09T. §§ 
usual formation of such beds. 2. Shall I not 
have difficulty in removing this muck on ac¬ 
count of frost congealing it into a solid mass 
b 3 * next winter? 3. Shall I get the best re¬ 
sults by applying to sandy or clayey soil? I 
have both. 4. Are thirty loads put through 
the barnyard worth as much as fifty applied 
directly from the swamp ? 5. May it be 
freely applied to Strawberries on sandy soil? 
and is it beneficial to such soil only r ou ac¬ 
count of its maim rial value or are its mechaui- 
cal effects advantageous also? 6. How will the 
kiud of muck herein described, compare, load 
for load, with barnyard manure, iu value as a 
fertilizer ? 
Ans. —1. This description of swamp muck 
agrees with the general character of it when 
in beds of such depth. The lowest layer which 
smells so strongly, is in the process of decom¬ 
position which has already reduced the next 
layer above it to a pasty mass. 2. If the muck is 
left in Us present condition, it will, probably, 
freeze solid and cannot bo removed until the 
spring. But if it is thrown into heaps of 30 or 
40 loads each, the brown, spongy and llbrons 
matter will, in process of fermentation, heat to 
some exteut and will only freeze on the sur¬ 
face, and, possibly, if that becomes dry, it 
may not freeze at all. 8. This muck will be 
of greatest benefit on saudy land; but the 
fibrous portion must be rotted or it will dry and 
remaiu unchanged iu the soil for j’ears; at 
least, it lias behaved in this manner on the 
writer's farm. 4. Yes; and more ; because it 
becomes decomposed and absorbs valuable 
liquid manure. 5. Tbe beneficial effects of 
muck arc obtained from its fertilizing value, 
also from the darkening of the eolor ol the 
soil which renders it more absorptive of heat, 
and also for its increased capacity for ab¬ 
sorbing moisture. Five hundred loads per acre 
on a saudy soil, might be applied with benefit; 
this would give only about three aud-a-half 
inches in ‘depth, which, mixed with eight or 
nine inches of soil, would vastly improve it, 
adding to every acre an enormous amount of 
matter containing, probably, one or two per 
cent, of nitrogen. 6. The two can hardly be 
fairly compared, because barnyard niauuro is 
iu a different condition from tbe muck, being 
available to some extent, while the muck will 
require some time to develop its fertilizing 
properties. Theoretically the value of the 
muck will be about half as much as that of 
the manure ; practically, not so much, because 
it will not be available so soon as the manure 
would be, and Lime is an important element in 
the estimate of the value of any fertilizer. 
Weak Eyes in Horses. 
M. B. P., BVirrai. Co., AT. C., says: A large 
percentage of our horses in this vicinity are 
affiictcd with what 1 suppose to be ophthalmia. 
Mauy different opinions are current as to the 
cause, the most prevalent being expressed in 
the words : “ Feeding corn but when we 
notice that our horses are kept in dimly-lighted 
stables with from one to six months’ accumu¬ 
lation ol muuurc under them, I think we 
must be stupid indeed, if we cannot see or, at 
least, 6mell the true origin of weak eyes. Will 
Doctor Salmon, or some other good veterina¬ 
rian tell us the “Truth about it?" 
ANSWERED BY DJI. D. E. SALMON, I). V. M. 
Ans.— It seems very probable that At. B. P. 
is right iu attributing the cause of this trouble 
to tlie condition of the stables. It is certaiu 
that dark or dimly-lighted stables, and espe¬ 
cially those in which what little light enters 
must strike the horse directly in the eye, have 
an injurious effect, aud if not exciting causes 
of ophthalmia, they are undoubtedly predis¬ 
posing causes. It we add to this the emana¬ 
tions from such accumulations of manure and 
urine, it would hardly seem necessary to look 
further for an explanation of such a disease. 
Horses raised under such conditions and par¬ 
ticularly those that, iu aililitiou, are starved 
while growing, are very subject to rheumatic 
ophthalmia and specific ophthalmia. These are 
exceedingly frequent and very troublesome 
diseases in the South and West; they make, 
their appearance wlieu an attempt is made to 
put thu animal hi extra condition by increas¬ 
ing tbe ration. There uro many horses which 
cannot be putin salable condition on this ac¬ 
count. The great trouble is the constitution 
and temperament of the animal have been 
ruined by improper surroundings and care 
while growing, and they can never afterwards 
be repaired. Medical treatment is often, as a 
consequence very unsatisfactory, though iu 
some casesit is very effectual. It must be var¬ 
ied according to tbe condition of the parts and 
in severe cases must be directed by an intelli¬ 
gent veterinarian. The common practice of 
putting powdered, caustic substances iu the 
eye, eauuot be too strongly condemned. Ten 
grains of sulphate of ziuc and ouc grain of 
sulphate of morpha dissolved iu tour ounees 
of water, make an excellent local application, 
hut nothing stronger should he used except by 
professional direction. 
The Two Host Grapes For the Table. 
L. J. IF., Trumansburgh, N. Y., asks what 
two varieties c»f grapes are most, desirable for 
THE RURAL NEW-/0RKER. 
table use. He lias room for two vines only, 
and wishes to set out those best suited for 
family U 60 . 
Ans.— Wo answer " Delaware” for one, un¬ 
hesitatingly ; but, really, it is not easy to an¬ 
swer for the second. There are at least 50 of 
Ihc newer varieties of grapes better thau Con¬ 
cord for home family use : better than an}’ of 
Rogers’s Seedlings, which are bighly valued in 
many parls Of the country. During the past 
month many different varieties of new grapes 
have been sent to this office, all of which were 
said to bo very hardy aud many of which were 
of fine flavor. There are several of Miner’s 
Seedlings now offered for sale (seedlings of 
the Concord), that, as grown at Linden, N. J., 
seem all hut perfect. There are also some 15 
or 20 of Ricketts’s Seedliugs (many of which 
are crosses between native aud foreign sorts), 
that, as grown by Mr. K., are incomparable 
botli as regards size of bunch and flavor. But 
will they succeed in a given locality other 
than that of their nativity? That is the thiug 
to be demonstrated. Out of the scores of new 
grapes offered, unquestionably some will suc¬ 
ceed with our questioner. Perhaps the Dela¬ 
ware will not succeed in his grounds. We 
advise him and all who desire such informa¬ 
tion. to read all that is said of grapes iu cur¬ 
rent literature, and to answer such questions 
for themselves by personal experiment. It is 
the only safe guide. 
Where to Settle In Delaware or Va. t 
T). Watson, Bundas, Out,., Canada, asks our 
advice as to where it would be most advisable 
for him to settle iu Delaware or Virginia. lie 
wants information as to the cpiality anil price 
of land; the facilities for transportation to 
market; the distance from towu; the amount 
of “improvement;” the class of society, and 
any other points of interest that may suggest 
themselves. 
Ans. —Even if wo were very well acquainted 
with the respective advantages of all places in 
the above-uamed States, we would hesitate to 
recommend any one of them iu particular as 
the best for settliug in, even to a man with 
whose character and circumstances we might 
be acquainted. 'Tis a thankless job to advise 
iu such a matter, and ono that begets sub¬ 
sequent grumbliug oftener thau thanks. In 
the present ease, though we are pretty well ac¬ 
quainted with mauy parts of Del. and Va., 
still there may be among the places there 
which we have never seen, some that would 
suit our friend better thau any we have visited 5 
and, moreover, we know nothing of his char¬ 
acter, circumstances, or of the business ho in¬ 
tends to follow. Wo must therefore decline 
giving any adviee iu the matter. We give 
the name and address of our correspondent iu 
full, however, so that any of our friends who 
may know of au eligible locality iu either Del. 
or Va., may communicate directly with him. 
Wooil-Aslies \» a Fertilizer. 
A. L. F., Oshaitm, C. IF., asks 1, whether 
wood-aslies are a good mauure for apple trees; 
what quantity should be used, and the best 
time for applying them; 2. wbo'hcr the ashes 
are also good for fall wheat, aud if so, how 
much should he used aud at what time ; 3, 
whether liiue and ashes would lose any of 
tin ir fertilizing virtues if mixed with muck 
drawn out iu winter aud heaped up in the 
fields for top-dressing meadow lauds. 
Ans. —Wood-ashes are au excellent applica¬ 
tion to apple trees or any other trees or plants. 
Spring is the best time to apply them. Regu¬ 
late the quantity by the facilities for obtaining 
the supply. There is little danger of applying 
too much, unless the land is surfeited with 
potash. Ashes are good for fall or spring 
wheat. They may be sown at any time, though 
we would prefer spring; and there is little fear 
of applying too much of them, as a liberal 
dressing strengthens the straw, and enlarges 
as well as improves the grain. Composting 
either lime or wood-ashes with muck is one 
of the very best methods of utilizing them for 
manuriut purposes. None of their own fer¬ 
tilizing virtues are then lost, while they help 
greatly to neutralize the injurious acids of the 
muck uud to render its mauuriul elements fit 
to be readily takeu up as plant-food. 
ltemcdy for Foul Shentli, 
An old Subscriber, Bethlehem—just a dozen 
Bethlehems in the V. S. —has a pair of three-year- 
old steers which are “ foul," aud ho asks 
whether there is any remedy for the ailment. 
Ans.— Our friend does not state what kind 
of “ foul ” is meant, whether in the feet or 
sheath, but we presume it is iu the latter. 
Give each steer a quarter of a pouud of Glau¬ 
ber salts daily with bran to act ou the stomach 
and kidneys, aud wash the parts with extract 
of Witch Hazel. The latter will allay the irrita¬ 
tion aud cure the soreness, aud tlie former will 
remove the cause. A syringe may he used to 
force the extract up into the sheath. 
The “ Enigma” Seedling l*o(ato. 
J. S., Norwich, iV. V., sends us a specimen 
of a seedling potato, raised by him, three years 
from the seed-ball. He describes It as a great 
yielder. surpassing in this respect th© Snow¬ 
flake, Rose, Garnet and California, the only 
other sorts be cultivates, and lie asks us 
whether we know tlie variety, and if it belongs 
to no named sort, to suggest a name. 
Ans.— Different varieties of potatoes are pro¬ 
duced from seed (that is, the seed of the fruit 
or potato •* ball "). Some seedlings very close¬ 
ly resemble the parents, but generally there is a 
marked difference either iu appearance or 
yield. Perhaps we do not get our friend’s 
meaning. If this is a seedling, it may be sup¬ 
posed to differ from named varieties, aud 
therefore to belong to no named sort. How 
would “ Enigma " do for a name ? 
Miscellaneous. 
L. J. A., Felicity, Ohio, inquires how she cau 
propagate the Lantana. She seldom fails to 
root cuttings from other plants, but somehow 
she failed every time with the Lautana. 
Ans. —The Lantana may be propagated by 
seed, cuttings and layers. We have never had 
any trouble in making cuttings take root, 
though they will do so more readily if struck 
in a hot-bed or propagating house where they 
cau get heat from below. Layering will be a 
sure process. Make an incision on the under 
side of a young branch, then bend it into the 
ground so that the cut will be at the point 
buried deepest, and keep it in position with a 
hook. It will take root in the course of a few 
weeks. 
F. P., Bodge's Corners, IFt's., has some 
trees which he wishes to graft and he asks 
when he shall cut the cions and when to 
graft according to the method receutly illus¬ 
trated in the Rural. 
Ans.—C ions may be cut any time during 
the winter aud early spring before the buds 
start to grow. If cut before they are used, they 
should bo kept in moist saud or earth until 
spring. Grafting by tlie method advocated 
by Professor Gale iu the Rural of Sept. 20tb, 
may be done any time during March and 
April. 
S. H. D., Fishers' Island, asks where a pure- 
blooded Cotswold or Lincoln ram can be 
bought. 
Ans.— Wm. II. Smith, Ketchum’s Corners, 
Saratoga Co., New York, has a fine tlock of 
Cotswold sheep. Afessrs. Woleot and Camp¬ 
bell, New York Mills, Oneida Co., N. Y., have 
Lincoln sheep for sale. Sheep-breeders would 
find it to their advantage to advertise in the 
Rural. 
C. P. B., JSdwardsville, III, asks whether 
clover seed is likely to be more abundant this 
year thau last, and at what priee can it be 
bought iu large quantities iu this city. 
Ans. —It is thought that this year’s crop of 
clover seed is somewhat less than that of 1S78. 
The wholesale price iu this city can be found 
every week among our Market Reports. 
H. L. K.. Republican City, Feb., asks what 
we think of glass instead of earthenware flow¬ 
er-pots. 
Ans.— There are several objections to their 
use'They are considerably more costly; t hey 
lack porosity, and the roots are liable to injury 
through the action of the suu through the 
glass. 
.4. H. A., Volusia Co., Fla., asks for the 
names of reliable manufacturers bone ferti¬ 
lizers in the North. 
Ans. —L. L. Crocker, Buffalo, W. Y.; Baugh «fc 
Sons, Philadelphia, Pa.; W. H. Bowker & Co., 
Boston, Mass.; Mapes's Formula a»d Guano 
Company, 100 Front St., N. Y. 
A. J\f. S., Savannah, Ga asks whore can “The 
Parks aud Gardens of Paris," spoken of iu the 
Rural of Sept. 27 , be bought. 
Ans. —At the office of the publishers, Mac¬ 
millan & Co., 21 Astor Place, New York City. 
A. B., Monroeville, Pa., sends a leaf aud asks 
the name of Lhe plaut that produced it. 
Ans. —We cannot determine the name of the 
plant by the leaf alone without the flower. 
E. S. W-, Stanton, Kans., asks if we can 
recommend the $25 Osgood Scale advertised 
iu the Rural ? 
Ans. —Yes, it is a good scale. 
II. B. K., So. Westminster, Mass., asks if 
Geraniums can live out doors duriug the 
winter. 
Ans. —No, that is if Pelargoniums are meant. 
There are several hardy Geranium*. 
Communications received for the week ending 
Saturday, Oct. is. 
M. J. G.—J. G. S.—A. P. A.—A. G.—T. ,T. B.—L. 
j. T., Too late tor potato No.—M. E. L.—J. F. D.— 
J. D.-W. C. II.—F. R.—” Justice ”—M. L. S.-E.s. 
M.-W.—E. .T. T. B.—A. II. & Son.—W. J. B.—L. 
W. B.—W. T.—I,. P. J. Long Island Farmer”— 
GPW. B.—N. C.—8.—D. E. 8.—G. G. .Tr.— II. B. K. 
G. II. T.-A. B. D.—W. C. 1I.-S. F. B.—W. T. T.— 
A. n. L.—L. F.—J. S.—A. T.--At. At. P.-J. D.—E. 
S. B.—It. C. P.—II. S. C.-J. H. C,—I. F.—J. W. N. 
& B.—B. M. 8.—0. A. M.—A. L. F— L. 8.—M. ,J. G. 
—F. J. L.—P. 8.—8. L. It.—F. L.-W. II. M.—T. B. 
—‘‘Aunt Flora"—S. A. M.—II. L. W.~G. D. S., M. 
D.-H. J.-W. M. K.-F. P.-J. S. C.—0. C. II.—L. 
A. B.—H. It. R.—H. E. E. R.-O. E. D—A. L. J.— 
II. A. W.-F, L. R.-W, H.-F, N. W.-S. It.- 
Dai tons. 
CATALOGUES, PAMPHLETS, ETC. 
Statements and arguments in behalf of 
American Industries against the proposed 
Franco-Araerican commercial treaty, submit¬ 
ted to the Special Committee of the San Fran¬ 
cisco Chamber of Commerce. This bulky 
volume of 220 pages contains some excellent 
pleading against the treaty of commerce which 
French free-traders have lately been trying to 
induce this country to form. The wine in¬ 
terest of the Golden State would suffer pro¬ 
portionately more from French competition 
than any other branch of domestic business, 
hence the bitter opposition to the projected 
treaty manifested in this work. 
Vick’s Floral Guide for Autumn. Suc¬ 
cess makes flower culture delightful, and Mr. 
Vick wants all his customers to succeed. He 
therefore sells seeds that will grow, if only a 
fair chance is given them. The present cata¬ 
logue, however, has to do with bulbs aud plants. 
To get an idea how interesting and useful it is 
our readers should order it. James Vick. 
Rochester, N. Y. 
William Parry, Cinnaminsou, New^Jersey, 
Catalogue of Strawberries, Raspberries, Black¬ 
berries, Grapes, Currants, Gooseberries, Apple, 
Peach, Pear, Cherry, Ornamental Trees and 
Shrubbery. Also a catalogue of new Strawber¬ 
ries of great promise illustrated with colored 
plates. Free to applicants. 
John’S. Collins, Plcasaut Valley Small-Fruit 
Nursery, Moorestown, Burlington Co., N. J. 
Wholesale price-list of'smaU fruits and plants. 
The Cuthbert and Gregg Raspberrrios, Cies- 
cent Seedling, Miner’s Great Prolific, Sham- 
less and the Kieffer Hybrid Pears are given 
special prominence. Free. 
Gibson & Bennett, Woodbury, N. J., Des¬ 
criptive (illustrated),Catalogue of small fruits, 
fruit and ornamental trees, hardy shrubs, 
Roses, etc. Free to applicants. 
Edward A. Frost, Rochester, N. Y. Whole¬ 
sale catalogue (No. 4) of the Genesee Valley 
Nurseries for autumn of 1879- All sorts of 
fruits and ornamental trees. 
Circular. Moore’s Early Grape, John B. 
Moore, Cornc-ord, Mass. Also, circular of 
Medium Yorkshire Swine. 
Fastening Zinc Labels on Trees.— Unless 
frequently examined the wire used to fasten 
labels to trees, as recommended by '‘Griswold” 
in a late Rural, is apt to injure the tree by 
cutting into and sometimes girdling it. An 
improvement on this is to make and attach 
the labels as follows: A convenient size is five 
or six inches long’, an inch wide at one end. 
tapering to a point at the other. Write the 
name, date of setting aud anything else of 
special iuterest in connection with the speci¬ 
men, on the widest end with a common lead 
pencil, aud wiud the pointed end round a limb. 
As fast as the tree grows the flexible zinc un- 
wiuds without injuring the tree. The pencil 
marks unite chemically with the zinc aud soon 
become iudelible. The best zinc for the pur¬ 
pose is that which is thin, old aud corroded. 
I obtain them at the tin shops here, cut to 
order, for 25 cents per hundred. l. w. g. 
Amherst, Mass. 
WHAT OTHERS SAY. 
Profits from Bees.— Mr. G. M. Doolittle, 
the well known bee-keeper of Borodiuo, N. Y.; 
iu an article to the American Bee Journal, 
says: Perhaps it may be interesting to the 
readers to know how our report stands for the 
past seveu years, for it is only by a number of 
years' experience In any business that a true 
result as regards profit or loss can be obtaiued. 
Our average yield for each colony in the 
spring of 1873, was 80 pounds; in 1874, a frac¬ 
tion of a pound less than 100; in 1875, a little 
over 10t‘>; in 1870, just 50; in 1877, a little k’6S 
thau 167; in 1878, 71; uud iu 1870—the present 
season—58 pounds, making an average yield of 
a little over 90 pounds per colony for the term 
of seven years. By looking over onr diary we 
ascertain that our honey has sold at au aver¬ 
age price of 21J cents per pound, the highest 
price having been obtained (28io.) iu 1874, and 
the lowest (I0f-c.) in 1878. 
From past experience, wc believe a thorough 
practical workingman can do all the work re¬ 
quired to bo done with UK) colonies of bees, 
aud from tlie above he should obtain for an 
average term of years, 9,<XH) pouuds of honey 
annually, which at 21 ^e, per pound would 
bring him a yearly income of -f 1,912.50. Al¬ 
though the average yield per colony for seven 
years to come, may be increased, yet the price 
during that time is likely to be lower, as the 
high prices caused by the war are passed, and 
unless wc have some unforeseen event to raise 
the price of honey, it will probably never 
bring 28 cents per pound again. Still, with a 
much lower price for honey thau that averaged 
for the last seveu years, bee-keeping ranks 
favorably with almost any other pursuit. 
