1352 
The RURAL NEW-YORKER 
;THE MAILBAG 
Germinating Butternut 
Referring to page 12oJ), M. P., Chateau- 
gay, N. Y., can raise butternut trees, or 
any other nuts, if he will carefully crack 
nut so as not to rupture meat within, 
then put in sharp sand and keep moist 
and quite warm till sprout appears. I 
have English w'alnut and date palm, and 
have rooted many others that way. 
Pennsylvania. mbs. c. p. 
Vines Fail to Fruit 
I have some grapevines which all seem 
to go to runners and leaves. They have 
runners 15 to 20 feet long. They do not 
bear. Is it the trimming that causes the 
runners or does the soil cause it? The 
soil is a loose, yellow loam. The first two 
years after planting they bore heavily. 
East Aurora, N. Y. J. A. 
It is very probable in this instance 
that not enough fruiting wood has been 
retained from year to year to balance the 
grow'th of root. It is thus suggested that 
at least a third more cane be left after 
the next pruning, and that all fertilization 
with nitrogen carriers be withheld. It 
may l>e possible that the variety be self- 
sterile or imperfectly self-fertile,, and 
that its source for cross-fertilization 
while i)resent in the first years has since 
ceased to exist. If the names of these 
non-fruiting vines were known, this phase 
could soon be satisfactorily answertnl. 
F. F>. GLADWIN, 
Mulching Strawberries 
T have a strawberry patch that I set 
out about October 1. I suppose it should 
be covered with something for Winter. 
I was expecting to cover it with buck¬ 
wheat straw, but am told that this will 
kill the straw'berries. Is this true? Buck¬ 
wheat straw is the handiest thing I have, 
but I do not wish to kill the plants. 
Connecticut. J, J. 
We should go ahead and use the buck¬ 
wheat straw. Do not put on too much, 
so as to mat dow'ii over the plants and 
smother them. Leave it loose over them, 
and there wdll be no trouble. The object 
of mulching such plants is not to keep 
them warm, but to prevent the heave and 
drop of alternate freeze and thaw, and to 
prevent too much loss of water. 
Cornstalk Syrup 
Like Mr. Osborn, whose letter you print 
on page 1268, I made a little syrup from 
cornstalks this fall. I used Golden .Ban¬ 
tam stalks, as I found the juice to be 
much sweeter than that of any other kind. 
I tried ('ory. Early Minnesota, Early 
Evergreen and two field sorts, Ge'hn flint 
and Northw’estern dent. I am confident 
that tlie Bantam will be found the best to 
make .syrup from, in spite of its small 
size, as it seems to be in a class by itself 
for sweetness. The syrup had a little 
molasses taste, but much less than any 
molasses I have tasted lately. Q. L. s. 
Harpersfield, N. Y. 
Cow Peat in Oswego County, N. Y. 
On page 1259 I read about the wonder¬ 
ful cow-pea plant. I have been looking 
at a farm of 100 acres in Oswego Coun¬ 
ty, N. Y, The soil seems to be sandy 
loam, and looks as though it might be 
sour. The people who own the farm are 
willing to give me almost any kind of 
chance to get on the place. I have talked 
with the neighbors around the farm and 
they say that they raise good corn and 
you to obtain best results with cow peas, 
and what kind of legumes would you sow 
the first year? j. A. w. 
East Syracuse, N. Y. 
Oswego Co., N. Y^, is too far north for 
you to obtain best results with cow peas. 
That plant will grow there, but it will not 
give as good results as could be obtained 
in Delaware or further south. The Soy 
bean and the Canada field pea, and also 
Red and Alsike clover, will all do well in 
Oswego County, and in many places Al¬ 
falfa will thrive. All these legumes will 
help, but do not bank on the cow pea 
very much north of Philadelphia. 
Cracked Hands 
One of the vivid recollections of child¬ 
hood recalls the discomfort experienced 50 
years ago from raw cracks in the hands, 
brought on by working, bare-handed, at 
wood covered with wet snow. The reason 
for the tendency of the skin of certain 
individuals to crack easily upon exposure 
is said to be physiological and not easily 
controlled. But there are some things 
one can do to overcome the trouble. 
The protection of gloves of some sort 
is, of course, to be desired when the work 
permits. In my own experience I find 
that any sort of gloves are well worth 
while at this season, even the cheap cot¬ 
ton ones (or those that were cheap in 
pre-w'ar days). But the main reliance 
must be placed on helping nature to keep 
the skin in a normal condition. After 
exposure to cold and dirt and 'yet, as 
when one is working in dirt at this time 
of year, take two or three minutes at 
night to soak the hands in hot water—not 
lukewarm, but hot. Then, while the skin 
is soft and the pores well opened, rub in 
some sort of oil or grease. You would not| 
think of trying to soften an old harness 
by oiling it while dry. There is a won¬ 
derful difference in the effect of applying 
an unguent after the .skin has been soHened 
with hot water, and applying it to the 
dry hands or, after washing with cold 
water. When the akin has broken, so 
that there is a raw crack, use a strong 
antiseptic on the raw place before anoint¬ 
ing. Otherwise you are covering in the 
germs that cause the inflammation and 
soreness and making a good breeding place 
for them. After a thorough cleansing 
touch the raw spots with iodine, or some 
other antiseptic; then apply oil in some 
form. The antiseptic will stop pain and 
throbbing at once, and with the help of 
moisture, heat and an unguent, nature 
will restore conditions pretty well over 
night. Wearing a light, loose glove over 
night will help nature in the healing 
process. 
The following recipe, which has been in 
use in our housiliold for years, gives a 
cold cream equal to the best at the drug¬ 
gist’s : Melt slowly in an earthen di.sh, 
one-half ounce each, white wax and sper¬ 
maceti^ and one ounce mutton tallow. 
Pour into a bowl, slowly adding two 
ounces each almond oil and glj’cerine 
(mixed), beating slowly with fork until 
smooth. While still w'arm put into cov¬ 
ered dish. If perfume is used it should 
be added before the cream sets. 
New' Y'ork. geo. Arnold. 
Excessive Molt of Canary 
Can you tell me what will cure a 
canary from continual molting? .j. c. 
Holyoke, Mass. 
canary from continual molting one would 
have to .know exactly the daily care 
given, the general health of the bird, age, 
and the temperature of the room at night. 
“All birds which live in cages require ab¬ 
solute cleanline.ss, a certain amount of 
care, proper bathing and drinking water 
and sufficient attention to the kind and 
quantity of food to prevent overfeeding, 
indigestion and other bird ills.’’ 
The Government bulletin on canaries 
says that: “Most troubles may be traced 
to some untow'ard circumstance in han¬ 
dling them.” Some birds drop a few of 
the body feathers all through the year. 
Our wee boarder, “Sweetie,” molted con¬ 
tinually during the seven years he .spent 
at home because he was kept too warm 
at night for health. Ilis cage hung in the 
living-room, warmed by too large a coal 
stove. The fir.st Winter with us he shed 
a few feathers all the time; but last 
Winter, after the regular molt, not a 
feather came off He is much improved 
in health and activity and a great singer 
here with us. 
Canaries w'ant to be kept cool but never 
in a drau.srht. In England they wdll live 
in outdoor aviaries. Ix)ok into the daily 
care of your bird and get a copy of 
Parmer’s Bulletin 770. If you need more, 
ask at your nearest pet shop for a book 
on canaries. e. s. k. 
Chemical Closets 
Adding my experience to what M.* B. D. 
says, page 1204. a chemical closet is all 
that is claimed for it. The greatest draw¬ 
back at present is the chemical, and if 
The R. N.-Y. will tell us what the ingre- 
December 7, 1918 
dollars and trouble in sending away for it, 
as is the case now. I am not a carpenter 
nor a mechanic, but with a five-gallon 
garbage pail, some small galvanized pipes, 
some matched lumber and nails, I made a 
cabinet that has proved highly satisfac¬ 
tory and saved a penny besides. Make 
the cabinet larger by .30 per cent than is 
necessary to hold the can; put pipe in 
farthest corner and have two or three 
small openings close to floor of cabinet at 
the front for ventilation, and see that pipe 
outlet has a good chance for air and all is 
well. c. c. w. 
Finishing Plaster. —On page 668 
0. A. D. asks about the value of finish¬ 
ing plaster for fertilizer. You talk old 
mortar to him. I understand him differ¬ 
ently. I think he means the unused prod¬ 
uct, such as is used for the final or fin¬ 
ishing coat on a plastered wall or ceiling. 
If so, it might be quicklime slaked and 
screened to get out all the little hard par¬ 
ticles, or calcined plaster, or marble dust 
combined with other ingredients; no hair, 
sand or anything of the kind, just a pure 
white put on top of the other plaster. 
Connecticut. B. A. W. 
Sam, the chore man, returned from the 
city with a scarfpin that contained a 
“diamond” of no usual size. It was the 
pride of his heart, and the envy of his vil¬ 
lage companions. He treated all inquir¬ 
ies from them as to its value and its au¬ 
thenticity with high scorn. His employer, 
after a week of basking in its radiance, 
asked Sam about its history. “Sam,” he 
said, “is it a re.al diamond?” “Wall,” 
said Sam. “if it ain’t. I’ve been skun out 
of a half-dollar .”—Pittsburgh Chronicle- 
Telegraph. 
To answer definitely what will cure 
Moline-Vniveraal Power Lift 
Cano —Extra strong construction, 
simple power lift operated by foot 
lever, equipped with quick attachable 
shares and combined rolling coulters 
and jointers. In average soil condi. 
tions this outfit will plow 9 acres a day. 
Molme-Untveraal Diae Harrow— 
Strongly constructed with 18-inch 
blades. Each gang has 3 large dust- 
proof bearings equipped with wood 
bushings. Easily and quickly adjusted. 
Built in 6 and 7-ft. sizes double 
or 8, 9 and lO-ft. single cut. 
Moline Crain Drill—O^ntot sits 
behind the dfifl where he can see 
work being done. Furnished in a great 
variety of sizes either as plain or ferti¬ 
lizer drill. Deposits seed with unvary¬ 
ing accuracy. Equipped with either 
jingle or double disc furrow openers. 
for ALL Your Work 
lANDALLTHE IMPLEMENTS! 
to Do If With 
Mr Nile Kinnick of Adel, Iowa, operates a 400- 
acre farm and all the work is done by two men, two 
Moline-Universal Tractors and one team of mules. 
This is what he says about the Moline-Universal: 
“1 waa agreeably eurpriaed with the ease with which we 
could cultivate com, and for harveeting it far artrpaaeee horeea 
or mtdea. It appeals to me aai an ideal tractor. It will actually 
replace horaea, something that moat farmers must consider 
when they plan to buy a tractor. The ease with which it ie 
handled and the advantage of operating the outfit from the 
seat of the implement are facta that cannot be appreciated until 
one has tried it,” 
This expresses in a nutshell the advantages of the 
Moline-Ujiiversal. It does all farm work including 
cultivating; one man operates both tractor and imple¬ 
ment from the seat of the implement; it has ample 
power for heavy field and belt work, yet can be 
operated economically on light work. 
Another big feature that makes the Moline- 
Universal superior to all other tractors is the complete 
Moline Line of Implements to be operated in connec¬ 
tion with it This does not mean it is necessary to 
purchase all of these implements with the tractor, as 
many horse drawn implements can be used success¬ 
fully. But it does mean that a Moline-Universal owner 
can operate his tractor to full capacity at all times and 
make the best use of the operator’s time by using 
Moline tractor implements. They do better work with 
the Moline-Universal, are of larger capacity, stronger 
construction, are designed to run at higher speeds than 
horse drawn implements, and will pay for themselves 
in a short time. 
For full information Address Dept-19. 
Moline Plow Co,, Moline, 111. 
Manafacturere of Quality Farm Implements 
Since 186S 
Moline Mower No. 4 —Built in 6, 
7. 8 and lO-ft. cuts. The largest capa¬ 
city mower in the world. Proportion¬ 
ately larger and stronger than ordinary 
snower. Equipped with spring draft 
rod. One ntan operates both tractor 
and mower. 
Moline Grain Binder hJo. It— 
Cuts a lO-ft. swath. Extra strongly 
constructed throughout.'Cuts 35 acres 
a day. Equipped with power bundle 
carrier. One man handles the tractor 
and binder easier than he could a 
binder and borses. 
outfit for cutting com easily ancTquick- 
ly. Power bundle carrier deposits 
bundles away from the path of the 
tractor. Strong and durable. One 
man operates the entire outfit easier 
than with horses. 
Moline-Vniveraal Tow-Row Cul¬ 
tivator—With this outfit 10 to 20 acres 
a day can .be cultivated, ^tire out- 
fit easily handled. Tractor speed eaai. 
ly regulated from Vi to Vh M.P.H. 
Cultivator ia extra strong and hiw pen¬ 
dulum foot gang shift. 
'i m 
Motine-Vniveraal Tractor At- 
tachor —A great variety of equipment 
can be attached to rear crossbars^ so 
that majority of operations in orchard 
and vineyard work and cane growing 
fCan be performed with this one outfit. 
mmMsm; 
