756 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
November 20 
THE RED PARADISE SWEET APPLE. 
At Fig. 318, is shown a half section of the Red 
Paradise Sweet apple. Mr. W. B. K. Johnson, Allen¬ 
town, Pa., writes ns that it has been grown locally 
in the northern part of Bucks and southern part of 
Lehigh Counties for, possibly, 100 years, but trees are 
now being offered for sale for the first time. All traces 
of the place of its origin, and of its originator, have 
been lost. He says that, 40 or 50 years ago, as nearly 
as he can recollect, he heard of the variety. His 
father had four trees in his orchard in Bucks County, 
which were, at least, 30 feet high, with large, spread¬ 
ing branches, while the trunks measured from 18 to 
30 inches in diameter. He thinks that these trees 
must have been 40 to 50 years old at that time. Sam¬ 
ples were sent to ex-Pomologist S. B. Heiges, and 
he pronounced it the best sweet apple he had ever 
eaten. The tree is described as a moderate grower, 
fruit large, of a glossy red, flesh white, crisp, very 
juicy, a very pleasant eating apple, and particularly 
appreciated for cider. Season September, but, with 
care, may be kept until January in an ordinary cellar. 
Mr. Johnson says that, for a long time, he had an 
idea that the Winter Sweet Paradise might be the 
same fruit, until he met with some in New York State. 
Finding it different, he sent samples of the Red Para¬ 
dise Sweet to different pomological societies, but it 
was unknown to any of the members. So about eight 
years ago, he commenced propagating it. From the 
specimens sent us, we should say that it is well 
worthy of cultivation by those desiring a red sweet 
apple of its season. 
ROUP, ITS CAUSE, PREVENTION, CURE. 
Hope Farm Notes of October 30 were read with the 
result of impressing, at least, one person who has 
made poultry a subject of special research 
for years, with the large importance of the 
investigations now being carried on in 
The R. N.-Y.’s columns. This question 
of roup is a matter of the gravest concern, 
especially to beginners. I had my siege of 
it, learned its insidious methods of attack ; 
but for several years past, I have, happily, 
been restricted to an occasional glimpse of 
its incursions in the yards of others. A 
neighbor, half a mile away, is never free 
from it. The disease generally originales 
among his Game fowls, of which he keeps a 
number, and from these extends to his laying 
flocks, mostly Leghorns. A lack of sys¬ 
tematic cleaning out of the floor litter, from 
one season to another, may contribute to 
this end. 
I do not regard an isolated case of roup in 
a mature specimen, taken in hand promptly, 
and thoroughly cured, as a serious obstacle 
to the perpetuation of healthy offspring. 
But roupy chicks, of a roupy parentage, are 
a menace to successful poultry-keeping. 
Several years ago, I placed a large flock of 
^ens in a building over an open basement, 
quite unsuspicious of possible danger, as the floor was 
deeply littered with earth and leaves. By constant 
scratching, however, the floor was laid bare in places, 
admitting through cracks an upward draught of zero 
atmosphere, entailing the loss of several, 20 or more 
having swelled heads. Among those which recovered, 
was one I used the following spring as a breeder. She 
was a very prolific hen, a cross of Game cock upon 
Partridge Cochin, and laid me two litters of 12 and 13, 
with a single day’s interval between. Most of these 
eggs hatched, and developed into remarkably thrifty 
stock, and a few of these are still alive at four years 
old. The descendants of this hen, now posing as thor¬ 
oughbreds, have never shown a trace of roup. 
The chief conditions leading to roup which have 
come under my observation, have been exposure to 
rains and subsequent roosting in windy quarters. 
The chicks which roosted with impunity in the apple 
trees earlier in the season, are subjected to a trying 
change when the advancing season brings frost-laden 
winds, with no barrier of foliage to shelter them. 
An alternative about as objectionable as the other, is 
close crowding in ill-ventilated quarters, especially if 
forced to breathe the odor of accumulated droppings. 
If a draught is allowed to penetrate, the conditions 
are not improved. In my experience, however, no 
amount of wind, up to the time of actual freezing tem¬ 
perature, will conduce to roup, if the combination of 
wet plumage and exposure is avoided. The mean 
between two extremes is my customary treatment of 
the flocks. I endeavor to have them shut into their 
houses during all rains, leaving these sufficiently 
open to allow of a steady passage of fresh air. 
The question of nutrition certainly plays an im¬ 
portant part in the prevention of disease. Physicians 
tell us that humans owe immunity to disease to a cer¬ 
tain germ-resisting power which accompanies a con¬ 
dition of health, rather than avoidance of infection. 
To have the body thoroughly nourished is, perhaps, 
the first requisite in this direction. An exclusive diet 
of corn is no more a rational diet for fowls than for 
the human race. While I advocate the discriminating 
use of corn, its use corresponds to the use of fine 
flour and sugar in the human diet, and it should be fed 
in moderation. I feel disposed to attribute my own 
avoidance of roup among my flocks for many years to 
the fact that the daily bill of fare includes the liberal 
use of wheat bran, ground oats, and animal food, 
which, besides a small proportion of corn meal, con¬ 
stitute the morning mash. This mixture fed as freely 
as the flocks will eat it ravenously, suffices to balance 
a later feed of corn. 
The prevention of roup when infection is expected, 
as when one or more members of the flock have con¬ 
tracted it, as also the cure of the infected specimens, 
is a very simple matter when promptly handled. A 
piece of copperas the size of a kernel of corn to a 
bucket of water, furnishes both disinfectant and 
tonic. This may constitute their drinking water for 
an indefinite period with no harm resulting. Do not 
mistake the sulphate of copper, which is a blue crys¬ 
tal, for the sulphate of iron, or copperas, which is 
green. Or if the blue crystal be used, it should be 
in the minutest doses, as it is of a poisonous nature. 
If no tonic be desired, a very weak solution of car¬ 
bolic acid added to the drinking water, will effec¬ 
tually prevent its contamination by the roupy dis¬ 
charge from the head. 
A simple discharge from the nostrils should be the 
signal to consider the condition of the flock, looking 
first to such lack of care as has led to it. If better 
housing or feed be indicated, these should be sup¬ 
plied. Disinfect the drinking water. Then watch 
for any symptoms of swelling about the head, and 
smell the breath to detect any foul odor. If these 
appear, remove to secluded quarters, for such speci¬ 
mens are invalids, and demand an invalid’s care. If 
a hen groans aloud with every breath, it is a simple 
swelling of the larynx, and yields speedily to con¬ 
finement in a barrel over night, with a few shavings 
in the bottom to which a few spoonfuls of spirits of 
turpentine have been added, the barrel being covered 
loosely over the top. If a swelled head and foul odor 
indicate -that an advanced stage of roup has set in, 
these will yield to local treatment, syringing the 
nostrils with a mild solution of carbolic acid. Let 
the diet for a day or two be hot milk, or custard, 
flavored, not too strongly, with red pepper. Ad¬ 
minister this with a spoon, if not readily eaten. Avoid 
all roup pills. Perhaps I should amplify this by stat¬ 
ing that the roup pills, which are expensive, used 
generally to fail to cure ; while the method of treat¬ 
ment I have outlined would seldom fail if applied in 
time. Roup is precisely identical with catarrh in 
human beings, with this distinction, that the hen can¬ 
not free the passages of the head from the accumula¬ 
tions, which soon become an active poison to the 
blood. Assimilation is suspended, and {presently 
digestion and all other bodily functions cease, and 
starvation succeeds to blood poisoning. The resem¬ 
blance to consumption in the human race is very 
marked ; and we may say the same of the causes lead¬ 
ing to it. It is apparent that local cleansing and dis¬ 
infection of the affected parts, combined with a rich 
and easily-digested diet, should constitute the rational 
cure of roup. f. w. proctor. 
R. N.-Y.—The foregoing agrees very closely with 
our own experience with roup. This disease is the 
worst foe of the poultryman. Its chief causes are 
dampness, draughts, improper feeding. Avoid these, 
and the battle is more than half won. 
The Farmers’ Club. 
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the writer to Insure attention. Before asking a question please 
see whether It Is not answered In our advertising columns. Ask 
only a few questions at one time. Put questions on a separate 
piece of paDer.l 
AILING ANIMALS. 
ANSWERS BY DR. F. L. KII.BORNE. 
Possibly Tuberculosis. 
C. S. B.s New Fort.—What Is the matter with my cattle? They 
have been troubled all summer, more or less, with a sort of dry, 
blowing cough, raise nothing to speak of, are in good condition 
eat well, and are otherwise apparently all right. 
The symptoms suggest tuberculosis. I would ad¬ 
vise having the herd examined by a competent veterin¬ 
arian and, if necessary, subjected to the tuberculin 
test. 
Abscess on Mare's Leg. 
J. A. G., Clarion County, Pa .—My mare seems to have been hurt 
on her right hind leg just before harvest; it swells just above 
the pastern like a boil which discharges pus. After this it seems to 
get well, but the ankle and above stays large, and after awhile 
breaks again. 
If not discharging at present, apply an active blister 
over the enlargement (biniodide of mercury, two 
drams ; vaseline, one ounce; mix). If it break and 
discharge again, inject a saturated solution of sul¬ 
phate of zinc, after which dress daily with a diluted 
solution. 
Grease in a Horse. 
A. E. B., Sonoma County, Cal .—Last spring, I bought a heavy 
work horse seven years old. He had been on pasture all winter, 
but was in fair condition. About three months ago, his hind 
ankles began to swell nights, and from the fetlock on the back 
of the hind leg about one-third of the way up to the hock, has 
become scabby and, when cleaned, a watery substance oozes out 
and forms new scabs. There are no sores below the fetlock, but 
just above it, there is a deep crack that looks like a crack on 
chapped hands. He has never been lame, and seems to be in 
perfect health. I have tried several remedies, but 
to no avail. He has had the best of care. Can you 
give me a remedy ? 
The legs should be wet as little as possible. 
If they become soiled, wash with warm 
Castile soapsuds, after which rub dry. If 
the horse is used in the wet, the legs should 
always be rubbed dry on entering the 
stable. Apply benzoated oxide of zinc 
ointment, night and morning, rubbing it in 
well with the fingers so as to break up and 
remove the crusts. Should there be no im¬ 
provement after 10 days’ use of this oint¬ 
ment, replace it by the following dressing : 
Finely powdered oxide of zinc, two drams ; 
iodized phenol, one-half dram ; vaseline, 
one ounce ; mix, and apply as directed 
above. Internally give one tablespoonful 
of Fowler’s solution of arsenic once daily 
for four or five days, after which increase 
the dose to two tablespoonfuls once daily, 
and continue for three or four weeks. Re¬ 
peat the course of arsenic after an interval 
of ten days or two weeks if desirable; 
or give a course of iodide of potash as di¬ 
rected in The R. N.-Y. of June 10, page 398. 
The horse should be fed a light laxative diet. If a 
full grain ration be given, it should consist largely 
of oats and wheat bran. Corn should be omitted 
or fed sparingly. Oil meal could be given to advan¬ 
tage. A bran mash once daily until the bowels are 
loosened would be excellent. 
Nail Puncture of Horse's Foot 
[V. J. B , Hood River, Ore .—My horse ran a nail in the frog of 
the forefoot four months ago; the nail was removed, but after 
weeks of poulticing, a discharge broke outback of the foot, Anally 
healed up, and we removed an inch or more of the hoof and the 
frog which was, apparently, dead. The hoof now is much smaller, 
but around above the hoof is quite an enlargement, and the horse 
limps badly and does not seem to improve. Can I do anything 
for him ? 
The continued lameness indicates that there is either 
a bony growth or enlargement, or dead tissue that 
must be removed. I can only advise you to have the 
foot examined and treated by a competent veterinary 
surgeon. 
Collar-Gall Callosities. 
F. W., Ludington, Mich .— My mare, 10 years old, has sore 
shoulders, and also has a sore about half way up on the shoulder, 
which becomes a hard, dry scab. On pinching, it cracks open, 
and on pulling off. it leaves from one to three small holes the size 
of a wheat kernel, containing pus. The bunch is the size of a 
silver dollar, slightly firm and appears slightly warmer than the 
rest of the skin. My horse, 11 years old, has a sore on top of 
the neck where the collar rests, much the same as the mare’s, 
but seems to itch some. I intend to use Gombault’s Caustic 
Balsam. Do you think it good for the above sores ? 
If there is a circumscribed callus of dead tissue on 
any of the galls, it will be necessary to dissect it off 
with the knife before the surface will heal. Then 
dust with iodoform twice daily as long as the sore re¬ 
mains moist. As soon as the surface becomes dry, 
apply benzoated oxide of zinc ointment. If there is 
no such circumscribed callus or slough, but simply 
an unhealthy raw surface, apply finely-powdered 
gulphate of copper, and allow it remain for 24 hours, 
RED PARADISE SWEET APPLE. Fig. 318. 
