i89o 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
665 
or papers and periodicals ; if there were some play in the 
shape of a week or more vacation in the summer, and 
visiting and sleigh rides in winter, the same as before 
marriage, I think some of the girls who married men in 
the town, would in time become jealous of the life of the 
matrons on the farms. Think about it, boys, and try it 
later. dr. g. g. groff. 
A Wyoming Frost.— The first frost of the season fell 
last night (September 7.) Ice a quarter of an Inch thick 
was formed on barrels and tubs of water. Tubs of water- 
lilies in the yard presented a sorry appearance this morn¬ 
ing. We had a fine crop of Concord Grapes which we 
covered last evening and they came through safely ; but 
we have no hope of maturing them now, as a first frost in 
this country Is usually followed in quick succession by 
others. On September 11, Wyoming’s first State election 
was held on a cold, misty, disagreeable day. About six 
o’clock in the evening a snow-storm set in from the north¬ 
west; during the night the weather cleared up and the 
morning sunlight shone upon a sight well calculated to 
discourage the stoutest heart. Never in the history of 
Wyoming has such utter ruin and disaster stared the 
farmer in the face. Our loss is simply immense. Melons, 
tomatoes, corn, squashes, cucumbers, grapes, in short, 
everything which, as a seedsman and market gardener, 
meant dollars and cents to me, has, with one fell swoop of 
the frost king, been turned into a blackened mass. This 
is without a parallel. There will be much suffering in 
this infant State this winter. For those of us whose 
farms are mortgaged, and whose interest is piling up at 
the rate of two per cent, per month, the outlook is gloomy 
beyond comparison. L. E. R. L. 
Sheridan County, Wyoming. 
R. N.-Y.—As we have frequently stated, some practical 
means of fighting frost would prove an inestimable boon 
to market gardeners and fruitmen. It is the saddest part 
of the business to see a crop destroyed by means which 
you are powerless to prevent. 
Connecticut Tobacco.— Tobacco, which is grown here 
in considera le quantities, is large and fine. It was form¬ 
erly supposed that tobacco could be raised only on the 
very best land. The best piece of its size—about seven 
acres—I have ever seen was grown here this year on land 
worth only about $10 an acre. It is a light, sandy loam 
and received plenty of commercial fertilizer. It was 
planted by a machine, grew nicely and colored and ripened 
well. It was not entirely an experiment, for the planter 
had previously raised tobacco on the same kind of land, of 
which there are hundreds of acres in the township 
just as good, that can be bought for from $5 to 
$15 an acre, the price depending somewhat on its 
location. This crop, if it cures well, will give about 
$1,200 to an acre. The price for which it will sell is not 
yet established, but I am mistaken if it does not 
bring enough to pay for the land, the labor, the fertilizers 
and a new shed built in which to hang it for curing, and 
leave a balance on the right side besides. But tobacco is a 
risky crop, and if the rainy weather we have had for some 
days continues long, it will be ruined. In fact, there is 
not a day from the time the seed is sown until the crop is 
sold and the price received when there is not a chance of 
its being ruined by drought or flood, hail or wind, or frost, 
or some other agency against which it is impossible to 
guard. L. A. R. 
Hartford County, Conn. 
The Farmers Club. 
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
[Every query must be accompanied by the name and address 
of 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.] 
Suppuration within the Hoof-wall: Qulttor. 
A. F. Q., Dushore, Pa .—About six weeks ago my four- 
year-old colt began to get lame, and he has been getting 
worse ever since. The trouble is about the heel in one of 
his front feet. There is a growing swelling on the inside 
near the heel. What is the matter? 
ANSWERED BY DR. F. L. KILBORNE. 
If the swelling or enlargement is not of the nature of a 
ringbone, it is probably an abscess forming within the hoof- 
wall, and working upward to secure an outlet at the top of 
the hoof, forming a quittor. Such an abscess might result 
from a prick or bruise of the sole, the suppuration of an 
old corn, ora bruise at the coronet or top of the hoof. Care¬ 
fully examine the sole for any corn or injury, that may 
have induced suppuration. If such is found it should be 
well pared out so as to make a free outlet for the pus. Cut 
away all diseased horn and dress with pine tar until 
healed. If there is no trouble at the sole and the swelling 
is very tender, poultice until the abscess bursts; then in¬ 
ject the cavity or pipe from which the pus flows, with a 
solution of 10 grains of corrosive sublimate and 10 drops of 
muriatic acid in two ounces of alcohol. If there is more 
than one pipe make sure to inject each with the solution. 
At first use considerable pressure during the injection, to 
force the injection to the bottom of the pipes, and repeat 
three or four times daily. Alter one or two days, if there 
is evident improvement, use less force and inject less fre¬ 
quently until the discharge nearly or quite ceases. Then 
stop the injections and dress with pine tar until healed. 
During the treatment it is well to apply an ointment of 
tar and vaseline to the hoof daily to prevent its drying 
from the inflammation within. Recovery in all such 
cases will be greatly iacilitated by opening the bowels with 
a dose of six to eight drams of aloes, and following by a 
light, laxative diet. If the bowels are already loose from 
running on grass, omit the aloes. Should the enlargement 
prove to be hard and bony, see treatment advised for ring¬ 
bone in back numbers of The Rural. 
Baling Manure. 
O. D. C., Harrington, N. J. —In baling the manure of 35 
horses at our New York stable, we find that a considerable 
quantity of liquid manure is pressed out and lost. How 
can this waste be avoided ? What will prevent the sub¬ 
sequent heating of the manure ? Would the use of lime 
effect either of these objects ? 
Ans. —There is no way of saving this, the most val¬ 
uable part of the manure, but by the useof more ab¬ 
sorbents. There are several waste products that can be 
procured cheaply in the city, that would take up this 
liquid, and they are valuable for manure. Spent hops from 
the breweries when dried, malt sprouts, which are ex¬ 
tremely dry and absorbent containing less than 10 per 
cent, of water, four per cent, of nitrogen, two per cent, of 
potash and IX per cent, of phosphoric acid, would be ex¬ 
tremely valuable for this purpose. Wool waste, which has 
been used for filling in vacant lots in the city at times, 
being dry and containing three percent, of nitrogen and five 
per cent, of potash, is another very valuable material 
which would answer this purpose. Lime would have the 
effect of increasing the fermentation. The more solid the 
bales the less the manure will heat, but the heating will 
hardly do any damage if the bales are not more than a few 
days in transit and are opened and used as soon as they 
arrive at the farm. 
Bolls on a Mare. 
A. C. L., Windfall, Ind. —Boils come on the top of the 
shoulder blade under the back part of the collar of my 
mare when she is at work as well as when she is not. 
Why ? 
Ans. —The system is out of condition. Give six drams 
of the best aloes with an ounce of ginger, in a ball 
or as a drench, to open the bowels. Feed only bran mashes 
with a little grass or other green food for 12 hours before 
giving the aloes, and continue the same food until the 
bowels have been freely moved. Repeat the dose in 36 
hours if not purged by the first. Then give two table¬ 
spoonfuls of the following powders, in the feed, three times 
daily : Glauber salts and carbonate of soda each one half 
pound, powdered gentian, one pound; mix. After a week 
or ten days give another course of aloes as before. To the 
open sores under the collar, apply daily benzoated oxide 
of zinc ointment. 
Sterilized Milk. 
H. E. C., Rutland, Vt. —Is the process of “sterilizing” 
milk patented ? If not, where can it be seen practiced step 
by step all the way from the cow to the consumer ? Is the 
milk filtered through the paper by the farmer ? Is the 
paper used made especially for that purpose, and where 
can it be obtained ? To what degree is the milk heated in 
the bottles and how sealed f 
Ans. —The process is not patented. No process can be 
patented, though a mechanical device for putting the 
process into practice can. Patents are claimed for a pe¬ 
culiarly shaped bottle and for a stopper with a groove in 
the side to permit proper “ venting,” but the process itself 
is in principle an old one, since it is the same as that em¬ 
ployed by the housewife in canning fruit. Those who 
sterilize milk, however, seem desirous of keeping their 
process secret, so we do not think you will be permitted to 
see it done. The R. N.-Y. has requested some of our ex¬ 
periment stations to investigate the matter, and we feel 
sure that they will make public the best means of treating 
the milk. The milk is filtered as soon as possible after it 
has been drawn from the cow. Paper similar to thick 
blotting paper is used, though thick flannel or felt would 
doubtless answer. The milk is heated three times—in the 
bottles—first to 110 degrees, then cooled to 50, then to 110, 
and cooled again and then heated to 100 degrees and then 
sealed. Sealing is done by pushing in a tight stopper and 
drawing over it a rubber thimble, or pasting a thick paper 
label over it. 
Partial Paralysis of Hind Legs In an Old Mare. 
O. S., Ellenburgh, N. Y.— My 18 year-old mare has 
worked hard and been stable-fed right along all the year 
’round. She has been quite sound till of late. Recently 
she has become very weak in her legs, staggers about and 
has to be raised up when she lies down. She eats well, 
drinks heartily, and is gaining in flesh rapidly. She does 
not appear to be in any pain. I have treated her for 
stomach staggers, and bled her in the mouth and tail, hav¬ 
ing taken nearly 10 quarts of blood from her. Could she 
have been struck by lightning? What should be the 
treatment ? 
Ans.—T he weakness or paralysis may have been due to 
a mild attack of stomach staggers, to some chronic in¬ 
flammation of the internal organs, or to an injury. We 
do not believe the mare was struck by lightning. Try a 
course of nux vomica. Give one tea-spoonfnl doses of the 
powdered nux vomica on the feed, morning, noon and 
night, for three days. Gradually increase the dose so that 
during the second period of three days the mare will 
receive two tea-spoonful doses three times daily ; and for 
the third period, three tea-spoonfuls three times daily. 
Continue this dose until she is relieved, or until she shows 
loss of appetite or twitchings of the muscles, which will be 
especially noticeable if slightly excited. If such muscular 
twitchings or loss of appetite occur, reduce the dose one- 
half or two-thirds. Also apply a mustard poultice over 
the loins. Take one-half pound of ground mustard and 
wet it with tepid water to the consistency of thin, sweet 
cream. Rub well into the hair over the loins and cover 
with a blanket for several hours. Wash off in 24 hours, 
and repeat after a few days if any improvement is notice¬ 
able. 
Fruits for a Small Garden Patch. 
IF. C. M., Woonsocket, R. I. —I intend to set out in my 
garden (50 by 80 feet) 15 grape vines, four apple and four 
pear trees. What varieties would The R. N.-Y. select of 
each for this locality ? and, would it recommend dwarfs 
instead of standards ? If the former, what stocks should 
they be worked on ? 
Ans.—T his is too small an area for anything but dwarf 
apples if so many other fruits are to be cultivated. 
Select Alexander, Duchess of Oldenburg, Gravenstein, 
Northern Spy for dwarfs on Paradise stock. Grapes: 
Brighton, Nectar, Eaton, Green Mountain, Vergennes, 
Niagara and Moore’s Early. Pears: Anjou, Dana’s Hovey, 
Sheldon—all standards. 
MISCELLANEOUS. 
E. G. L., Essex, N.Y. —Can currants be profitably grown 
for New York market at a distance of 300 miles from the 
city, and three miles from a railroad station ? Would the 
old-fashioned varieties do ? 
Ans.— Yes, at ruling prices for the last few years, if one 
is on a direct line of railroad. The supply of currants is 
usually less than the demand. No, the demand is for a 
larger currant like Fay, or the Grape or Cherry. 
Subscriber (no address). —Inclosed find samples of potato 
tops. 1. What kills them ? I do not know of a potato 
patch that has entirely escaped. 2. Is the small insect on the 
under side of the leaf the flea beetle ? 3. If so, is there any 
known remedy or preventive ? 4. Would the potatoes from 
these be as good as others for seed ? 5. Would the heifer 
calf of a steer and heifer twins be as likely as any to 
breed ? 
Ans.— 1. The flea beetle. 2. No. It is a dark colored 
flea that skips away if you look at it. It is aoout one- 
eighth of an inch long. 3. The R. N.-Y. has tried all sorts 
of remedies without effect, except to injure the vines. 4. 
No. Potatoes are always injured if the vines do not 
mature. They are weakened, more liable to rot and will 
produce less vigorous vines. 5. No. Such heifer is called 
a free martin. While instances are given where such 
heifers have bred, they are generally barren. 
H. S. M., Schell City, Mo. —What winter apple will bear 
the most during the first 10 or 12 years of its life ? 
Ans.—O f those which thrive in Missouri we should 
mention Ben Davis. 
H. W., Harmony, Washington. — I wish to set out 
some gooseberries, blackberries, strawberries, cranberries, 
currants and Elaeagnus longipes. 1. What are a few of the 
best varieties of each ? 2. Who is a reliable nurseryman ? 
3. What works treat of tree culture ? 
Ans.— 1. Gooseberries : Downing and Houghton. If the 
larger varieties thrive in your locality, try Industry. Black¬ 
berries : Minnewaski, Kittatinny, Erie. Currants: Fay, 
White Grape, Cherry. Strawberries: Parker Earle, Sharp¬ 
less, Downing, Cumberland. Cranberry: Cherry. 2. 
Thomas’s American Fruit Culturist or Barry’s Fruit 
Garden are both good. Either will be mailed from this 
office for $2. Eilwanger & Barry, Rochester, N. Y.; The 
Storrs & Harrison Co., Painesville, O.; and George S. 
Josselyn, Fredonia, N. Y., are reliable. 
E. S. C., Randallstown, Md.— Would muriate of potash 
be a good addition to 400 pounds of ground bone per acre 
for wheat ? About how much should be added to give 
five per cent, of potash ? 
Ans.— Yes; a small quantity will do no harm. Use one 
bag (200 pounds) of muriate to a ton. This would give five 
per cent, of actual potash with 50 per cent, of purity. 
Subscriber, Burnside, Ct.—l. Is the Marlboro’ Rasp¬ 
berry considered a profitable early variety ? What is a 
better early red ? 
Ans.— Yes, where it thrives. It makes a feeble growth 
in many places. The Hansel is earlier, but this, too, fails 
in many places. You might try both in a small way. 
Reader, Blairstown, N. J.— How and when should 
raspberries set out last spring be staked or tied—one stake 
to every plant or to trellises ? They have been well cul¬ 
tivated, but are inclined to lie close to the ground. 
Ans.—I t is as you prefer. Our own way is to plant a 
stake firmly to each bush and tie the canes loosely to it. 
Any time before the ground freezes. 
IF. H. A., Burnside, Conn.— Will a swivel plow do as 
good work on ordinary ground as a common plow ? 
Ans.—Y es, in some respects better, as the furrows are 
all thrown oneway. The draft is heavier than with the 
common plow: but less time and labor are lost in turning, 
and the horses walk alternately in the furrow, thus giving 
them some relief. 
N. E. B., Hillsboro, Ohio.— My flower and bulb beds 
which were covered last fall with a good coat of manure 
which was raked off in spring, are badly injured by field 
mice. What should be done for them ? 
Ass.—These mice selected the protected bed for their 
winter head quarters. The covering of manure kept the 
soil loose and warm. Spade it over this fall and so leave 
it until spring without any covering. 
J. C. D., (no address).— I have 1,000 dwarf Duchesse Pear 
trees which have been planted 12 years and average in 
hight between seven and nine feet. They have borne little 
fruit for market and that little has not ripened in good 
time. They grow very bushy from the ground, and are not 
straight. Would it be advisable to trim them, letting only 
the main stem or trunk stand up four or five feet. 
Ans.— We do not thiDk that such treatment would do 
any good. It would be well to cut out all superfluous 
branches—those that interfere, etc., admitting more light 
and air into the trees. If your soil is good, and the trees 
do not ripen the fruit, probably the dwarf Duchesse is not 
suited to your land or exposure. 
