THE RURAL MEW-YQRKER. 
TANNING SMALL SKINS. 
Several Subscribers .—To tan small skins, 
lay them down, flesh side up, and remove all 
pieces of flesh with a sharp knife. If not fresh, 
soak in moderately salt water until soft. Ap¬ 
ply a mixture composed of equal parts of salt 
and alum, made very fine and saturated with 
a fluid composed of two parts of water to one 
of muriatic acid. Double the edges of the 
skin all around till they meet, and then roll 
up as compactly as possible and place in a cold 
place. If at the end of 24 hours, any portion 
of the dressing has disappeared, apply more 
aud re-roll. At the end of two days, stretch 
the skin on n table or other flat surface, and 
with stones or sharp brick rub it until dry. 
Apply thick Soap-suds into which cotton-seed 
oil has been placed; again rub till dry. 
Rejieat the soap and oil emulsion and rubbing 
until the skiu is sufficiently pliable. 
EFFECTS OF MAGNESIA ON THE SOIL. 
W. TT. .S'., Providence, R. I .—I can obtain 
wood ashes in which burnt magnesia is largely 
present as a waste product; what effect would 
its application have ou laud? 
A ns, —Magnesia is similar to lime in its in¬ 
fluence ou soil, but less active. The decomposi¬ 
tions aud transformations of the compound 
silicates and its action on the inert humus of 
the soil will be of the same nature as those 
produced by lime, but less energetic. The 
mixture of wood ashes and magnesia will be 
beneficial to most soils, especially to open, 
sandy soils where potash and phosphate of 
lime are deficient. The more wood ashes in 
the mixture the better for the crops. 
Miscellaneous. 
II. R. II., Farmville , Va .—Sumac seeds can 
bo obtained from Thorburn & Co., New York, 
costing §1,50 per pound. We do not think 
the cultivation of sumac will lie profitable un¬ 
less one is so situated that he can make a bus¬ 
iness of it. Unless one is near a market and 
has facilities for gathering, drying, baling,etc.. 
etc., the crop can hardly be made to pay. 
Most of the sumac used in this country is im¬ 
ported, chiefly from Sicily. Of the domestic 
product, more is gathered in Virginia than in 
any other State, the headquarters of the in¬ 
dustry being at Richmond. 
F. E. S.,Canon City,Colo.— 1. Tho peach tree 
bears fruit only on the young shoots of the 
current year’s growth. Raspberries generally 
bear fruit on the last year’s canes. Some 
kinds bear also on the canes of the current 
year’s growth, as Bellede Fontenay, everbear¬ 
ing caps, etc. Grapes bear fruit on the shoots 
which issue from the last year's wood. 2. 
The Leghorn, we think, lavs the largest egg, 
size of fowl being considered. We do not know 
as to the yelk. 
J. IV. 6’., Melvem, Kans .—Among the small 
fruits adapted to a high and dry, light, grav¬ 
elly soil, the best of strawberries are: Downing, 
Crescent, Cumberland aud Sharpless; also 
try Jewell, Parry and May King. Raspber¬ 
ries: Cutlibert, Shaffer, Turner, Caroline, 
Earhart and Ohio. Blackberries: Kitta tinny, 
Early Harvest and Snyder. Currants: Fay’s 
Prolific and White Grape. Gooseberries: 
Downing, Houghton; try Industry. 
It. M., Galena, Ills .—The mushroom has 
no visible seeds, but there is little doubt that 
it seeds as all other vegetation does, and that 
it s seeds are what are known us spores. What 
we see of the growth of the mushroom is a 
thread-like substance called “spawn;” but we 
think that is only a secondary condition from 
the development of the spores or seed. There 
is no way in which mushrooms can tie propa¬ 
gated by cuttings or anything of that kind. 
IV. if. J., Argentine , Mich .—Cuttings of 
the “common privet,’’ mentioned as desirable 
for a hedge plant in a late Rural, should be 
found at anv well-established nursery. Price 
about $2.50 per hundred. The seeds are offered 
by Thorburn & Co. of this city at $1.50 per 
pound, 
IV. D. C., Foxboro, Mass .—Kerosene and 
lard oil for ticks on sheep should be iu a mix¬ 
ture of equal parts. Rub well in with a eloth 
or sjionge, or Open the wool here and there, 
and pour from a can. 
S. J. M., Reading, Mich .—For “yellows” 
(rust) in raspberries, there is no better remedy 
than to cut out the affected canes and burn 
them. 
DISCUSSION. 
C. H. H. St. Albans Vt.— Iu the F. C. of 
the Rural of April 17th, an inquirer asks 
what should be done for a cow that had been 
falling off in flesh for six weeks, and which 
was troubled with “wolf-in-the-tail.” The an¬ 
swer intimates that the cow doesn't, get enough 
of suitable food to out; and the inquirer was 
told to feed her liberally. Now, I don’t consi¬ 
der this any answer at all. The cow could be 
cured by putting a tablespoonful of camphor 
in each ear A cow of mine in the same con¬ 
dition was cured by this treatment. She sud¬ 
denly ceased to eat, became sick and gave lit¬ 
tle milk, finally giving none at all. Several of 
my neighbors, good farmers, advised tho 
above treatment, and although I thought it too 
severe, I followed the advice, and the camphor 
proved just the thing for her. She milked 
freely after a few days, and is now all right. 
I had bored her horns a few days before using 
the camphor, but I believe the latter caused 
the cure, 
R, N.-Y.—An old “saw” accounts for much 
credulity iu this world —post hoc, ergo prop- 
Ier hoc —after this, therefore on account of 
this. Because one occurrence or condition fol¬ 
low’s another, it is often considered the result 
of the other; whereas, in reality, there may 
be no more connection between the two than 
there is between the early crowing of one’s 
neighbor’s cock, and the nature of one's own 
breakfast; or between the discovery of the 
new comet in Caseopeia, and last Tuesday’s 
bloody riots in Chicago, a week afterwards. 
It is this semi-superstitious and wholly credu¬ 
lous tendency of many to look upon an ante¬ 
cedent, occurrence as the cause of a subsequent 
one with which it, may have no causative re¬ 
lation, that induces many people to believe iu 
dreams, many others to pin their faith on 
worthless medicinal nostrums, and still others 
to think the best remedy for an empty stom¬ 
ach or a softened tail in a cow, is to pour cam. 
phor into her ears, or bore holes in 
her horns. Dreams and events are occurring so 
constantly, that it would be passing strange 
if an event didn’t sometimes occur after a 
dream which might readily be imagined by a 
superstitious person a forecast of it. Diseases 
and ailments are constantly disappearing 
from natural causes, as the morbid secretions 
or other deleterious conditions that cause them 
pass off in due course without medical treat¬ 
ment; but if any nostrum however worthless 
is taken, or any treatment however foolish or 
objectionable, is given shortly before the dis 
appearance of the ailment, the “cure” is at 
once attributed to the medication, although 
it may occur not because, but in spite of it. 
The thousands of dreams that never foretell 
anything, the hundreds of doses and boluses 
that never do a shadow of good; the multitude 
of “remedies” that torture the dumb creatiou, 
aggravating instead of healing their ailments, 
are all forgotten, while the single supposed 
verification of a dream; or the single supjwsed 
instance of the efficacy of a nostrum or of a 
particular mode of treatment is remembered 
and bruited abroad, strengthening the credul¬ 
ity and gullibility of many, and constantly 
Creating fresh dupes. In the present case, the 
symptoms strongly indicated malnutrition of 
the cow’; aud if the treatment prescribed has 
been followed, it is likely the animal has fully 
recovered by this time. 
J. B., Gutney’s, Va.—I n a late Rural a 
correspondent proposes that some one should 
“hunt the whole earth for a grass to reclaim 
North Carolina and Virginia.” The grass to 
do this is here now, and is know u as Wire 
Grass by people generally who regard it as a 
great curse to corn, w heat and tobacco grow- 
era. The much-abused Wire Grass of this sec¬ 
tion is, however, the Burnuula Grass of the 
Gulf States. Knowing the merits of the grass 
from some years’ residence in Mississippi, 
after settling hero I planted some, much to the 
amazement of my neighbors, and last May 
shipped to Richmond a cow that had been 
wintered, without shelter, iu a field of this 
grass, with corn-stalks, and tho butcher said 
she made the fattest beef ho had ever seen. I 
have now another cow, a three-year-old heifer, 
a two-year-old and a yearling that have been 
wintered in u field of tius grass with an ad¬ 
dition of only top fodder and straw, and they 
are very fat and in prime condition. With 
hay in the bam and this grass in the field, 
I expect to lie able to turn off ex{iort 
cattle without grain every month in the year, 
judging from my experience with the stock on 
baud, which do not belong to any of the lieef 
breeds. My son who has been i n New Zealand 
does not care for any New Zealand grasses 
here, as we have better kinds already. 
R. N.-R.—Tho identity of the Wire Grass 
of Virginia with the Bermuda Grass of the 
more Southern States has long been known. 
Over 40 years ago, Randall, in his Sheep Hus¬ 
bandry iu the Soutii, spoke highly of it, aud 
within the last decade it has been frequently 
commended in the Rural under both names, 
attention being called to their identity when¬ 
ever the more local name “Wire Grass” w as 
used. 
A. L. C., Dorchester Co., Md.—I think 
Mr. Minch, aud T. T. L, are both right in their 
way in what they say of the yellows iu peaches 
in a late Rural. If a tree is so far gone with the 
yellows that the pit in tho stone is shriveled, 
it will probably produce a diseased tree; but 
if the disease has advanced far enough, the 
seed apparently receives uo nourishment, aiul 
has not sufficient vitality to germinate. The 
apparently healthy tree from which T. T. L., 
got his seed, was really badly affected, the 
disease showing itself principally in the seed, 
as I think it will sometimes do. I have often 
noticed that in opening a free-stone peach, the 
stone will open with the peach, and the pit is 
generally shriveled. Buch seed would be apt 
to produce "yellowed” seedlings, and the trees 
from which such seed are gathered will be 
likely to show umnistalcablc evidence of yel¬ 
lows next year. I don’t lielieve much in the 
contagiousness of the yellows, having pruned 
di eased trees and then healthy ones with the 
same knife, and seen no ill effects. 
O. H. A., Charlotte, Vt.— Having heard 
that Pringle’s Hulless and the Chinese Hulless 
Oats were the same, I tested them side by side 
two years ago, and found Pringle’s to be dis- 
ti net. from the other. The kern els were a trifle 
larger, and the .straw grew’ up nearly twice as 
high. Dr. Sturtevant writes me that he isn’fcsure 
that the seed planted at the New York Experi¬ 
ment Station was Pringle’s. In a late Rural 
the Chinese and Pringle’s wore declared to lie 
identical on the authority of a report made by 
an employ^ of that station. 
R. N.-Y.—As has already twice been stated 
in these columns, we sowed Pringle’s Hulless 
Oats when first announced, and could see no 
essential difference between them and the oid 
Chinese Hulless. 
S. D. W.—Has anybody tried the following 
plan of “handling” celery to prepare it for 
winter-quarters? In October gather the stems 
and foliage, aud place around the same an 
open wire link re hold them as gathered. If 
the plan is good, the links can be made rapidly 
by winding small annealed fence wire round 
a windlass similar to well rope, and then cut¬ 
ting the wire into rings with a cold chisel 
while wrapped on the windlass, cutting against 
a bar of iron imbedded longitudinally in the 
latter. The rings of annealed wire can read¬ 
ily be opened a little for larger plants, or 
closed considerably for small ones, and once 
made would last a lifetime. 
G. W. S., Ohio. —Some time ago the Rural 
made some inquiries about Xanthoeeras 
sorbifolia. I consider it one of the most valu¬ 
able and handsome early spring-flowering 
shrubs. Although the past Winter afforded 
a severe test of hardiness, it came through un¬ 
injured in wood or bud. 
R. N.-Y.—The Rural has three seedlings 
growing, from seed sent us by Mr. Wm. 
Falconer. They germinate very freely. 
C. M. H., Boston. Mass.— A late Rural 
gave an account of our friend Col. Wilder’s 
azalea, 24 feet around and seven feet high. At 
the same exhibition I hail the original plant 
of my seedling azalea, Suzette Hovey, which 
was 27 feet in circumference and eight feet 
high, raised in 1840, probably the largest and 
most profusely flowered azalea ever exhibited 
in this city. 
C. C. S.—Lime at eight cents per bushel will 
be a cheap fertilizer for the purpose mention¬ 
ed. Apply the hen manure in the hill or drill 
with a slight covering of earth, and scatter 
tho ashes on the surface to be cultivated in. 
A Correction.— In the Rural of April 24, 
C. P., Kirbville, Mo., speaking of the Earhart 
Raspberry, said: “It is stated that Ifi gallons 
of berries were picked about Sept. 1, from two 
rows six or eight rods long, in this neighbor¬ 
hood.” And from his own experience with other 
varieties, he thought this statement a great 
exaggeration. Many, doubtless, like our¬ 
selves, agreed with him; but he now writes us 
that he had ltf quarts in mind, and that the 
word gallons was “a slip of the pen.” For¬ 
tunately ho had takeu a copy of the letter, so 
that, contrary to the usual custom, even he 
acknowledges that in this case the poor 
“printer,” who has generally to shoulder all 
such blunders, was not iu fault. 
COMMtfMCATTOXS RECEIVED KOH THE WEEK ENDING 
May 8, 1S86. 
F. L. Wright. plants received in bad condition, but 
planted.—W. n. By ram, plants received.—J. T. M.. 
plant b received In hue order. E. Jl. Bueeklv, plants 
received.—M. F. \V.— G. W. P. .!„ seed received.—T. J. 
Sprague, thanks.—J. D. L—W. K.—T.T. L.-H. A. B.— 
C. W. Young, thanks.—F. D, C.—F. E. 1\-J. J. H.—B. 
B.-F. M.-W. K.-J, MeM.-W. H. G. 
Purify the Blood. 
Wo do not claim that Hood's Sarsaparilla is the 
only medicine deserving public confidence, but 
we believe that to purify the blood, to restore and 
renovate the whole system, It Is absolutely 
unequalled. Tho iniiuenco of the blood upon 
tho health cannot bo over-eMutated. If it bo- 
comes contaminated, tho train of consequences 
oy which the health is undermiued is tmmeasmv 
»ble. Loss of Appetite, Low Spirits, Headache, 
Dyspepsia, Debility, Nervousness aud other 
"little (?) ailments” are the premonitions of 
more serious and often fatal results. Try 
Hood’s Sarsaparilla 
Sold by all druggists. $ 1 ; six Tor $5. Made 
only by C. I. HOOD «& C’O., Lowell, Mass. 
IOO Doses One Dollar 
WASH 111 G GIKS. Whitmans springingPUHTS&V lkES^ 
tigai * tain I'ltiUp. US £ D iN AN Y ? £^I0 NjA 
.. u-1 rn: fit <1 ri'ii- - V r 
lar- it. A. WliHnian, 
/X Improved HYDRAULIC RAMS. 
\ Send for Circular and Price List. Address 
W ALLEN GAWTHROP, Jr., 
M B L WILMINGTON, DEL. 
Awarded Medal anil Diploma at tho 
W WsW Centennial Exhibition, Philadelphia, 
T " This simple invention is used 
in milking cows, particularly 
TO FARMERS. 
where there Is V any soreness. Made of solid sil¬ 
ver, and sent by ' mall to any address on receipt of 
the price, * ets. Address The Milking Tube Co., 102 
Friendship Street, Providence, R. I. 
Macomber’s Hand Planter, for Com, Beans, 
and Beet Seed. The best In the world. Money refund¬ 
ed If it does not prove satisfactory, after a fair trial. 
Agents wanted. Send for circular and terms. 
18 . M. Macomber «fc Co.. MTg's, Grand Isle Vt. 
For Rhode Island address L. G. SHERMAN & CO., 
Providence. 
If you suffer from “blood taint” in any of 
its three stages, whether “primary,” “second- 
aiy” or '"tertiary,” that produces such horrible 
ravages, and results in cancerous humors, 
sloughing sores, and communicates its effects 
to the innocent and helpless, do not have 
yourself treated by the old methods, and by 
those who will fill your system with mineral 
poisons, which invariably leave their effects, 
the remedy ofttimes being as bad as the dis¬ 
ease, but give yourself thorough treatment, 
with that high grade, standard blood altera¬ 
tive and specific; Warner’s safe cure, the best 
known, best reputed medicine for kidney, 
liver and blood disorders in the world, always 
safe and always sure. 
hay-TEDDER! 
“fVever fails to give 
w laliafaction." 
Doea better and more 
work, draws easier, costs 
less for repairs, is better 
made, lasts longer, does 
not run on the spread 
grass, is the only Tedder 
proving sat¬ 
yr | \ isfactory 
f \ I A after be- 
/ * ‘ /A ing years 
in use. 
PLOW!SULKY 
• - if jl 
| 
■ 
Ip .^61 
Mg 
. ”ur ■*- 
READ these facts. 
Lighter Draft with Driver Riding than ordinary Plow 
with Driver Walking . Turns square comer without 
backing. It Is wholly constructed of iron except 
tongue and front lever. 
We claim and guarantee that a Plow attached to 
the Sulky and carrying the driver. Is from five to 100 
pounds lighter draft tnan the same Plow doing same 
work w nhout the Sulky. Write for prices. 
ELKHART IRON WORKS, 
EI,KIIART, TND. 
Mention Rural New-Yorker. 
Faith Increasing. 
Buffalo, N. Y., Sept. 22,1885,—Sometime 
ago, I had a patient suffering from Bright’s 
disease. Urine nearly half albumen, with 
casts. Used all the regular remedies. Of no 
avail. Began to give Warner’s safe cure, but 
had little faith. First bottle, patient began 
to improve, aud after half a dozen bottles was 
entirely cured of kidney trouble. Have since 
prescribed it in many instances with success.— 
J. D. A. Pohlk, M. D., 759 Michigan Street. 
WE WANT ACTIVE AGENTS 
TO SKU. THE 
Renner Combined Alarm and Door Bell 
In every County lu the l ulled Suitesand Canada. Geo. 
C. Owens, Modes u».Cal.. says: ”1 have canvassed one day 
aud took 22 orders.” lu same letter tie ordered two 
gross. Wm. McKIm. of Grand Haven, Mich., aavg "ho 
took 111 orders In lit hours-’' Profit on Hell. $2.50. In our 
Kxtiuokdin’aby OrgEU to Agents we agree to take back 
all Bells unsold If the Agent falls to clear #125 In 80 
days, illustrated Circulars sent free. Address 
KENNER HANl F'ING I’O., Pittsburg, Pa. 
DAVIS STUMP PULLER 1 ift* 20 to 50 tons 
worked bv 2 men; 
5 Hires. Price, $85 
to Stands on 
runners. Circulars 
free. U.L.Bennett, 
Westerville, Ohio, 
WsXM-il 
