AUG. 30 
THE BUBAL NEW-YORKER. 
ings begun with 50 loads of such stuff, receives 
the emptyings from the kitchens and slop of 
all kinds, soap-suds, the contents of chamber 
buckets, allies, the emptyings of garden 
houses, etc. Tina pile, with the addition once a 
month of f rom 10 to 20 loads of fresh earth or 
muck, makes a compost that cannot bo beaten 
for corn. Then again, Immense quantities of 
straw fodder and all other waste go through 
the stable and hog-pons into the barnyard* 
Any one would be surprised to find the amount 
that goes into it. When made cm object, 250 
loads can be made from farms of this size. I 
am again growing a piece of the Prolific Corn. 
I am still inclined to think it only prolific in 
fodder, and efforts to make ears. The iillle 
spikes stand on arms a foot to 18 inches from 
the stalk. The latter is large enough to 
make immense ears, but. those ou it arc small. 
The grain is shallow, and instead of having a 
salable appearance in bulk, it has a trashy 
look, when compared with our tine varieties of 
white corn here. It is not the number of ears 
to a stalk that makes large yields- Corn planted 
3 ft. 0 Inches, or4 ft. by 21, with two stalks left 
in the bill, and each bearing a fair car of 20 ox- 
24 rows, makes a great deal of grain per acre. 
It is the number of stalks bearing ears that 
makes the crop- It is poor economy to leave 
three, four or live stalks of corn in a bill, no 
matter how rich the land. Peaches are now 
going from our Peninsula by every conveyance 
at small figures. t. n. b. 
West Va., Bedington, Berkeley Co., Aug. 
15.—Seeing so much said about Blount’s Pro¬ 
lific corn In the columns of the Rural, prompts 
me to say something about the progress of the 
package sent mo. My corn is about 10 feet 
high and has from three to live ears on a 
stalk. It didn't come up very well from some 
cause, else I would have contested for a prize. 
Tlu* Pearl Millet has gone “where the wood¬ 
bine twiuctli," and is a perfect failure. As to 
our crops generally, we have a very good 
crop of early potatoes. Wheat has not as 
good a growth of straw, but it has a better 
yield, of grain than last year, milking a fair 
average crop of about 15 bushels to the acre. 
Oats arc almost a failure—not exceeding 20 
bushels to the acre, with only a small acreage 
sown. The fair season we have had since 
harvest, makes our corn crop quite prosper¬ 
ous indeed, and if the season continues favora¬ 
ble we shall have an extraordinary yield. 
Everything is iu flourishing condition. A 
large crop of clover seed is expected. Timothy 
seed sells for $1.25; clover. $3.50; wheat, 
$1.05; corn 40c; oats, 25c ; potatoes, 50c; but¬ 
ter, 16c; eggs, 8e. j. it. l. 
Sotmc Carolina, Aikin, Aikin Co., Aug. 
17.—Perhaps Rural readers would like to 
know something of this region at mid-summer. 
This town is on high ground, certainly the 
highest In this vicinity, the country sloping 
downward from us in all directions. A part 
of the rainfall on our streets runs eastward and 
empties Into the ICdisto River, reaching the 
Atlantic at Charleston, while on the west, side 
of the town the water runs westward aud into 
the Savannah River, reaching the ocean at 
Savannah. Thus wo are on the summit of this 
sand-hill region, and this will account for the 
extreme hcalthfulness of the place at all sea¬ 
sons of the year. Having lived here now over 
ten years continuously, I tun prepared to state 
that during that whole period we have lmd 
nothing to interrupt the salubrity of the place. 
On coining hither from N, Y. State iu 1809, I 
found hero a disorganized state of affairs. The 
war had cleaned out the couutry, uud its stock 
and farm implements were wretched sights. 
Before that time the lauds here were counted 
too poor to be worth working, but necessity 
forced a trial, and it was found these saudy 
soils, especially those having a clay sub-soil, 
would pay, and make good crops. The people 
went to work on them, and, while before the 
war the lanu products brought to this market 
—especially cottou—were of very small amount, 
in 1874, six years after the start in 1888, 800 
bales of the staple were Bold on our streets, and 
the quantity has been increasing every year 
steadily until the last year's crop was probably 
not less than 4,300 bales. At the same time the 
yield in other farm products was doubled up, 
aud is rapidly increasing. In looking at the 
farms, fences, buildings, implements. 8tock, 
etc., the improvement seems magical, so great 
has it been. There will be found few points in 
our country, or in this sout hern country rather, 
that have advanced so much and improved so 
rapidly as the farming community aud farms 
in this vicinity. With a soil suseeptiblu of 
quick Improvement aud returns for the work 
put on it, a mild climate, healthy at all seasons 
of the year, it preedits great attractions. As 
to crops, so far the grain crops arc fair. Wheat 
and oats arc good; corn was badly injured by 
the long drought, lusting from the lattor part 
of April to the latter part of .Inly, with only a 
few small showers—the driest time while I have 
lived here. Cotton is now looking very well; 
the dry spoil dhlnotiujure it, and the rains since 
have set it forward, and this week “ picking " 
begins, and soon all will be busy in securing 
the fleecy crop. There are two agricultural 
clubs iu this equuty, fho Beech Island Agri¬ 
cultural Club, in the southern section of the 
county, one of the oldest in the Union, holds 
regular monthly meetings to discuss the best 
ways and means for advancing our agricul¬ 
tural interests, and the Millbrook Club, in the 
eastern part of the county, is also doing good 
work collecting, discussing and disseminating 
farm knowledge. This year we have to lament 
the loss of our early peach crop—cut off by a 
sharp freeze in March ; there are thousands of 
trees that would not average one peach to the 
tree. Of late peaches we have only a few. 
Taking advantage of early and late varieties, 
we generally have peaches from early June to 
October. The apple crop promises fairly. 
Figs were somewhat injured by the drought. 
The Blount corn semt me I planted in my gar¬ 
den and it did splendidly. It had set from 
three to eleven ears per stalk; but alas! the 
dry time cut it down and ruined it entirely. 
It called forth much wonder and speculation 
while it was flourishing, aud I had many re¬ 
quests for seed from it, as nothing of the kind 
had ever been seen here before. s. o. 
Alabama, Danville, Morgan Co., Aug. 21st. 
The corn crop iu north Alabama Is very fine. 
Cotton is injured by red and black rust, Blount’s 
Prolific com scut me by the Rural, was planted 
ou May the 8th. It grew very tall, ami has 
from two to five oars now nearly dry enough 
for gathering. The cars arc flue, and I think 
will beat any of onr Southern corn yet pro¬ 
duced. Our Pearl Millet has been cut the third 
time. I left for seed one bunch which is iu 
full head and eight feet high. Beauty of 
Hebron did not do well. It was planted rather 
late. The few potatoes raised from it are tine. 
The wheat crop is hardly an average one. Oats 
are over au average crop. Sweet potatoes, I 
think will be an average crop. Baeou soils from 
8 to 9e. Corn, 75e.; Hour, from 3Jc to 4c. per 
lb; butter, 18e to 20c.; eggs, from 6c to 10c.; 
chickens, to l2$c. Money is very scarce, and 
business dull. The farmers work hard aud 
live economically to get out of debt incurred 
before contraction, but money is too dear; it 
takes too much of the farmer’s produce to get 
one hundred cents. Farmers will in a great 
measure have to succumb to the heavy mort¬ 
gages unless help comes in the way of infla¬ 
tion in the circulating medium. People cannot 
pay debts without money to pay them with. 
H. n. v. 
Ala., Orrville, Dallas Co., Aug. 9th.—I am 
pleased to report that all the seeds the Rural 
so kindly scut me have given satisfaction. 
One of your correspondents has surpassed me 
iu the yield from the Beauty of Hebron potato. 
I have so far gotten 13J pounds, aud will prob¬ 
ably get a few pounds more. I have strong 
hopes of being near the foremost on Blount's 
com. It Is unquestionably a very superior 
variety, and Is maturing quite early here. Our 
corn crop is unusually good. The cottou is 
being seriously damaged by rain, and tlxc cater¬ 
pillar has made its appearance. A two-thirds 
crop is all we can now hope for. b. f. r. 
Texas, San Antonio, BcxurCo., August 16.— 
Corn and all other grains arc failures, on the 
whole, hereabouts this year owing to drought, 
although a few will make average crops. I 
am oue of the lucky farmers, as I have 18 
acres of pretty good corn. I think I owe a 
good deal of my success in farming to the 
Rural. Last year I started in the business 
with no experience. 1 followed the example 
of the best farmers among my neighbors and 
got many' a hint from my paper, and l think I 
mado as good crops as any ouo about here. 
But. then there was no merit in making good 
crops In such a favorable season as we had 
last year. This year there is a difference. I 
tooktho Rural's advice and cultivated my land 
thoroughly—three times—although everybody 
said it would cause the laud to dry up ; but 
in spite ol these predictions I had green corn 
when there were not half a dozen fields of 
green corn between here aud New Browus- 
ville—30 miles away. o. w. 
(£j}t (fumst, 
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS 
Malignant Foot Rot. 
W. J. C., Colgrone, Pa., has a fine cow that 
has been lame for some months iu one hind 
foot. On one side of the foot there is a dis¬ 
eased spot lengthwise, about an inch and a- 
half loug aud three-eighths of an inch wide. 
Out of this protrudes a substance not over¬ 
sensitive, but which bleeds if chafed. The cow 
keeps lifting up the affected foot when stand¬ 
ing. The quantity of matter exuded is not 
large, nor Is it offensive. One of his neighbors 
has a cow that has been similarly affected for 
two or three years, and others of his herd have 
become deceased also in the same way. Our 
friend asks the name of the disease, and a 
remedy for It. 
Ans.—T he disease is malignant foot rot; it. 
consists of a fungoid growth from the sole of 
the hoof, and is contagious. It is peculiarly a 
disease of sheep, but affects cattle as well. It 
is caused either by contagion, hy passing oyer 
ground infected by matter discharged from 
diseased feet; or is primarily contracted by 
exposure to wot, filthy yards or pastures, by 
which the sole becomes softened, disorganized 
and decayed, poisoning the adjoining tissues 
of the foot by absorption, and causing the 
fuugoid growths which are peculiar to the dis¬ 
ease. The remedy is to use caustics, by which 
the diseased growth is eaten away until sound 
tissue is reached ; then to procure healthful 
healing and i*estoration of the parts. In this 
case cleause the part thoroughly aud apply a 
strong solution of blue-stone, injecting it into 
any cracks or openings, so as to reach every 
diseased portion. Cover the diseased part 
with tow dipped in a solution of one part of 
earbolic acid in 20 parts of water, and wrap 
the foot iu a bandage of canvas. Continue 
this until the protruding part is removed and 
the foot lias a healthy appearance. Tbcu 
dress daily with compound tincture of benzoin, 
and cover with tow steeped in the same, keep¬ 
ing the foot protected by tho bandage. The 
animal must be kept in a clean, dry field or 
6table; exposure to filtlx or mud will prevent a 
euro. To save other animals from the. disease, 
wash the feet thoroughly with the solution of 
carbolic acid mentioned, especially that part 
between the claws. 
three weeks she gave a fine mess of milk, with 
no 6ign of leakage. Suddenly, however, she 
began to lose her milk before milking time, 
aud since then her yield has been from a 
quarter to a half less than before, and he asks 
for tho cause and a remedy. 
Ans. —The cause of leaking milk is the re¬ 
laxation of the muscles consequent, upon con¬ 
tinued cxpauslon of the udder when full of 
milk. A cow is often made leaky for want of 
regular milking, or for want of milking when 
the udder is fully distended. Such a cow should 
be milked throe times a day, and the milking 
should be so arranged as to leave the interval 
at night as short as possible. For instance, 
iu a case occurring in the writer’s dairy a cow 
lias to be milked at six in tho morning, one in 
the afternoon and nine in the evening; the 
intervals being seven, eight and nine hours; 
there is no leaking and the milk increases one- 
fifth more than when the cow is milked at six 
in the morning and six in the evening. Tho 
ndder of a three-year-old cow is not fully 
grown and in some ca^es cannot hold the milk 
which is secreted in 12 hours. The weight alone 
of 6ix or eight quarts of milk is sufficient to 
l'clax the muscles aud permit the milk to es¬ 
cape. 
Treatment of a Brook Meadow 
A t’hilologicnl Difficulty. 
C. W. (?.. Abeline, Kansas , asks whether 
the fact that Gray, Webster aud the Ruixal 
New-Yorker differ from G. D. 8. in the botan¬ 
ical definition of tho word variety—as stated 
in the Rural for August 9—proves that he is 
wrong aud they correct. He further remarks 
upon the funny nature of a language that per¬ 
mits the naming of einglo things as if each 
were a collection of sorts or kinds. A sort or 
kind may be a variety, according to them, or a 
variety may be a sort or kind. A sort or kind 
may be a single thing, but how can a single 
object be a variety ? 
Ans. —While “ sort,” “ kind” and “ variety” 
are synonymous nouns as applied to slight 
deviations from a specific type, yet the first 
two may also be applied to species, genera, 
and even to orders. Not 60 with “ variety.” 
This word sometimes conveys the idea of many 
taken individually; for instance : Seedlings of 
the Norway Spruce have given riee to many 
different forms of that species—hence variety 
—of which the Conical Spruce is one. Accord¬ 
ing to C. W. G., it would be correct to say that 
the Conical Spruce is one of the variety of 
sorts. But according to him it would not he 
correct to say, it is a variety of the Norway. 
And yet it is one of the departures from the 
species, which goes to make up variety in its 
usual sense. Variety, in its botanical sense, 
signifies a variation from a recognized species. 
Besides the three authorities named above, 
this definition of the word has the support of 
all English-speaking people—barring possibly 
our two friends, G. W. G., G. D. S., and per¬ 
chance a few others. As to tho “ curiosities” 
of the language, numerous as they are, it is a 
matter of surprise that they are not even more 
so, in view of tho way which it has been 
formed. And yet, in spite of all its short¬ 
comings, it is very doubtful whether any peo¬ 
ple have, or have had, a more concise, forcible, 
or perspicuous medium for expressing their 
ideas. 
About Plum Tree#. 
T. T., JliyhlandviUe , Mass., 1, scads a leaf 
of a plum tree and asks whether it belongs to 
genuine Wild Goose variety ; 2, he inquires 
what kind of Plum would be the best to plant 
on his place, ten miles south of Boston, the 
location being low and not very wet, aud his 
object being to supply the Boston market; 3, 
would Damson be the best; 4, is the cureulio 
as groat an enemy to that sort as to other 
kinds , 5, where can he buy the trees; 6, and 
at what price ought he to be able to get two- 
year-old plants. 
Ans. —1, We cannot tell from tho leaf, not 
having that variety to compare with. The 
fruit of the Wild Goose is modium, roundish, 
oblong, reddish-yellow. It is a variety of tho 
Chickasaw, productive, hardy aud a good 
market sort where others will not succeed. 
2. Duane’s Purple, Green Gage, Jefferson, 
McLaughlin, aud Washington will succeed 
best iu Massachusetts as far as we can learn. 
3. No. 4. Yes. 5. G. H. & J. EL Hale, South 
Glastonbury, Conn.; Elhvanger & Barry, W. 
S. Little, Frost & Co., Rochester, N. Y. ; T. C. 
Maxwell & Co., Genova, N. Y. 6. About 50 
cents each for two-year-old trees, if only a few 
be ordered. Our friend need not try to get 
curculio-proof trees. Two or three years ago 
Bassett’s “Americana” was advertised as cur- 
eulio-proof. It bears with us tho present sea¬ 
son. The fruit is small aud worthless, except 
for preserving. There is not a pint of sound 
plums upon the tree. The best way is to pur¬ 
chase the best sorts that will thrive in tho sec¬ 
tion where needed, and then protect the fruit 
by jarring tho trees. It is the only effectual 
remedy known at present, 
A Cow Lowing Her Milk. 
O. F. L., Wheaton, III., has a fine three-year 
old Jersey cow which dropped her second 
I calf about a mouth ago, Thereafter for about 
A. C., Shrub Oak. N. Y., has a meadow of 
three acres, through one side of which runs a 
brook; but the field is dry the year through, 
except for a few days in spring. lie wishes to 
ditch and plow it this full, aud plant some 
crop ou it next spring. For about six inches 
down the soil is sand, beneath which is a 
loamy black layer which packs very easily. 
Our friend asks what is the best time for 
ditching tho meadow, and what crop would be 
likely to thrive best on it. 
Ans. —The best time to ditch is when the 
ground is driest. This may be at this season. 
This meadow may not need ditching, and may 
possibly be reclaimed by proper plowing. If 
the ground be plowed iu lauds 24 feet wide, 
throwing up a good back furrow to begin with, 
and plowing to this, and finishing each land 
with a deep, smooth, open furrow, it is prob¬ 
able that nothing more will be needed. The 
open furrows should be cleared out with a 
shovel, and made to carry the water into the 
brook. Corn would he tho best crop to begin 
with; then oats, and after that to seed down 
with timothy and red-top would be the best 
course, in all probability. Such land is better 
for grass than grain. 
Miscellaneous. 
J. S., Starke, Bradford Co., Fla., asks how 
to prevent weevils and worms from destroying 
the corn crop after it has been gathered. 
Ans. —Weevils and their larvae may be sepa¬ 
rated from shelled corn and other grains by 
winnowing; keeping it cool and frequently 
moved will cheek them in their work of de¬ 
struction. Corn in the ear should be iu a well- 
aired crib and be turned occasionally. This is 
the only practical p reventive we know of. 
N. C., Tom's River, IV- J., asks, whether 
salt marsh mud is a beuefielal application on 
grass land. 
Ans.— Yes. After getting it out, let it dry on 
the shore. If it becomes easily pulverized, it 
may be 6pread at once ou grass land—better 
after mowing. If composted either with lime 
or yard manure, It will have a beneficial effoot 
on any crop. 
C. P. B., Edwardsnille, III, sends a coooon 
which he found on his Red Juno apple tree, 
with the request that we give the name of tho 
insect. 
Ans. —The cocoon is that of a silk-moth, but 
what species we cannot determine unless we 
see the moth. It may be Tolype Velleda 
(Stoll), which feeds ou the apple tree. 
C. H., Founiain Green, III., asks where can 
ho get Clawsou wheat for seed aud at what 
price. 
Ans. —D. M. Ferry & Co., Detroit, Mich., 
are the uearest to you of auy seedsmen we can 
at preseut recall. They charged last year 
$2 50 per bushel for it. It seems to us, $1 50 
ought to be enough for it this year. 
T. T. M , Maiden Lane, IV. Y. City, asks 
where can he get the Great Western Raspberry 
said, in the Rural of tho 9th inst., to be supe¬ 
rior to Mammoth Cluster. 
Ans. -We have never tried this Raspberry, 
and do not kuow who offers it for sale. 
C. T., MilU’rsvUlc, ()., sends 6ome specimens 
of seeds from a Voorhis watermelon, aud asks 
whether they will grow. 
Ans. —Most of them will grow. 
J. R. K., Rifleyville, Ohio —We do not know 
the wheat^will endeavor to try it. 
COMMUNICATIONS RECEIVED FOR THE WEEK ENDING 
Saturday, Aug. *28d. 
A. L. J.—A.W.—M. W.—R. J. H.—A Reader— 
A. M. A.—S. B. P —F. D. C.—M. R. B.-H. S.—G. 
E. M.—Bessie Victor—K. IT.M.—N. U.—W. P.MCR. 
-S. n. R.—C. C.— J. T.—A. B. I>. — E. R. R. S.—W. 
B. D.—G. R.—O. F. B.—N. S. G.—G. G.—G. E. L.— 
J. II. L—T. B. B.—H. N. V.—G. W.—G. W.—S. O. 
W.-A. E. H.-G. B. E.-M, M. W,— 
F, A. P- 
