1897 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
437 
“ Bitter Rot ’’ m Australia. 
P. H. F., Vermont Mitcham, Victoria, Australia— Some varieties 
of apples, especially Shockley, Jonathan, Dumelous Seedling and 
Gravenstein, are badly affected with a lot of small, dark spots, 
nearly always on the under or eye end. These look as though 
they were a little black on the skin when just picked, but In a few 
weeks, expand and make the apple quite worthless. Our papers 
call it bitter pit or ripe rot, but I think it is something else, and 
would like your opinion. 
Ans. —Our Australian friend is almost certainly trou¬ 
bled with “ bitter rot ” on his apples. It is the result of 
the growth of a fungus beginning on the skin of the 
fruit. Some varieties are much more affected with it 
than others. A part of those he mentions I know to be 
peculiarly subject to it. The germs find lodgment on 
the surface and germinate when conditions of mois¬ 
ture and temperature are favorable. The remedy is 
the copper solutions, if sprayed on before the disease 
gets a strong foothold. At the first sign of the trou¬ 
ble, use the ammoniacal solution of carbonate of 
copper, which is fully described in the publications 
relative to plant diseases. Bordeaux Mixture is 
cheaper and equally effective, but it discolors the 
fruit by the adhesion of the lime in it. In about two 
weeks, a second application should be given, h. e. v. d. 
How to Kill Quack Grass. 
F. A. B., Lewisville, Wash. —Can you or anybody else inform 
me how to kill Quack grass?. I have it in an orchard, and it seems 
to thrive and increase under a cultivation of two plowings and 
half a dozen harrowings a year. 
D. B., Springville, N. Y. —Can you tell me of some way to kill 
Quack grass ? 
Ans. —It appears that Agropyrum repens, which is 
known by a multitude of names, such as Quack, 
Couch grass, etc., is attracting wide attention, and 
producing much solicitude among many farmers. 
This, in part, is uncalled for, for with suitable tillage, 
short rotations and thick seeding, it can be so kept in 
check that it will not seriously interfere with pro¬ 
duction. True, the presence of Quack grass necessi¬ 
tates far more tillage, and that of a better character 
than where this grass is not present; but this very 
fact is of great value, since the more perfect tillage 
which must be given to keep the grass in check bene¬ 
fits the land and the crop which is grown upon it to 
such an extent that, usually, the cost of the extra 
culture is more than compensated for by the increased 
yield. True, it is a difficult matter entirely to eradi¬ 
cate Quack grass ; it can be done only by conducting 
a systematic, long summer fallow which shall prevent 
the grass from “ breathing ”, that is, making any 
stems or roots above ground for an entire season. 
Most farmers are not willing to till perfectly enough 
to accomplish this end, hence are unable to destroy 
this grass. 
If the ground be plowed late, and the furrows left 
on edge so that they will be acted upon energetically 
by the frost, much of the Quack will be killed or in¬ 
jured, but perhaps the better plan is to wait until it 
makes a start in the spring, then plow deeply with the 
jointer or skim plow attachment also set deep, that 
all of the grass may be turned under. If an inter- 
cultured crop is to be planted, as corn, a shallow seed 
bed should be formed that as few roots as possible 
may be brought to the surface. A few days after the 
corn is planted, it should be cultivated with suitable 
implements, and rolled and harrowed ; then, as soon 
as the corn is up enough to till, a cultivator with 
many small teeth, that is, one which will cut all of 
the ground, should be run shallow through the corn 
at least once every week. Corn should be planted in 
cheek rows, and the man who cultivates the corn should 
be taught to cultivate it so closely that every hill will 
tremble as the implement passes it. The middle of 
the spaces will take care of themselves. A little hand 
weeding to supplement the horse tillage which should 
be kept up until the corn is in the milk stage, will so 
annoy Quack grass that it will become conspicuous by 
its absence. 
Replow in the fall and leave to freeze. Plow in the 
spring early, and sow barley or oats about 20 per cent 
thicker than usual as early as possible. As soon as 
these are off, plow shallow, two to three inches deep, 
and harrow and cultivate and bring the roots to the 
surface where, on account of the dry weather and 
their stunted condition, they will perish. But it is 
not always dry in midsummer, and if not, the roots 
may have to be raked up and carried off. Finally, 
the only remedy for Quack grass is “ hot plowshares” 
and a boss that has long since discarded his third 
hand—behind hand. i. p. Roberts. 
Rye or Buckwheat Before Wheat. 
X., The Parks, Ont .— Is it Injurious to the growth of fall wheat, 
to grow rye and buckwheat upon the fallow, and plow it in pre¬ 
vious to sowing the wheat in the fall ? 
Ans —Buckwheat and rye sown upon the land for 
the purpose of conducting a green fallow if plowed 
under, need not increase smut, rust or blight, or tend 
to winter-killing if fall wheat be sown upon inverted 
land. The only pre-requisite to insure success con¬ 
sists in plowing under the rye or buckwheat most 
thoroughly, at least one month before the wheat is to 
be sown. During this month, the land should be 
rolled and harrowed frequently, and the former im¬ 
plement should precede the latter that the land may 
be left with a soft mulch on the surface in the inter¬ 
vals between the different tillage operations. This 
frequent tillage will solidify the sub-surface soil, set 
free plant food, tend to bring moisture from the sub¬ 
soil to near the surface, and in every way to tend to 
fit the land for successful winter wheat culture. 
Frequently, winter wheat is sown upon land which is 
entirely too loose in the sub-surface soil. This plant 
loves a soft, mellow surface, and well fined, com¬ 
pacted, fairly moist sub-surface soil. 
" Fire Blight ” on Apple Trees. 
II. L. T., Ashboro, Ind. —What is killing my apple trees? They 
seem to be burned. I send you a part of an affected branch. 
The varieties affected most are Grimes’s Golden. 
Ans. —The affected apple branches sent by H. L. T. 
were killed by the well-known fire blight of the pear, 
which, also, attacks apples, quinces, and some other 
fruit trees. No spray will have any effect in check¬ 
ing this disease. The only way to combat it success¬ 
fully is to cut off all affected branches several inches 
below the diseased part, and burn them. When cut¬ 
ting off the branches, care must be used not to cut 
through the diseased portion of the shoot, or some of 
the germs will adhere to the knife-blade and inocu¬ 
late the next branch through which the knife is 
drawn. m. v. s. 
Do 17-Year Locusts Damage Fruit Trees? 
S. B., Crescent, 0.—' The cicadas appeared here during June. 
I have seen them on the same farm four times; I have a distinct 
recollection of seeing them in 1829, MO, ’68 and ’90. Recently while 
plowing near an apple tree that was planted in 1859, I placed my 
hand on the bottom of the furrow and could cover 11 of their bur¬ 
rows. But a few days since, while digging around a pear tree, I 
found 50 within a circle of 13 inches. A late writer says: “ Plant 
your orchards to corn to save the fruit trees from harm.” One of 
our political editors says that they did great damage to vegeta¬ 
tion during their last visit. I say that they eat nothing after they 
appear on the wing. Ami correct on this point ? I regard them 
as a great benefit to fruit trees; they bore the ground full of holes 
down into the subsoil, letting in the water and heat. It is true 
that they bore the small limbs of the trees to deposit their eggs, 
but the eggs hatch in about six weeks, and the wounds soon heal 
over and no apparent damage is done to the trees. 
Ans. —Seven broods of the 17-year locust, or cicada, 
are known to occur in Ohio. During the past 12 
years, they have appeared in some part of the State 
in 1885, ’89, ’95 and '96. It is true, as S. B. states, that 
what is known as brood 15 is due in Ohio this year 
(1897). This brood of the insect occupies a compact 
area comprising western Pennsylvania, western West 
Virginia, the whole eastern half of Ohio and adjacent 
portions of northern Kentucky. It occupies more terri¬ 
tory in Ohio, and occurs in greater numbers than any of 
the other broods recorded from the State. The brood 
has been recorded in Ohio as far back as 1812, and in 
West Virginia as early as 1795. In 1898, a few cicadas 
may be expected in northeastern Ohio, as a portion 
of brood 17 has appeared in that section in previous 
years. No more of the insects may be expected in 
Ohio until 1900, when members of brood 20 may 
appear in Mahoning, Carroll, Trumbull, Columbiana, 
and adjacent counties in eastern Ohio. Judging from 
the interesting notes in S. B.’s inquiry, the insect will 
be very numerous this year in his locality. 
I can see no reason why orchards planted to corn 
should not be as badly attacked by the cicadas as the 
other trees, unless this corn ground should be a con¬ 
siderable distance from woodlands where the insects 
more often breed. S. B. is wrong in stating that the 
cicadas eat nothing after they come out of the ground 
and acquire wings. They have very strong sucking 
beaks, with which they puncture foliage and bark, 
and suck out the sap. There is no question about 
their feeding to some extent, but they rarely do 
noticeable damage in this way. One or two instances 
are on record where they have injured young fruit 
trees by sucking out the sap. They do much more 
damage in laying their eggs than in eating, and sev¬ 
eral instances are known where they have ruined 
many young trees, and especially nursery stock, by 
ovipositing in the small branches. The young, or 
nymphs, of cicadas, which work entirely on the roots 
of vegetation below the surface, grow so slowly that 
no noticeable injury has been recorded from their 
work in this way. m. v. slingebland. 
Late Planting of Potatoes in Vermont. 
A. G. B., Norwich , Vt. —How late is it safe to plant potatoes in 
central Vermont? 
Ans. —July 1 is about the latest date for planting. 
I have known of a man in southern Vermont—hill farm 
—who planted Early Rose as late as July 15. He said 
that he had a fair crop so far as size and bulk were 
concerned, but not well matured. One rather large 
grower in southeastern Vermont, again onahillfarm, 
slaty soil and warm, southern exposure, told me that 
he was in the habit of planting regularly about June 
15 to 20. By so doing, he said that he entirely escaped 
the Colorado beetle, attributing that fact to late 
planting and a certain degree of isolation. The bugs 
all went to his neighbors’ earlier fields. 
Vermont Exp. Station. l. r. jones. 
The Waters's Success Raspberry. 
J. II. T., Burnt Hills, N. Y.— In The R. N.-Y., 1895, you gave a 
very favorable report on the Watera’a Succeaa raspberry. I have 
seen no report for 1896. What baa become of it ? I was much in¬ 
terested in this first report. 
Ans. —Many of the vines were last year killed by 
anthracnose. It was one of the most prolific caps we 
have ever tried, the berries large and of good quality. 
Salicylic Acid in Vinegar. 
F. M., York County, Ontorio .— Can cider into which silicic acid 
has been put to cure it, be made into good vinegar ? If so, how ? 
Ans. —We take it you mean salicylic acid, as silicic 
acid has no powers for preserving vinegar. Salicylic 
acid stops the formation of alcohol in the liquid, and 
keeps the cider from undergoing further change. II s 
action is to kill the organisms upon which the forma¬ 
tion of alcohol and vinegar depend. It would, there¬ 
fore, not be feasible to make vinegar out of salicyl- 
ized cider. m. g. k. 
Draft of a Sulky Plow. 
P. F. C., Saginaw County, Mich .— What would be the Increase 
in draft of a sulkv plow by adding the weight of a 150-pound man 
to the plow ? 
Ans. —I have never conducted any experiments 
with the sulky plow, and so cannot say definitely 
what the increase in draft would be from the driver 
riding. Theoretically, in the sulky, the friction of 
the sole of the plow, also that of the landside, if the 
furrow wheel hug closely to the land, is transferred 
to the oiled axles. Thus the weight of the driver 
does not increase the friction of the plow, but is 
simply borne by the axles. Such being the case, 
there would be slight, if any, increase in the draft. 
A dynamometer would, probably, show very little 
difference, if any, whether the man rode or not. 
L. ANDERSON. 
Horse Colic from Worms. 
II. 0. H., Berkshire, N. Y .— What can I do for my five-year-old 
mare? She is troubled with spells like colic. She is in fair con¬ 
dition, as she has not done very much work. She is a very 
free driver, but she sweats very easily, and if driven a little fast, 
she is sure to have a spell of colic. One year ago, she was taken 
down with what the veterinarian called kidney trouble, and for 
six days I expected to find her dead; but I had her bled, and she 
soon got better. At times, when driven, her bowels get very 
loose, and a very large number of worms are passed, some of 
them red and small. There is, at most times, a roaring in 
her stomach. The blood I got from her when bled was very thick 
and dark colored and more than half water. She is now in pas¬ 
ture. 
Ans. —The worms are one of the common pin-worms 
of the horse, and are, very likely, the cause of the 
colics. Feed the horse on a light bran mash diet, 
with no coarse fodder, for 24 hours. Then give two 
ounces of oil of turpentine well shaken up in one pint 
of raw linseed oil, on an empty stomach in the morn¬ 
ing. Continue the bran mash diet during the day, 
and at night give six drams each of best aloes and 
ginger, either in ball or drench. After three or four 
days, repeat the course, then give one of the following 
powders twice daily in wheat bran or ground oats : 
Sulphate of iron, eight ounces ; powdered nux vomica, 
four ounces ; powdered gentian, 16 ounces ; mix and 
make into 32 powders. The bowels will, probably, 
keep sufficiently loose on the grass; but if they do not, 
give pint doses of raw linseed oil daily as required. 
F. L. K. 
Diabetes in Horse; Breeding a Cow. 
F. W. S, Benton, Mich .— 1. I have a gelding five years old this 
month, that I broke and worked a little last season, but found 
that, whenever he was worked steadily at, say, plowing or har¬ 
rowing, he had to stop for two or three to six times in a half day 
to urinate. As he did little through the winter—perhaps five or 
six hours in the tread-power a week—I thought that, perhaps, he 
would be all right by this time, but find he is not much, if any 
better. He has a very hearty appetite, yet is rather thin. He 
does not seem to be troubled when at rest or when worked very 
moderately. Is a very sluggish and clumsy driver, in fact never 
seemed to have any life. Would you advise a course of treatment 
or to try to replace him with another ? 2. I have a valuable cow 
that cast her withers the last time she calved, soon after having 
the afterbirth removed. Would you advise breeding again ? 
Ans. —1. Try the following prescription : Iodine, 
four drams ; potassium iodide, two drams ; mix, and 
dissolve in one pint soft water. Give one-eighth 
of this solution once daily, preferably morning, by 
feeding in a little wheat bran or other ground feed. 
Also give one of the following powders in the feed 
twice daily : Dry sulphate of iron, four ounces ; pow¬ 
dered gentian, eight ounces ; mix and make into 16 
powders. The diet should consist of good, sound 
grain and hay free from any suspicion of mold or 
must. If the horse be benefited by this course of 
treatment, it can be repeated after a few days if 
desirable. If there be no improvement, I should then 
either replace him, or if you wish to try further 
treatment, I would advise catching about one pint of 
the urine and taking to a competent veterinarian for 
examination, after which proper treatment could be 
advised. 2. Being a valuable cow, I would advise 
breeding again. While there is more danger of a 
recurrence of the eversion than if it had not previ¬ 
ously occurred, there may be no tendency at the next 
calving. By watching her closely when about to 
calve, and applying a rope truss as soon as the calf 
is dropped, the emersion, if threatened, can be pre¬ 
vented. f. L. K. 
