1896 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
2l7 
tested repeatedly with the Babcock tester, and did 
not find that the quality was deteriorated. As to the 
effect on the quantity, the scales prove that it is 
largely increased. If fed pumpkins, the cows hold 
out well on their yield late in the period of lactation. 
They are also kept in good flesh. The seeds should, 
by all means, be removed, as they will cause excessive 
urination, resulting in weakness to the cows. It will 
pay to remove the seeds, even though they be not 
saved, but I save mine. I dry them thoroughly (not 
kiln dried though), then run them through a fanning 
mill, which removes all dirt and unfilled seeds. I 
ship them to a prominent seed firm which pays $1.50 
per bushel. I raise the Connecticut Field pumpkin. 
I think that pumpkins are a profitable crop to raise. 
I drill the seeds in with my corn. 
Erie County, N. Y. lawton m. conger. 
Questions About Citron. 
A. L. Ii., Cheshire , Conn. —1. Is there a citron with thick rind 
smaller than the common variety? 2. What is the process of 
drying citron? 3. Is the papaw tree hardy in southern Con¬ 
necticut ? 
Ans. —1. No. 2. Boil the citron until clear and soft 
enough to be easily pierced with a fork ; put into a 
nice syrup of sugar and water, and boil until the sugar 
has penetrated it. Take out and spread on dishes to 
dry slowly, sprinkling several times with powdered 
sugar, and turning until dried enough. Pack in jars 
or boxes with sugar between the layers. 3. Yes. 
Rural Thoroughbred Flint Corn for Ensilage. 
W. B., Troupsburg, N. Y. —At the Ilornelisville Farmers' In¬ 
stitute, E. Van Alstync, of Kinderhook, said that indications of 
last year’s trial of the Rural Flint corn, placed it ahead of tine 
Pride of the North for the silo. He said that the seed was diffi¬ 
cult to obtain. His ripened witli the Pride of the North, but the 
boys put it in the silo when he was absent from home. Do the 
seedsmen carry it in stock ? 
Ans. —The corn was originally introduced by The 
R. N.-Y. On Governor Morton’s farm, it was grown to 
make 2,000 tons of ensilage last year, and gave ex¬ 
cellent satisfaction. Where it matures, it will be 
found ahead of any other ensilage corn, as it gives an 
immense proportion of ear and leaf to stalk. The 
seed, like that of Evergreen sweet, is slow to start. 
J. M. Thorburn & Co., New York, sell this corn. 
Using Potatoes to Fertilize Corn. 
C. 0. N., Homer, N. Y.— Potatoes are five to eight cents per 
bushel, and few sales. I have nearly 1,000 bushels. To the 
question asked me a few days ago. What are you going to do 
witli them ? I answered, “ Manure corn in the hill with them ! ” 
It was an off-hand answer, without earlier thought, but later, in 
thinking it over, I asked myself, Why not ? Last year, a large field, 
with phosphate in the hills, covered with earth, and corn dropped 
and covered, because of very dry and warm weather, failed to 
come up. Potatoes, crushed, with phosphate and earth, mixed in 
the hill, would continue moist, so that corn would sprout and 
grow, no matter how dry the weather might be. Aside from this 
favorable condition, would the mauurial value pay to use potatoes 
in such a way—crushed to a pulp so as to prevent growing ? I 
have the idea that they will be worth more, so used, than $2 a ton, 
if sold by the bushel at present prices. 
Ans. —We have heard of people who put a peck of 
potatoes in the bottom of the hole when setting out 
trees, with, apparently, good results. A ton of pota¬ 
toes will contain, in round figures, seven pounds of 
nitrogen, three of phosphoric acid, and 12 of potash— 
worth about $1.80 as compared with fertilizers, and 
about as much organic matter and water as stable 
manures. When crushed and put in the hill as you 
suggest, the potatoes will give as much fertility as 
equal weights of manure and, probably, retain mois¬ 
ture better. If any one has actual experience in this 
line, we woufd like to have them relate it. 
Mixed Colors in Flowers. 
W. A. B., Millington, N. ./.—Last August a cutting was taken 
from a large variegated geranium in our bed of many varieties, 
and rooted. It has two branches now; one contains two clusters 
of red blossoms, and the other branch, two clusters of pink blos¬ 
soms. Are such things common? I never happened to see any¬ 
thing of the kind before. How could they mix through a cutting ? 
Ans. —Yes, quite common. It is the outcome of 
crossing. They could not mix through a cutting. It 
is merely the cropping out of blood which has re¬ 
mained impotent. We have frequently had variegated 
shoots and flowers of a different color grow on green¬ 
leaved plants that had, a year or so previously, been 
crossed. The anthers and stigmas of pelargoniums do 
not mature simultaneously. So it must happen that 
the seeds which form are generally the result of cross¬ 
breeding. 
Why Young Tomato Plants Wilt. 
F. R. McC., Claysville, Pa.— Why do tomato plants, raised in 
boxes in the house, wilt at the top of the ground when the plant 
is about one to two inches in height ? 
Ans. —Tomato and other seedling plants grown in 
boxes in the house, may wilt in the manner above 
described from two well-known causes. In the first 
place, they may be allowed to become too dry at the 
roots, even though the surface soil is kept fairly moist. 
By frequent superficial waterings, the top soil may be 
kept sticky, while the delicate rootlets are perishing 
in dust below. The remedy, of course, is to soak all 
the ground thoroughly, and then let it alone until it 
begins to dry slightly on the surface. If an inspection 
of the box show it to be dry at the bottom, it is best 
soaked for a few minutes in a tubful of lukewarm 
water, as it is not easy to moisten all the earth in a 
box by overhead sprinkling, after it has become 
unevenly dried. In the second place, the plants may 
be “damping off,” which is the gardener’s name for 
the ravages of a cobweb-like fungus which attacks 
the young seedlings just at the surface of the ground, 
causing them to fall over and die after continual 
feeble efforts to grow for a day or two. This condi¬ 
tion, notwithstanding its name, is not always due to ex¬ 
cessive moisture, as it takes place with great frequency 
in dry air. It seems to require a calm atmosphere 
for its development, and is always worse in an ill- 
ventilated place. The best remedy is to prick out the 
sound plants, if they are large enough to be handled, 
and plant them two or three inches apart in a similar 
box of fresh soil. If this be not convenient, some¬ 
thing may be done to check the spread of the disease 
by sprinkling dry sand, heated to about 120 degrees 
F., over the soil, watering thoroughly after an hour 
or so, and placing the box in as light and breezy a 
place as is consistent with the necessary warmth. 
Moderately thin sowing, judicious watering and free 
ventilation will nearly prevent the appearance of 
this plague, which frequently becomes serious, sweep¬ 
ing off thousands of plants, apparently in a single 
night. w. van fleet. 
Wanted; Quick-Growing Shade Trees. 
IV. F. S., Rowenton, 0 .—What would yoivadvise me to plant for 
good and quick-growing shade trees? What do you think of the 
South Carolina poplar, or the common Soft maple ? 
Ans. —The Hardy catalpa is an excellent tree of 
quick growth. This is Catalpa speciosa. We know 
of none better. Do not get C. bignonioides, which is 
more tender. We do not like the poplars as ornamen¬ 
tal trees. The Silver maple is a very rapid grower. 
Wier’s Cut-leaved is one of its prettiest varieties. 
Medicinal Value of Elecampane. 
8. F. If., Gouverneur, N. Y .—Has Elecampane any medicinal or 
market value? If it has, how is it prepared, and where can it be 
marketed ? What is the best method of clearing the land of it in 
case it has no market value ? 
Ans. —Elecampane, the Inula Heleniumof botanists, 
was formerly supposed to have a high medicinal value, 
chiefly as a tonic for stomach troubles and as a com¬ 
ponent of cough syrups. It is now used to some extent 
in veterinary practice, and as an ingredient in cattle 
powders. In France, it is used in the manufacture 
of absinthe, an intoxicating cordial. The only part 
of value is the fleshy roots, which should be procured 
from plants not more than two or three years old. 
They are best dug just as the plant comes into flower, 
and alter washing and scraping, should be thoroughly 
dried. The demand in this country is very small, and 
the only market is with some of the wholesale export¬ 
ing druggists, to be found in the chief commercial 
cities. Elecampane is a hardy perennial plant, of the 
great Composite family, and, like the ox eye daisy, 
of the same family, is a somewhat stubborn plant to 
eradicate. Clean cultivation, and the frequent cut¬ 
ting of old patches, to prevent seed formation, will 
subdue it. w. v. f. 
Variations in Cream Testing. 
W. M. II., New York .—How much should the Babcock test vary 
in the hands of expert men on the same samples of cream ? 
Ans. —Since it is more difficult to take a true, uni¬ 
form sample of cream than it is of whole milk, we 
may expect a somewhat wider variation in duplicate 
tests of cream than of whole milk. In very rich cream, 
tested in the wide-necked cream bottles, this varia¬ 
tion should not be more than one-half of one per cent. 
[prof. J ir. it., wing. 
Some Questions About Barns. 
T. J. B., Fairport, N. Y. —I am about to build a stock and grain 
barn, 38x90 feet. 1. Would 10 feet be too high for the wall ? 2. Is 
there any serious objection to having the granary In the base¬ 
ment, which will be mostly above ground ? 3. Is prepared felt 
rooting as durable and economical as shingles? 4. If shingles be 
used, will it pay to dip them ? 5. What are the best preparations 
for a dip and the approximate cost per M of dipping ? 
Ans.—1. A 10-foot story will not be too high. 2. 
There are no objections to having the granary in the 
basement, if it can be made dry. Usually basement 
barns at the lower hillside, are entirely out of the 
ground. In any case, whether the grain is to be 
kept in the lower story or not, be careful to keep the 
barn well out of the ground, even though some filling 
or bridging has to be done at the upper side to make 
access easy. Damp basements are quite as bad for 
cattle as for grain. Why, by expensive methods, dig 
into the ground, when there is so much space above 
it free for the taking? 3 Prepared felt rooting is 
not as desirable or as economical, in the long run, as 
shingles. 4. It will not pay to dip first-class shingles 
when laid on steep roofs, and no fiat roofs on barns 
should be tolerated, except it be near the peak, as is 
seen in a curbed or gambrel roofed building. 5. This 
could better be answered by some architect or builder 
who has had experience in using “ dips.” As a rule, 
we believe -that it would be morej economical to put 
slate roofs on barns, but if the cost be too great, then 
purchase the best shingles that are in the market A 
safe rule is to put a first-class top and bottom to a 
barn, even at the expense of using poorer materials 
than are desired in the rest of the building. 
Gas Tar for Tree Wounds. 
Subscriber, Connecticut. —Will it be safe for me to use gas tar 
on wounds or where limbs have been cut from old .apple trees ? 
Ans. —We do not advise the use of this material, 
but would prefer to brush the wounds over with gum 
shellac, such as painters use to cover knots before 
painting. For such things, we like still better a wax 
made of one pound resin, one-lialf pound beeswax, 
and one-quarter pound tallow ; simmer together until 
melted, then work it the same as one would molasses 
candy. This, when spread over the wounds, makes a 
nice covering. Gas tar is likely to run down over 
the bark, and many times kills it. For large wounds, 
the gum shellac would be quickest and cheapest, 
and would answer the purpose. edwin hoyt. 
Marl as a Stable Absorbent. 
J. J., Waupaca, Wis. —Tim R. N.-Y. stated, page 136, that lime 
will liberate the ammonia in manure. How about using marl 
instead of land plaster in the stable. What would be the action 
of marl on the ammonia in the soil, if spread broadcast on the 
Held. 
Ans. —The phosphatic marls would, probably, have 
a slightly greater absorbent power than ordinary 
earth, as would also the lime marls of the northern 
section of the State, though I think in no case would 
they be equal to the land plaster, for the purpose for 
which the plaster is used, namely, the fixing of am¬ 
monia. The application of marl, broadcast, upon 
soils, would, probably, be practically inert, so far as 
fixing or setting free of ammonia is concerned. 
[prof.] e. b. vooruees. 
A “ Blind' ’ Fertilizer Analysis. 
I. A. B., Auslinburgh, 0 .—Will you Hgure out the following analy¬ 
sis for me ? I can’t do it. It seems to me that it is very blind : 
Ammonia, 
Per cent 
Value... 
Fine bone 
Phosphoric acid ■ 
Equivalent to I Medium bone. 
35.28 per cent 
Bone pi osphate i Total percent 
Total value. 
. 7.10 
.$24.14 per ton. 
j Per cent.12.46 
) Value.$12.46 per ton. 
j Per cent. 3.72 
j Value. $2.98 per ton. 
.16.18 
.$39 58 per ton 
Not analyzed for potash, but contains considerable. 
Also contains considerable blood. 
Ans. —This appears to be a mixture of bone and 
blood. If it contains 7.10 per cent, or 142 pounds of 
ammonia to the ton, that is equal to 116 pounds of 
nitrogen. The average price of such nitrogen is 16 
cents a pound. That represents the average price of 
nitrogen in blood and fine bone as sold in the Eastern 
markets. It ought to be cheaper so much nearer the 
large packing-houses. In estimating the value of bone, 
the chemists divide it into four grades, viz. : fine, fine- 
medium, medium and coarse. The grade is deter¬ 
mined by the per cent of the bone that will pass 
through sieve meshes of a certain size. The finer the 
particles of bone, the easier it is for the plants to feed 
on it. The phosphoric acid in fine bone is quoted at 
5% cents a pound, while that in “ medium” is worth 
three cents. Here, then, is the comparative value of 
the fertilizer : 
Nitrogen, 116 pounds, at 16 cents.$18.56 
Phosphoric acid, 249 pounds at fP/% cents. 13.69 
Phosphoric acid, 74 pounds at 3 cents. 2.22 
Total.$34.57 
This is really more than the fertilizer is worth, since 
the nitrogen varies in value between fine and medium 
bone as well as the phosphoric acid, while we have 
given it full value. If a proper explanation were 
made, this analysis would be satisfactory ; but as it 
is, the average reader is sure to be confused by it. 
A Home “Catarrh Cure.” 
E. P. R. Sidney. Ohio.— Will you give definite advice as to your 
vaseline and bicarbonate of soda remedy for catarrh ? If it 
ever appeared in The R. N.-Y., 1 failed to see it. 
Ans. —Here is the writer’s way of using this remedy. 
Every morning before breakfast, snuff the bicarbo¬ 
nate of soda into both nostrils, making sure to have a 
pure article. Take a pinch of the soda between the 
thumb and finger, throw the head back, close one 
nostril and drop the soda into the other “ snuffing ” it 
back as far as possible. Then treat the other nostril 
the same way. In about five minutes, you will be 
obliged to clear the nose by a thorough “blowing.” 
Then, after clearing, smear the inside of the nostrils 
with vaseline. You may put the vaseline on your 
little finger, and push it up into the nose, or use a 
small brush or sponge. Keep the nose smeared in this 
way all day. Repeat the bicarbonate of soda treat¬ 
ment at night, or several times during the day, if the 
nose seem “ filled up.” By snuffing the soda far back 
into the nose, you will feel it at the upper part of the 
throat. In bad cases of catarrh, it is well to blow dry 
soda through the mouth upon the upper part of the 
throat, as it is more effective than a gargle. This may 
not “ cure ” a bad case of catarrh, but it will give 
relief, and also help^prevent a-cold. 
