400 
abundant life. My own driving mare will leave her 
corn for a bite of Soy beans, and when given only 
moderate amounts of them and practically no other 
grain, will fatten up very quickly. I thoroughly , 
believe with Mr. Piper that every farmer who is buying' 
cotton-seed meal, oil meal or wheat bran has abundant 
use for Soy beans, and that the Soy beans would be 
much more profitable to him than any of the other 
feeds mentioned. 
With some of the new varieties I think it will soon 
be possible to grow about 30 bushels of seed per acre. 
They are worth about $1 per bushel for feeding pur¬ 
poses, and they thus compare favorably with any crop 
we grow for feed. For many years cow peas have been 
grown extensively as a forage crop. I believe with 
Mr. Piper that, at least on a great many soils, the 
Soy bean should certainly replace the cow pea. The 
cow pea has just one advantage: it may be sown 
broadcast on foul land, and will make a good growth 
and a profitable crop. The Soy bean does not thrive 
when sown broadcast, consequently it is a little less 
of a lazy man’s crop, but on the other hand, its analysis 
is so much better than that of the cow pea, and its 
habit of growth is so much better that it should easily 
take precedence over the cow pea, excepting where 
it is thought to be absolutely necessary to sow the 
seed broadcast. I submit the following table, taken 
from Professor Henry’s “Feeds and Feeding,” for 
careful consideration: 
Lbs. dry 
Lbs. 
Lbs. carbo- 
Lbs. 
Foods 
matter 
protein 
hydrates 
extract 
Soy beans ... 
. 89.2 
29.6 
oo 3 
14.4 
Cow peas .... 
. 85.2 
38.3 
54.2 
3.1 
Corn . 
. 89.1 
7.9 
66.7 
4.3 
Bran . 
. 88.1 
12.2 
39.2 
2.7 
Soy bean boy 
. 88.7 
10.8 
38.7 
1.5 
Cow pea hay 
. 89.3 
10.8 
38.6 
i.i 
Clover hay .. 
. 84.7 
6 .S 
35.8 
3.7 
The analysis of the Soy bean seed is not as high 
in protein in .this table as I have seen it in other 
analyses. Note the .superiority in protein of the Soy 
bean, as well as the cow pea hay, over Red clover. 
Alfalfa analyzes only about 11 or 12 per cent, so that 
the Soy bean compares favorably with Alfalfa itself, 
and it is reasonably certain that it could be grown 
easily on many soils where the growth of Alfalfa 
would be ^difficult. Red clover is not likely to be 
supplanted by either Soy beans or cow peas, and it 
would not be wise to- -supplant it, because Red clover 
is such- an old-established crop that everyone knows 
how to grow it, it produces sufficient forage per acre 
to make it profitable, and it probably fits into the 
rotation a little easier than Soy beans, especially 
where farmers have a large amount of Spring or 
Summer work to do. Neither do I think that Alfalfa 
should at all be supplanted by the Soy bean, but it 
frequently happens that a Red clover meadow is 
seriously injured by Winter freezing and a catch crop 
desired in the Spring. For this purpose I think that 
no crop with which I am familiar would begin to 
equal the Soy bean. Millets are largely used as 
catch crops under these conditions, and there is abso¬ 
lutely no comparison between the value of a ton of 
millet hay and a ton of Soy bean hay. Also there 
are many soils on which clover does not seem to thrive, 
and on -these I would earnestly recommend the use of 
Soy beans, especially in an experimental way. 
Ohio. CHAS. B. WING. 
(To be continued.) 
RAILROAD FIRES IN NEW JERSEY. 
On page 298 we gave a synopsis of a decision of the 
New Jersey Court of Errors and Appeals. It was 
■a case involving damages from railroad fires. A 
fire evidently started by an engine on the Lehigh 
Valley Railroad destroyed property on the Goodman 
farm in Union Count}'. E. V. Goodman brought 
suit for his father’s estate. In the first trial Goodman 
received a verdict for $7,643.13. The Lehigh appealed 
the case on a rule to show cause and Judge Gummere 
reversed the decision. There was then a retrial on 
the old evidence, in which the Lehigh won. This 
was what the lawyers for Goodman wanted, as it 
gave them a chance to carry the case to the Court of 
Errors and Appeals, and thus establish the right to 
introduce evidence regarding the origin of fires. As 
stated on page 298, this court ordered a new trial, and 
rules that the judge who tried the case had no right 
to rule out the following questions: 
1. At the time that this fire occurred had you noticed 
any fires occasioned on your property from engines of 
the railroad? 
2. Have you ever noticed the quantity of sparks thrown 
from the engines of the Lehigh Valley Railroad at or 
about the time of the fire, during the night time? 
3. How large sparks have you seen coming out of the 
stack about the time of the fire? 
That was of great importance, as previous to this 
ruling about all a railroad had to do was to show 
that the engines were “properly screened.” A new 
trial was begun March 28 and lasten 5^ days. As 
usual, the railroad company tried to show that the 
engine screens were duly inspected and perfect. Lin¬ 
der the ruling of the upper court Goodman was able 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
to prove that the same engines started other fires, 
and that sparks came from them. Witnesses also 
proved that the “inspection” was at times little better 
t than 'a farce. The jury was out 35 minutes, and 
brought in a verdict for $8,333.33; also $200 for 
personal property and $3,100 for a neighbor, whose 
barns caught from Goodman’s fire. The Lehigh 
threatens to appeal again, but it is hard to see what 
they can make out of it under the new and just 
ruling that evidence that engines emit sparks which 
actually cause fire may be given. This is one of the 
most important railroad fire cases ever tried, and 
its effect will be good. 
PLANTING TREES ALONG COUNTRY ROADS 
In the Santa Clara Valley two objections are urged 
against the planting of shade trees along the public 
highways. One is that the trees thus planted injure 
to some extent the orchard trees on the adjoining 
lands, and the the other that they shade the roads 
during our rainy season, making them muddy and 
easily cut up by vehicles passing over them. In 
answer to the first objection, I will say that my ob¬ 
servation tends to show that road trees are of much 
benefit to adjoining orchards in the way of breaking 
cold wind currents during the blooming season, and 
also help to prevent damage by frost. I believe that 
A TYPICAL PLANT OF SOY BEANS. Fig, 184.1 
if every public highway in the county was planted 
with suitable varieties of shade and ornamental trees 
(or with walnut trees, which are profitable as well 
as ornamental), our fruit crops would be larger and 
better. Trees like the elm, cottonwood and poplars 
are not desirable, as the roots extend a long distance 
and sprout badly. However, they may be kept in 
due bounds by trenching and cutting all roots just 
inside the fence line. The second objection comes 
principally from our supervisors, road masters and 
automobile drivers. In answer to this objection, let 
it be understood that we have approximately four 
months when more or less rain, falls, and eight months 
with no rain, when-the county roads mtftrt be sprinkled. 
The shade trees are unquestionably of much benefit 
to the roads during the sprinkling season, and if 
perchance they shade the road 1 too much in the rainy 
season then the building of better roads with more 
crown and with better care by the ro’ad masters should 
not be a detrimental charge against the road trees. 
There are many excellent and be-autiful varieties of 
trees suitable for planting along our roads, but per¬ 
haps the very best from all standpoints is the native 
California Black walnut, and I am happy to say 
that a row nearly 30 miles long has been completed 
this season between San Jose and Gilroy, with the 
consent and approval of our county board of super¬ 
visors. HORACE G. KEESLING. 
California. _ 
Why should a watch dog be such an easy mark for 
ticks ? 
April 23, 
A LITTLE-KNOWN POULTRY WORM. 
In your book. “The Business Hen.” I find no remedy 
for worms. We have a flock of 150 hens which have worms 
very badly. I have tried a worm destroyer, but it seems 
to do them no good. The worms eat through the lining 
of gizzard and make nest, in back end of gizzard. They 
are from about one-half inch to an inch and a quarter 
long, and are very fine. Some of the hens are dying 
because of them. Can you give a remedy? 
Oklahoma. chas. slemmer. 
Prof. Wm. A. Riley, of Cornell Lniversity. has made 
some studies of this worm—which is shown at Fig. 185. 
Here is a case where practical ben men should combine 
with the scientists to help learn about this pest: 
So far as noted, the infested gizzards bore no ex¬ 
ternal characteristic marks. But on opening them 
and washing out the contents there could be seen 
numerous small, ulcerated areas, varying in size from 
mere points to spots the size of a tack head. Under¬ 
lying these and, in some cases projecting into the 
cavity of the gizzard, could be found one or more 
round, white worms, measuring from one-half to an 
inch in length. They were buried from one-half to 
four-fifths of their length in the tissues of the gizzard, 
or even completely underlying the horny inner layer 
of the organ. Not only the tissue at the surface, but 
also that of their burrows presented the ulcerated 
appearance. Eight or 10 of these worms were to be 
found in the portions which I received, while the only 
infested complete gizzard which was received con¬ 
tained about 35. The appearance of the parasites 
after removal of the horny inner lining of the gizzard 
is well shown by the illustration. The smaller speci¬ 
mens were males, while those nearly an inch in length 
were females. The latter were filled by enormous 
numbers of eggs, elliptical in shape and not more than 
one six-hundredth of an inch in length. They were 
in all stages of development, from the unsegmented 
stage to that of the fully-formed young worm, lying 
coiled within the egg membranes. 
These parasites proved to be roundworms belonging 
to the genus Dispharagus, several species of which have 
been reported as infesting domestic fowls. The litera¬ 
ture regarding them is very scant, the most important 
papers referring to the occurrence of the species Dis¬ 
pharagus nasutus in Italy. Colucci. in 1893, reported 
an epidemic which threatened the extermination of the 
flock affected. The diseased animals were character¬ 
ized by a marked anaemia, paleness of the mucous 
membrane of the mouth and of the conjunctiva of the 
eye, and by evidence of general mal-nutrition. There 
was no loss of appetite, but, on the contrary, the af¬ 
fected birds were abnormally ravenous. On killing 
them it was found that the stomach was filled by the 
parasites, whose presence had caused marked disease 
of the walls of the organ, sufficient to account for 
the mal-nutrition and death. Several other European 
workers have noted epidemics caused by the presence 
of this species in either the stomach or gizzard. But 
little has been done in the study of the life history. 
One worker has declared that the eggs or embryos of 
the worm must pass into a little crustacean, the well- 
known “pill-bug” or “sow-bug.” and there undergo 
a development before it can be conveyed to other 
chickens. This is analogous to the method of develop¬ 
ment known to occur in some related worms, but the 
theory does not rest upon any experimental evidence. 
On the contrary, the extent of the development of 
the embryos, while yet within the body of the mother, 
and the fact that in so developed a condition they 
pass out with the droppings of the bird, would indi¬ 
cate that they are picked up by the other fowls and 
develop directly, without needing to pass through an 
“intermediate host.” 
While neither correspondent had noted any unfavor¬ 
able symptoms by which the diseased birds could be 
distinguished, this was doubtless due to the fact that 
there was only a moderate degree of infestation. In 
one of the European cases studied the worms were 
so closely packed as to simulate a regular tissue. In 
view of the pathological changes which they produce 
it may be readily understood that when abundant they 
would prove most serious parasites. As for treatment, 
Colucci reports good results from the administration, 
twice a day, a capsule containing one-sixth of a drachm 
of turpentine. This is a microscopic dose as com¬ 
pared with that necessary in the case of tapeworms 
and “white worm” infestation and no harm would 
result from the giving of two teaspoonfuls, or even 
more. Incidentally, these other parasites, if present, 
would also be reached and thus additional good ac¬ 
complished. In any case, the beneficial action of the 
turpentine would be greatly increased if preceded by 
a purgative, such as epsom salts (two-thirds of a 
level teaspoonful in two teaspoonfuls of water), or 
calomel (one-fourth to one-half grain). 
It must be emphasized that medicinal treatment is 
useless if not accompanied by the destruction of the 
embryo worms in the droppings. For a day or so 
after treatment the droppings must be carefully and 
thoroughly collected and placed in a barrel, where 
they may be disinfected with quicklime or 5 per cent 
sulphuric acid. Unless this is done treatment is useless, 
for the birds would quickly reinfect themselves. As 
the old yard is bound to be contaminated, the fowls 
should be changed to a new one, if possible. Of 
course this should not be done until the second day 
after treatment, or the soil of the second yard will 
also become contaminated. The writer hopes to 
obtain fresh material for feeding experiments and the 
study of the life history of the parasites. Until the 
life history is known the most rational method of 
treatment cannot be known. He would be glad to 
receive reports of the occurrence of this gizzard para¬ 
site and to examine and report on any material sub¬ 
mitted for examination. wit. A. rieey. 
Cornell University. 
