827 
pel's are gaining ground, and prices are mod¬ 
erate and demand irregular, but good on 
lower grades. Smokers are more active. 
Dark tobaccos are without any particular 
feature and transactions small Sun-cured 
leaf in regular demand for home use. Receipts 
of new dark are very small, but increasing 
this week. Prices realized have been any¬ 
thing hut satisfactory to producers at 2J£ 
cents average, and unless they meet with some 
unforeseen better luck in this year’s product 
it is difficult to see how they can attempt 
another crop, even if they wore willing to do 
so. It will no longer be a matter of choice, 
but bread and meat will have to come out of 
the farm first. w. e. d. 
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
[Every query muni be accompanied by Hie name 
and address o t 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. 
THE HESSIAN FLY. 
■/. B. -1., Milford , Md .—What are the hab¬ 
its aud mode of production of the Hessian fly? 
Ans. —Of the Hessian Fly (Cecidomyia de¬ 
structor) there are two broods, aud sometimes 
three iu the season,the first appearing in Spring 
and the others in Autumn. Sometimes, but uot 
commonly, an early Spring brood produces 
another late in the season. The eggs, of which 
from 20 to <50 are laid by each female, are de¬ 
posited iu the longitudinal creases m the 
leaves of the young wtmat, barley, rye aud 
other cereals. Those of the first brood are 
laid from early in April till late in May, the 
time varying with the latitude and the weather. 
The second brood flics appeal' in August and 
September atul lay their eggs in those months. 
The eggs hatch in from four to 12 days,accord' 
iug to the state of the weather, seldom taking 
over six days. The pale red larva? or grubs, 
crawl down the leaf, working their way be¬ 
tween it and the main stalk till they come to a 
joint just above which they remain, a little be¬ 
low the surface of the ground, with their 
heads towards the roots, until their transfor¬ 
mation is completed. Here they suck the sap 
of the plant, causing the latter to swell, turn 
yellow aud die. They do not oat or penetrate 
the stalk, but merely feed on its sap by suction. 
The larva; attain full growth in from four to 
six weeks. About December t, the skiu of the 
autumn brood hardens, becomes brown and 
then turns to a bright chest nut color, when 
they are said to be iu the "flax-seed'' state, and 
on removing the lower leaves they may be seen 
as little, brown, oval, smooth bodies, a trifle 
smaller than rice grains. In this condition 
they remain until the warm weather iu April 
or May, when the larva? or maggots are rap¬ 
idly transformed into pupa? wit hin their "flax¬ 
seed skins, the flies emerging from their "flax¬ 
seed' 1 cases in the above months according to 
the latit ude and temperature of I bo season. 
The spring brood lay eggs for about three 
weeks and then disappear. 'The larva? or mag¬ 
gots hatched from these eggs take the "flax- 
seed” form in June or July, aud it is the flies 
from those that lay the eggs the maggots from 
which injure the crops iu the Full. 
Great numbers of the pests may bo destroyed 
by burning the stubble after harvest aud 
plowing and harrowing the land. The great 
objection to this practice is that the useful 
parasites of the flies which kill vast numbers 
of them every year, are destroyed as well as 
the jie.sts themselves, By sowiuga part of the 
crop early and plowing this under if affected 
by the fly, and then sowing the rest after the 
first frost, the crop has been saved; but in 
such cases there is danger that Winter will 
seriously injure the crop. If the crop is only 
lightly affected it may be saved by liberal 
manuring. The selection of varieties less lia¬ 
ble to attack is also advisable; thus it is 
claimed by many that t he post does not trou¬ 
ble Lancaster or Fultz, while Mediterranean 
and still more Clawson are stud to tiller so vig¬ 
orously as to be exceptionally able to rosistat 
tacks. Steeping the seed mid rolling it 
in piaster or lime teud to promote a vigor¬ 
ous growth and are therefore beneficial. The 
strewing of quicJc-lime over the field immedi¬ 
ately after the grain has been cut is also re¬ 
commended as destructive to the pupa?; while 
sowing the field with uuleuched wood ashes— 
two bushels to the acre—in Autumn and then 
again the first and last weeks in April and as 
late in May as the field can be passed over 
without injury to the crop, tins boon found 
beneficial. Pasturing with sheep and the con¬ 
sequent close cropping of the fall-sown wheat 
in November, and later in the more southern 
latitudes, will cause many of the eggs, larvae 
and “flax-seed” to be destroyed, and rolling 
may have a like effect. Sowing the seed after 
the first frost is, however, commonly consid¬ 
ered the only way of avoiding injury from 
the pest in the Fall. 
SORE LEG IN A MAKE. 
W. H. II ., Wellington, Out .—My ten-year- 
old mare became very lame last April. I 
treated her for strain of the back tendon, but 
with little effect. A veterinarian pronounced 
it a ease of navicular disease. His prescrip¬ 
tion was to poultice for eight days, after par¬ 
ing the foot down very thiu. This relieved 
her so that she stepped on the affected foot 
quite boldly. Then T was to clip the hair off 
half way to the ankle and apply a blister. 
Then after a few days to apply sweet oil, and 
at the end of 14 days blister again with a salve¬ 
like preparation. I blistered the first time, 
hut before the end of 14 days I became con¬ 
vinced that it would uot lie advisable to blis¬ 
ter again. The foot swelled greatly aud was 
so sore that she could not rest her toe on the 
ground. For the last six. weeks the swelling 
around the hoof has been running most of the 
time Poultici ug has been of no benefit. Be¬ 
fore the blister was applied she could walk 
quit© well; hut now she cau only hobble around 
ou three legs. Is there any chance of her re¬ 
covery ? I can’t afford to winter her if she is 
of no value. 
ANSWERED BY F. L. KILBORN. 
The first part of the treatment—the poul¬ 
ticing—was undoubtedly correct; aud if this 
had been followed by mild blisters the case 
would have doue well aud she might have re¬ 
covered. But the blister employed was evi¬ 
dently much too severe, and we suspect mer¬ 
cury or some other equally powerful blister- 
iug agent was used, agents that should be used 
cautiously and only occasionally even by com¬ 
petent practitioners. Did you employ a regu¬ 
lar veterinarian or a self-made "horse doctor”? 
This may account for the blundering use of the 
severe blister. As to future treatment, you 
can ouly apply soothing measures until the ef¬ 
fect of the blister has passed. Coutinue the 
poultices with warm fomentations if the dis¬ 
charge has not ceased, adding a weak solution 
of antiseptic astringent to the poultice—as one 
dram sulphate of copper or one-half dram 
chloride of zinc to each quart, of water. If the 
discharge has nearly or quite ceased, apply 
daily an ointment of spermaceti and almond 
oil, sweet oil, vaseline, or other bland oint¬ 
ment. All after treatment will depend upon 
the condition of the limb after recovering from 
the effects of the blister. 
FORM OF CONTRACT FOR FARM HELP. 
A. K. F., Chicago, Neb. —IVhat is a model 
contract which can be used by farmers iu 
hiring help—oue that can be elaborated to 
suit? 
Ans.—A contract may be very simple in 
form. In fact, any writing which states 
clearly what is understood as the bargain is 
all that is needed. The following we have 
used several years and found it very satisfac¬ 
tory; 
"A contract made the twenty-fourth day of 
November, 18815, between John Doe, of the 
town of-, county of-, and State of 
-, aud Richard Roe, of the town of-, 
county of-, aud State of-. John 
Doe agrees to employ Richard Roe to work 
on his farm and at such other labor as apper¬ 
tains thereto, for (here state the time), begin¬ 
ning ou the (hero state where to begin), or so 
long as the services of the said Richard Roe 
shall be faithfully performed and reasonably 
satisfactory to the said Johu Doe, aud to pay 
for such service at the rate of (here state 
wages and manner of payment), and in addi¬ 
tion thereto (here state the agreement made 
as to board, washing, furnishing house, fur¬ 
nishing fuel, keeping cow, furnishing ground 
for garden, etc., etc.). 
"Richard Roe, iu consideration of the above 
agreements, agrees to work for the said Johu 
Doe, for the time and in the manner and for 
the compensation there stated, and that he 
will render good and faithful service, aud in 
all things relating to said work ho will be 
obedient to the commands and wishes of said 
John Doe aud careful of his property (here 
state any agreement as to any special works, 
such as feeding sheep, running into the night 
or beginning very early m the morning, or if 
on Sundays, or whether help does chores on 
Sundays, etc., etc.).” 
HERB CULTURE AND MARKETING. 
Subscriber (address mislaid). —How should 
such herbs as summer savory, sage, etc., be 
cultivated and put up for market? 
Ans.— Herbs are of the easiest culture, re¬ 
quiring only moderately fertile soil aud to bo 
kept free from weeds. Sago and summer sa¬ 
vory- indeed Wo believe till of this class of 
plants are grown front seeds, which may he 
planted iu Spring in drills two or three feet 
apart. Sage is a perenuial plant aud needs to 
be sown but once for a permanent plantation. 
Summer savory is an annual, aud must be 
sown every Spring. Borage, chenil, corian¬ 
der and dill are also annuals. Balm, bore- 
hound, hyssop, rue, sorrel, bitter fennel, 
thyme, etc., are perennials. 2. Herbs that are 
to lie dried for Winter use, should be cut just 
as they ore coming into flower. Tie In small 
bunches and hang in some open, airy shed or 
building. When kept in the sun they dry too 
quickly and lose strength. The bast herbs are 
preserved in glass jars or bottles. They are 
sold in bunches still, but fancy prices are ob¬ 
tained only for those preserved in packages. 
LAMENESS IX A noG. 
U. S. M., Havana, Mich .—One of my best 
fatting hogs was taken lame in both hind legs, 
and iu a few days his forelegs gave out in the 
same way, otherwise he seems perfectly well, 
eats well and seems to thrive, alt hough he can¬ 
not stand up. I have been feeding him all 
the watermelons he would eat before putting 
him up on corn. What is the disease, and 
remedy ? 
Ans. —It is impossible to name the disease, 
since hogs frequently become lame from a 
variety of causes. Iu this case it may be due 
to a too sudden change of feed or to overfeed¬ 
ing on corn. Place him on a ground flour 
and feed sparingly on milk, slops and vegeta¬ 
bles or apples with a little corn. One-fourth 
of a pint of ground linseed once or twice daily 
will be beneficial. If the bowels are costive 
give one or two tablespoonfuls of linseed oil 
night and morning until relieved. After re¬ 
covery, increase the feed gradually. 
WINTERING SEEDLING TREES IN THE “ COLD 
BELT.” 
-4. 1\, Norden, Neb .—Here catalpa seed¬ 
lings are killed in the Winter: is it advisable 
to take them up in the Fali and store them in 
the cellar, to be replanted in Spring? 
ANSWERED BY PROFESSOR J. L. BUDD. 
In the West it is always best to grow the 
catalpa in nursery and to protect the plants 
during the Winter by carefully heeling them 
in and covering them iu the open air, or pack¬ 
ing them away iu cellar. Hardier species, 
such as ash, maple. Box Elder, etc., it is l«?st 
to plant where wanted. But if grown iu the 
nursery it is best to take them up iu the Fall 
aud heel them in, or winter them in a cellar, 
as their vitality is much lowered if they are 
exposed to the dry zero winds of Winter. If 
such hardy sorts be taken up in Spring, they 
may live when transplanted, but they will 
make far better growth if properly cared for 
during the preceding Winter. 
WARTS ON A COW’S TEATS. 
T. M. II., Warren^ Me .—What will remove 
the warts from the teats of a cow; They are 
very close together aud too small to allow a 
string to be tied around them. 
Ans. —Moisteu them every day with a 
st rong solution of sulphate of copper, and be¬ 
fore applying it, rub off the surface with a 
piece of saud-paper. This prevents soreness 
aud cau be done while the cow is being 
milked. Another way:—Touch the warts 
daily with a piece of nit rate of silver moistened, 
or with a solution of it. In applying any caustic 
substance, one must lie careful uot to permit it 
reach the surrounding skin, and if it eats 
too deep it can be at once stopped by applying 
any grease. Warts can also 1 m? removed by 
applying, after milking, a paste made of bak¬ 
ing soda just moist enough to be sticky, and 
put on the excrescence only. As warts are 
contagious, a cow having them on her teats 
should be milked last, or else the hands should 
be washed before milking another cow. 
Miscellaneous, 
-4. K. F., Chicago, Neb .—A neighbor grows 
an unbearded spring wheat which yields 
about 18 bushels per acre, and which is called 
the "French Imperial.” It was obtained, from 
a Philadelphia seed house. Another neighbor 
grows a bearded spring wheat which yielded 
about the same, but has a larger kernel, ‘it 
bears the same name and was sent out by the 
Department of Agriculture; which is the true 
French I mperial ? 
Ans.— We are not familiar with the French 
Imperial Wheat. Some of our readers may 
be able to answer the question, 2, :i and 4 
will he answered later. 
d. li, 1., Louisa , La .—Inclosed is a speci¬ 
men of a pressed rose; the shoot of the plant 
has grown right through the flower; isn’t this 
unusual ? 
Ans. —No, this i» not very rare. We have 
noticed the same growth in many kinds of 
flowers. Every part of a plant comes from 
the leaf—the petals, stamens and pistils are 
uot exceptions. Fruit buds, from certain 
causes, may change to leaf buds, and some 
interference in the development of the blow 
may induee the stem which bears it (peduncle) 
to continue growing. 
A. F., Camion Falls, Minn. —1. Apiece of 
sandy black loam produces large straw, but 
very small heads of wheat; would an applica¬ 
tion of ashes be likely to cause larger heads? 
2. How can poultry manure be spread to the 
best advantage? 
Ans. —1. We advise our frieud to try, on 
separate plots, raw bone flour, ashes and both 
combined. We think the results will answer 
his question. 2. Mix the manure with dry 
soil, coal ashes, etc., as collected. It may 
then be spread the same as any other fertilizer. 
Hen manure when wet can not be economically 
spread. 
C. L. V., Orient, N. 1",—In the home-made 
creamer described in the Rural of July 17, 
how is the milk skimmed ? 2, T wish to make 
a small one to hold the milk of one or two 
cows: would it violate anybody's patent if 
faucets were put in the bottom of the cans? 
Ans. —1. The milk is skiuuned with an or¬ 
dinary long-handled skimmer. 2. To put fau¬ 
cets in the bottom would infringe the Cooley 
patent. 
F. W. S., Marksboro, N. J.— I had a fire 
kindler that I liked well. It was a can hold¬ 
ing kerosene with a rod with a ball at the end 
to be let down Into the oil. There was a cover 
on the rod so that the top was covered when 
the ball was put into the oil. A young man 
used it to kindle a fire and put it into cold 
water to cool it and thus spoiled it. I would 
like another hilt do not know where they are 
made. Does the Rural? 
Ans. —Can our readers answer ? 
H. P. T., Richland Centre, FFis.—Which is 
"the best breed of poultry to keep for profit” 
is a hard question to answer. If it were defi¬ 
nitely known there would be very little de¬ 
mand for any of the other breeds. The favor¬ 
ites with the public are Light Brahmas and 
Plymouth Rocks, followed closely by the Leg¬ 
horns. Then follow the Wyandottes. 
.4. 1U. S., Americas .—What is an analysis 
ot whole cotton seed which has been burnt. 
Ans. —According to Wolff whole cotton seeds 
yield 7.8 per cent, of ash, of this 82.15 per cent, 
potash, 31.16 per cent, phosphoric acid, and the 
whole seed contains 3.G per cent, uitrogen. 
Subscriber (no address), —Among good 
poultry papers are the Poultry Bulletin, 
monthly, New York City; American Poultry 
Journal, Chicago, Ill,; Poultry World,month¬ 
ly; and American Poultry Yard, weekly, 
Hartford, Conn. 
B. T., Maple, IP. T .—The bags in which the 
Rural seeds are sent out are made by Robert 
Gair, 1(5:1 Chambers Street, New York. We 
do not know whether their prices are low or 
high. _ 
DISCUSSION. 
J. S. W., Lockport, N. Y.—M. H. B., in 
the Rural, page 769, very correctly says that 
in nearly every farmer's garden are bushes of 
the common red currant so old and long neg¬ 
lected that they make little growth, bear only 
sparingly and of small-sized, inferior fruit. 
But I quite disagree with the course he recom¬ 
mends for regenerating them. It will, uo 
doubt, greatly benefit them, but the labor and 
time it takes arc too great, while the bushes 
can never be made as good as new. By far a 
better plan is to make cuttiugs of any young 
growth and to plant them two in a place, 
where it is desired to have the new bushes. If 
both root and grow, one may be removed to 
another place. With good care and proper 
manuring these new bushes will give nearly 
as much, and much nicer fruit than the pieces 
of the old root cut up, as he recommended, 
and ever after that the new bush will produce 
double. I have always found that while cur¬ 
rant bushes, by constant care and much ma¬ 
nuring, may be maintained in fair condition 
almost any length of time, it paid best to re¬ 
place the old ones with those raised freshly 
from cuttings, about once in 10 or 12 years. 
The same is the case with go oseberries. 
J. H. W., Palmetto, Ga.— A recent Rural 
said that if Kaffir Corn could he thrashed aud 
cleaned by machinery, as wheat, rye and other 
small grains aro, it would prove to be a valu¬ 
able addition to the cereal products of the 
country. This point is settled w ith me. My 
crop was rather too large this year to attempt 
getting it out without the aid of improved 
machinery. 1 selected the "Frick Patent” 
thrashing machine, and with some temporary 
changes, it did the work rapidly and effect¬ 
ually—a perfect success every way. 
Communications Received for thk Week Ending 
December 4, issii. 
G. E. M.—J, B.. thanks.—J. M. P„ ivrtalnly.—C, C. W. 
-M. MeC.-J. J. M.-S. A. B.-E. P. P.-W. K.-J. F.-G. 
W. M.-F. J.-W. F.-A. V.-C P. X., lhanks.-A. W. F. 
—A. H. T.—F. P. S.—N. O. M. N.—B. T.—W. M. F.—W. 
F. -J. H.—H. H.—G. G„ thanks.—L. H. U.-C. B. G.— 
L. G.-A. K. F.-L. E. A.-L. R.-M. W. F.-W. H.—J. 
G. G.-C. B. G.—R. S. C.-A. L. J.—A. E, M. C.—A. B.— 
Q. M. O.—J- W. M;— P. h. A. W. S. Mrs. A. A. W— G. 
8.—A. K. F.—J. v). H.—G. W. C. W. W, F.—N. C.—F.P 
S. II. W, C.-W. F. MeC.-A. D.S.-B. B. R.-C, M.—O. 
U . K.-J. H. 0.-4. W. B.—J. B. C,-M. E. M.-L. E. B., 
thanks— G. W. K -W. F.-. L. J.—O S. H.- s. F. h — 
E. I\ P.-W. E.— W. II. II R.—K. S. G.-G. E. M.—G. G. 
George tirnut; In u week or so.—W. U. II. k — c, J. W. 
C. J. B.-J. .1. H. G.-A. P.-C. I'. l.-R. C.-A. M.-C, J. 
W—O. S. B.-A- L. R—W. F.—G. W. M—M. N.—C. D. 
11 thanks.—M. B. P.—J. H., petunia seeds ree’djthanks. 
—\\ . 11.—L, E. B.—C. L. 
