- de 
bable the severity ot the winter had anything an 
to do with the cause, whatever may have been 
its effects, if any. How the fungus propagates 
itself—whether through the ground and sap- ta) 
vessels, or by the spores flying about and be- g n 
coming attached to the plaut above ground an 
and thence growing and spreading—is, as far 
as we know, undecided: but, like many diseases, 
the human family is heir to, it is iufectious, 
and the only safety, as stated elsewhere, lies iu tU 
cremation. p C 
Training a Colt. ^h 
W. N. C., Glendale, Pa., asks the best way 6 y 
to train a colt and how early should the train- pi 
ing begin. bt 
Ans —When a week old, a colt may be hi 
halter-broken and taught to staud tied up by tf 
its dam. It may be trained to stop at the word ai 
“ whoa!” and to hack up. Wheu two years tr 
■old, if compactly made, it may be put iu the si 
harness aud driven slowly before a light ve- ai 
hide ; but, if largo aud loosely formed, it tl 
should uot be driven at all before it is three or it 
four years of age, or the joints may be injured. 
Every colt should ho thoroughly subdued aud 
accustomed to the harness ou its body aud a 
about its legs before being attached to any- g 
thing. If this part of the training is thorough- j 
ly done, the animal will rarely become fright- y 
ieued if any accident happens. A stubborn 
and unmanageable coll may be made tract- g 
able in alow minutes by tyiug the halter to its 
tail, and whirling it around iu u circle. This . 
is better thau the Rarey system of throwing r 
the auimal, as iliero is no dr anger of strain- j 
im'. A eolt should be taught but one thing at 
3 I C 
a time. 
Mode of Planting Blunt's Cora for Iturul Pre¬ 
miums. 
A. C. W., Hugo, III , says that it is a well- 1 
known fact that in Illinois more corn to the 
acre can be raised iu a large liekl than in a 
small plot. How, suppose a person has enough 1 
of Blunt's corn to plaut, say, 10 acres, and 1 
right iu the middle oi the held he stakes off ; 
oue-fortietli of au acre, aud there plants the 1 
seed seut by the Rural, or plants it just ad¬ 
joining his large field : he asks whether such a 
mode oi plauliug would accord with the terms 
aeeordiug to which those wUo compete for the 
Rural premiums, must plaut their plots. 
Ans.—T hu question here raised is a good 
one. It would uot be fair to cut out a fortieth 
of au aero from a large plot of corn. The 
corn which we have scut iu our subscribers 
(it matters not how many kernels each parcel 
contains, »o long as we are informed of the 
number pluutod ), must be planted within the 
area of one-fortieth of an acre, and it must not 
be conueeted with any otUer plot. A consid¬ 
erable distance should separate them—say, 100 
yards. But, for obvious reasons, we cannot 
prescribe the exact limit. We insist, however, 
that the one-fortieth of au acre should uot be a 
part of any other plot. 
Mortality Among Bees. 
J. I). T., Bruokside, K. J., writes us that 
very many bees have died iu that seetiou this 
spring aud summer. No apparent cause eau 
be found, as they have an abuudauce of honey 
aud there are no 6igns of disease. One man 
lost sixteen colonies out of 43; others have 
lost more or less, and some all. On au aver¬ 
age, the loss is about two-thirda of the whole 
stock. He asks if we cau assign the cause and 
give a preventive. 
Ans. —We arc unable to give either cause or 
preventive in this case. If the bees arc breed¬ 
ing, are gathering houey, aud are apparently 
healthy iu every way, it seems rather mysteri¬ 
ous that so many colonies should die. Of 
course, there is a cause, which we doubt uot 
may be found on close observation. It may 
be possible that it is some new bee-malady 
hitherto unknown. The human family suffers 
from epidemic diseases, as do horses, cattle 
and all other domestic animals. It does uot 
seem impossible that bees, too, might be sim¬ 
ilarly affected. At any rate, it is worth in¬ 
vestigating, aud we shall be glad to receive 
further data ou the subject. 
Treatment of Night Soil. 
J. B., Union, N. Y., asks the best way to 
treat a lot of night soil—whether to compost 
it with other inauure or to mix it with coal 
ashes or muck of which he has four acres— 
or to add lime and salt to it. 
Ans.— Night soil cau best be composted with 
earth. To handle it conveniently, prepare a 
bed of earth or sifted coal ashes a few inches 
deep, and raise a bank around it of the same 
material sufficiently high to prevent the soft, 
semi-liquid matter from flowing over. When 
the cesspool is emptied or the bed is filled, 
turn in the earth aud mix it with the uight 
soil so as to have it thoroughly intermingled 
and nearly dry. It would be well to scatter 
a few' bushels of plaster over the compost as it 
is mixed The heap should stand a few days, 
wheu it will become dry, almost odorless and 
can be handled without inconvenience. It 
should be used at once, as the oxiilatiou of the 
night soil goes on very rapidly as soon as it is 
mixed with the earth, aud the value rapidly 
depreciates. Muck, if dry and fine, will make 
an excellent absorbent. 
Lantanas. " 
K. I). A., Clinton, Mich., asks how soon Lan- A 
tauus will bloom from seed. She has some o. 
fine young plaut6 raised from seed this spring. J 1 - 
and now the questions arise whether they will j' 
bloom this summer and how they should he c. 
treated. 
Ans.—I t is best not to expect any flowers £ 
till next summer, then you will uot be disap- _ 
pointed. Plaut them iu a bed in the garden m 
this summer, and train them to well-formed, 
symmetrical plants by tying them up aud “ 
pinching the most lawless shoots. Iu Bepteni- j 
her they should be lifted, both roots aud y 
branches cut back, aud potted for wintering iu a 
the greenhouse. Some varieties of Lantaua p 
are very vigorous growers; these cau be G 
trained in tree form, if desired. Cut off all C 
side branches from the most vigorous shoot * 
and train it perpendicularly to a bight of from 
three to six feet, then piueh off the tip aud let 
it form a symmetrical head. 
Honeysuckle* lor Hedge*. 
J. E. L., Ban Antonio, Texas, referring to an 
article iu the Ritual, which spoke of Honey¬ 
suckles suitable for hedges, asks what kiud of 
Honeysuckle would auswer the purpose, aud 
when should it be planted. 
Ans.— Almost any of the standard Houey- 1 
suckles is suitable for this purpose, if cut 1 
back from year to year. There is a long list 1 
in most nurserymen’s catalogues. The Tarta- 1 
rian would, perhaps, answer us well as any. . 
It is easily propagated by cuttings, layers or 
seed, iu spring. 
Removing Suckers from Corn. 
M. !>., Cojfegville, Kansas, says his Blunt’s 
corn is sending out suckers, aud asks whether 
lie shall cut them off. 
Ans.—W hether there is anything gained by 
removiug suckers is a disputed question. Re¬ 
cent experiments go to show that there is uo 
advantage iu removiug litem. lhe pistils 
(silk) of corn do uot mature simultaneously. 
Borne think that the pollen from Lhe suckers 
may be serviceable to those maturing plant, 
which wouid uot otherwise be polleualod. 
We do uot inloud to remove the suckers 
from our plot of Bluut'seoru. 
Miscellaneous. 
A. M. Ukoiona, Miss., complains that his 
melon vines have for several years been badly 
oaten by insects, aud ucks for a remedy. 
Ans.—T o apply poisons to melon vines or 
other vegetable bearing fruit, is too dangerous. 
Insects may be kept iu cheek, though they are 
uot killed, by a liberal application of a mix¬ 
ture of wood ashes and plaster, scattered over 
the leaves aud around lhe stems of the plants, 
If oue has but a small plot, it will pay lo look 
all lhe plants over while young, uiul destroy 
all eggs that may be fouud. 
0. A. Macon City Mo., lias ou his lawu 
several mulberry trees all ot which bear fruit 
except ouc. The exception is different iu 
appearance from the others, aud has a splen¬ 
did show of fiuit iu spring, but they all drop 
otf later on. lie has dug arouud it and fer¬ 
tilized it aud it is growing vigorously, and he 
asks for a remedy for the dropping off of the 
fruit. 
Ans.—A s the tree is vigorous, we cau ouly 
suggest root-pruning. 
M. W. U. address not given, wishes to know 
how iu deou'uy the lice on his grape viues; 
r they woi iv ou the tips of the young shoots aud 
also ou tUc leaves. 
f Ans.—D ip the cuds of the young brauches 
t in a pail ot tobacco water, and gently syringe 
j the leaves with the same. A weak solution 
f of whale-oil soup will also accomplish the 
s same end. 
a P. U., Morristown, N. J.. asks who has 
1 Lop-eared rabbits for sale aud whether the 
Himalaya or Angora rabbits are dearer than 
the Lops. 
e Ass.—A. M. Halsted, Rye, Westchester Co., 
N. Y. has Loo-cared rabbits for sale. Neither 
the Himalaya nor Angora babbits are dearer 
thau the Lops. These are the rarest and 
;l highest-priced. 
d W. If., Pitcher, N. Y., asks whether liquid 
manure direct from the cow stable is a good 
application for Straw berries. 
1 , Ass.—Yes, especially when the fruit is set 
a aud swelling; but it must be diluted with, say, 
3S thrice the quantity of water before applying it, 
■e otherwise it will "burn’’ the plants. 
D. A.—Zena Claybourne— M. B.—T. AV.—E. P.—H. C. S. 
-H. M. D.-P. K. R. - E. T, Al<'C.-K. AV. F.-J. E. C.— 
T. H. H.—E. Or.—J. W. A. — J. 0. A.— G. M. —N, K. D.— 
\V. R. At. — W. W. W. — K. D. A.—T. W. H. — .1. E. C. — 
“ Chatham”—W. H. I.-W. L. C.-J. T. W —I. H. C. B.— 
A. M. C. - H. A. 8. — A, P. T. — E. 8. U. — M. F. C. — 
G. W M.-A. W. B.-R. \V. H.-G. W. W.-K. H.— J. S. E. 
T. T. R. — R. R. — H. D.P. —J. K. B.-G. A. B.-J. G.— 
J. F. R.— F. I>. (J.— G. O. 8.—D. E. H.—W. H.—K. A. (>.— 
J. K. 8. — -T. V. L. — J. 0. K. — N. 8. — E. M.—C. L, T — 
C. A. P. - 8. C. 8. - l). M. S.-J. U, -A. H.~J. W. M.- 
J. B.-.I. J. H. — T. 8. B. - J. C. L. - J. L. W.-B. P. H. 
E. 8.—A. F. If. A. P. — J. 8. k B. - J. B. E—W. 8. II.- 
G. B.—.T. E. 8.—A. W. At,—C. W. It. — E. A. G.—8. R. M. 
—At. AI. L.-C. 1).. thanks—>1. T. — A. B. D.—T. F. At.— 
At. O.—E. A. B —8. 8. D.—S. Af. T.—\V. W. W.—W. O.O. 
-V. J. E.—J. J. H.-X. A. P.-A. D. —VV. J. N.-L. V. G. 
-U. H. r.-H. H.-G. w. F.-F. D. P.- A. T.-N. 8. ft ,— 
W. A. H.—E. P. K.—W, J,. W. J. B. R.—1. P.—O’- C. 8.— 
J. H. L.-C. H. .1.-0. & IS.- G. W. 8.-0. R.-T. W. W.— 
AI. L. B.-J. W. C. - A. E. C. - C. F. H. - E. A. McG— 
A S.—E. K. P.—Aire, McC. —O. F. P.—G. H — H. T. V.— 
H. M. VV. - S. C. B. - T. AT. F. - A. E. B. - W. J. F„ - 
P. H. N. - E. Add. — K. J. P. - J' B.—T. 8. — It. F. 8.- 
G. H.—M. S. — J. H. P. — Mrs. J. S., thanks- B. F. D.— 
C. A. F. - D. A. H. — E. At. B. — J. B. CL - R. E. C. — 
H. B. D—It. J. W—LF. — S. L. I. —J. C. V.—W. P. S.— 
X. J. P.-W. M. E.—VV. B. P.-AIrs. S.-J. X. 
273. Russell Coe’s Superphosphate. Sam¬ 
pled by Buck & Durkee, dealers, Willimantic. 
Received May 12th. 
275. Lombard & Matthewson’e Superphos¬ 
phate. Sampled aud sent May 21st, by John 
D. Gaylord, Ashford. 
STATION ANALYSES. 
'ZTi 
277 
273 
375 
. 2.48 
2.56 
1.99 
3.15 
8.76 
8.02 
2.62 
. .51 
2.16 
1.74 
9.52 
. 1.65 
1.45 
3.46 
4.46 
$37.49 
$38.06 
$35.98 
$42.53 
40.00 
40.00 
40.00 
38.00 
NOTES FROM THE RURAL GROUNDS. 
Strawberries. 1 
Sharpless.— A dozen plants were sent to c 
us from Messrs. Eilwauger aud Barry’s. This t 
new variety has been much talked of aud ex- f 
tousivcly advertised. Of all our varieties this, 
during the past winter and spring up to the 
present time, has been the most vigorous. 
The leaves are very large aud held up by long 
petioles. But the peduncles, instead of grow¬ 
ing erect until pulled down by the weight of i 
the fruit, often shoot out the same as runners. ( 
If this habit be not exceptional, it will make 
an objection to this variety, since the berries 
grow aud ripen flat upon the ground or mulch. 
The peculiar shape of this berry is remarka¬ 
bly constant aud although as we make these 
notes (June 8) there is uot a ripe berry ou the 
vines, it would be easy among twenty varie¬ 
ties to pick out every Sharpless. 
Crescent Seedling.— (E. P. Roe). Our 
plautsof this variety are so full of berries that 
it seems impossible that all should ripen. We 
have just counted 155 upon one medium-sized 
plaut, each raceme beariug from 30@40. None 
ripe at this date. 
Forest Rose.— (E. P. Roe) is by no means 
so prolifle. The pedicels are loug aud few. 
None ripe. 
From the Ocean Co. Aguicltukal So- 
ci: l'Y of Ohio we received a dozen plants of a 
variety uot yet named. They are stroug grow¬ 
ers, bearing large leaves and "rather short 
petioles. The berry is much like that of Beau¬ 
ty or Borden 30, except that it ripens eveuly 
aud is of excellent quality. 
Golden Defiance improves with ac¬ 
quaintance. It is both vigorous and prolific. 
The berries are of what might be called the 
perfect strawberry shape, aud they are held up 
finely by stroug stalks, so that mulchiug is 
scarcely necessary. 
The Strawberry needs moisture, and a 
rich and well draiued soil. We have supplied 
the draining and the richness, and the season 
has supplied all the moisture needed. The 
result is a promise of an immense quantity of 
the largest berries we have ever raised. 
As the seasou advances and the new varie¬ 
ties develop their merits or demerits, we shall 
endeavor to furnish those of our readers who 
intend to form new plantations,with such uotes 
as may guide them iu a judicious selection. We 
are well satisfied that among the many uew 
kinds we are testing there are several which 
will escape the verdict which trustworthy tesis, 
us a rule, impose upon uew plants of all sorts. 
Raspberries. 
We may now record that of all our Raspber¬ 
ries, Cuthbert, Montclair, Erwood’s Everbear¬ 
ing, and Highland Hardy have stood the past 
Avintcr best; Delaware and Brandywine, next. 
Brincklc's Orange was killed to the ground, 
though protected. Florence (yellow), unpro¬ 
tected, was less injured. 
The Thwack, seut to us to be tested by the 
Messrs. Uauoe & Sou of Rod Bunk N. J., our 
readers may remember wo regarded as a 
highly promising market sort, should it prove 
to be barfly. The berries are large and Ann aud, 
though of poor flavor the bushes are thrifty and 
fairly prolific. We have given it a fair test 
' during three seasons. It seemed unusually 
> hardy during lhe first aud second—but every 
' oue of our six plants has been killed nearly 
to the ground by the past winter. 
question. 
"Is there a simple chemical test for the de¬ 
tection of coal-ashes in wood-ashes ? With the 
present low price of coal it is quite risky to 
buy leached ashes.” 
ANSWER. 
Wood-ashes can be tested for coal-ashes 
most simply by putting a few handfuls iu a 
pan, wetting the whole thoroughly aud stirring 
it under a gentle stream of water. The fine 
ashes will float away iu the overflowing water, 
leaving, in case of pure wood ashes, merely 
some charcoal aud sand which are always 
present iu wood-ashes. Ifeoal-ashesareiutor- 
mixed, bits of half-burued coal and lniups of slag 
or cliuker will also remain, which cau easily be 
identified, and from their quantity some idea 
of the extent of the adulteration can be formed. 
Suspected samples may be sent to the Station 
for further examination. 
' S. W. Johnson, Director. 
COMMUNICATIONS RECEIVED FOR TUB WEEK ENDING 
Saturday, June 14th. 
S. W. G.-L. Ii.— At. H. P.-G. E. C.-E. Y. K.-N. J. A. 
—R. W. -J. AI -E. .1. P.-D. W. B.-J. H. M.-X. J. E.- 
C. F. K.-S. G. II. P. 8. W.-C. U. P.-J. B. It.—G. IX. A. 
8. B -G. JL>. N. K. II.- AI. B. O.-S. W. I.-G. W. AI.— 
J. G. - L. 8. F. - D. C. 8. - V. J. IS, -A. D.-D. B. B.- 
0, M. J. ». Vi 8.- J. H. s.- \. Al. U. 0 G. -F. D. B.- 
J. N.-O. B. C.-W . L. 13. - Ii. P. W. - R. L. 8 - H. S.- 
J. R. A.-C. 13. D.—Al. At, IJ. W, McF.—A. N, G.—G. G. 
- AUria-K. U.-E. L. G -ii. G. G.-E, At- B.-J. N. C.- 
.1. J. F. -8. A. O.-H. U. Aid,,—J. O. D. —J. G.-E. C. F. 
8. AI. X.— A. D.—L. F. — J. O. C. —X. C.—A. K—E. W.— 
J. F. D.-R. J. - AV. H. 13. - X. G. L.-X. H, H.-G. G - 
H. C. S. - G- E. W. - J. D. G. N .- J. D.-R. X. MoH.— 
CONNECTICDT AGRICULTURAL EXPERI¬ 
MENT STATION. 
Bulletin 2S.— June 6 . 1879. 
Fertilizer Analyses. 
272. E. Frank Coe's Superphosphate. Sam¬ 
pled by Buck A Durkee. dealers, Willimantic. 
Received May 12th. 
277. E. Frank Coe’s Superphosphate. Sam¬ 
pled May 36tll. by Experiment Station, from 
stock of R. B, Bradley & Co., New llavcu. 
CATALOGUES, &c., RECEIVED. 
Pacific Rural Handbook, by Chas. H. 
Shinn ; published by Dewey & Co., San Fran¬ 
cisco. Price, oue. dollar. Mr. Shinn was for¬ 
merly a contributor to the Rural Neav-Yorker, 
for Avhicjx he sti’l writes occasionally. He is 
now the able editor of the California Horticul¬ 
turist. and Horticulture and Gardening, the 
subject of the little work before us, could not 
have been treated of by a luoru competent 
authority. The book comprises 123 pages, aad 
contaius a series of brief, practical essays and 
uotes on the culture of trees, vegetables and 
flowers adapted to the Pacific Coast; also, 
hints on .home and farm improvement. The 
book manifests throughout the author'-, ardent 
love for the Beautiful in nature, aud is well 
calculated to inflame and stimulate the same 
sentiment iu its readers. 
Plant Catalogue from R. S. Victoria and 
Paradise Nurseries, Upper Halloway. London, 
England. This is a pamphlet of 12S pages, 
containing several fine wood cuts and a com¬ 
prehensive list of Orchids, Ferns. Palms ard 
general stove and greenhouse plants, and of 
uew plants for 1879. Mr. Williams is a avcII- 
kuowu author of several Avorks ou greenhouse 
plants aud their culture. He makes a specialty 
of choice stove plants, and brings every year 
numerous uew and valuable plants to the no¬ 
tice of the public. The catalogue contains 
particularly a large uud choiee list of Orchids. 
Ferns aud Lycopodiums, a class of plants that 
is sadly neglected in this country. 
Catalogue of Dutch Flower roots from Pol- 
man Mooy, at Haarlem, Hollaud. It contaius a 
loug List of choice Hyacinths, Tulips. Narcis¬ 
suses. Anemones, Ranunculuses, Crocuses, 
Amaryllis, Gladioli and rnauy other select 
bulbs. The firm solicits its patrons to send iu 
their orders at au early date iu order to give 
each the promptest attention. 
Peter Henderson & Co. send us their 
special l ist of Vegetable Plants and Seeds. The 
leading varieties of celery, cabbage and cauli¬ 
flower plants are described, and seeds for pres¬ 
ent and fall sowing are enumerated. 
Catalogue of the University of N. C. 1878-9. 
A CORRECTION. 
In "Our Bee Hints" of June 7, page 860, it 
reads. "Under normal conditions au egg in a 
queen cell will hatch iu three days; in live 
days more the cell will be capped, aud in 
about 16 days later her majesty will come forth 
fully developed, making altogether about 24 
days.” It should read, "aud in about 16 days 
her majesty will come forth fully developed, 
which is five aud eight days earlier thau work¬ 
ers aud drones respectively, the former emerg¬ 
ing in about 31 days, and for the latter three 
days more, making altogether about 24 days.” 
—[Eds. 
-« * ♦- 
Sheep Poisoned by' Eating Laurel. —We 
occasionally see a query asking for a remedy 
for the cure of sheep, that have been poisoned 
by eating Laurel. I will give the readers of the 
Renat, a very simple remedy hat cured several 
of my sheep, two years ago, after they had be¬ 
come so bad from the effects of the poison, 
that they could not get up. I made a strong 
j tea from corn cobs and gave it to them. Their 
recovery commenced at once, aud was very 
rapid. I believe it to be a sure cure for the 
above poison ami hope that any who arc so 
unfortunate as to have sheep thus troubled, will 
[jive this remedy" a trial. d. 
