683 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
i8§o 
deep hole made with a crowbar,compacting the earth around 
it by again thrusting down the bar at the sides. On stiff 
subsoils in dry years I have known cases where half a 
young orchard planted with such imitation tap-roots did 
so much better than the other half as to be noticeable 
from afar five years after the trees had been planted. 3. 
I believe it will pay well to replant these trees. 4. I think 
the Ben Davis too low in quality to be a good market apple 
in that region. If the Grimes’s Golden bears well there, it 
would surely prove more profitable to top-work it next 
spring on this variety. It may also be well to ascertain if 
N. Spy is a profitable bearer in that vicinity at a reason¬ 
able age. If not, top-work with some salable winter 
variety of good quality noted for early and continuous 
bearing. Such questions are local and should be carefully 
considered. 5. If the rows are run so that banking of the 
trees will prevent washing, it will be best to fertilize with 
barn yard manure to a sufficient extent to produce a fair 
crop of Japan buckwheat. Let the weeds grow until 
about the 20th of June; then turn under as lightly as pos¬ 
sible and sow the seed. Of all crops tried on such lands 
the crop of buckweat has given the best and healthiest 
growth to the trees till they are or early bearing size. 
6. When seeded down, clover is far preferable to Orchard 
Grass during the first bearing years of the orchard. 
When the trees attain size and age the Orchard Grass will 
do as well as anything, but Blue Grass will soon become 
its associate if the needed fertilizingis given, j. L. BUDD. 
Put Manures on the Surface. 
1. The proper way to dig holes for tree planting in orch¬ 
ards, such as that described, is to do so with a pair of good 
stout horses, and a good plow like the Oliver No. 20. Run 
the rows both ways, and make a round with the team to 
each row each way, throwing the soil outwards. At the 
crossings of the rows where the trees are to stand there 
will be a good-sized hole, deep and large enough to admit 
the roots of any apple or peach tree of the proper size for 
planting. 2. Just how deep the roots extend is hard to say. 
Sometimes several roots will penetrate to a considerable 
depth in the subsoil; but the feeding roots are found in 
the best or surface soil. 3. No, it would be better to apply 
liberally either stable manure or suitable commercial fer¬ 
tilizer on the soil, and plow, cultivate or spade it in around 
them—not too deep—over an area not less than eight or 
ten feet in diameter, taking the tree for the center. It 
would be better to apply the manure on the surface after 
planting them than to put it in the bottoms of the holes. 4 
You cau tell better by the way those varieties succeed in your 
neighborhood in bearing orchards. It is very doubtful if 
either theBildwin or the N. Spy is as good as you could 
have selected. Ye.s, you can top graft after the tree has 
been set two years. The “coming into bearing” will be 
largely governed by the varieties you graft with, as some 
kinds bear much sooner than others. 5. Give the orchard 
plenty of bone and potash, and keep it thoroughly cul¬ 
tivated by growing some hoed crop, like potatoes, tomatoes, 
beaus, corn, etc., for five or six years. 6. It is not safe for 
the average orchardist to seed down with grass a young 
orchard of any kind. Niue times out of ten, the trees will 
be stunted thereby. j. w. kerb. ' 
Thoroughpin or Puffs about Hock of Colt. 
M. B., North Cohocton, N. Y. —1. A blood spavin or 
thoroughpin has been coming on my three year-old colt for 
about a year. This morning I noticed that he was a trifle 
lame for the first time. On the inside of the right hind leg 
there is a soft swelling about the size of a walnut, and on 
the front of It there is a soft spot which is a little larger. 
Cau anything be done for him? 2. How are the mediciues 
or applications prepared? In answering questions The 
Rural often fails to give a detailed account of the prepara¬ 
tion of the medicines, etc., it prescribes. 
Ans.— 1. Apply the following blister, and repeat at inter¬ 
vals of two or three weeks until the swelling has disap¬ 
peared; powdered cantharides two drams; spirits of copper 
and acid of lavender each ten drops; vaseline one ounce. 
Clip the hair short all over and around the puffs; then rub 
the blister well in against the direction of the hair for 15 or 
20 minutes. After 24 hours sponge off the blister with 
Castile soap suds, being careful not to disturb the scab. 
Apply vaseline daily to the blistered surface to keep it from 
drying and cracking. While the blister is on, keep the 
horse tied so that he canuot reach the blistered surface 
with his mouth. If the lameness continues after two or 
three applications of the blister, employ a competent vet¬ 
erinary surgeon to fire for spavin. 2. Wherever such prep¬ 
arations are advised, you can always procure them of any 
good druggist. Blisters, and many other preparations can 
best be prepared by the druggist, so that it is not necessary 
for us to give the preparation and ingredients in detail, 
when they will be of no use to the readers of The 
Rural. 
Rice-Bran and Meal. 
E. A. T., Water bury, Conti ,—Where can rice-bran and 
meal be obtained ? 
Ans.— The reference to these substances was made in re¬ 
viewing a bulletin on “ Waste Products Prom Rice,” 
issued by the Louisiana Experiment Station. In the prep¬ 
aration of rice for market, various products, similar in 
character to wffieat bran, shorts or middlings, are turned 
out. These represent the difference between rice as it is 
harvested and as it is sold to consumers. The bran, meal 
and “polish” from rice are somewhat like corn-meal in 
feeding value. The bulletin mentioned above stated that 
the bran sells in New Orleans at $6 to $7 per ton, while 
analysis shows that it is nearly equal to wheat-bran in 
feeding value—as a food for fattening it is superior. The 
amount of these rice products in the market is necessarily 
imited, as rice is grown in only eight States, still in times 
ike these when stock food of all sorts is high in price, 
nothing should be wasted that can be used to make a feed¬ 
ing ration. The rice bran is very rich in fats and should 
be fed with clover hay or a little cotton-seed meal. If 
Nort 1 era feed dealers cannot be induced to introduce this 
food. Granges or dairymen who do business on a large 
scale should try to secure it. The bulletin spoken of was 
sent us by W. C. Stubbs, Baton Rouge, La. 
About Mulching Potatoes. 
C. N. R., Canton, N. Y.— Why does The Rural object 
to give potatoes a good covering of straw when the vines 
are just coming up ? 
Ans. —Because we have tried it and found that it does 
not pay. Why ? For several reasons. If the season be 
wet, the mulch will, of course, do harm. If dry, the 
mulch will not necessarily carry the crop through. A 
mulch will prevent loss of moisture by evaporation, of 
course. But it will also hold a large amount of moisture 
which comes from dews and showers. Again, unless the 
mulch is very heavy, weeds will grow through it in 
abundance. These must remain to rob the soil and the 
crop, because cultivation can not be given. Again, unless 
straw is valueless in our inquirer’s neighborhood, it would 
probably cost enough for such a mulch to knock the profits 
“ higher than a kite.” 
Ailing Cattle. 
A. H. S., Savannah, Ga.—l. Several of my cows, at dif¬ 
ferent times, get very thin. They hang their heads and 
only nibble around, never eat steadily, and constantly 
stand in the shade, while other cows in the same pasture 
feed well and are in good flesh or even fat. The trouble is 
not confined to any special cow, but has affected several, 
and usually about half of those affected die.- It affects 
bulls the most, and itusually kills those attacked, and all I 
have had have died from the ailment sooner or later. What 
is the matter ? 2. A one-year old Red Polled bull is af¬ 
fected in the same way. There are also two excrescences 
on his shoulder, one of which is about one inch long and 
half an inch wide, and the other considerably smaller; 
both are very loose, being apparently attached only to the 
skin. Around the penis there is a large number of ex¬ 
crescences which look like granules, about half the size of a 
pea. Those on his shoulder, upon close examination, look 
like points made of granules the size of pin-points, or like 
a piece of very poor sponge. I am told that they are warts. 
What should be the treatment ? 
Ans.— 1. The symptoms you mention are all general 
symptoms, such as would be noticed when cows are ailing 
and off feed from any cause. We are unable to diagnose 
any particular disease, and cannot, therefore, advise treat¬ 
ment. 2. The growths on the shoulder are warts and 
easily removed by cutting out with knife or scissors and 
cauterizing the cut surface thoroughly with the hot iron or 
lunar caustic to insure the complete killing of the growth 
of warts. If the growths on the penis are of a warty na¬ 
ture, they may also be cut off with the scissors, and cauter¬ 
ize the surface with lunar caustic. If, however, they 
are more like sores or ulcers, they may be carefully washed 
twice daily with the folio wing solution : Chloral hydrate, 
acetate of lead and c arbolic acid, each one dram, water one 
pint. Before each application carefully wash out the 
sheath witn warm water and Castile soap. 
Veterinary Surgery for Bone Spavins. 
H. B. K., Cincinnati, 0 .—In a local paper I find a long 
account of an operation performed on a horse. The animal 
was strapped to a heavy tilting table. The article then 
reads: “The animal was ready for the operation, which 
is known as cuneon tenotomy, and was first proposed by 
the veterinarian, Prof. Lafosse, to abolish lameness arising 
from bone spavin. It consists in division of the internal 
or cuneon branch of the tendon of the flexor metatarsi. 
The tendon that gave the trouble is a stout one, a branch 
of another tendon. It starts from the anterior portion of 
the hock and ruus across diagonally downward to where 
the curb generally occurs. The doctor first made an in¬ 
cision an inch long, and a probe pointed instrument was 
inserted and the tendon raised and cut, which gave instant 
relief. The tendon lay in a groove, and was readily found. 
The blood was then sponged off with cold water, and two 
or three stitches taken with silk sutures and tied. There 
was a bony tumor found growing under the tendon, mak¬ 
ing the tension on the tendon so great that the animal 
could not put its foot to the ground.” Now are these 
statements worthy of credence ? 
» 
ANSWERED BT DR. F. L. KILBORNE. 
Yes, in the main; but somewhat exaggerated and mis¬ 
leading. The operation is neither novel nor new, having 
been occasionally practiced for several years with varying 
success, both in this country and in Europe. This im¬ 
proved method of securing the horse to an operating table 
with a hinged top, while it has long been used by the 
French schools, has not been generally adopted by the pro¬ 
fession in this country, probably owing to the expense of 
the outfit. Section of this flexor tendon will relieve—not 
cure—those cases of bone spavin in which the lameness is 
due to stretching of the tendon by the bony deposits be¬ 
neath. In the large number of cases, however, the 
lameness is due to the spavin implicating some portion of 
the hock joint, in which case section of the tendon affords 
little or no relief. The operation cannot therefore be con¬ 
sidered a cure, but simply a meaus of relieving a certain 
kind of spavin, the bony deposit or spavin remaining as 
before the operation. 
MISCELLANEOUS. 
IF. A. T., Homewood, Pa. —1. Is there a blackberry 
called Bangor? 2. I wish to plant an acre of grapes next 
spring; which variety would be the best ? 
A:.s.—1. Yes, specimens of the Bangor Blackberry were 
sent to the Rural Grounds in the spring of ISS6. It has 
something of a trailing habit and has not as yet revealed 
any extra qualities of any kind. The plants came from 
Chase Bros., of Rochester, N. Y. 2. It is hard to advise in 
such matters. Just at this time, if we were planting an 
acre for market, it would be the Eaton. 
D. A., Altoona, Pa. —1. When should the following 
fruits be planted—in fall or spring ? 2. Will currant cut¬ 
tings grow ? 3. Will grape cuttings do so, and how should 
they be planted ? 4. When and how should asparagus be 
planted ? 
Ans. —1. The R. N.-Y. prefers spring. It might be well 
to buy the plants now if you are prepared to heel them in 
properly. 2. Oh, yes. Make the cuttings now, six inches 
long. Plant them in the soil so that the top shall be even 
with the surface. Cover after early frosts with hay or 
manure. 3. The same may be said of grapes. Let the 
cuttings have buds at either end. Cut just above and be¬ 
neath. Use well ripened wood of this year’s growth. 4. 
It makes little difference whether the sets are planted in 
the fall or spring. It is now, however, rather late for fall 
planting. Enrich the land with farm manure, using ail 
the way from 20 to 100 tons per acre, according to means 
and inclination. Set the plants at least two by four feet 
apart so that the crowns shall be, say, three inches btlow 
the surface. 
J. J. R., Red Bank, N. J. —How can seed potatoes be 
kept from rotting during the winter ? 
Ans.—A good way is to place them in small paper boxes 
—say six by six inches—and cover them with sand. Keep 
in a dry, cool place. 
L. O., St. Mary's, Ky. —What is Buhach ? 
Ans.— It is a powder manufactured in California from 
the flowers of the plant known as Pyrethrum cinerarae- 
folium, a hardy perennial. It has been grown at the Rural 
Grounds for many years. 
A. C. W., New York City. —Within a few days small 
white insects have appeared on my cabbages in New 
Jersey and caused the leaves to curl and dry up. Similar 
insects destroyed a crop of rutabagas a few years ago. 
What are they ? Should Buhach be applied in a liquid 
form or as a powder to destroy them ? 
Ans.—W e cannot identify the insects from the descrip¬ 
tion. We should prefer to use the Buhach in water and 
spray the plants. Use a heaping table-spoonful to each 
gallon. 
A Reader (no address). —1. Would dusting apple trees 
with a mixture of ParL-green and flour when the dew is 
on them, be as effective as spraying them, in killing tent 
caterpillars, coddling moths, etc. 2. Would white helle¬ 
bore,Buhach, pyrethrum powder or any other poison do as 
well ? 
Ans.— I. les, but it would be much more troublesome. 
2. Yes. The cost of the Buhach or pyrethrum is consider¬ 
able, and we cannot afford to use the powder, while it will 
not stand much dilution. It is different with water. Two 
table-spoonfuls of either Buhach or hellebore in a pailfu 
of water (two gallons), sprayed on the trees will do as well. 
A tea spoonful of Paris green to two gallons of water will 
answer. 
F. E., Fair Yiew, IF. Va .— 1. In setting out a new field 
of raspberries, would the roots from an old patch be as 
good for sets as those bought from a nursery? 2 Can 
strawberry plants be set out at any time from now till 
cold weather ? 
Ans.— 1. We should not care to propagate from the roots 
of plants that showed signs of feebleness from any cause. 
We should not hesitate to use vigorous suckers. 2. Yes, 
but if set late the plants do not become established or 
firmly fixed in the soil. The result will be winter-killing 
and a feebler growth next spring. 
A Subscriber, New T ork. —1. How can rose geraniums 
be raised on a large scale without a greenhouse ? 2. Can I 
winter enough of them in a dry cellar to produce 4.000 or 
5,000 plants next year ? 
Ans. 1. Sand beds are about the best for propagation, 
though without heat it is rather late to begin. Make the 
cuttings, say, three inches long, cutting at joints and in¬ 
sert firmly in the sand. 2. We doubt it. 
J- S. P., London, Canada .— Should melons be shown in 
a collection of vegetables ? 
Ans. —Strictly speaking, no. A melon is just as much a 
fruit as is a pear or an apple. 
J. B., Fort Assinaboine, Montana.— What is a good 
recipe for Hire s root beer ? I followed the directions on 
the package, but the beer is too sweet, is not clear and 
does not foam ? 
Ans. \ ou probably putin too much sugar or molasses 
and used a poor quality of yeast. Dr. G. W. Swett, of New 
York, makes an excellent root beer. The material for 
making five gallons is sold, dry, in packages or in bottles— 
a liquid extract. With this beer the compressed yeast 
cakes or the dry cakes sold in every store can be used; of 
course it is necessary to experiment in order to learn how 
much to use. 
C. H., Fountain Green, III.— Is the Idaho Pear In the 
market? Has the Bloomington Nursery the trees for sale? 
Ans.— Yes. It is for sale and has been advertised in The 
Rural. Very likely the Bloomington Nursery has it. 
Several nurserymeu are advertising it we find. 
D. R. H., Trumbull Center, Conn. —Could onion sets be 
profitably grown for bunching by planting them the first 
of February in hot-beds where tomato plants are to be 
transplanted ? Could they be grown ready for bunching 
by the time tomato plants are ready for transplanting— 
about the middle of April ? Could the soil that had been 
used for growing the onions be used for the transplanted 
tomatoes ? 
Ans.—O ur experience h is not been favorable to this 
method. It is time wasted. 
