THE RURAL WEW-Y©R5?ER. 
Butter, at the time of our visit, was unprece¬ 
dentedly low, selling at twenty cents ; and, 
taking the cost of producing it iuto considera¬ 
tion, there could not be much room for profit. 
Somebody said that the climate was too damp 
and cool for successful cheese making, and it 
was too far to ship milk to market. A dairy 
rancho of (100 acres had been sold by the rail¬ 
road compauy, near Duncan Mills, for 822.60 
per acre. 
At Point Reyes, a very desirable locality, 
dairy ranches were held at from 840 to 850. 
As every where on this coast., land is high- 
much too high—although the expense of farm¬ 
ing here, where no speeial provision must be 
made for Winter, is much less than in the 
East. A ranch of 2,500 acres on Tomales 
Bay was stocked with from .300 to 400 cows, 
many of choice breeds. On account of the 
mildness of the climate Jerseys do well here. 
This ranch rented for about 80,000. Churn¬ 
ing is done chiefly by horse power. 
Tomales Bay is a great place for ducks, aud 
we were told that some farmers thereabouts 
made 81,000 a year from ducks’ eggs. They 
shut up the ducks at night, and on salt water 
it costs little to feed them. Camp Taylor on 
this road is a famous camping ground for par¬ 
ties and the picnic excursions sometimes num¬ 
ber thousands of people. It is in the Red 
woods, on a creek, with fish, quail and deer 
for the sportsman—if taking innocent life is 
sport. 
We staid all nigbtat Duncan Mills, and upon 
reaching the town at once took to the forest 
by way of what is called School Ma’am Can¬ 
yon, from a schoolhouse having been built in 
it years ago for the children of the lumber¬ 
men. We walked for a mile over logs, cor¬ 
duroy and rude bridges in the bottom of the 
canyon and up the mountain side. I found a 
beautiful oxalis growing abundantly in the 
forest, a large magenta flower and leaves 
spotted with white on top and purple beneath. 
In the parlor of the hotel was an open wood fire 
and a grand piano, A Chinaman served at the 
table; he said his name was Louis Doe, that 
he had been five years in the country. But as 
“the Chinese must go,” was the cry of the 
white laborers and written even on the Red¬ 
wood stamps, Louis Doe's gentle reign will 
probably soon come to an end. 
The saw-mill at this point is of only moder¬ 
ate capacity, cutting 40,000 feet per day and 
upward. The trees are more carefully har¬ 
vested than formerly, although to the eastern 
mind the waste of timber on all this coast 
seems absolutely wicked. Wood for burning 
is cheap enough in the forests, but by the tune 
it reaches San Francisco it costs rather more 
than eoa, land the latter is largely transported 
in colliers from Seattle, aud sells here at 81) per 
ton. Red-wood lumber costs about the same 
as White Pine in the East, possibly a little 
less. It resists decay admirably, but is a 
soft wood. In selecting real estate in Cali¬ 
fornia various things need to be considered. 
Both the land aud the climate vary greatly 
within a short radius. Both are good or bad 
in spots. There is no malaria in this region, 
but it is damp and the trees are covered with 
moss and lichens. The peach trees were com- 
ing into bloom, aud the roadsides were re¬ 
splendent with the blossoms of golden poppies, 
pink mallows, hemp aud the exquisite nemo- 
phila, while there were miles of buttercups 
and wild mustard. The hills were adorned at 
intervals with oaks, madixma and the nmn- 
zanita. Eucalyptus trees were in abundance 
—millions have been planted in the State, "but 
it is said that they exhaust the soil like black 
walnut, and are growing into disrepute except 
for roadside purposes. The white farm houses 
had a thrifty, tasteful and well eared for ap¬ 
pearance. The conductor said that. California 
fanners lack in patience—that when a field 
becomes overrun with weeds they turn it over 
to pasture—it tires them to death to plow 
around a tree or stump, and they have not yet 
learned that it requires bruins and skill to 
farm well. A beautiful shrub in full bloom 
was the California Lilac, Ceauothus thyrsiflo- 
rus. 
RURAL SPECIAL REPORTS. 
Georgia. 
Perry, Houston Co., August 12. — This is 
a great place for water melons ; but they 
haven’t paid this year as the market is over¬ 
stocked. Nineteen persons shipped some, but 
it has not yet been demonstrated that as many 
dollars clear profit, have yet been realized from 
the business. One party shipped three car- 
loads. aud not a cent lias yet come to him in 
return. Another paid 825 for half a car-load 
to ship with a similar amount of his own mel- 
loiis. lu return the commission merchant 
asked for a remittance of 817 to help pay 
freight. It is the opinion here that Cincin¬ 
nati commission merchants played a “grab” 
game against the shippers. L. m. 
Illinois. 
Champaign, Champaign Co r , Aug. 14.—r 
This county has suffered much less from 
drought than many other parts of the State; 
but we were needing rain too,and as I write, we 
are having a delightful down-pour—the third 
within three days. We have had good crops 
—hay, oats, and especially wheat, of which 
there was but a small acreage. The prospect 
for com is now good. In many parts of the 
State the dry weather has done great damage. 
G. E. M. 
Missouri. 
Sedalia, Pettis Co., August 12.—Owing 
to a five weeks’ drought the crops in this 
county will be very light. Corn one-third 
crop; oats, fair crop; wheat small yield but 
good grain; very little rye sown, no barley, 
potatoes one-half crop: hay good; broom-corn 
two-thirds crop, grapes rotting badly. People 
very much discouraged, but we are having 
some rain now which will help out a little. 
Prices low. w. k. r. 
New York. 
Lockport, Niagara Co., August 12,— 
We have the most severe drought for many 
years. There has been only one good rain 
since May 10th, and none since June 15th. The 
result is that com is being injured;early pota¬ 
toes are being ruined. Much seeding is burned 
out dead, aud pastures are very dry and [>oor, 
and cows that have not been fed extra have 
nearly dried up and are thin in flesh. Harvest 
is now over, aud crops were never put in in 
better order. Not a drop of rain on most of 
them from the time they were cut till put into 
the barn. Wheat is yielding very well for the 
amount of straw. Many fields are going over 
30 bushels per acre. Oats are a fair crop of 
extra fine quality, and the straw where well 
housed will be worth half as much as hay. 
J. s. w. 
Clinton, Oneida Co., August 10.—Po¬ 
tatoes, a moderate crop; some cry of rot, 
but not extensive. Hops obliterated; not a 
bale in Oneida County. Hay was a light cut, 
but second crop will be fine to compensate. 
Corn stalks are sbort, but the stand is good 
for yield. e. p. p. 
Oregon. 
J asper. Lane Co., August 4. —The pros¬ 
pects for crops in my neighborhood are 
not as good as last year. Fall and winter 
wheat will make an average of 15 bushels per 
acre, while Spring will not make more than 
half a crop. Oats ditto. Barley will make an 
average. Hay not half a crop. Potatoes an 
average. Apples, pears aud all orchard fruits 
not more than a fourth of a crop. Hops are 
about as good as last year. w. f. s. 
Pennsylvania. 
Reading, Berks Co., Aug. Hi.—Reports com¬ 
ing in from the country districts to-day show 
that last night’s cloudburst and storm were 
unprecedented. Many thousand bushels of 
unripe fruit are now lying on the ground. 
The streets of Hamburg presented the appear¬ 
ance of rivers. Hundreds of cellars were 
flooded, wagons and agricultural implements 
were washed from farm yards into the Schuyl¬ 
kill and carried away. Corn fields were 
washed away, leaving not a vestige of the 
crops, and tobacco fields were riddled. The 
fruit crops are a total loss. Three barns 
valued at 812,IKK) were struck by lightning 
and destroyed, together with several animals 
and the roofs of three churches in the western 
section of Berks County were partially blown 
off - L. M. 
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
[Every query must be accompanied by the nan 
and address of the writer to Insure attention. Befo 
asking a question, please see If It ts net answered I 
our advertising columns. Ask only a few questtous i 
one time. Put questions on a separate piece of pa pet 
LAY EKING G HA PE- VINES. 
<S. R. Sanborn, N. 1.—One of the papers 
take recommends us to grow grape-vii 
layers from the wood of this season’s growti 
attd I would like to know what the Rvra 
says of this course, having more faith in i 
teachings. 
Ans.—W e cannot recommend the grov 
ing of layers from green wood or that of tl 
present season's gi owth. It may be admissih 
where no other wood can be got to the groum 
aud it is vory necessary to grow' from a pnrtici 
lar vine ; but such plants are never so strouj 
require extra care for a year or two, and ar 
much more liable to insect attacks and dii 
ease. Wj would use ns layers only wood c 
last year’s growth from which eaues hav 
growm this your. A trench about four iuehe 
deep should be dug aloug where the cane cai 
be lowered into it. When the canes of this 
year’s growth have reached a length of fifteen 
to eighteen inches, the cane bearing these 
should lie placed in the bottom of the trench 
and fastened end down, if necessary, with 
pegs of wood or twigs or anything that will 
hold them down. The trench should then be 
filled with fine soil, w’bieh should be packed 
closely around each young shoot, care being 
taken to have as few leaves as possible cov¬ 
ered. The roots will mostly grow from the 
old wood just at the place from which the 
young cane grew. It is now quite too lab* for 
layering. It should be done in June or the 
first of July when done in a large way. When 
anybody tells you that grape-vines grown 
from green w T ood are in any wav better than 
those from older w r ood don’t believe him ; he 
doesn't know what he is talking about. 
MULC’H IN A VINEYARD. 
' F. E. H., Canker City , Kans. —Which is 
the better treatment for a vineyard—to cover 
the w'hole ground with a heavy mulch, dis¬ 
pensing with cultivation ; or to mulch along 
the row and cultivate between the row's t 
Soil a loam, with heavy clay subsoil so that 
water stands within one to one and a half foot 
of the surface for some weeks in Spring. We 
often have drought in mid-summer. Is there 
a better way than either of the above ? 
Ans.— Mulching is, at the very best, but 
an indifferent substitute for cultivation. 
Whether as a stimulus of the growth, or as 
a protection against drought, a clean or well 
pulverized surface is always preferable ; al¬ 
though in case of long-continued dry, hot 
weather the addition of a mulch upon a well 
pulverized surface, will doubtless prove bene¬ 
ficial. There is grave doubt if the health 
aud vigor of a vineyard can be maintained 
upon a soil in which water stands for a 
considerable period so near the surface. 
Such soil should have been thoroughly under- 
drained. to a depth of at least three, or three 
and one half feet ; and the subsoil well broken 
up for fully one-half that depth, before plant* 
ing the viueyard, if the best results are to be 
had. 
TRANSPLANTING APPLE TREES. 
A. S., Beech wood. Pa. —About four years 
ago I ignorantly set out some apple trees in a 
bad situation: would it be safe to remove them 
now to a better place; and should this be done 
in the Fall or Spring ? 
Ans. —Wo should remove them. For your 
location probably Fall would be the better 
time. Prepare ample holes and preserve all 
the roots you possibly can. Don’t expose the 
roots to the sun or wind for a moment if it can 
be avoided. Cover them with blankets as 
soon as the tree is dug out. Use the finest soil 
about the roots, the poorest on top. When the 
roots are covered pom- water enough in the 
holes to puddle the entire mass of soil. Then 
fill to the surface aud compact it the newt day 
as firmly as you choose and again fill to the 
surface with soil, this time leaving it mellow. 
Cut the trees hack to within a foot of the main 
stems aud stake if necessary. 
Miscellaneous. 
Jamesburg, N. J. —In this vieinty we are 
using for clover marl which is said to contain 
from 8 to 10 per cent of potash and about 
two per cent, of phosphoric acid. To re¬ 
ceive marked benefit we have to apply from 
75 to 1(10 bushels per acre, costing seven 
cents per bushel delivered at the station. Due 
man can draw aud spread 100 bushels per day. 
Would it not be cheaper to use muriate of 
potash, applying the worth of the same 
amount in money to the acre ? If so, at what 
time should it be sown t 
Ans.—O ur friend does not tell us in what 
form the potash exists in the marl. There is 
at least one cent per pound difference in price 
between muriate aud sulphate. In a loose 
way of figuring, we should say that, the pot¬ 
ash lu the marl would cost just about the 
same as the potash in good muriate of potash 
when the eost of carting and spreading is 
taken into the account. The phosphoric acid 
is probably not worth more than two cents 
l>er pound. being insoluble. We should prefer 
to use either kainit, sulphate or muriate of 
potash, for the potash; aud raw boue flour for 
the phosphoric acid. The bone would also 
give some nitrogen. 
IF. M. p, t Bluff Point) A’. F.—In our vine¬ 
yards we encourage the growth of Cauada 
Thistles for winter protection and also for 
their mamiriul anti mechanical effect upon the 
soil. How do thej* compare with clover as a 
tuauurial crop. 
Ans. —In mechanical effect upon the soil we 
cannot see why Canada Thistles would uot be 
as good as the same bulk of clover aud also in 
adding carbon to the soil; but as a gatherer of 
ammonia, both in foliage and root, clover is 
much superior. The thistles have the advan¬ 
tage in so much that they cau be plowed down 
two orthreq fames during t,he Summer fUkl 
they will spring up rank and strong while the 
clover could hardly be grown to sufficient size 
to add much if anything to the soil, unless al¬ 
lowed to grow into the second year more or 
less. We should greatly prefer clean culture 
during the earlier part of the Summer and 
then the sowing of rye as a winter protection. 
It is at least much pleasanter to work among 
and over it, aud it will have as good a mechan¬ 
ical effect upon the soil. 
-4. & S ., iV. Greenfield , TFi’s.—What are 
the varieties of barley, heads of which are in¬ 
closed? 
Ans.—I t is very difficult to tell the variety 
of grain from only a portion of a single head, 
and without leaf or stalk, but we think No. 1 
is the Manshury. The kernels toward the 
the upper portion of the head are smaller and 
longer than the others, and in general have 
the same appearance as that variety. No 2 
looks like an inferior head of Manshury, or 
else common six-rowed. 
G. K.. Zanesrille, Ohio ,—Does the Rural 
reserve the right to include in its Free Seed 
Distribution any of the plants sent to the Ex¬ 
periment Farm for testing purposes ? 
Ans.—B y no means. We fancy that plants 
or seeds sent to the Rural Grounds to be tested 
are as safe as if in the originators’ grounds. 
We have no more right to give them away 
than to sell them. It would be an unpardon¬ 
able breach of trust were we to do either. 
P. W. J., Pontiac, Mich .—The chief works 
on “wine-making on a large or small scale,” 
are “French Wines and Vineyards,” an Eng¬ 
lish work; Haraszthy’s “Grape Culture, Wines 
and Wine-making”; Shaw’s,“The Wine and its 
Cellar." Husmann’s “Grape Growing and 
W ine Making. ” 2. The grass sent for name is 
C’enehrus tribuloides— Bur Grass, Hedgehog 
Grass. It is a grievous nuisance and should 
be extirpated or its first appearance. 
L. C. D.. Emery , III. —1. We do not know of 
any Sparta Branch Nursery at Sparta. Wis. 
2. 'The common apricot is not hardy enough to 
do very well in the West, north of Central 
Illinois, and owingto the curculio is not profit¬ 
able. The Russian apricot is said to be hardier 
but has not been thoroughly tested. Trees 
should not cost more than 25 to 40 cents each. 
L. P. N., De. Bwyter .—The box with the 
beans has not been received; but from your 
description of the insect coming out of the 
beans, we have no doubt it is the bean weavil. 
B. H., Seneca Pails , AT. Y. —To get one of 
the Government consular reports address 
Worthington C. Ford, Chief of Bureau of 
Statistics, Washington, D. C. 
N. S. I. F.. East Carver , Mass .—The speci¬ 
mens of Arbor-vitae you send us are the seed¬ 
bearing vessels or cones. 
C. C., Warrenton, A T . C. —1. The American 
News Co. of this city cau supply all books. 2. 
F. S. GibsoD, 108 Spruce St., Philadelphia, Pa. 
DISCUSSION. 
P. O. C., Youngstown, Ohio.— “ Who have 
noted any ill effects from eating strawber¬ 
ries ” l asks a correspondent in the Rural for 
August 7. I have noted both good and ill 
results. The effects of eating strawberries 
upon two ladies of different constitutions dur¬ 
ing the season of 1885, were different to a 
very marked degree. The younger lady 
weighed about 180 pounds, and was 39 years 
old. The other weighed about 9(1 pounds, and 
was 79 years old. The system of the younger 
aud more corpulent lady was strongly acidul¬ 
ous, while that of the elder was alkaline. The 
acidity of the strawberries aggravated the 
case of the younger lady, completely disar¬ 
ranging the digestive organs, and producing 
a severe case of irritation of the kidneys. The 
elderly lady feasted and fattened upon the 
delicious fruit. lu fact her health was greatly 
improved. The younger lady was compelled 
to use a corrective under the advise of a phy¬ 
sician. who prescribed borax water, flax-seed 
tea, and abstaining from further use of the 
berry. Both cases occurred under my owu 
observation, and aptly illustrate the chemical 
axiom that an acid will neutralize an alkali, 
and vice versa. 
Communications Receded for the Week Ending 
August 21,1SS6. 
W. F. B.—C. S.—A. G. B.—Yes, we have the Geauga— 
P. H. J.-L. E. B.—H. M.-F. C.—J. M. B.-S. C.-O. M. 
W,—F. B, G.—R. P. G„ thanks- F. C.—Henry Youug, 
plants ree'd—M. Southard, plants rec’d—H. H.—O. S. 
H.—F. L. K.—M. G.—E. it B.—J. M. W—G. SI. V.-C. V.— 
A. E. SI. C.—E. T—A. L. J.—O. S. H.—S. C. B.—W. F.—H. 
G.-A. O.—C. A. G.-W. H—E, P. P. 
ijs'celUncou.* ^ A vertitfittg. 
I ll/CD COMPLAINT 
LIVLIIcUAE GlUAMTEED 
Dyspepsia, Constipation, Indig< si ion, Jaundice, Sick 
Headache, all result from u diseased Liver, and are 
symptoms of Liver Complaint. To all suiTurimr, I will 
send a Valuable Treatise, with full purtlcu Onrtn 
lews for home treiumeut, r iv Iii£u 
Or. H, C. Ti'LKlt, DEEP RIVER, Conn. 
