ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
[Every query must be accompanied by the name 
and address of the writer to Insure attention. Before 
asking a question, please see if it Is not answered in 
our advertising columns. Ask only a few questions at 
one lime. Put questions on a separate piece of paper.] 
BROOM CORN. 
C. C. Cooperin'lie. Vi eh .—Broom corn 
grows readily wherever Indian corn grows. 
At preseut prices, its production snould be 
profitable. The seven States producing the 
largest amount are, in their order; Illinois, 
Kansas. Missouri, New York. Nebraska, Ohio 
and Iowa. It is planted in drills on rich laud, 
the richer the better, and S*._> feet apart. 
When first up it is ‘’scraped; 1 ' that is. the dirt 
is scraped away from each side of the drill, 
exterminating the weeds. It is then cultiva-- 
ted with the same tools and manner as ordi¬ 
nary corn. Tt comes up quite feebly and 
grows slmvly at first, but when a few inches 
high, it takes a start and grows very rapidly. 
When •‘brushed” out and the seed has passed 
the blossom, it is “broken;” that is, the stalks 
are bent over just below the first joint. If 
this were not done, the “brush” would be bent 
down on all sides by the weight of the seed 
and thus become crooked and worthless. 
When “broken' the brush hangs straight aud 
so ripens, It is sometimes “tabled;” that is, 
the stalks of adjoining rows are broken in op¬ 
posite directions aud low enough so that the 
heads lap over and lie one upon another. 
When the seed is nearly ripe, but before the 
brush has turned brown, it is “cut.” In doing 
this the stalks are cut an inch or so above the 
first joint and the head and stalk are slipped 
out of the sheath. It is then drawn to barns 
or sheds, which are fitted up with scaffolds 
from bottom to top. On these the corn is 
spread to “cure.” When properly dried, it is 
thrashed by being held upon swiftly revolv¬ 
ing cylinders having long, slim Spikes or 
teeth, which strip off the seeds and leave the 
brush ready to sort and bale when It is fit for 
market. The thrashing, sorting and packiug 
can be done at any time during Winter. 2, 
The seed is capital for hens, and il - well 
cleaned, is very nearly as good as oats lor any 
stock; for cattle, hogs and 1101*808 it is best 
when ground. 
ARTICHOKES. 
E. J. J., Richmond, Ind. —1. How much 
seed for an acre of artichokes to lie fed to 
stock; 2. Where can the seed lie obtained; 
o. Are the stalks of any use? 4. When are 
they dug. anil how stored aud kept? 5. Can 
they be dug clean, so that they will not be 
plowed up like some troublesome weeds; 6. 
Do they do best in a rich soil < 
Axs.—Jerusalem Artichokes are not pro¬ 
duced from seed; but from tubers. The 
amount of these required per acre is about 
the same as of potatoes, six to seven bushels, the 
tubers being cut to |lieces of three to four eyes. 
2. The seed may be ordered of any seedsman 
advertising in the Rural. Iu country papers 
seed is often offered at from 50 cents to $1.00 a 
bushel, 8. Cattle will eat the stalks when 
they are still green, but siuce cutting them 
in that state prevents the formation of any 
but small tubers, it won’t pav. Sheep, horses 
and mules, in the order named, will eat the 
stalks after the foliage has turned black fol¬ 
lowing a severe frost. 4. The tubers should 
not be dug until early in November, because 
the plant does not bloom till October and the 
tubers are nothing more than rudimentary 
until after the blossoming and fall of the 
flowers. But the best way to handle arti¬ 
chokes for stock, is to suffer them to lie in the 
ground and dig t<* feed as wanted, till frost 
stops the work, and then resume in t he Spring, 
when the frost is leaving. The trouble about 
artichokes is the difficulty of keeping them. 
If they are dug and put in a dry place, they 
shrink and shrivel up as soon as a [weird pota¬ 
to, aud the feeding of them is quite dangerous, 
producing bloating. If they are put away iu 
bulk, if the temperature in not kept down to 40° 
or below, they sprout,heat and rot. The explan¬ 
ation of all this is, that artichokes contain 
just about those amounts of starch, albumen 
and phosphates which produce active fermen¬ 
tations in the quickest way, and in that re¬ 
spect resemble green sweet com when cut 
from the cob. 5. No; not very well: nor can 
two full crops be grown on the same land, 
without liberal manuring. But as a weed, 
artichokes are not worse than Pigeon Grass, 
Crab Grass, Rag Weed, Wild Smart Weedand 
a dozen others. Any cultivation that will 
dispose of the latter will be quite effectual 
with the former. (>. Yes; artichokes, like all 
crops, do better on rich soil than on poor. 
They are. however, like rye, rather a poor- 
land than a rich-land crop; that is, both have 
the capacity of taking up from sandy soils 
aud those of granite origin, food enough to 
perfect them, where most other crops would 
fail. But iu planting on very rich soils care 
must be taken to give the plant room, because 
the yield of tubers is in direct ratio with the 
amouut of the development of branches and 
leaves. When too close, the plants run up tall, 
like timber in dense woods without, side limbs, 
and the tubers are few; when abundaut space 
is given, the side branches strike out, are cov¬ 
ered with leaves aud the yield is large. There¬ 
fore one piece in a hill and the hills feet 
apart is not too thiu seeding for such very 
rich land. 
HARDY SHRUBS. 
D. SManchester. .V. t. What shrubs, 
flowers, aud ornamental trees would be hardy 
li ere —latitude 45degrees 30 seconds north; 2. 
What hardy shrubs can be raised from seeds; 
8. Would Primus Pisardii lie hardy here: 4. 
Would the American Ivy injure a wooden 
building? 5. Has the High Bush or Tree Crau 
berry been cultivated in the United States. 
Ans.— 1. We should try the Lilacs, Forsyth ia, 
Great-pauicled Hydrangea. Spiraeas in variety. 
Stuartia, Philadelplms, Japan Quince iu diff¬ 
erent cold’s, Pavia macrostachya, Liburnums 
plicatuwand lantanoides, Deutzias, Purple Ha¬ 
zel aud Purple Barberry. 2. Almost all kinds, 
Lilacs. Deutzias, Weigelas, Philadelplms, Ju- 
pau Quinces, Pavia, Barberry grow very 
readily from seeds. Please examine the cata¬ 
logues we announce for the seeds. Prunus 
Pisardii would not probably stand your cli¬ 
mate. You can not get seeds as yet. 4. Yes, 
more or less. 5. Yes. 
TURNIPS AS SOIL EXHAUSTERS. 
J. B. Downs, Pa—A good crop of turnips, 
800 bushels, weighing 48,000 pounds, would 
remove from the soil about 5,332 pounds of 
dry matter of which 043 pounds would be 
albuminoids or flesh and milk-forming sub¬ 
stances and 4,322 pounds carbohydrates or fat 
aud beat, producers, such as sugar, starch, etc. 
Of these, about 80 pounds would lie nitrogen. 
This crop would also contain about. 330 pounds 
of ashes, of which 144 pounds would be pot¬ 
ash, 48 pounds phosphoric acid. The rest of 
the dry matter is largely calbou. a thing 
easily replaced. This crop of turnips would 
remove about the same amount of nitrogen as 
2'-.; tons of clover hay, aud as much potash 
and phosphoric acid as four tons, so that it 
is quite exhaustive, particularly so of potash 
and phosphoric acid. 
COTTON-SEED MEAL AND MALT SPROUTS FOR 
MILCH COWS. 
.4. B. S., Oak ford . Pa— 1. Cotton-seed meal 
is a perfectly safe and a good food for milch 
cows, except that, when fed to cows kept for 
butter-making, it is apt to give the butter an 
oily taste. 2. It. should be fed in connection 
with corn-iueal, Timothy hay. corn fodder, 
straw, barley meal, wheat middlings aud 
bran. It is a very highly nitrogenous food, 
and also contains from 8 to 15 per cent, of free 
oil, and one quart is as much as any animal 
should have at once. S. Malt sprouts itbe 
germs or radicles of the grain when barley is 
being sprouted, and which break off when 
the sprouted grain is dried and handled) are 
also a very highly nitrogenous food, and 
though they contain very little free oil, they 
should also be mixed with the same foods as 
for cotton-seed meal—those with an excess of 
the carbohydrates or fat-formers. 
SOME TREES HARDY IN DAKOTA. 
D. B. V., Lincoln Co., Dak. —1. iu Lincoln 
County, Dakota, the Yellow Transparent, 
Duchess, Wolf River and Wealthy Apples will 
lie safe to plant of the sorts common in our 
nurseries; varieties of the grade of hardiness 
of Walbridge, Gros Pomier, Plumb’s Cider 
aud Fameuse will lie apt to fail when of bear 
ing size, as they have done in North Iowa. 
2. The Red Cedar of the Platte River, the 
.Silver Spruce of Colorado and the Austrian 
Pine will do well iu your section when they 
attain depth of root. They should be planted 
in cultivated ground. In the sod they will fail 
before they attain depth of root. The upright 
form of Scotch Pine (Piuus Rigensisj is now 
obtainable aud should succeed perfectly with 
you eveu on high prairies. 
BONE-DUST AND ASHES. 
D. C. M., Shelburne Pulls, Mass .—If hone 
flour is “as tine as wheaten flour, and free 
from shavings,” it should benefit next 
Summer’s strawberry crop, “if applied 
early in Spring with ashes;” but a better 
way would have been to have mixed the two 
in casks or boxes wit h a layer of ashes at the 
bottom, four inches thick, then bone dust two 
inches; then ashes four inches, and so on, with 
four inches of ashes on the top, aud the whole 
kept, moist for several weeks before the time 
for application. Then the dust would lie 
found well decomposed and in good con¬ 
dition for plant food. 
COARSE AND FINE BRAN. 
E. H. S., Orangeville, Pa. —1. What is the 
difference between the coarse and fine bran 
where both are made by the roller process? 2. 
Which is the better for cows and which for 
t>eef cattle, to be mixed with clear corn meal? 
Ans.— 1. The coarse is the larger particles 
of the covering of the kei’nel and the “chit" 
or germ rolled out fiat aud thin. The fine is 
the sifting out of this, and contains more of 
the starchy portions of the grain. 2. There 
is no doubt for either of these uses the coarser 
is the better, as it contains more of the al¬ 
buminous matter, and that is just what the 
corn meal lacks. 
BUCKWHEAT FOR FEED. 
.4. M. T., Farmington, W. Wa .—For stock 
feeding buckwheat as compared with corn, 
according to Wolff's German tables, is worth, 
per hundred pounds, 77 cents against §1.11 for 
corn. This is, we think too large a difference, 
for, according to Prof. Jeukius's American 
tables aud figuring on the German valuations 
of the food elements, they would stand per 
100 pounds: buckwheat. $1.06; coni, §1.24‘ s ; 
which is probably near their comparative 
value. 2. To a limited extent buckwheat is_ 
good for egg production: but it should be fed 
with other grain. 
USES OF SAWDUST. 
T. U. C., Middlesex, Pa .—When hard-wood 
sawdust rots down, it makes a valuable man¬ 
ure for any purpose. It is also good to use on 
clay land, both for its manorial aud mechan¬ 
ical effect. It makes a splendid mulch for an 
orchard, only there is danger that, it may be¬ 
come so infested with worms as to injure the 
roots of the trees. If an application of ashes 
or lime is made every two or three years 
right on top of the mulch, there will be no 
danger of this. 
LAND OFFICES IN DAKOTA, ETC. 
W, ./. P.. Kensington. Ont.. Canada.— 1. 
We caunot recommend aiiy particular part of 
Dakota for settlement, there are so many ex¬ 
cellent locations in the Territory, and so much 
depends on the character of the settler aud on 
many other points on which we are entirely 
ignorant. The best way is to investigate on 
the spot, leaving your family behind until you 
have a place for them. 2. The United States 
charge no duty on the effects of immigrants 
from Canada, including animals for working 
and breeding purposes. 3. Application for 
Government lauds should be made to t he Reg¬ 
isters of the different land offices, I.»ast year 
the names and locations of these officers were 
as follows: William Letcher, Mitchell, Dakota; 
M. W. Bheafe, Watertown; H. Austin,Fargo; 
G. A. Wetter. Yankton: J. A. Rea, Bismarck; 
J. P. Luse, Dead wood; S. W. Duncombe, 
Aberdeen: D. C. Tiffany, Grand Forks, and 
G. B. Armstrong, Huron. Doubtless nearly 
all the same Registers are still in office. Iu 
any case a letter addressed simply to the 
Register of the Land Office at any of the above 
places would reach the right party. 
Miscellaneous. 
./. B. B., Monroe, N. Y .—Rossie paint is 
a red oxide of iron which comes from the 
the mines of Rossie, Bt. Lawrence Co., N. Y. 
It is about 75 per cent, iron rust. It is 
ground very fine, gives a dark-red color aud 
adheres very firmly to wood, tin or iron. It 
makes a very pleasing color and will last, 
two or three times as long as Venetian red. 
The nearest hardware or paint store should 
have it. If not, write the Rossie Paint Co., 
Ogdensburg, N, Y. 
E. C. B., Wilmington, 17.—It is our im¬ 
pression that the Primate. Apple is hardy 
enough for Vermont; but the American Porno- 
logical Society docs not “star” it there, and 
we can find no rejiort of its doing well there, 
though it receives one star in New Hampshire, 
Maine and even in Nova Scotia—considerably 
further north. 2. Pears grafted on apple 
stock will not do well. 3. If tender varieties 
of apples are grafted on hardier stocks, we 
doubt if the stock would affect the hardiness 
of the graft. 
E. .S’., Highland, X. C.— Certainly; you 
can train the main cane of a grape-vine up the 
posts of a veranda for a distance of 12 leet, 
aud then run the fruiting arms along under 
the eaves. The distance of the fruit from the 
roots seems to make very little difference iu 
the productiveness of the grape-vine. The 
main point is to keep the bearing canes as 
nearly on a level as possible, as the tendency 
of the sap iu a grape-vine is strongly to the 
topmost canes. 
S. W. H ., Honeoge Palls, X. V.—1. Cheat 
or chess has very little value as feeding stuff. 
2. No; it will not pay to grind it. to be mixed 
with corn meal for horses and cattle, and un¬ 
less it is ground, it gets into the manure aud 
thus becomes scattered over the fields. About 
the best use to make of it is to burn it. You 
are then sure it will not grow, 
R. M., Newark, X. —Farmers may jieddle 
their own produce in this city without taking 
out a license; but they caunot stand within 
800 yards of the regular markets without 
payment of a small fee. 
E. E.. Rockwood, Tenn .—The goat belongs 
to the genus capra: the sheep to the genus 
ovis; both belong to the sub-family ovinse. 
Animalsof different varieties cross, aud their 
progeny is fertile; animals of different 
species also frequently cross, but. the progeny 
is not fertile as a rule. Animals of different 
genera do not cross. 
E. A., Alexandria, Ohio .—For a wind¬ 
break of evergreens where the Winter of 1884 
killed one-fifth of “a good growth” of Nor¬ 
way Spruce, we would prefer the Austrian or 
White Pine to the Norway. 
A. X. V., Frankfort, Kans .—All the cream¬ 
ers advertised in the Rural are good. Write 
to those advertising each kind for descriptive 
circulars, and judge of the special advantages 
claimed for each. 
.4. J. C., Mitchel Veil., Cal .—Harrow teeth 
that are lose iu the dry wood, become firmly 
fixed when the wood is wet. because the mois¬ 
ture causes the wood to swell aud close up 
round the teeth. 
R. C. /).. Loveland, Ohio .—The Woodason 
Bellows, costing from $1.50 to $2, are what 
we use for spraying the houses with kerosene. 
See seedsmen's catalogues advertised. 
T. R. IF., Otter Creek P.O., Pa .—Muriate 
of potash will nrobably give you the potash 
at a cheaper rate than any other thing you 
can use in place of wood ashes. 
R. M ., Raleigh, X. C .—A deed of real estate 
in North Carolina must be recorded within 
two years, or it will be good for nothing. 
DISCUSSION. 
G. W. t SouthTAlabama. N. Y.—In the 
Rural of February 2<>, a correspondent'asks 
whether? Rural subscribers have ever seen 
chestnut trees grow ing on limestone land. We 
are on a ledge of limestone and fliuttliat. passes 
through Livingston, Genesee and Niagara 
Counties. The timber on it is mostly oak and 
chestnut, and in many places chestnut grows 
on quarries of blue limestone. 
F. S. N., Vineland, N. J.—A good deal of 
praise has been bestowed on the Early Har¬ 
vest Blackberry. Now T have grublied out 
all I had of them, because they bore very im¬ 
perfect fruit. What berries we did get were 
a week ahead of the Wilson, but small and 
very few of them filled out. They seemed to 
set all right; but only three or four of the 
drupes would till out, while the rest would 
remain green, hard knots. Were they really 
Early Harvest? 
R. N.-Y.—We should say not. Our berries 
are exceptionally uniform and perfect. 
J. B. C., North Pembroke, N. Y.—In a 
late Rural, J. W. K., Denton, Md., asks 
whether any one has ever seen chestnut trees 
growing naturally on limestone land. I have 
seen them glowing naturally on such land 
together with oak and hickory, where there 
was no slate within five miles. They can be 
seen now in the western part of this county. 
G. E. 8 ., Old Mission, Mich.—In a late 
Rural farmers were advised not to let pro¬ 
fessional tree trimmers into the orchards. 
One writer called them “tree butchers.” Now 
I am a professional tree trimmer, aud I under¬ 
stand my business, which is a necessary and 
honorable one: and if the Rural doesn’t stop 
injuring it. it'will have to pay damages. 
R. N.-Y.—The Rural would truly regret 
having, even inadvertently, 'injured any 
“necessary and honorable” business; but, 
bless you, It has become so callous to threats 
from humbugs and worse, that"all threats of 
punishment for having expressed an honest 
opinion itself, or" for having [allowed another 
to do so through its columns, [have lost all 
terror for it. No “necessary or honorable” 
business has anything to fear from it; and it 
fears nothing'from any other sort of business. 
S. W., Niagara, N. Y.—In answer to an 
inquiry in a late Rural, it was said that the 
Manshury is a winter barley. This is evi 
dently a slip. I have grown it continuously 
for the past live [years, and it is certainly a 
spring ^ variety. I shall sow 60 acres this 
Spring. 
Communications Received koh the Week Endino 
Satoroay, March 13, ISKti. 
H. and B. L. N.-J. W. K., thanks.- C. E. B.- L. N. 
—G. W. G.-l.P. R.—L. H.-C. G.-W. W. H.-B. Lan 
gati, thanks.—J. T. C.—J.W, K.. thanks.—E. B.H.—V. L. 
K. B.'C. -O/V. W.-J. M. R.-,I.,S. C.-J. H. T.-A. 8.- 
W.O. W.Kr. C. S. H.-E. W.-S.T. II.-E. W. S.-H. 
K.-W. M. F. F. D. C.—C. H.—G.W., thank*.—G. W. 
II.-C (’. W. H. M. E., thanks.-J. B. C.-J. S.-A.G. 
W.-T.H, B— K. K. I*. J.G. L. W. K.-T. C. R.-E. L. 
—A. S. L.-J. B. M. C. C. B. C.-A. E. lt.-.I. H. B.-H. 
C. C.—H. H. -T. H. B.-J/F.—H. M. E., thanks.—T. H. 
H.—M. D. McP.—J. G.'.S,, [thanks for corn.—E. D. P,— 
W. G. W, Sr., thanks.—F. K. A. 
