§54 
THE BUBAL MEW-Y0RKIR. 
(l:\raijTO I) crc. 
RURAL SPECIAL REPORTS. 
California. 
Santa Clara, Saratoga, March 24.— Cal¬ 
ifornia orchards ami vineyards seldom have a 
garden attached to them, sometimes not even 
so much as a common rose bush near the 
house. Vegetables are looked upon as a nui¬ 
sance and an expense—a nuisance because 
they invite insects such as“Diabrotica 12-puno- 
tata.” which were last year aud agaiu about 
six years ago. very destructive to the fruit. 
I am an advocate of vegetables iu the orchard, 
among young trees or those of slim shape, like 
the pear. A garden would seem to urge one 
to cultivate well and manure the soil, and 
if carried on properly would be a benefit 
rather than an injury to the trees. And 
if bugs do come, is it not easier to destroy 
them ou vegetables than np on fruit trees? 
The Italian fruit, aud vegetable gardeners 
travel all over this fertile valley every day of 
the week selli ng to every farmer and orchard- 
ist such "truck" as could aud ought to be 
grown around every farm-house. Besides the 
vegetable garden for the “folks, V I am growing 
corrots, mangels and turnips for the stock and 
poultry, and hope to succeed in making my 
neighbors do the same. I manage an orchard 
of 85 acres in full bearing. p. l. h. 
Kentucky. 
Greenville, Muhlenberg Co.—The past 
Winter was the most severe ever known 
here—snow 15 inches deep on a level, and 
high wind all the time. Young stock Injured; 
poultry on many farms all frozen to death. 
During most of the Winter the snow protected 
the wheat; but lately, after a severe thaw had 
exposed it more or less, alternate freezing and 
thawing injured it to some extent: but the 
outlook for a good crop is better than for 
years at this season. Peaches will be a failure, 
as a large proportion of the j oung trees were 
killed to the ground. So were raspberries aud 
blackberries. Farm work going on lively. 
Tobacco is absorbin most of the farmers’ at¬ 
tention. D. B. s. 
Missouri. 
Elden, Miller Co.. April 1.—Although we 
have had some warm days, yet Spring can 
hardly be said to have fairly opened. Some 
oats have been sowed, but not all, although it 
it is getting la te. Some garden has been made, 
and early potatoes have been planted. A few 
who sowed no oats have commenced plowing 
for corn. We will have very few peaches, but 
prospects arc fair for other kinds of fruits. 
Winter wheat looks very well, aud as the 
worst danger—freezing out—is past, the 
prospects are good for a fair crop. N. J. s. 
Mew York. 
Apalachin, Tioga Co.—A heavy rain last 
night accompanied by higa winds, bas settled 
the ground to quite au extent. To day the wind is 
still blowing, warm: and by next week the plow 
will be started on dry soils. Small fruits are 
looking well. Raspberries not killed back to 
any amount; but the heavy snow in the fore¬ 
part of the Winter, broke down numerous 
bushes of the red varieties. Wheat begins to 
look green; prospects of a fair crop. Potatoes 
are the principal crop for farmers about here; 
price 40 cents, with quite a good mauy iu 
growers’ hands: then 1 w as & time in January, 
when farmers received (50 cents for their 
tubers, but that figure has not been reached 
since. Wheat, 90 cents; oats 40 cents; cows 
$30; horses $125 to $225. c. F. G. 
Tennessee. 
Oakley, Overton Co., March 22.—The cold 
the past Winter did more damage to growth 
in this section, than in any winter in my know¬ 
ledge. Many young peach trees, as well as 
mauy kinds of jierennial shrubs were killed. 
Not a peach bloom will probably appear in 
this section—Northeastern Middle Tennes¬ 
see. t. w. c. 
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
fEvery query must, be accompanied by the name 
and addresg 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 time. Put questions on a separate piece of paper. J 
GAS LIME. 
E. R. G., Ballville, Orange Co. —1, The 
value of gas lime as a manure would de¬ 
pend a good deal upon the effect lime has 
on the soil of your farm and the price at 
which fresh lime can be bought. It is not 
w'orth more than one-fourth the price of 
fresh lime. 2. It is not to be recommended 
for mixing with hen or pig manure to be put 
in the hill with coin. If you have muck 
handy, it may be mixed with that to good ad¬ 
vantage when it is being piled. As it comes 
from the gas works, it is poisonous to vegeta¬ 
tion. and unless you have muck to mix it. with, 
we would prefer to scatter it in Fall upon 
grass laud to be plowed iu Spring, or upon raw 
land to be harrowed or cultivated in Spring. 
Try it sparingly aud watch its effects. The 
safest plan, however, is to expose it to the air 
for two or three months; thus weathered, it 
may be applied without injury. • 
ESCUTCHEON ON COWS. 
Several subscribers. -The hai rs just al >ove the 
udder of cows grow transversely or upwards. 
This growth of hair Guenon calls the escut¬ 
cheon, and he asserts that the more the ujr 
v arrl growth of the hair extends outward 
from the udder and the inner parts of the 
thigh and the higher towards the urinary pas¬ 
sage from the bladder, the better milker the 
cow is, and just as the upward growth of hair 
fails to extend upward and outward in these 
directions, so much the less likelihood tha! the 
cow will be a good milker. This is the prin¬ 
ciple of the escutcheon, but there are several 
modifying conditions, and a full discussion of 
the rather intricate theory would occupy too 
much space here. An il lustrated little book 
fully explaining the matter, written by Willis 
P. Hazzard, is published by J. M. Stoddard, 
1527 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia. Pa., price 
50 cents, in paper; 75 cents in cloth. “Guenon 
on Milch Cows,” 75 cents, another work on 
the subject, can be had through the American 
News Co., of this city. The regular dairy 
books, such as Willard's Practical Dairy Hus¬ 
bandry, aud Sheldon’s Dairy Fanniug, also 
discuss it at considerable length. 
BLOOD SPAVIN AND RING-BONE IN A HORSE. 
C. E. E., Canton, III. —1. For blood spavin 
in the hind leg of that afflicted young horse, 
in the earl}’ stages cold water persistently ap¬ 
plied. followed by cooling lotions—equal parts 
of alcohol and rain water, or a pint of brandy 
to half a pint of water — will usually be 
enough. If not, apply an infusion of buy- 
berry bark, using considerable friction in nib¬ 
bing it in by the hand; use also either of the 
other remedies. Tliis sort of spavin, if not 
connected with bog or bone spavin, is harm¬ 
less. It is often, however, au indication of 
other diseases of the joint, 2. For ring-bone 
Oil the fore leg of the horse, engage a regular 
veterinary surgeon to tire and blister Un¬ 
affected limb at once, and give two months’ 
res t—at grass as soon as the pasture is fit. If 
any lameness remains, repeat the operation. 
If there is no competent surgeon at hand, 
after clipping the hair short, apply the fol¬ 
lowing ointment, with friction: Cantharides 
powder, half an ounce ; lard, three ounces. 
Secure the animal so that be cannot, get his 
mouth to the blistered limb. Give rest as in 
firing, and repeat if necessary. 
DESTROYING CANKER WORMS ON APPLE TREES. 
J. L. K., Rochester , -V. Y. —1. If the eanker- 
worms that have been thick on my apple trees 
for two years arc not destroyed, will the trees 
be? What is the best way to get rid of the 
pests? It isn’t easy to apply Paris-green to 
trees 20 feet high. How long will the rascals 
remain in an orchard? If trees are sprayed 
with Paris-gruss, will not the grass under 
them be dangerous for grazing stock? 
ANSWERED BY PROF. A. J. COOK. 
The trees will soon be killed unless the 
canker-worms arc put to route. The first year 
they injure the trees, which are often nearly 
or quite destroyed the second or third years. 
They usually remain in an orchard once 
attacked till the orchard is all destroyed. I 
have known many such eases. The Paris- 
green remedy is so much cheaper and more 
effective than others that I think it alone 
is worthy of adoption. By the use of tliis 
method, we will also kill the very harmful 
leaf-rollers, and also the worst enemy of the 
apple grower, the larva of the codling moth. 
The trees should be sprayed soon after the 
leaves show, as the canker-worms are but 
little behind the leaves in time of appear a noe. 
1 use one pound of poison to 50 gallons of 
water. Place this in a barrel in a wagon, and 
syringe by use of a force pump and spraying 
nozzle. It is a sure remedy. Of course, some 
poison falls to the grass under the trees; but 
if stock is kept out of the orchard for two or 
three weeks, all danger will be at on cud. I 
would keep stock out till after a heavy rain 
storm had occurred. 
GRASS FOR A STEEP ORCHARD. 
A. S., Beech wood, Pa .—On a southeast¬ 
facing hillside, a trifle too steep for cultivated 
crops, on which I intend to plant apple trees, 
what grass would be best, and what should be 
the treatment? 
Ans. —It w r ould be best to seed it down to 
June Grass (Poa pratensis) and White Clover 
without grain, and set the trees as much as 
possible in depressions that will catch the rain 
as it runs down the hillside. It is not neces¬ 
sary, or any way advantageous, to set the 
trees regularly on such a location. An orch¬ 
ard set in grass should be neither pastured 
nor mown for hay. The grass should be cut 
at haying time, or a little later, aud raked up 
around the trees as a mulch. As this mulch, 
while greatly benefiting the trees, harbors 
mice, the trees should be protected by tying 
pieces of lath, or barrel-staves around each. 
These strips should be 11.j to 2 feet long. The 
lower ends should be pressed a little into the 
soil, and one turn of strong cotton twine near 
the top is enough. It is not necessary to 
remove them in the Spring, but in the Fall 
turn all the pieces inner side out, and tie 
again, so that the birds may clear them of the 
codling moth larvse w'hich harbor there in 
great numbers. In such an orchard there is 
no need of plowing the ground after it is once 
seeded, and it would be disadvantageous to do 
so, as it would favor the washing away of the 
best part of the soil in heavy rains. 
LUMPS ON A COW. 
.7. D., Ivy, Kans .—Some time ago a small 
lump appeared on the neck of a cow; when 
ready to burst it was opened, and emitted 
considerable thick, yellow matter. Noiv 
there is in the place a wart-like excrescence the 
size of a hen’s egg. There arc several others 
also—ono on the shoulder, three ou the jaw, 
one on the other side of her neck, and some 
are begiuniug to resemble the early stage of 
the first; whatshoidd be done for her? 
Ans.—G ive internally, twice daily, one 
ounce each of the sulphate and bicarbonate 
of soda, and one-half ounce each of powdered 
gentian aud ginger. The diet should be nu¬ 
tritious and laxative. Use the card daily, 
allow out-door exercise when pleasant, and 
at other times a clean, dry, airy stable. We 
would not care to use the milk except in a 
case of necesssity. although it is probably 
unaffected, and can be safely used. 
A STARVING COW. 
S. B., Pequanock , iV. ./.—For the last six 
weeks my ten-year-old cow has been falling 
off in flesh. She calved five months ago, and I 
have milked her since. She has had corn¬ 
stalks aud second-quality hay, all she would 
eat, with a mess of corn-aud-cob meal made 
into a slop, per day. I have just, discovered 
that she is troubled with “wolf-in-the-tail”— 
the bone in half the tail appears to be all 
gone—is this the cause of the trouble? If uot 
what is aud what should be done? 
Ans.— No. It the tail is relaxed or softer 
than usual it may be the result of disease, but 
it is not the ea use of any disease. The symp¬ 
toms would indicate nothing more than an in¬ 
sufficient quantity of suitable food. In other 
words, the cow is slowly starving. Feed 
more liberally. Mix equal parts of ground 
oats, corn meal, and wheat bran, add one- 
fourth part of oil meal. Feed six quarts 
twice daily. Road “Feed for milch cows” iu 
the F. C,, of March <5. 
WATER-PROOF MUSLIN, ETC. 
T. H. Y,. Aleu'tandria.Dale. —1. To make “fac¬ 
tory” water-proof for cold-frames, thin un¬ 
bleached mudin should be tacked tightly 
over a frame to fit closely to the hot-bed. 
Into a piut of linseed oil, unboiled, beat one egg 
thoroughly, and with a paint-brush, free 
from paint, give a coating to the top side of 
the muslin. At night, or when cold, spread 
an extra cover over the hot-bed. 2. Wo do 
uot think that any mode of trimming melons 
will hasten ripening. Melons must have heat 
and in the absence of the needed amount, 
we do not believe that any manipulations 
will help them to ripen earlier. All we can 
do is to give them a warm situation, plenty of 
food, and be careful not to crowd the vines. 
Miscellaneous. 
E. G. B,, Dover, Del. —1. Where can I get 
mineral paint? 2, What proportion of oil 
and drier should be mixed with it when dry ? 
Iu mixing white lead, what proportion of 
linseed oil, Jupan and turpentine to 100 
pounds, is best for outside work? 4, Where 
in New York can I buy crude petroleum by 
the barrel? 5. Is the Learning Corn good for 
Northern New Jersey? li. How long will lin¬ 
seed and cotton-seed meal keep stored in a 
barn ? 
Ans.— 1. At. any paint store and at most 
grocery stores. 2. One gallon of oil to seven 
pounds of dry paint. No drier is required. 
We have tried cheaper oils than linseed, but 
would not advise their use. 3. About nine 
gallons of oil and one of turpentine. 4. Of J. 
Macbeth, 128 Maiden Lane, New York; or of 
the Prince MTg Co., 71 Maiden Lane. It is 
worth about 12 cents per gallon by the barrel. 
5. The 1 .oauiing Is good, but not so early as 
the Pride of the North, Longfellow or Angel 
of Midnight. (>. That will depend largely 
upon its condition aud surroundings. If the 
temperature is high and the air moist, it will 
keep only a short time, while under favorable 
conditions it would keep a long time. 
IF. A. P., Brookfield ,—We do not wish to 
give the names of dealers who buy the bodies 
or skins of dead birds for ornament. We are 
opposed to the traffic, and decline to help 
the tratticers, oven at the solicitation of one 
“who approves the stand taken by the Rur¬ 
al on the matter.” A “little knowlege is a 
dangerous thing” now and then, “Do you ever 
grease the oats for the horses?” asked the 
priest, in the confessional, of “ 'Ostler Pat.” 
“Faith. I don’t; why should I?” said the peni¬ 
tent. “Because they couldn’t eat them so well, 
and there would be more for you to steal and 
sell.” said the priest. The very next time and 
every time thereafter the principal sin Pat 
had to confess was that of greasing the 
oats for the horses. 
J. A. G., Birch Run, Mich .—Stumps are 
burned out, dug up by hand and by means of 
a machine, or blown out with powder or 
dynamite. The "best way” to remove them 
must depend upon the value of the land and 
the contents of the owner's pocket-book. A 
stump-pulling machine will be of little value 
when the work Is done. Hand digging and 
burning can be done at seasons when other 
work is not pressing. Explosives make short 
work of the stumps, but they are rather ex¬ 
pensive aud considerably dangerous in the 
hands of anybody who is not accustomed to 
them use. We do not know of any book de¬ 
voted to this subject. Several articles have 
appeared ou it iu back issues of the Rural. 
E. C. S’., Toylortown, Fa.—My three-year- 
old heifer had a calf when IS months old, 
and lias not been in heat since. She seems to 
be so; but will not let the bull approach. 
What should be done? 
Ans.—W hen she appears to be in heat, hold 
her for the bull. Failing in this, you can do 
nothing. 
J. M. Y., Woodbine, la .—To get rid of lice 
ou hogs, wash the auimals all over with crude 
petroleum, aud next day give a thorough 
washing with warm soft water aud soap, using 
the scrubbing brush freely. This is just as 
good and easy a way to destroy lice on hogs 
as any of the 999 others. 
DISCUSSION. 
REMEDT FOR CABBAGE MAGGOT. 
C. E. P., Queens. L. I.—In the R. N.-Y 
for April 3d, page 219, I notice that “Hor- 
ticolu” offers a remedy for the cabbage 
maggot, and as this pest appeal’s to be 
unusually destructive of late. I think its 
ravages should bo prevented in time, aud be¬ 
fore it has had any opportunity to damage 
the crop, especially when the preventive can 
be employed before the crop is planted. The 
remedy I have to offer consists in scattering 
in the hills, and thoroughly mixing with the 
soil, a small quantity of any concentrated 
cabbage fertilizer. In this vicinity cabbage 
Is very extensively and profitably grown as a 
market crop, aud I have yet to see a field in¬ 
jured by the cabbage maggot, or by what is 
known ns club-foot, where any good concen¬ 
trated cabbage fertilizer has been employed, 
and but very few would think of planting 
cabbage unless they prepared the soil as above 
advised. No matter how rich the laud or 
what amount or quality of stable or barn¬ 
yard manure is used for the crop, always use 
a little good fertilizer. It will uot only pre¬ 
vent the attacks of many insect pests at the 
roots of the plant*, but add very materially 
to the quality of the crop. 
L. E. B., Rockwell City, Ia.—A t the 
Iowa State Agricultural College three species 
of Forsyth ias are grown. F. viridissima, as 
figured in the Rural, is a fast grower, has 
shining, dark-green, lanceolate leaves; is uot 
at all hardy, being killed to the snow¬ 
line each Winter. It has uot borne any 
flowers. F. Fortunei makes a fair, healthy 
growth; is medium-hardy, and might be good 
in favorable locations. There is another, not 
figured in the Rural, which is yet better 
thuu the two above mentioned. Its specific 
name is F. suspensa. The leaves are much 
like those of Fortunei except in being more 
broadly ovate and even. This species is quite 
hardy and makes a good, though straggling, 
growth. It is peculiar in that the lowest 
branches recline on the ground; the tips then 
push along a short distance anil take root. 
COMMUNICATIONS RECEIVED FOR THE WEEK ENDINO 
April 10,1886. 
T. O. D.—W. H. M.-S. M. W.-M. E. S.-M. S.-F. D. 
C.-W. S.-J. R. L.-G. H. K.—J. M. H.-E. B. C.-H. S.- 
A N. H.—E. S. N.—G. M. W.—J. C. L.—O. F. O. N. J. 
S.-M. W. F. -W. \V.—A. P. P.-.T. M. S.—T. J. W.—L 
li. K.-H.s,— B. A. W.—E. R. K. -M. W. F.—E. J. B., 
potatoes received.— E. D. B. S. F.— H. A. M , thunks. 
C.V. M.—J. M. S-I. W. L. -G. T. D.—Plctou.—J. B. 
ci-T. C.-K. L. H.-K. !>.—IL S.-F. D. C.-E. A. W- 
H. M.C.—J. O. N.-E. M.—T. T. L.-E. M.-An old sub 
Berlher. A. C. K.-N. .1. S.-W. R. T. J. K. F. K. A.— 
F. D. O.—G. A. P.—H. T.—W. S.—J. W. J.—R. W. C.—C. 
E. B., thanks.-X. K. F.—T. C.. thanks for potatoes.— 
O.E. B.. thanks.-E. M., thanks.— 1 W. E. J.—G. F. M. 
