THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
bo small that dealers preter the Brahmas by 
long odds. 
Mr. Powell's sixth point is: “Their shape 
and color, or their beauty,” and he says that 
he would class the Dominiques, Plymouth 
Rocks, Black Spanish and Leghorns as espe¬ 
cially handsome. Now my idea is that all 
beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and what 
more beautiful sight in the poultry line than a 
flock of well-bred, well-fed Brahmas ranging 
in the pasture or feeding upon the lawn 1 They 
always remind me of the South-Downs among 
sheep aud the Short-horns among cattle. The 
rule by which I should judge of beauty on the 
farm is the old adage, “ Handsome is that 
handsome does,” and certainly no fowl has 
done better with me than the Light Brahma. 
Birds of this breed, as bred in this neighbor¬ 
hood. have no more waste in the way of necks, 
wings and feathers than have the Plymouth 
Rocks. They do not scratch as much as any of 
the other sorts, but range off in the fields like 
turkeys. As mothers they arc excellent, then- 
large, well-feathered bodies affording to the 
young chicks plenty of much-needed warmth 
in winter aud early spring—the most profita¬ 
ble seasons for hatching them for market in 
this part of the world. T. G. Lincoln. 
Bristol Co., Mass. 
®jjt 
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
“Bugs” and Beetles. 
H. F. B., Kalamazoo, Mich., asks how in¬ 
sects are classified, what the difference is be¬ 
tween a bug and a beetle, and if our striped 
visitor from Colorado, the potato “bug,” is 
really a “bug” as it is popularly called. 
Ans.—T he order Insects, which comprises 
all those little animals having six legs, the 
body divided into three distinct regions, aud 
which are generally provided with wings, is 
divided into seven suborders aud all insects 
are classed under these according to their 
several characteristics, the more highly or¬ 
ganized being placed first and the others fol¬ 
lowing in regular order terminating with the 
Neuroptera, which are the most degraded 
among insects. Thus wasps and bees, the 
highest of insects, belong to the suborder Hy- 
menoptera. Then come Lepidoptera includ¬ 
ing butterflies and moths. Next comeDiptera. 
insects having but a single pair of wings, in¬ 
cluding the flies. Then follow Coleoptera, 
(beetles), Hemiptera (bugs and lice), Orthop- 
tera, (crikets and grasshoppers) and Neurop¬ 
tera of w-hich the dragon-flies are the most 
common. It will be seen that beetles and bugs 
belong to different suborders, and that beetles 
stand the higher of the two. The beetles are 
easily recognized by the two horny shells or 
forewings (elytra) which cover the hind wings, 
and also by having the first segment of the 
thorax or breast, called the prothoracic ring, 
greatly enlarged. The gentleman from Color¬ 
ado. has these characteristics and is therefore 
a beetle aud not a bug. The Hemiptera or 
true “bugs” have the mouth-parts modified in¬ 
to a sucking tube, the body is generally flat¬ 
tened and is more angular than that of the 
beetle, and only the first or basal halves of the 
forewings are horny, while many of them are 
entirely wingless. These characteristics will 
be seen in the squash-bug. 
Raising Cream in a Spring Milk-room. 
W. E. M., WallsviUe-, Fa., asks the very 
best method of raising cream in a milk-room 
through which there flows, from a large cold 
spring, a stream capable of being made as 
deep as desired. If deep setting is recom¬ 
mended, he inquires whether the milk should 
be 6et in the water, when first strained; and 
how long should it stand before being skimmed. 
Ans.— With such facilities for water, deep 
setting would be very desirable, as it greatly 
diminishes labor and facilitates the rising of 
cream. Deep setting implies cold setting, since 
if deep, the milk must be cold to prevent 
changing. Cold setting raises cream soonest 
and most perfectly, and makes a butter which 
pleases the average taste, and which keeps 
reasonably well. Hence, we would set in 
water when fresh, and cover and submerge 
after the milk has come to the temperature of 
the air. Twelve to tweuty-four hours, accord¬ 
ing to the temperature of the water, will be¬ 
long enough to stand before skimming. When 
milk is set shallow at about 60 w in a dry aud 
pure atmosphere, the cream undergoes a ripen¬ 
ing process by which new flavors are developed 
that give the butter an exquisitenesB that can 
not be reached in deep setting, which must be 
too cold tor the ripening process to go on. It 
is so seldom that the pure, dry atmosphere of 
the right temperature can be found, that cold 
setting is generally advised. 
Cyclamen and Geranium Culture. 
Mrs. J. B., Owasco, N. Y., wantB to know 
how to grow the Cyclamen; she has raised 
some from seed, but they do not seem to do 
well. She has set her “Lady Washington 
Geranium” in the ground, and has no luck in 
raising slips from it; she would like to know 
what is the matter. 
Ans.— Cyclamens are easily managed. Give 
the young plants a mixture of fibrous loam, 
leaf-mold and well decomposed manure in equal 
parts, with the addition of some sharp sand. 
Keep the plants in small pots at first, and re¬ 
pot as often as they are filled with roots. 
Daring summer, the pots should be sunk in 
the ground out-of-doors, and watered carefully 
till the leaves begin to fade, when they should 
be allowed to rest. In the fall, repot the plants, 
remove them to the greenhouse or plant room, 
and water sparsely till they begin to grow; 
then put them in a warm, sunny place, and 
water more freely. Cyclamens are among 
our most valued plants for winter blooming. 
The “Lady Washington Geranium by which 
we suppose is meant one of the large-flowering 
Pelargoniums—should be pruned closely after 
flowering, the pot put on the side in a shaded 
place, aud receive no water for a few weeks, 
in the beginning of September it should be 
repotted iu fresh sandy soil, and again started 
to grow. Cuttings eau be made in the spring. 
A fiat box, ou the bottom of which area couple 
of inches of leaf-mold, and this covered with 
an inch and a half of white, sharp sand, will 
make a convenient bed for cuttings. 
Shrinkage of Packed Butter, etc. 
S. S. II., A /.hens, Tenn., asks, 1, whether 
packed butter shrinks by holding it some 
months, aud when does the shrinkage begin. 
2. Two cows are own sisters; both were served 
by the same bull, and he inquires what rela¬ 
tions are the calves. 
Ans— 1, Butter often shrinks by holding 
from the evaporation of water in its composi¬ 
tion, if water is retained in washing. Salt 
often causes a considerable separation of water 
from butter, causing it to shrink away from 
the sides of the package vekiok contains it, 
occasioning an accumulation of brine. This 
often occurs when butter has an unusual 
amount of water iu its composition, and is 
highly salted. Butter also shrinks when ex¬ 
posed to the air, by reason of the oxydation of 
the carbon in its soft parts occasioning an 
escape of carbonic acid gas, and the vapor of 
water which results from the splitting of the 
fats by the attack of oxygen upon their car¬ 
bon. The shrinkage is too variable to admit 
of any rule for estimating it. 2. Half-brothers 
or sisters, according to their sex. We have no 
term to express the difference in consanguin¬ 
ity between the offspring of the same male by 
females related, and females not related by 
blood. 
Canker in Fowls. 
W. J. Z., Washington Co., Pa., says: “Our 
chickens are afflicted with a disease known 
hereabouts as ‘ sore head.’ It appears to 
commence in the mouth ; the tongue and roof 
of the mouth, and fiually the head become 
covered with yellow scabs, and the birds get 
entirely blind. What is the name and what 
the remedy ?” 
Ans. —The disease is usually called “Can¬ 
ker.” It sometimes affects only the mouth and 
throat, but more frequently, as iu this case, 
extends to the eyes and head. With a piece of 
hard wood, about the size of a lead pencil, the 
end of which should be made spoon-shape, 
remove alx the “scabs” you can, ou their first 
appearance; wash the head, mouth and throat 
with a solution of chlorate of potash, or vine¬ 
gar and water, equal parts. Then powder the 
sore places with flour of sulphur. Repeat 
daily or oftener. Give soft feed; if the fowl 
refuses to eat. make the food into pellets, one 
or two inches long aud half an Inch iu diame¬ 
ter, and put them dow n the bird's throat. 
Destroying Squash-Bugs and Cut-Worms. 
JD. n., Neic Milford, Pa., has trouble with 
the squash-bugs; they aud the cut-worms are 
destroying his squash vines, and he wishes to 
know how to get rid of them. 
Ans. —We know of no better remedy for the 
squash-bugs than to catch and destroy them, 
as we have often recommended in answer to 
similar questions. Paris-green has been rec¬ 
ommended by some, and we doubt not it would 
prove efficient, but it is by far too dangerous a 
remedy to apply to plants of which the fruit or 
anything aboveground is eaten, and we cannot 
sauction its use for this purpose. The bugs 
have the habit of concealing themselves under 
small objects lying about the plants? hence, 
placing small boai ds. chips, pieces of bark, etc., 
around the plants may induce them to crawl 
uuder these, where they, on examination early 
in the morning, may be caught. The cut¬ 
worms should be dug for and picked out by 
hand. They will also conceal themselves in 
small bunches of fresh grass placed about the 
plants. 
Seeds that Won’t Germinate 
M. F. J., Unionlown, Fa., asks why certain 
flower seeds from the Rural refuse to ger¬ 
minate. Some were planted early and some 
late, but both lots are alike obstinately deter¬ 
mined not to send a shoot above ground. 
Ans. —We have never raised Calliearpa from 
seed. Yuccas germinate freely. We cannot 
_ven guess why yours have failed. Is your 
soil mellow, drainage good ? Have you kept 
it moist? Are you sure it has not been per 
mitted to dry out? Perhaps you have watered 
it too much. We have not the least trouble 
with them, and have now many plants five 
inches high from the same seed. No. the 
Hibiscus will not bloom until the second year. 
pled by Experiment Station, May 26th, from 
stock of R. B. Bradley & Co. 
281. Forrester’s Cabbage Fertilizers. 
282. Forrester’s Potato Fertilizer. 
284. Forrester’s Strawberry Fertilizers. Sam¬ 
ples 281, 282 and 2S4 were received May 28th, 
from M. S. Baldwin, Secretary Farmer’s Club, 
Naugatuck, Ct. 
Rust-proof tVheut. 
S. A. M., Scooba, Miss., asks whether there 
is any kiud of rust-proof wheat, 
Ans.—W e do not know of any. If such a 
variety were discovered or produced, it would 
be highly popular and a blessing to agricul¬ 
ture. 
Miscellaneous. 
M. F. McC., Darlington, Pa., sends us num¬ 
bered specimens of plants for name. 
Ans. —No. 1. Gillema trifoliata, of the Rose 
family. No. 2. Tradescantia Virgiuica, com¬ 
mon Spiderwort. No. 8. (Enothcra fruticosa, 
Evening Primrose family. No. 4. Valeriana 
Officinalis, Valerian family. No. 5, Please 
6 end us a better specimen. No. 0. An Arte- 
mesia—must have flower. No. 7. Spirsea opnli- 
folia (now removed to Neillia), Ninebark. 
O. H. II., Norwich, (there are seven of them 
in the country) asks where can Magnolia trees 
be purchased, and whether they will live iu the 
open air in his latitude. 
Ans.— They may be purchased of any nur¬ 
sery. Spring is the best time for transplant¬ 
ing—indeed the only time when they can be 
transplanted with success. If our friend will 
advise us of the State iu which he lives, we will 
be glad to name species which are suited to the 
climate. 
W. N., Ilancock. Wis., asks the relative 
prices of Lop-eared, Himalayan and Angora 
rabbits. 
Ans. —The Lops are the most valuable 
good specimens being worth from $5 to $10 
per pair, and extra fine animals suitable for ex¬ 
hibition bringing a6 high $20 to $25. Himalay¬ 
an s and Augorasjare more easily bred aud much 
lower in price; fine specimens being sold at 
$5 per pair. 
D. If. If. Cablmll, Texas, says that iu his 
section the leaves of corn alone arc called fod¬ 
der. and he asks whether in returning account 
of Blunt's corn, the whole stalk, exeept the 
ear, is to be included in that term, or the leaves 
merely. 
Ans. —The leaves and stalks, less the ears. 
U. S. T., Ontario, Canada, has planted his 
premium-corn on ground surrounded by Pearl 
Millet, to prevent it from mixing with yellow 
corn, and he asks whether he has infringed 
the rules of fair-play. 
Ans.—W e should say, “ No.” 
8. F. B., Buckeye Center, III., asks where 
eau a work on archery be bought. 
Ans. —Messrs Scribner & Co., of this city 
publish an excellent work, treating of every 
part of the subject—price $1.50. 
J. If, Guilford Conn., asks how to destroy 
rose-bugs. 
Ans. —We have never known so many rose- 
bugs as during the present season. We really 
do not know what to advise. 
J. T. M., Lysander. N. 1'.. sends us a grass, 
asking for its name and if it has any value 
for pasturage. 
Ans. —The grass is Millet Grass (Milium effu- 
sum). It has no value as a forage plant. 
COMMUNICATIONS RECEIVED FOR THE WEEK ENDING 
Saturday. June zsth. 
S. E. J—A. S.—G. W. A.—F. A. B.—A. V. D—R. 
C. J.—M. M. W.—J. M. C.—E. D.-M. A. II.—C. J. 
n.-j. K.-J. A. P.-J. E.-W. R. G.—H. A. W.— 
W. G. W., Thanks-E. L. M.—L. M.—T. B.-S. S. 
B.-M. S. W —W. R. II.—It. J. E.-G. O. W.-A. M. 
H.—A. L.-E. N.—11. T. J., Thanks-B. F. T.-K. S. 
—L. J. A.—B. P. M.-W. C.-O. S. B.-J. M. bait— 
F. D. C., Three—S. K, M.—S. 8. M.—O. 0. D.—U. 
T. 8.—J. E.-J. T. C.—D. 1L—E. II. B—F. II. D — 
W. S. T.—J. E.—A. 8. A.—S. B. P., Thanks—G. D. 
S— E. S. B.—J. W. it.—“A Subscriber”—Bertha 
U —W. B.— L. S—W. H. N.— T. 11. H.—L. A. R., 
ThankS-A. E. G.—W. H. H.—E. W. S.—H. R., 
Thanks. 
CONNECTICUT AGRICULTURAL EXPERI¬ 
MENT STATION. 
Bulletin 30.— June 20, 1879. 
Fertilizer Analyses. 
279. Lister Brothers' Ground Bone. Sam¬ 
pled by Experiment Station, May 26th, from 
stock of R. B. Bradley & Co, 
. 288. Ground Bone. Royal Jennings, agt., 
Trumbull, Ct. Sampled and sent May 30th, 
by Fr. G. Heublein & G. Goessiuger. 
!iS8 
Nitrogen. 
... 2.80 
3.86 
Plum. Acid... 
... 10.63 
19.46 
Estimated value per ton.... 
... *23.10 
$37.67 
Cost per ton... 
... 30.00 
32.00 
280. Stockbridge Grass Top-dressing. Sam- 
280 
281 
282 
284 
Nitrogen as Am’nia ... 
2.14 
6.99 
3.90 
2.41 
Nitrogen as nitrates.... 
Nitrogen, organic. 
2.79 
1.17 
.28 
.72 
.60 
JSol. Phos. Acid. 
3.79 
3.85 
.37 
8.22 
Rev. Phos. Acid. 
.30 
2.21 
5.09 
2-12 
Insol. Phos. Acid. 
.36 
.45 
1.63 
35 
Potash. 
7.62 
7.44 
9.06 
5.91 
Chlorine. 
7.51 
2.03 
2.66 
2.10 
Est. val. per ton. 
Cost per ton. 
$46.10 
$51.21 
$43.67 
$46.66 
. 60.00 
40.00 
47.50 
42.50 
Cost per ton of 288 is reckoned from price 
per hundred weight, viz., $1.00. 
Cost per ton ot 280 is reckoned from price 
per bag of 200 lbs., viz. $5.00. 
Sample 279 contains 21.6 per cent, of matters 
soluble in cold water, mostly “salt cake” (?). 
The potash of 280 exists as muriate aud is 
reckoned at 41 cents per pouud. 
The potash of 281, 282 and 284 is reckoned at 
six cents per pound. 
S. W. Johnson, Director. 
WHAT OTHERS SAY. 
Prickley Comfrey. —In 1878 a correspond¬ 
ent of the London Gazette planted some of the 
above plants iu a corner by his piggeries. It 
was a piece of land under trees, aud would 
grow nothing but weeds. He planted in 
March and it was ready for first cutting iu 
June, aud was cut four times last summer, 
principally for the pigs, ft cow preparing for 
Christmas, and calves. Although the above 
stock live on the best of grain and cake they 
eat the comfrey once a day greedily. He has 
‘now inapigstye fourteen caged lambs that 
suckle a small cow, get cake and grain and 
prickly comfrey twice a day since the begin¬ 
ning of April, and are doing very well. He 
considers it a most valuable plant; it seems to 
take hold of the ground so that neither wet nor 
drought affects its growth, aud it will produce 
green food for eight months in the year. He 
thinks it is quite a treat to see the little lambs 
enjoyiDg their comfrey and also considers it 
ornamental, aud believes no other plant will 
grow the same amount of produce. 
Primary Cause of Yellows.— Our friend 
Mr. E. J. Williams, tells the N. Y. Tribune, that 
every season quantities of peaches of all ques¬ 
tionable sorts are sent to the New York mar¬ 
ket from the south- If in very bad order they 
are overhauled, the rotten aud unsalable are 
thrown out, divested of their flesh, the pits 
washed clean, dried aud stored away; in some 
cases the pits are the only part of the shipment 
from which anything is realized. At the close 
of the season these pits are barreled up and 
exposed for sale labeled “Prime Southern 
Peach Pits,” and find their way to all parts of 
the country. 
Here he contends is to be found the primary 
cause of yellows and premature decay of peach 
orchards, so disastrous and discouraging to 
planters in all sections, for, like consumption 
in the human family, which is often heredita¬ 
ry, it does not develop itself till arriving at 
maturity, and an impoverishment of the 60 iJ is 
favorable to this development. 
Roadsides Cultivated. —Mr. Genncrt, wri¬ 
ting to the American Cultivator from Calitor- 
nia, says that while he was riding with a farmer 
to examine the beet fields, he was involuntarily 
reminded of the intervale land around Frye- 
burg. Maine, foul with weeds wherever you 
turn, though richer than any land he had seen 
yet. He found every patch of land utilized. 
On the public roads alongside the fences, that 
part which is not actually cut up by the wheels 
is, with rare exceptions, sown in grain; al¬ 
though even sugar beets are planted there iu 
some spots. He asked his friend, with whom 
he was riding, if that paid. He replied, “ Well, 
it just about pays for the labor; but if these 
strips were grown thick with weeds, which 
would be the case if not cultivated, it would 
give us a great deal more work to keep the 
fields clean.” 
The Farmers' Lawn.— Mr. Hyde says, in 
the Massachusetts Ploughman, that no one be¬ 
grudges the chickens a yard in which to run, 
flirt and frolic, and are. not children entitled to 
equal privileges with the chickens? What¬ 
ever makes home attractive, if it is no more 
expensive than a lawn, is not wasteful. If wo 
wish to keep our boys on the farm, and to 
train our daughters for farmers’ wives, wo 
must make the home pleasant and farm life 
something besides mere drudgery. We know 
nothing that adds such a charm to a country 
home as a lawn; ami when, after the labors of 
the day are over, the boys and girls assemble 
upon it to play croquet, arn^ the grace of mo¬ 
tion and the exhilaration of social life arc added 
to this thing of beauty, the scene is delightful, 
aud if anything will make the farm attractive, 
this will. 
Curiosities in Pomology. — The Hart¬ 
ford Post says: “some years ago one of 
our citizens bought and set out some thrifty 
young apple trees. From one of them ho neg- 
