1898 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
385 
good price for some of the seasoned lumber. In mos t 
neighborhoods in the South, there are some persons, 
white or colored, who are short of wood. He might 
offer such what wood they clear in a given time, and 
save so much cash outlay. Clearing so much land by 
hand is a tedious and expensive business. If he has 
the cash, it will be hundreds of dollars in his pocket 
if he buy a Hawkeye stump machine, and all the 
extras suited to his case. The outfit, delivered, will 
cost in the neighborhood of $150, but, as it will speedily 
pull up the large trees as well as the small, by the 
roots, and will make a sweep of two acres without 
having to be moved, the economy of the investment 
must be apparent. In burning the stumps, wood and 
brush, let him by all means make a large number of 
small piles in preference to fewer large piles. The 
very first crop will more than compensate him for the 
difference in trouble. As soon as cold, preferably be¬ 
fore they get wet, the ash-heaps should be broadcasted. 
The Canadian method of burning timber in large 
piles, and then scraping the ashes together in piles 
for sale, is one that no Virginia farmer can afford to 
imitate. 
In the course of a number of years, the Osage orange 
hedge would be partially effective, but in proportion 
to its effectiveness, would probably prove a serious 
nuisance. The cost of starting and maintaining such 
a hedge, coupled with the immense damage to adja¬ 
cent crops, would prove a considerable drain on the 
purse of J. W. B., and would never prevent his land 
from being flooded. It might simply prevent washing 
of the banks. His plan with the willows might do in 
his case, but I doubt it. I have seen lots of money in¬ 
vested in just such schemes, only to be swept away by 
the very next big rise in the stream. A much better 
plan, as far as my own experience and observation go, 
is to provide a sufficient bed for the stream. The sur¬ 
face soil on both sides can be thrown back on the 
land for some distance, and the subsoil can be used 
for an embankment. This will widen the bed, and 
deepen it at the same time. Hammocks and other 
obstructions must be scrupulously removed. In widen¬ 
ing, an eye should be kept on straightening the bends, 
removing the soil mainly on the side that projects. 
Such a job costs money, but if done as it must be to be 
effective, it will be a permanent affair, and one likely 
to pay a handsome interest on the investment. I have 
seen heavy stone walls, laid in cement, melt away 
like sugar, and have come to the conclusion that any 
plan that does not include a sufficiently large bed is, 
at best, only a temporary makeshift. 
How to Fight the Apple Borer. 
C. M. H., Seneca Falls, N. Y.— Will you publish a remedy for 
Apple borers ? I have a young orchard, and the borers have 
completely destroyed it. I am setting another this Spring, and 
would like to know how to keep them out? 
Ans.—I know of no application which can be made 
to apple trees that will surely prevent the attacks of 
the Apple borer. We have been experimenting with 
all sorts of washes to keep out the Peach borers here 
at the experiment station for the past three years, 
and thus far, have found nothing which will keep 
them all out without killing the tree. The Apple 
borer will be a more difficult insect to keep out than 
the Peach borer, I think. About the only thing that 
can be done, so far as our present knowledge goes, for 
the Apple borer, is to examine the trees carefully two 
or three times a year, and dig out or insert a wire and 
destroy all traces of the rascals. . Some report good 
success by injecting a little carbon bisulphide into the 
burrows when found, and then quickly closing the 
entrance hole. No wash will prevent the adult insect 
—the beetle—from coming out of the tree when it is 
ready. I have seen trees where the beetles had 
emerged through a collar of cement one-half inch or 
more in thickness. Only eternal vigilance will be the 
price of apple trees free from the borers. m. v. s. 
Selling Flowers in New York City. 
./. M. C., Washington County , N. Y. —Would I have the right to 
take cut flowers to New York City, and sell them from house to 
house ? If not, how much would I have to pay for that privilege? 
Or could I sell from samples and deliver afterwards? If so, how 
long would I have to wait after selling before delivering? 
Ans. —To sell any merchandise from house to house 
in the city, it would be necessary to obtain a peddler's 
license. But we would not advise you to attempt the 
sale of your cut flowers in this way ; it is quite differ¬ 
ent from selling pot plants or vegetables. People do 
not buy cut flowers as they buy other articles vended 
through the streets. The street flower trade of New 
York is almost entirely in the hands of Greeks and 
Armenians, who collect in the shopping districts, at 
the terminus of the Brooklyn Bridge, the elevated 
stations, and the ferries. The fact that these people, 
who make a business of street flower-selling, do not 
ordinarily canvass the residence districts, shows that 
it is not likely to prove remunerative. In European 
cities, street flower-sellers do visit the residence 
streets, but here it will be found that a woman who 
will buy a bunch of violets when out shopping, would 
refuse the same flowers if offered at the door. 
We do not think it practicable to sell flowers by 
sample and deliver them afterwards. J. M. C. does 
not state what his flowers are, but if ordinary Sum¬ 
mer garden flowers, the price they would realize in 
New York would be very small. These flowers are 
usually either shipped to a commission merchant, 
or sold at the Cut Flower Exchange, most of them 
being purchased by the Greeks. The latter are very 
shrewd buyers, and often form combinations among 
themselves to reduce prices. The perishable nature 
of the stock aids them in this. It is sometimes pos¬ 
sible to make arrangements with some large florist to 
supply certain lines of stock, which must, in such 
cases, be of high-grade quality. A day or two before 
Decoration Day, there is often sale for fine Peonies, 
Irises, etc , at good prices, but after that, the flower 
trade declines. This city is provided with flowers in 
amazing profusion all the year ’round, and even the 
Greeks look with scorn upon anything not quite up to 
standard. The proper shipment of the flowers is an 
important matter, and a point in which the inexperi¬ 
enced are likely to fail. 
Diluting Milk for Creaming. 
E. J). P., Scipio, N. Y .—Is it advisable to raise cream by dilution, 
as compared with setting milk in pans ? Many of the farmers in 
this section have bought cans which are used for this purpose. 
The milk is strained into the can, and then as much water added 
as there is milk. 
Ans.—T he question of raising cream by dilution has 
come up often recently, and it is one that does not 
appear to be satisfactorily answered by results ob¬ 
tained by dairymen. Should the ordinary dairyman 
accompany his trial of the dilution process with a 
careful use of the Babcock test, he would, undoubt¬ 
edly, find that, on the whole, he is not being paid for 
his trouble, but on the other hand, was losing too 
much fat in the skim-milk. Extended experiments in 
this line at the Cornell and Vermont Experiment 
Stations, throw much light on the subject. These ex¬ 
periments were conducted with ordinary-sized, deep¬ 
setting cans, under the conditions that prevail on the 
farm. A report of the work in detail may be seen in 
Cornell Bulletin No. 39. 
“ In none of the experiments, either at the Vermont 
or Cornell Station, has there been any benefit from the 
dilution where cold water was used as the diluent, 
and where the cans were set either in cold water (40 
degrees), in warm water (60 degrees) or in air, and 
at neither station has there been any advantage from 
dilution where hot water was used as the diluent, and 
the cans subsequently set in cold water (40 degrees).” 
One example of results at Cornell is as follows : In 
16 trials, where the milk was set (undiluted) in the 
Cooley creamer with ice water at a temperature of 44 
degrees, the average per cent of fat in the skim-milk 
was .28. In 11 trials where milk was diluted with an 
equal weight of cold water, and set in the open air, 
the average per cent of fat in the skim-milk was 1.28. 
In regard to dilution with hot water (135 degrees), 
and the subsequent setting of the cans in warm water 
(60 degrees), or in cold water (40 degrees), the results 
vary. The following summary may be of interest: 
Per cent of fat in skim-milk. 
Set at 60 degrees: Diluted. Not diluted. 
Mixed herd milk (15 trials). 
.76 
1.05 
Jersey milk (6 trials). 
.60 
1.13 
Holstein milk (2 trials). 
.63 
.82 
Average of all (23 trials). 
.69* 
1.05 
Set at 40 degrees: 
Mixed herd, Jersey and Holstein milk 
(8 trials). 
.23 
.23 
Set at 38—48 degrees in air: 
Mixed herd milk (8 trials). 
.60 
Combining the results found at the Vermont and 
Cornell Stations, we have the following average per¬ 
centages of fat in skim-milk under the different 
systems: 
Per cent. 
Diluted (water at 135 degrees) set at 60 degrees (39 trials) .77 
Undiluted set at 60 degrees (30 trials). 1.00 
Undiluted set at 40 degrees (26 trials).29 
Thus it appears that when milk is set at about 60 de¬ 
grees, there is considerable advantage, so far as the 
efficiency of creaming is concerned, in diluting it with 
25 per cent of hot water. On the other hand, there is 
the disadvantage of needing an increased tank capac¬ 
ity, and of producing a quickly-souring cream. Cream 
from milk so set was often sour and thick in 24 hours 
from setting. Summarizing the results of all the ex¬ 
periments, we can say that only in the case of diluting 
with hot water, and then setting the milk at about 60 
degrees, was there any gain in fat by the dilution 
process. In all other cases, there was a decided loss 
from its use. l. a. 
Heavy Yields of Corn and Wheat. 
L. B. 8., Jefferson Co., W. Fa.—1. I see you refer to a yield by the 
Early Mastodon corn of 213 bushels of shelled corn per acre, raised 
by a Mr. Rose. What distance apart was the corn planted to 
make such a result possible ? On the very best creek and river 
bottom laud, I have been able to secure only 80 bushels of shelled 
corn per acre. 2. I am interested in securing a prolific, strong- 
strawed, strong-growing, heavy-weight wheat. I have on trial 
Early Genesee, Giant (Jones), Gold Coin, Forty Fold, and Red 
Cross of the North. Do you introduce your new wheats only 
through seedsmen like Henderson & Co. ? I see some of your wheats 
advertised by them. 
Ans.— 1. This was merely a quotation from a cata¬ 
logue or circular. We cannot verify the statement, and 
do not know what distance apart the corn was planted. 
The highest yield made by The R. N.-Y. was, as we 
have often stated, 132 bushels of shelled corn to the 
acre. There are authentic accounts that this yield 
has been exceeded. 2. We have received many ac¬ 
counts that the Jones’ crossbreeds outyield the older 
varieties. We have tried nearly every variety of 
Winter wheat, and our conclusion is that every farmer, 
by trial on a small scale, must determine for himself 
which will yield the heaviest on his farm. We have 
never sold any of our introductions through The R. 
N.-Y. We have always been opposed to trade papers 
unless it is made plain that they are trade papers. 
Position of Eggs in Incubator. 
A. N., Liberty, W. Y .—I have a 100-egg incubator. Is there any 
reason why an egg may not hatch as well on end as to have it lie 
on its side ? I can put 100 eggs in it if flat, and 130 if on end. I 
have placed one-half inch of sawdust in the drawer, and have 
the eggs on end, and a neighbor tells me that they won’t hatch 
that way. 
Ans. —The correct position for eggs during incuba¬ 
tion is on their sides, with the large end slightly higher. 
When in this position, the chicks form in the large 
end, and at hatching time, break the shell near the 
large end; if the small end is the higher, they are 
very likely to break the shell near the small end, and 
if they do this, they are much more likely to perish 
in the shell, not being able to turn so easily to break 
the shell all the way around. The sawdust in the 
drawer or tray may interfere with the ventilation, or it 
may not, according to the construction of the machine. 
The eggs may be stood on end for the first five days, 
if turned twice daily, and then tested, when the in¬ 
fertile eggs, and those with dead germs being removed, 
there will usually be room in the trays to allow the 
good, fertile eggs to lie on their sides. j. k. s. 
Some Questions About Tiles. 
IK. J. L., Bradford, Ark .—Will socketed-end sewer pipes make 
good drain tiles? Would they be liable to fill with sediment? 
Are drain tiles better with thimbles over the joints, than plain 
tiles butted end to end ? 
Ans. —Yes; it is, probably, better that the drain 
should be laid at a greater depth than would be re¬ 
quired for ordinary drain tiles cut to one foot in 
length. The joints afford the only entrance for the 
water, and being two feet apart and close jointed, the 
water will not enter the drain so freely as where the 
joints are only one foot apart. If the drain be laid 
deep, the water of heavy rainfalls will pass down into 
the earth to a depth that will not damage the growing 
crop, the water entering and passing away slowly 
through the drain. If the rainfall is long continued 
so as to bring the line of saturation near the surface, the 
hydrostatic pressure will be greater to force the water 
into the drain, if the drains are laid deep, thus getting 
rid of the water sooner. Sewer-pipe drains are not more 
liable to be obstructed with silt than other drains, if 
equally well laid. A drain laid with collars is as good 
as one laid without collars, and no better, provided the 
drain without collars is as well laid, so as to avoid 
unevenness at the joints. Clay is the best covering for 
joints ; after a short time, it will become sufficiently 
open to admit water freely, and exclude quicksand. If 
clay cannot be had to cover the joints, where there is 
quicksand, use tar paper. Strips two or three inches 
wide placed so as to cover the joints will keep silt and 
sand out of the drain, and last for several years, at 
least until the earth surrounding the joints is suffi¬ 
ciently compact to keep out the silt or sand. The use 
of collars was quite common 30 or 40 years ago, but 
they have gone almost entirely out of use, being re¬ 
garded as an unnecessary expense. ,J. J. w. Billingsley. 
MISCELLANEOUS. 
Killing Dock.—F. C., Divine Corners, N. Y.—The only satisfac¬ 
tory way to kill Yellow dock on a piece of land that is very moist 
and too stony to plow, is to cut up the dock by the roots with a 
sharp spade or spud, which is a tool like a narrow spade with a 
long handle and sharp edge. Put the boys at this job, and make 
them think they are killing Spaniards, cutting the roots off as 
far below the surface as is possible, to destroy them. 
Cow Manure for Corn.—E. P. B., Foster, Pa.—Your nine acres 
which were covered with a good coat of cow manure direct from 
the stable, from cows well fed on wheat bran and gluten meal, 
seem to us rich enough to produce a good crop of ensilage corn. 
If it were sweet corn, or corn intended for grain, we would use 
potash and phosphoric acid in addition; but for ensilage corn, 
we doubt whether it would pay to use an extra fertilizer. 
Ensilage of Whole Stalks.—J. L., Buffalo, N. Y.—Several years 
ago, a number of reports were made from farmers who put whole 
stalks of corn into the silo. The stalks were laid in courses, the 
butts all one way, and the different courses lapping like shingles 
on a roof. This ensilage was never entirely satisfactory. The 
whole stalks admitted too much air, and there is too much decay. 
The best ensilage is, evidently, prepared by cutting into about 
three-fourth-iuch pieces. 
Milch Cows and Dairy Book.—W. M. I., Mercersburg, Pa.— 
For supplying milk for an academy or school for boys, we would 
prefer Holstein or Ayrshire cattle, or, at least, cows containing 
blood of one of these breeds. They give large quantities of good 
milk, which we consider better suited for drinking purposes than 
the richer milk of Jerseys or Guernseys. The best book on stock 
feeding is, unquestionably, Feeds and Feeding, by Prof. W. A. 
Henry. The price is $2, postpaid from this office. 
