i89o 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
153 
comes more suspicious if the gland is 
attached either to the skin or jaw¬ 
bone. 4. One or more limbs, most 
commonly the hind, enlarged more or less 
uniformly from foot to stifle and not ma¬ 
terially reduced by exercise or increased by 
a day or two of idleness. Such swelling 
becomes especially suspicious if there are 
any small lumps or knots under the skin, 
or open sores or scars on these limbs, 
(farcy-buds.) Any horse having two or 
more of the above suspicious symptoms, 
should be handled very carefully, and if 
they resist all treatment for several weeks, 
the animal should be isolated as glandered, 
and examined by a competent veterinarian 
to ascertain the true nature of the disease. 
Every horse rejected or isolated with these 
symptoms will not necessarily have glan¬ 
ders, because a horse may have symptoms 
resembling any of the above and yet not 
be glandered. But a large proportion of 
such cases will be glandered and the only 
safe method is to reject them all, especially 
where the history of the animal and stable 
is unknown. If the loss of the purchased 
animal were the only danger to be avoided 
it would be of very little account. When 
you consider, however, that not only every 
horse that comes in contact with a glan¬ 
dered horse is liable to become infected 
with the disease, but that every person 
handling such an animal is liable to be¬ 
come inoculated with this fatal malady, 
the situation becomes very serious. In the 
present case I can only advise taking the 
mare to a veterinary surgeon for a personal 
examination, or reporting the horse to the 
local board of health, so that the case may 
be examined by the State veterinarian if 
thought advisable. 
BUSH LIMA BEAUS AND LARGE PUMPKINS. 
A. C. L., Windfall, Ind. —1. What are 
the best culture, best manure and the best 
kinds of land for raising the new bush 
Lima beans? 2. To raise large pumpkins, 
should the fruit be thinned and the vines 
pruned or should free growth of everything 
be allowed? 
ANSWERED BT C. L. ALLEN. 
1 . The culture of the bush Limas does 
not differ materially from that of running 
varieties. The best soil is a light, lively 
loam, inclining to sand. The Limas being 
natives of warm climates, naturally 
require a warm and dry situation. In 
cold, wet soil the tendency is to make growth 
of plant rather than a crop of beans. This 
is particularly the case with the Hender¬ 
son Dwarf Lima, that makes an immense 
growth, both in plant and fruit. It will 
come in much earlier if the soil is not too 
rich; but will not be so productive. As to the 
best fertilizer, opinions differ. I think none 
so good for any purpose as well-rotted stable 
manure. To get the most from the bush 
Lima we should use such a fertilizer as will 
stimulate early growth rather than that 
which is more enduring. Such will bring 
the plants forward early, and produce a 
more abundant crop than if stimulated 
the entire season. 2. To produce the large 
specimens of pumpkins or squashes seen on 
exhibition, the soil should be sandy or a 
light sandy loam, made very rich with well- 
rotted manure. Old sod ground is the most 
desirable, in fact, the only soil on which 
the largest specimens can be grown. This 
should be plowed, about the first week in 
May, sufficiently deep to turn the sod well 
under. On this spread the manure broad¬ 
cast and cultivate in about the first of 
June, which is the time for planting. The 
“regulation” instructions of manuring in 
the hill, are injurious rather than beneficial, 
as the manure so applied is a home for 
many of the enemies of the vines. Make 
the hills 20 feet apart each way, plant six 
to 10 seeds in a hill, and remove all the 
plants- but the three best when these are 
well-established. When the vines com¬ 
mence to run, carefully remove the soil 
from around the stems to the depth of an 
inch and put around them, say, a quarter 
of an inch in depth of tobacco dust, cover 
this up with soil, and sprinkle the surface 
with more dust. The surface sprinkling 
should be repeated after every rain to pre¬ 
vent the striped beetles from boring into the 
stems to deposit their eggs, which is the 
main cause of stem rot. Cut off the first 
setting of fruit as soon as it appears, and 
the second as well, if it is not well formed 
and vigorous. The vines will branch in 
various directions, each bearing several 
squashes. But for large specimens the 
vines should not be allowed to bear more 
than two or three squashes; remove the re¬ 
mainder as fast as they appear. The vines 
strike root at every joint, and the roots 
should not be disturbed by cultivation. 
After the vines have nearly covered the 
ground, use neither the cultivator nor the 
hoe; pull the large weeds with the hand, 
the small ones will do no harm. Liquid 
manure applied to the plants two or three 
times, at intervals of a week, while the 
fruits are forming, will materially increase 
their size, and, if possible, water should be 
liberally applied to the roots in dry weath¬ 
er. While the squash requires great heat 
for perfection of growth it requires water 
in proportion. 
MEASLES IN SWINE. 
J. F. C., Fredericktown, Mo. —What 
should be the treatment for measles in 
hogs ? My neighbors are having trouble 
with their hogs and I want to be prepared 
should mine be attacked. 
ANSWERED BY DR. F. L. KILBORNE. 
Measles in swine is a parasitic disease due 
to the presence, in various tissues of the 
hog, of a bladder-worm (Cysticercus 
cellulosa) which is the immature form 
of one of the tape-worms of man, (Toenia 
solium). The disease is caused by swine hav¬ 
ing access to human excrement which con¬ 
tains the eggs of the tape-worm. These eggs, 
when eaten by the hog, hatch, after which 
the larvae pass into the muscles or other 
tissues, and become encysted in cysts the 
size of small grains of wheat. These cysts 
when eaten uncooked develop in man into 
the mature tape-worm. The disease is not 
contagious from one pig to another. There 
is no treatment. The disease can be readi¬ 
ly prevented by keeping the swine where 
they cannot have access, either directly or 
indirectly, to the night soil. If your neigh¬ 
bor’s hogs have a contagious disease it is 
not measles (although an eruptive form of 
these diseases is sometimes improperly 
called measles), but probably either hog 
cholera or swine-plague. I cannot say pos¬ 
itively, however, without a full history 
and symptoms of the disease. 
POTASH FOR FRUIT TREES; SARATOGA 
PLUMS. 
F. L. A., East Pepperell, Mass.— My 
10 -year-old apple orchard has been well 
dressed with stable manure; soil, a sandy 
loam, moist rather than dry. 1. Would 
an application of potash be beneficial and 
in what form should it be made ? Three 
years ago the land was very poor but has 
been well cultivated since. I wish to make 
the trees the special crop, all others being 
secondary. 2. What is the character of 
the Saratoga Plum ? 
ANSWERED BY DR. T. H. HOSKINS. 
I. Presumably it would. Unleached 
wood ashes are the best source of potash for 
young fruit trees; but, in lack of them, 
there is no objection to the use of the Ger¬ 
man potash salts. As common salt, in 
moderation, is believed to be beneficial to 
plum trees, kainit might be best. 2. A 
new variety, however highly spoken of, 
even by experts, should be well tested be¬ 
fore being planted out on an extensive 
scale for profit. The Saratoga is so new a 
plum as to be unmentioned by John J. 
Thomas in the last edition (18S5) of his 
standard work, the American Fruit Cul- 
turist, although Mr. Thomas is a plum 
specialist. While worthy of trial, trial 
alone can determine its value to the 
planter. 
ABORTION IN A HEIFER. 
J. L. L., Biddeford, Me— A heifer of 
mine has just aborted with her third calf, 
six weeks ahead of the proper time for 
calving. At noon she was turned out to 
drink, and 20 minutes later the trouble 
began. After she had suffered considerably 
the foetus came quite easily, but was 
dead. The heifer soon began to chew the 
cud and eat hay and now appears as well as 
any cow could after calving. What effect is 
this abortion likely to have on other heifers 
in the herd, which are due to calve soon ? 
ANSWERED BY DR. F. L. KILBORNE. 
The abortion was probably the result of 
some accident which occurred several days 
before. Drinking the cold water brought 
on the labor pains and caused the expulsion 
of the dead foetus at that time. It would have 
been a safe precaution to have isolated the 
heifer from the other heifers in calf for two 
or three weeks or until she had entirely re¬ 
covered aud the discharge from the vagina 
had ceased. If the heifer does well allow 
her to take the bull again after three or 
four months, and exercise a little extra care 
next spring to avoid any strain or injury 
that would oe liable to cause a recurrence of 
the abortion. If the heifer makes a rapid, 
complete recovery no further treatment 
is necessary. 
SOURCES OF NITROGEN. 
A. W. H., Picton, Ontario—1 have 
given some of my fields an application of 
unleached wood ashes as high as two tons 
per acre. A late Rural says that a field 
ashed well should be supplied with nitro¬ 
gen. What handy fertilizer contains nitro¬ 
gen? Does nitrate of soda? How much 
should be applied per acre? Are unleached 
ashes good for all kinds of land, including 
heavy clay and clay loam? Do unleached 
ashes and nitrogen make a complete fer¬ 
tilizer? 
Ans.— We should use nitrogen on this 
land preferably in the three forms of 
nitrate of soda, sulphate of ammonia and 
blood. The nitrate is at once soluble, the 
sulphate less so and the blood least so. If 
nitrate of soda be used alone, the crop dur¬ 
ing the late season may suffer for nitro¬ 
gen. One bag (200 pounds) of either would 
be enough per acre. Our friend would do 
well to sow also a bag or so of bone flour 
to the acre. This would yield one or two 
per cent, of nitrogen and supply phos¬ 
phoric acid in which the ashes are low. 
Yes, we claim that ashes are good for all 
kinds of land whatever. Yes, unleached 
ashes and nitrogen form a complete fertil 
izer, but not a well-balanced fertilizer as 
there is not enough of phosphoric acid. 
REFUSE SALT FOR AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES. 
jET. T. S., Potterville, Mich. —What is the 
value of refuse salt for agricultural pur¬ 
poses ? 
ANS.—This matter was well discussed on 
page 108 of the R. N.-Y. for February 18, 
1888. A number of farmers in Michigan, 
Ohio, Indiana, and near-by States gave 
their experiences. These farmers used from 
125 to 200 pounds of salt per acre. It was 
found to do best on hard clay soils, as one 
of its effects was to mellow the soil. It 
gave good results on lands that had been 
plastered too heavily. All seemed to agree 
that the salt was very helpful in dry sea¬ 
sons and that its effect was to be noticed 
for several seasons. The most noticeable 
effect on grain was to stiffen the straw, 
making it stand up better. In short, the 
verdict was favorable to the use of not 
over 200 pounds of salt per acre in that part 
of the country. With us, salt seldom gives 
satisfaction. We presume this is due to 
the fact of our location near the salt 
water. 
RAISING PURE ITALIAN QUEEN BEES. 
F. K. C.,L incoln, Neb, —How do the big 
dealers in bees get the young queens to 
breed so as to keep their stocks pure 
Italians ? 
ANSWERED BY A. I. ROOT. 
To breed pure bees, keep nothing but 
pure Italians in the apiary. If there are 
any bee-keepers within a mile and a half, 
owning hybrids or black bees, Italianize 
them, even if you have to do it gratis. If 
you can, buy them up and Italianize them 
for yourself. Black drones if present in the 
apiary can be trapped and killed. If there 
are any bee trees, hunt them up and get the 
bees. By rearing all the young queens 
from one of known purity, nearly all the 
queens will in the end be purely fertilized, 
even if common bees are all around, and 
this is the plan most commonly followed by 
honey producers. 
FRUITS FOR NORTHERN OHIO. 
A. H., Big Rapids, Mich.— What kinds 
of pears, plums, cherries and grapes would 
be likely to thrive best for market pur¬ 
poses 20 miles southeast of Cleveland, Ohio? 
Ans. —For so small a plantation, the 
grower should restrict himself to few varie¬ 
ties, to facilitate the sale of his products. 
It is difficult to find a market for small 
lots of many different kinds. The most 
profitable of the fruits named is the pear, 
and the best varieties for the location 
named are the Bartlett, Seckel, Flemish 
Beauty, and Anjou. The Lombard is the 
best plum, and among grapes, if one desires 
to have the three colors, Worden for black, 
Vergennes for red, and Niagara or Pock- 
lington for white, would be the most de¬ 
sirable. There has t een no profit in cher¬ 
ries in that locality for several years. 
HOLE IN A COW’S TEAT. 
W. C. S. (no address).— There is a hole in 
the side of one of my cow’s teats, and milk 
comes from it as well as from the natural 
opening: how can the hole be healed ? 
Ans. —The upper opening in the teat can 
be easily closed as soon as the cow runs 
dry; but it cannot be done without more 
trouble while she is in milk. A 3 soon as 
she is dry, sear the upper opening with the 
end of a red-hot poker, so as to form a scab 
one-half or three-fourths of an inch across. 
When the teat heals from the burning the 
opening should be entirely closed. If not, 
repeat the operation, burning more deeply. 
The cow should be firmly secured so that 
she cannot jump and bum the operator, or 
herself elsewhere. 
Miscellaneous. 
E. H. B., Gallupvllle, N. Y.— Get Law’s 
Veterinary Adviser, published by Prof. 
James Law, Ithaca, N. Y. 
L. M. W., Covesville, Fa.—Can anything 
be done for black-knot in Damsons except 
cutting out the diseased parts ? 
An s. —Nothing that we have ever heard of. 
R. H., Salem, Wig.—The best informa¬ 
tion regarding the merits of the Kodak 
camera may be found in the Kodak primer 
sent by the Eastman Dry Plate Co., Roch¬ 
ester, N. Y. 
H. B. H., New Durham, N. J.— For five 
years my soil has refused to produce pota¬ 
toes. What is the matter with it ? 
Ans.— We are unable to account for it 
and would be glad to hear from others. 
J. W., Ogdensburg, N. Y.— Have coal 
ashes any value as a fertilizer? 
Ans.—T here is practically no fertility in 
coal ashes. They are quite useful, however, 
on light, sandy soils which they compact 
and render more tenacious. See what is 
said concerning coal ashes on page 821 of 
last year’s issue. 
P. (?., Oswego Falls, N. Y. —Is fat meat, 
mixed with corn-meal, bran, etc., of any 
value as a fattening food for poultry, and 
if so in what proportions should it be fed ? 
Ans.—I t is very fattening, but too much 
of it may cause indigestion. An ounce of 
the fat meat, three times a week, or half 
an ounce daily, with ground grain of any 
kind, will enable the bird to increase in 
weight very rapidly. 
B. F. C., Highland Creek, N. Y.— Who 
received the prizes for the R. N.-Y. No. 2 
Potatoes and how much did the potatoes 
weigh ? 
Ans.—N o prizes have as yet been awarded 
and may not be. The contest was a very 
feeble one. The potato does not seem to 
grow to a great size anywhere. The Rural 
Grounds can show tubers about as large as 
any received or reported. 
R. O. D., Disco, Jll.—1. Which is the 
better breed for eggs—the Wyandotte or 
Plymouth Rock ? 2. Who near me has 
the White Wyandotte ? 
Ans.— 1. With us Wyandottes have proved 
better layers than the Plymouth Rocks. 
This, however, may be because we had a 
good strain of Wyandottes and a poor 
strain of Plymouth Rocks. 2. Try Com¬ 
ings & Herrick, Rockford, Ill. 
C. E. P., Ocean Springs, Miss.—Will a 
cross between full-blood Jersey and full- 
blood Holstein-Friesian make a good cross ? 
Ans.— In a general way, such a cow 
ought to make a good animal. The R. 
N.-Y. knows of several such cross-bred 
cows that give excellent satisfaction. Still, 
this is only what ought to be. Cross-breed¬ 
ing never offers a certainty; besides, there 
is too wide a difference in the various 
strains of Jersey eattlejto warrant any pos¬ 
itive prediction. 
A. F. T., Northwood Ridge, N. H.— Can 
the herb called “thoroughwort,” found 
growing in moist places, be successfully 
cultivated ? Where can the seed be pro¬ 
cured ? 
Ans.— It can be grown very well in good 
moist land, field or garden. We do not 
find seeds of it advertised by any of our 
seedsmen, but no doubt Edward Gillett, 
Southwick, Mass, or Horsford & Co., Char¬ 
lotte, Vt., who make a specialty of native 
plants, can get it for you. 
J. H., Armonk, N. Y.— In applying 
Paris-green to potatoes is there not much 
more danger of injuring the vines by ap¬ 
plying it mixed with water than with plas¬ 
ter ? Who makes a sprinkler ? 
Ans.— The R. N.-Y. has found the plaster 
mixture safer, but it is much more work to 
prepare it and the water mixture can be 
applied much faster. In fact, some of our 
large potato growers could not get along 
without a sprinkler. The Higganum Man¬ 
ufacturing Company make one. 
“Reader,” Manorville, N. Y. —Where, 
at what price, and in what quantities can 
pure cider vinegar be sold ? 
An s.— E. & O. Ward inform us that the 
market for vinegar is well supplied and 
that sales are slow at low prices. The 
reason of this is that there is so much of 
the manufactured stuff called vinegar sold, 
that the sale of the genuine article is in¬ 
jured. The firm mentioned will sell vine- 
