THE RURAL NEW-/ORKER. 
epidemic now. Wheat! Wheat! is every¬ 
where, and, to tell the truth, it looks splendid. 
The Only fear is that there may be too much 
growth, if this fine weather continues, t. fi. 
Kan., El Dorado, Butler Co., Oct. 15 .— We 
have been having the best kind of weather for 
farmers siucc the first of the month, owing to 
numerous showers, which have caused the 
parched pastures to become green and fresh 
and the wheat fields to look splendid, giving 
promise of a bountiful harvest. Most of our 
fall work is already finished, and corn is now 
beiug cribbed rapidly ; the quality is good; the 
yield rather below the standard. Large quan¬ 
tities of hay have been put up here for parties 
who have stock on ranges. The making of 
molasses has been the order of the day for the 
past few Weeks. I had a test between the best 
L*aUe grown by my neighbors (White Top) and 
the Early Amber grown by myself, to see 
which would produce the most from a given 
quantity. Mr. J. D. Green, an expert worker 
of cane, manufactured the products, and the 
following are the results: 51 gallons of ex¬ 
pressed juice from White Top produced 10 
gallons of nice molasses, aud the same quan¬ 
tity of the Early Amber produced 13J gallons. 
As yet it has not shown any indication of gran¬ 
ulation. Farmers generally are feeling good, 
as all kinds of farm products have au upward 
tendency. Wheat sells from 85c. to 90c. per 
bushel; com, 15c. to 20c.; oats,25c. to 30c.; 
butter, 20c. to 22c.; cheese, 10c.; eggs, 10c ; 
hogs, $2.75 to $3 per 100 lbs. As all goods 
wc have to buy are down to bottom prices, we 
iu Kansas are happy and are looking forward 
to a bright future. w. J. b. 
Iowa. Ashautce, Carr Co., Oct. 11.—My 
Hollyhock, Aquilegia aud Dutchman’s Pipe, 
came up aud su did the Cock’s-comb. The hot, 
dry weather, however, killed the Pipe, but the 
others did well, the Coek's-comb beiug the 
finest I ever saw. The Rose of Sharon is 
doing finely. Defiance wheat, however, was a 
failure. it. r. r. 
Wyoming Territory, Colfax, Whitman 
Co., Oct. 10.—Pearl Milletwas a failure with us. 
Our nights are too cold aud we have frost 
one or two nights iu every month in the year. 
The Voorhis watermelons were fine. Some 
of our neighbors who tasted them, said they 
were the finest they had seen sinee leaving 
Tennessee and Missouri. Defiauce wheat did 
very well, and was quite an improvement on 
the seed we sowed, but it is not equal to the 
kinds grown here. The Acme tomato was 
very fine, smooth aud solid. General crops 
here arc good. Wheal in some places was in¬ 
jured by frost, we had quite heavy frosts in 
June. July and August. Wheat is worth 40c; 
potatoes, 50e; aud very fine specimens indeed 
are selling for that figure; butter, 26c; eggs, 
10c. We have had rain the past week suffi¬ 
cient to start the bunch-grass. Horses, cat¬ 
tle, and sheep arc doing well. h. m. 
N. C., Brookstou, Warren Co., Oct. 15.—The 
lime has arrived when we can get pretty nearly 
an accurate estimate of the crops for this 
year. We started in last spring with a glowing 
prospect. Especially did corn and cotton give 
promise of extra crops until laic iu June when 
the former began to show the ill effects of a 
severe drought. It is seldom that cotton is 
injured by lack of ruih, but during July It 
suffered severely, and atone time the prospects 
for a half crop of anything except wheat and 
oats, which were already secured, we thought 
were exceedingly poor, but about August 1st 
the blessed rains came and wo were saved. The 
last four weeks have bean very dry, fine for 
curing tobacco, picking cotton, etc. There is 
not much growiug vegetation to be injured. 
To sum up, takiug 10 as an average of last 
year, we can put corn at 7; cotton at 8; wheat 
at 10; oats at 9; tobacco at 10, though late, 
and the increase lu acreage will nearly bring 
corn and cotton up to the average amouut in 
this county. The biggest thing I have to brag 
of in Blouat's corn is a stalk aud sucker from 
one seed, on which were one fair ear and four 
nubbins. Pearl Millet made one good cutting 
and two light oues, filling a place just after the 
early sowing of corn. The few plants saved 
for seed gave from 10 to 15 heads, averaging 
about 15 inches iu length, a very few produced 
heads with but few seeds on each. The Golden 
Rural tomato ripened July 1; the Acme, tsro 
days later. The Acme is a little the larger— 
quality and productiveness much the same. 
Both rotted in July, cracked badly the first 
half of August, but have given and are giving 
us a bountiful supply. No frost yet. Voorhis 
watermelon was a complete failure, not at¬ 
tributable to the variety or the seed, however. 
M. B. P. 
Ala., Carrollton, Pickens Co., Oct. 14.— I 
have three young specimens of Pinus edulis 
that promise to do well, judging by the way 
they grow, Most of the seed sent me by the 
Rural came up and grew well. We had the 
finest corn of Blouut’a Prolific variety that I 
ever saw. We have given our friends seed, so 
that they may try what it will do next year. 
Wo are having splendid weather for fall work. 
Corn is turning out well iu this section, while 
cotton, our groat staple, is not so good as 
thought to be. There is a tendency on the 
part of farmers here to raise more small grain 
and a finer grade of stock and less cotton than 
ever before. There is room for great improve¬ 
ment in stocli df all kinds in this part of the 
country. The farm fences generally need re¬ 
pair, and most of the farm houses are not of a 
very elegant style. Now that our farmers are 
on the road of improvement, they ought to 
build good residences and adorn their places 
with a choice selection of hardy evergreens, 
ornamental trees, flowers and fruit trees, all 
of which make the homes attractive to old 
and young. m. e. l. 
Texas, Houston, Harris Co., Oct-—The 
few light showers October has brought us, 
have In a measure relieved us of the severe 
drought that has afflicted us from early spring 
throughout the whole of summer, in conse¬ 
quence of which crops have turned out very 
light, if not entire failures. Cotton suffered 
least, though the yield is far below the average. 
Our days now are very hot, but our nights 
have become cool and dewy. Grape-vines are 
secreting new sap and beginning to sprout, and 
many leafless fruit trees are bloomiDg. This 
will spoil the chances of their bearing next 
year. Texas never will be a fruit couutry, iu 
spite of all the " blowing” about the likelihood 
of its beiug one, g. m. 
Canada, Nova Scotia, Oct. 11.—I received 
130 kernels of Blount’s corn, and planted 125, 
about 120 of which germinated aud grew. I 
planted it on the 27th of April, one kernel in a 
place, on rich, well manured ground, aud put 
to each kernel one spoonful of superphosphate. 
It came up aud grew until some of the stalks 
are from 10 to 14 feet high. From three to five 
ears set on each stalk, but it failed to do more 
than produce a few ears with anything like 
well formed kernels, aud it did not advance 
far enough to be fit for seed or even green 
corn. It evidently will not answer for this 
latitude. A frost about a fortnight since, 
checked its growth, or, I presume, it would 
have kept ou growing aud added a foot or 
more to its already remarkable hight. Has it 
succeeded well anywhere this season? Is it 
not oue of the humbugs of the day ? I should 
like to see it planted in some congenial soil, 
under the tropics, to see when it would get 
tired of running away from mother earth. 
The Early Canada or common yellow corn, as 
a general rule, ripens well with us, and pro¬ 
duces fair crops. c c. d. 
(Joe (fnrris! 
ANSWER8 TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
Cheese Factories. 
H.E.E. R., Hosensack , Pa., asks a number of 
questions about cheese factories answers to 
which are condensed as follows: 
Ans.—T he factory system in dairying has 
the advantage of doing in one building aud by 
one expert man or woman, all the work that 
wonld otherwise be done by twenty—fifty 
or more families, in as many separate houses 
It therefore possesses the merit of economy. 
It has also the advantage of combining all the 
work in one operation and of making a qual¬ 
ity of product which is always the same, and 
generally better than the home-made pro¬ 
duct by reason of the use of the best ma¬ 
chinery, utensils, and method, and the employ¬ 
ment of the best skill. It therefore possesses 
the merit of effectiveness. Whether or not it 
is preferable to home dairying, each must 
judge for himself. Of course, every patron 
who makes use of the factory and saves labor 
in consequence, pays to have his work done 
for him, and this is the only disadvantage of 
the system. His lamily gain the ease, and lose 
what it costs to purchase it Factories are 
conducted either on the joint-6tock or share 
system, and are often private enterprises, 
purchasing the milk at a stated price. Many 
factories make butter of the cream, aud "skim- 
cheese" of the milk, with profit; the majority 
make full-milk cheese, but there must be but¬ 
ter factories, and it is a qnestion what shall be 
done with the skim-milk if not made Into 
cheese. Creamery butter brings the highest 
price in the markets. Milk has brought the 
past season about three-quarters of a cent per 
pound; but the price 16 now higher since the 
advance In cheese. There is one price for 
milk ; aud this is an injustice which as yet there 
has been found no way to avoid ; but factory- 
men look after their own interests well and do 
not take •* lean” or poor milk. There is little 
difference in “ makes” of machinery, the fur. 
nltureof a factory for200cows will cost 8600 and 
upwards. Full Information on this point can be 
obtained of Jones and Faulkner, or Charles 
Millar, of (Jtlca, or of Whitman & Burrell, 
Little Falls, N. Y. 
Wintering Khubnrb. 
D. Y., no address, asks what he shall do to 
his rhubarbs to carry them through the winter 
and insure an early growth in the spring. 
Ans.—R hubarbs are hardy aud need no pro¬ 
tection during the winter. No plant is more 
easily forced, if wanted early. To this end dig 
up the plants in the fall, and keep them with 
adhering earth under a shed or similar place. 
About January transfer them to a greenhouse, 
where they can be grown under the shelves, to 
a furnace room or even to a warm stable. 
They need no light while growing ; the stem 
will be tenderer without it; all that is needed 
are moisture and a uniform temperature of be¬ 
tween 50 and 60 degrees. Another method is 
to cover up the plants with leaves to keep the 
ground from freezing; then, about a month 
before spring opens, invert a barrel over each 
plant, and heap manure and other heating 
material around them to produce some arti¬ 
ficial heat. 
The But Pest. 
W. M. K., Washington, I). C., complains 
that his stable is full of rats, that are too wise 
to go into the traps which are set for them, 
and he is afraid to use poison for fear they 
would carry it to the horse feed on their feet, 
and he asks how to get rid of them. 
Ans.— Plaster-of-Paris mixed with Indian 
meal 6et about the stable and water near by, 
so they cau drink when they have eaten, is 
said to be an effective remedy. Pieces of cork 
small enough to be swallowed whole, fried in 
fat to make them attractive, will produce the 
same result. If they cau drink soon after 
they have eateu, these pieces will swell iu the 
intestines aud produce constipation. Probably 
the beBt remedy is phosphorous paste, a recipe 
for which was given iu the Rural for Septem¬ 
ber 27. This, though a poison, cannot be car¬ 
ried about as above indicated. 
Apples for Southern Minnesota. 
W. F. Minnesota, asks the names of the 
various varieties of apples Buited to the climate 
of southeru Minnesota. 
Ans —Saint Lawrence, Sops of Wine, Tetof- 
sky, Plumb’s Cider, Taiman’s Sweet. Red 
Astrachan, Famcuse, Duchess of Oldenburg. 
These are reported to do well in Minnesota; 
the following may possibly also succeed iu that 
locality: Roxbury Russet, Shockley, Sweet 
Wiuesap, Utter, Roman Stem, Smith’s Cider. 
Miscellaneous. 
D. L. R-, Freilonia, N. V., asks 1, will oxide 
of irou do to paiut an old wagon that has never 
been paiutod; 2, what proportion of oil meal, 
bran and cut hay—mixed or otherwise—should 
be used for feeding milch cows, calves and 
fattening cattle, and also for horses; 3, would 
it be advisable to roll a piece of clover this 
fall, that was too poor to cut for buy or seeds; 
4, what should be the proportions of salt, 
wood-ashes aud lime for gravelly land aud also 
for clay land. 
Ans.— 1. Oxide, of iron, or metallic paint, so 
called, forms with linseed oil, a hard, water¬ 
proof covering which is not easily destroyed. 
It can also he procured pure, while lead is 
almost universally adulterated. It will make 
a very good paint tor wagons, if the brown 
color is not objectionable. 2. Oue quart of • 
cottou-aeed meal, two or three quarts of bran 
and 20 pounds of cut hay, will make a fair 
daily ration for a cow ; and one-third as much 
for a calf. A fattening animal may have two 
quarts of cotton-seed meal and six quarts of 
corn meal daily, with what hay and straw it 
will eat. For horses, corn and oats grouud 
together are the best food, and three to six 
quarts daily, with 20 pounds of cut hay, will 
be sufficient. 3. Rolling is of no use, except 
to pack the soil and break up lumps. There 
is no need to roll a clover field now ; it will do 
no harm aud can do no good; all the rolling 
possible will never add one iota ot fertility to 
the soil. Rolliug clover in the spring is useful 
iu smoothing the soil for the mower, that is 
all. 4. No benefit cau occur from mixing the 
substauces mentioned. Five bushels of salt, 40 
to 100 bushels of ashes, and 50 bushels of lime 
per acre are the usual quantities. Lime is 
better than ashes for clay laud, as it loosens 
ihe soil, while ashes make it stiffer ; with this 
exception gravelly land may be treated the 
same as clay land. 
F. M. M., Cross Creek Village, Fa,, wants to 
know where and at what price she can obtaiu 
a work on astronomy, a physiology aud agood 
dialogue aud speech book suited for a common- 
school literary society ; also what is the price 
of “Ten Nights iu a Bar-room.” 
Ans. —To tell just what books would best 
suit the age aud attainmuais of oar corres¬ 
pondent is no easy matter, since she does not 
inform us on these particulars. Supposing, 
however, that she is a beginuer iu thescienoes, 
we should consider Steele’s series of scientific 
works as among the best she can purchase. 
Steele's “ Fourteen Weeks in Astronomy ’’costs 
$1.25, aud that, is also the price of his Physi¬ 
ology, Botany, etc. If more comprehensive 
works are desired, we should first name Dal¬ 
ton’s School Physiology as the best on that 
subject, and White’s Astronomy. The price of 
each of those is about two dollars. Lovell’s 
United Stales Speaker is perhaps as good as 
auy in that liue—price $1.25. ” Ten Nights iu 
a Bar-room” costs $1.25. These books cau be 
had by addressing the American News Com- 
> pauy, New York City ; but as those named may 
not be exactly what is wanted, we recommend 
that she send to Dick and Fitzgerald, Ann St., 
New York, for catalogue of books sold by 
them. 
0. C. I)., Wdioille, Va., asks for information 
about the Nansemond Beauty Apple, and also 
for the names of the varieties of Apples likely 
to do well in his part of the country. 
Ans. —The Nansemond Beauty is of medium 
size: very good quality for family or market. 
Season of use, winter. Does quite well in Vir¬ 
ginia. The apples which experience has shown 
do well in Virginia are:—Nickajack, Pryor’s 
Red, Rawle’s Genet, McAffee's Nonsuch. Mon¬ 
mouth Pippin. Mother, Newtown Pippin, 
Northern Spy, Ortley, Peck’s Pleasant, Porter, 
Red Astrachan. 
B. P., New London, 0., is a competitor for 
the premiums offered for the greatest yield of 
Blount’s corn sent ont from this office to our 
subscribers, and he asks when it should be 
husked, in what way the yield should be given 
and at what time, to fill all the requirements. 
Ans. —In the Rural of Oct. 11 a similar 
question was answered, to which we call our 
correspondent’s attention. For statement of 
what the reports must contain Bee editorial 
page of this issue. 
J. G. 8., Pawnee Rock, Kans., wants to kuow 
how he can keep sweet potatoes over winter, 
so that he can use them for raising plants in 
the spring. 
Ans. —It is essential that they should be kept 
warm and dry; to this end pack them in a 
barrel of dry sand and keep them in a warm 
place, as in a greenhouse, near a furnace or 
similar place. The cellar suitable to preserve 
the common potato, 1 b much to cold and damp 
for the sweet potato. 
H. L. R., Republican City, Neb., sends speci¬ 
men of plant and asks its name. In Mich., 
where he obtained the seed, it was called the 
“ Bean tree." It bloomed and matured seed 
the first season. The Michigan tree grew 
fifteen feet high, and that was the only one he 
has ever seen. 
Ans. —This seem9 to be American Senna, 
Cassia Marilandiea, though this seldom grows 
over six feet high. 
C. Bros., Pella , Iowa, sends specimens of 
plants and seeds, and asks their botanical 
and common names. 
Ans. —Callirrhoe triangnlata, or Triangular- 
leaved Callirrhoe, belonging to the Mallow 
family, as nearly as we can determine without 
upper and lower leaves. 2, Dolichos, or Black 
Bean. We cannot give the species, without 
the flower — Sinensis, or Black-eyed Bean, 
probably. 3, Sorghum vulgare, known com¬ 
monly as Indian Millet, or Doura. 
H. W-, Warren, 0., asks what is the best 
breed of sheep, hardy, healthy, neither fine nor 
coarse-wooled yet good for mutton and wool. 
Ans.—T his description would auswer for the 
South-Downs. The South-Down mutton is 
the best and brings the highest price. Feeders 
generally, however, prefer grade Cotswolds or 
some other of the large, long-wooled breeds. 
B. D. M., Sherboume, N. Y., asks when and 
how to plant peach stones. 
Ans.— Plant them now in rows 15 inches 
apart, and about 2J inches deep. If a large 
quantity is planted, the rows should be far 
enough apart to admit of the use of the horse 
cultivator. 
S. F. B., Buckeye Center, IU., is in trouble 
with his kerosene lamp, the cap ou top is loose 
and he can’t fasten it any way he tries. He 
wants advice. 
Ans.— Mix water and plaster-of-Paris till 
the mass is in a semi-fluid condition, then fill 
the brass aap and pre 6s it on the lamp. 
G. W. G., Penlwaier , Mich., asks, 1. where 
can French Lucern seed be bought; 2. what is 
the difference between it and Alfalfa; 3. 
whether any firm iu this city would buy the 
haudsomest of ferns well prepared. 
Ans.— 1. From any large seedsman ; 3. they 
are identical; 3. we do not know of any. 
W. F. M., Wales, IU., asks, 1, how much 
should a bushel of leached ashes weigh; 3. how 
much should be used per acre. 
Ans— 1. About 50 pounds; 2. that depends 
greatly upon the nature ana condition of the 
soil; but 50 bushels are seldom too much. 
0. S. B., BurdeU, N. Y., asks where he can 
buy potash and pearlash, and what is the price 
per pound. 
Ans.— Of Newman & Rauehl, 32 and 24 New 
Chamber St., this city. Potash costs 4}c. per 
pound, pearlash 6c. 
DOJtMUNICAVION8 RECEIVED FOR TUB WHKX KND1NU 
euro up ay, Oct. 25. 
F. 8.-8. B. P., thanks.—G. B. A.—W. T.—J. & R. 
, C.—M. M.—B. D. N.—E. J. F. B. sends good Every¬ 
where, but no address.—G. M.—E. F, B.—If. B. 
I*.—F. C.—O. P. C.—U. C. P.—B. D. N.—B. G.—F. 
1 B.—C. P.—A. B.—J. H. J.—R. S.—F. J. B.—S. E. 
} \V.—T. J. B.—W. F.-C. M. S., thanks.—J. S.—G. 
G.—F. D. 0.— S. W. J.—S. A. M.—H. C. B.— E, E. 
f B. S.—B. B—T. H. U.-G. W. G.—8. A. L. 
