THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
muriate if used, should be applied upon potato 
land as early as possible, at the latest in De¬ 
cember. If the potash must be applied near 
planting time, only sulphate should be used. 
In some cases he found that potash lessened 
the starch and the starch diminished as the 
potash was applied nearer planting time.-- 
Prof. 8. W, Johnson says that the best 
time for manuring with muriate of potash de¬ 
pends chiefly on the quality of the soil. For 
heavy soils manuring in Autunm and Winter 
is to be recommended: while for light and 
sandy soils, early Spring is the most suitable 
time. For meadows aud all kinds of land 
liable to be flooded, manuring in the Spring is 
best... .. 
Thk best method for employing muriate of 
potash for field or garden cultivation is to 
strew it by hand, broadcast, on the unplowed 
field or the rough furrow. To place the muri¬ 
ate near the seed in drills or hills is not advis¬ 
able. It is better to mix it with an equal or 
double quantity of dry earth... 
The quantity required for potash manuring 
is, of course, dependent on the chemical con¬ 
dition of the soil and also the amount of pot¬ 
ash the crop requires. It may be taken as a 
general rule that 250 to 450 pounds of 80 per 
cent, muriate of potash for one acre are neces¬ 
sary ... 
Suppose farmers should form a society 
and strike for fewer hours of labor and higher 
prices for their products, says Mr. Biggie 
in the Farm Journal. Suppose the society 
should resolve that the price of wheat should 
be $ 1.50 per bushel, of corn 8 1, of potatoes 
$1, and that all vegetables aud fruit should 
bring remunerative prices. Suppose they 
should put every farmer's life iu jeopardy who 
sold below the scale of rates fixed by tbe 
society, and should boycott every corporation 
that, carried the low-priced produce, and 
every firm and individual that bought or 
used it; wouldn't things be lovely then < . 
A writer iu tbe Cultivator says that stock 
husbandry must be the foundation of all long- 
continued successful farming. Any other sys¬ 
tem is one of slow exhaustion aud ultimate 
sterility. 
He further estimates that a ton of pea meal 
will yield in the manure £14.28 worth of fer¬ 
tilizing elements, while one ton of Swede tur¬ 
nips will give only 91 cents. 
We presume that 99-100 of all the wheat 
heads selected as “different from the variety 
sown.” and again sown as new wheats, are old 
kinds: that is, old in other parts of this coun¬ 
try or some other. 
No, if imitation-butter people had sold their 
compound for what it is, the idea of taxing it 
would never have Itecu entertained. 
Put your skim-milk and buttermilk into 
calves or pigs, supplementing them with corn 
meal and a sprinkling of oil meal, says the 
U. 8. Dairyman. Give both calves and pigs 
room to move around iu and keep clean. 
Both will be benefited by having good grass to 
feed ou in addition to what is carried to them. 
It will keep them healthy and contented, and 
promote growth. Plenty of clover is a good 
preventive of hog cholera. 
Major Alvord is of the opinion that irreg¬ 
ular milking affects the size of the fat globules. 
When milked irregularly, the globules are 
smaller, though more numerous . 
The oleomargarine people tell us that half 
the wine sold is not real wine at all. Imt an 
imitation of wine. Why, then, they ask, 
should the law not oblige them to sell it for 
what it is? Truly, why not?. 
At this season of the year swale aud swamp 
water is simply abominable, says the Dairy¬ 
man. It is fid I of germs of decay, corruption 
and disease. Bacteria, and all sorts of d isease- 
engendering spores are eontainod iu stagnant 
water. When drank by human beings its 
effects are said to be malarial. The effect on 
cow’s is similar. It makes them sick and fever¬ 
ish, and causes them to give feverish and un¬ 
wholesome milk. Pure brook, spring or well 
water is a requisite in the production of sound, 
wholesome milk. And the water must be 
easily accessible, for cows will not travel long 
distances for water, in the hot sun, until they 
suffer badly for want of it. When they reach 
it they wall drink to excess. This will also 
make them feverish anil sick and spoil the 
milk See that they have plenty of clean, 
sweet water, easy to roach . 
Is there any valid reason why, by proper 
selection and breeding, the large milk flow of 
the Holsteiu-Priesian may not be made as rich 
as the smaller one of the Jersey, asks the 
above journal? She does not give more milk 
in proportion to her -size, than the Jersey does. 
If we can add the secretion of a little more 
fat., all drawn from carbonaceous material, 
why should it. be any more of a tax to her sys¬ 
tem than it is to that of the Jersey ? It looks 
reasonable that by breeding and feeding more 
fat may be secured. This done, the Holstein- 
Friesian cow would be the ideal ‘‘general pur - 
pose” cow of the world. Is not*a hint to the 
owners of that breed sufficient. 
Cheese that is easily crumbled is digestible, 
aud may be eaten without fear. It is the 
India-rubber article that gives one a fit of 1 he 
blues. 
Butter, butter, wondrous fair! 
How I wonder what you are. 
Are you really what you seem. 
Are you made of grease or cream?. 
0pcnjibl)CfC. 
TRANSCONTINENTAL LETTERS.—LXI. 
MARY WAGER-FISHER. 
Professor Hilgard; Depart went of Agricul¬ 
ture in the California University; exotics 
in California; mixed husbandry needed; 
silk culture , a failure in flush times , a 
possible success now; females in agricul¬ 
ture; felling trees with giant powder; 
ground-squ i rrel n u isanee. 
I had a talk with Professor Hilgard, of the 
California 8tate University, concerning the 
outlook of silk culture iu this State. Profes¬ 
sor Hilgard’sname is a familiar one to Rural 
readers, and I was delighted to find him to be 
a very charming gentleman, and he has the 
reputation also of being “a very good man.” 
He is of German birth, and speaks with a 
noticeable but entirely pleasing accent. He 
is of medium bight, rather slight in figure, 
has blue eyes and is a man of quick aud active 
temperament. He is at the head of the Agri¬ 
cultural Department of the Uuiversity, which, 
so far as I have been able to judge, does for 
California very much what the Agricultural 
Department at Washiugtou does for the United 
States,omitting its blunders. So far as training 
young men for agricultural pursuits, it accom¬ 
plishes little. Occasionally a young man, 
after finishing his collegiate course, tarries a 
little longer for agricultural lore, if he pur¬ 
pose's farming, studies the analyses of soils, 
aud learns whereto plant almonds and where 
not to try olive culture. 
The great value of the Department is iu its 
experimental aud distributing station—send¬ 
ing out plants, cuttings, etc., all over the State, 
It is probably due in large part to this that 
California has become so rapidly the homo of 
a multitude of exotics, ornamental and useful 
in a striking degree. In the experimental 
grounds, one can see some things growing that 
he has probably not seen elsewhere in the 
United States—cinchona, for example. This 
plant, although growing finely in the open 
ground, had been furnished with winter pro¬ 
tection by a rampart of earth and a frame¬ 
work around it covered with bagging: but the 
Professor thought this provision might have 
been dispensed with. Chinese bamboo.a very 
graceful plant, does well here. Professor Hil¬ 
gard believes in the cultivation of cottou, 
which has been successfully grown all the way 
from the Mexican boundary to Shasta Couuty, 
and even tea for California; and it is quite 
evident that the agricultural resources of the 
State have only begun to be developed. Asia, 
Japan, Australia, the islands of the sea, are all 
being levied upon to increase the variety of 
California products, aud it is surprising to 
note the variety of fruits that flourish in any 
one nursery. Times have so changed since the 
days of ’49, that oue rarely hears of mining, 
but on every hand of the production of fruit 
and grains. 
But to return to silk culture. Mulberry 
trees do admirably here, aud the rainless Hum¬ 
mers are good for silk-worms, as rain and wet 
tend to mold and mildew. The climate of 
China and Japan is more equable, but the 
California climate, in its wuy, is the worst 
drawback the State has. The people depend 
too much upon it, anil place too little reliance 
upon industry and economy for success. It 
is a common remark, that the reason so man}’ 
fu nners fail in California is because they plant 
but one crop—and then "go fishing.” If that 
crop fails, all fails, and they have nothing left 
to depend upon. But more versatility in 
farming is being practiced. The climate in an¬ 
other way is not good for silk-worm eggs—it 
is not cold enough, aud the eggs hatch the 
worms before the mulberry leaves are out, aud 
they have to be fed on lettuce—which is some¬ 
thing like rearing a baby on a bottle. But the 
women who form the silk culture association 
—and women have a peculiar persistency iu 
trying to make a success of indifferent things 
—have impressed Prof. Hilgard Into their 
service. An experimental aud distributing 
silk-worm station lius been established at Pied¬ 
mont, a beautiful region near Oakland, where 
tbe hatching of the eggs will be retarded 
by artificial cold—and whence they will lie 
distributed at the proper time. So far, so 
good. But the successful and profitable cultiva¬ 
tion of the silk-worm has so far only been com¬ 
passed in countries with a comparatively dense 
population, and where every penny is care¬ 
fully looked after, aud small profits are kindly 
regarded. But in a State sparsely as yet pop¬ 
ulated. and where until only recently notbiug 
less than n 820 gold piece was thought worth 
picking up, it was nonsense to talk of silk cul¬ 
ture. True, it was tried—on a large scale. 
There were shanties of silk-worms with China¬ 
men put in charge. It w’as proposed to pro¬ 
duce cocoons oil a large scale—on the whole¬ 
sale plan—but the experiment was a complete 
failure. Now things are different. Finances 
are down to a nickel basis and the penny is 
even talked of, and will soon arrive, and there 
are many women in California as elsewhere, 
who are desirous of being able to earn a little 
money in nu easy, quiet way, and it may be 
that there will be enough patience and indus¬ 
try developed to supply the State with cocoons 
for home manufacture. At San Jose there 
is a silk factory run by French weavers from 
Lyons, and they make very nice silk from im¬ 
ported material. The quality of both Califor¬ 
nia cotton and silk is excellent. r The cotton, 
so far, has been absorbed by the woolen manu¬ 
facturers in mixed goods. 
I don’t know how well broken-down East 
ern “school ma'ams” have succeeded here gen¬ 
erally, in an agricultural w ay, but there are 
some distinguished farinerines iu the State. 
Mrs. Hill is credited with having made a for¬ 
tune of half a million in raising pyre thrum 
iuseet powder (she has invited me to visit 
her at harvest, time in May, and if I am able 
to do so, I will be able to write definitely of this 
industry) and other women have achieved 
money and fame in raisins, goats, honey, 
citrus fruits, etc. But, after all. it is the 
woman, as it is the man who succeeds—and the 
success might come in the East as well as iu 
the “West, by the sea.” 
During a stroll through the experimental 
garden at Berkeley, the seat of the University 
(open to both sexes equally) we came upon a 
tree that had been felled by giant powder—a 
method, Professor H. said, that was frequent¬ 
ly employed in California because of its cheap¬ 
ness. A hole is first bored under the tree, in 
which the powder is placed—six pounds cost¬ 
ing 70 cents had been used for this tree. 
When the tree comes down, there is no 
stump left to be grubbed out by hand labor, 
it is out of tho ground, roots and all. 
A great annoyance is caused to farmers by 
the ground squirrels which burrow in the 
ground. One mode of exterminating them is 
to smoke them to death, and there arc ma¬ 
chines for driving the smoke in their holes. 
These squirrels are particularly destructive to 
w’heat. 
RURAL SPECIAL REPORTS. 
Delaware. 
Dover, Kent Co., August 7.—The Sum¬ 
mer thus far has been tho wettest aud coldest 
we have hail for a great many years. It is so 
wet that it is almost impossible to get wheat 
dry enough to thrash. Much that has l>eeu 
thrashed has to be spread aud stirred in order 
to dry it so as to make it fit for market, Corn 
has not been worked as it ought to have been 
in consequence of the ruin, aud early potatoes 
are rotting. In this neighborhood what few 
peaches are left are rotting badly, aud the low 
prices of farm products make a bad show for 
farmers. Corn is looking well, all things con¬ 
sidered. I never saw’ young clover look so 
promising. Many fields are fully knee-high 
and in full bloom. Wheat a fair crop. Oats 
good. Hay fine. Millet isdoing flnelj ; some 
fields two feet high, while others sow’ed late, 
are six to ten inches. Berry crop good; price, 
low. Apple a fair crop. Quinces blighted 
badly ; many trees nearly killed. Grapes rot¬ 
ting. Prices about as follows: Wheat, 75c. to 
78c. ; corn, 49c. ; oats, 40c. : potatoes, 40c. 
to 45c, ; butter, 10c. to 20c. ; eggs, 14c. ; 
chickens, 10c. to 18c. : cabbage, £2 to £8, per 
100 : other things about in proportion. 
8. t. s. 
Illinois. 
Sterling, Whiteside Co., Aug. 4.—Frequent 
raius in the forepart of the season made farm¬ 
ers late with corn planting and late, potatoes 
Some of tho ground we could not plow until 
after June 1; but since tho middle of May, 
there has been rain enough to wet the ground 
oidy once, and then ouly an inch, and it did 
not reach the potatoes. Result a very large 
crop of tame hay; less than half a crop of 
early potatoes; wheat and rye good. Oats 
very short aud not extra filled. Strawberries 
stopped oif at. half a crop; raspberries, one- 
third; blackberries one-eighth. Early sweet 
corn fair; late field corn must have rain soon 
or fail. Late potatoes a failure anyhow. 
Pasture as dry as a bone and almost all are 
now feeding hay us in "Winter.” Fall hay 
will be nothing, so we are not feeling as bright 
as usual, but I think w’e will get over it. 
JAS. H. w. 
lown. 
Olin, Jones Co., August 3.—We have had 
a long and severe drought, and it still con¬ 
tinues. Gross moderate or light in quantity, 
but of extra quality. Small grains generally 
an average yield aud of good quality. Corn 
promises to be a light crop unless it gets raiu 
soon. Buckwheat and Hungarian, of which 
there Is generally more or less raised every 
year, very poor, principally a failure. Pota¬ 
toes to some extent past help. Early ones 
very light, indeed. Beans and onions fail¬ 
ures. Garden vegetables generally, of very 
little account. Melons promise a short crop— 
only very few raised. Not much cane raised, 
must share the fate of the corn. Rural seeds 
promise fairly well. I. a. b. 
MUnouri. 
Eldon, Miller Co., July 31.—Wheat, oats 
and hay are all harvested and are full aver¬ 
age crops. Com, which is really our staple 
crop, is beiug very seriously damaged by con¬ 
tinued dry weather; in fact, uuloss we have 
raiu in a very short time the corn crop will 
bo a failure. Pastures ate getting short on 
account of the weather, and stock will begin 
to lose unless farmers commence feeding. 
Potatoes are good, especially early ones. 
Cane also promises a good crop. Considerable 
wheat will be sown this Fall, though not more 
than the average. I notice quite a number 
of farmers arc improving their farms, so that 
times cannot tie so very hard with all of them. 
N. J. S. 
South Carolina. 
Columbia, Richland Co., Aug. 10.—The De¬ 
partment of Agriculture has received 257 
special reports, covering every County in the 
State, on the condition of the crops, and fur¬ 
nishes the following summary: The reports of 
the cottou crop with few exceptions are un¬ 
favorable. The correspondents generally con¬ 
cur in the opinion that a larger yield thau is 
now anticipated will be realized if the Fall is 
late. The condition on the 1st of August is in 
Upjier Carolina, 62, Middle Carolina, 66, Low¬ 
er Carolina, 73; average for the State, 67, 
which is lower than it has bepu at any time 
since the war, Coru in many places on bot¬ 
toms was totally destroyed by the Spring 
floods, and only a part of these was replanted. 
The condition is reported iu Upper Carolina at 
68; Middle Carolina, 74; Lower Carolina, 83; 
average for the State, 74. The condition of 
the rice crop is generally favorable, except 
whore it has been injured by the freshets. 
One-half the crop is estimated as destroyed. 
In Georgetown the condition is reported at 84. 
Other crops as follows; Sorghum, 85; sugar 
cane, 89; peas, SO; Irish potatoes, 91, and 
sweet potatoes, 91, p. a. 
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 time. Put questions on a separate piece of paper. 1 
RAISING WATER BY POWER OF A CURRENT. 
IJ. S. C., Hawaii , Dak. —My farm is at a 
point ou tho Missouri River where there is a 
strong current. The house and garden are 
100 rods from tho river aud 60 feet, above it. 
The water is very muddy, would that make 
any difference? I. Is there any inexpensive 
way whereby sufficient water enu be forced 
up, by the power of the current, to irrigate 
two acres of garden? Would a hydraulic ram 
work in such a place? Would it be cheaper to 
use a whid-miU, and pump water out of a well 
60 feet deep into a tank? flow large should 
the mill and tank be? 
ANSWERED BY HENRY STEWART. 
It is quite att easy matter to raise water from 
a swiftly flowing river for the purpose of irri¬ 
gation, and at a very small expense. Indeed, 
the ancient and modem system of irrigation 
in Egypt consists largely iu the use of a wheel 
turned by the current and having buckets up¬ 
on the rim, which raise the water and pour it 
into troughs that carry it ou to the fields. 
These fields tire called norms, and are exceed¬ 
ingly frequent along the banks of the Nile. In 
the case mentioned, however, the bight above 
the river of the laud to be irrigated would call 
for some other device to lie used with a wheel 
for lifting the water. This would be a force 
pump operated by a crank fitted to the axle of 
the wheel. A wheel of eight feet diameter, 
for instance, might be fitted in a frame built 
iu the river; it would bo provided with floats 
or paddles a foot square—as the paddle wheel 
of a steam vessel—which would be moved by 
