3i4 
THE  RURAL  NEW-YORKER. 
May  14 
these  round  trips  will  have  paid  out  500  pounds  of  fer¬ 
tilizer  and  will  have  covered  just  one  acre.  The  bags 
(200  pounds  each)  of  fertilizer  in  this  case  are  placed 
every  24  feet  from  the  point  of  starting,  each  bag  suf¬ 
ficing  for  two  round  trips.” 
“  What  quantity  of  seed  do  you  use  ?  ” 
“  The  quantity  of  seed  we  use  per  acre  varies,  and 
necessarily  so,  with  the  variety  of  seed;  also  with 
early  or  late  seeding.  We  have  used  one  variety, 
Martin  Amber,  at  only  three  pecks  per  acre,  and  yet 
there  could  be  seen  no  difference  at  any  of  the  later 
stages  of  the  growth  of  the  crop  between  this  and 
another  piece  where  1  %  bushel  of  the  variety  Fultz 
had  been  sown  ;  nor  was  there  any  difference  in  the 
yield.  In  late  sowing  where  the  tillering  is  not  apt  to 
be  so  good  there  should  be  an  increased  quantity  of 
seed  used.  Of  late  we  have  been  using  Rochester  Red, 
and  at  the  rate  of  two  bushels  per  acre.  T  like  to  get 
my  wheat  all  sown  by  September  27.  This  is  early 
enough  to  admit  of  a  good  start  before  winter,  and  it 
is  lat<»  enough  when  well  fed  with  fertilizer  to  have  a 
good  ehance  to  escape  the  Hessian  fly  and  other  in¬ 
jurious  insects.  Since  we  have  used  fertilizers  instead 
of  farm  manure  on  the  wheat,  I.  in  common  with 
nearly  all  grain-growers,  sow  very  much  later  than 
formerly.” 
“  What  kind  of  fertilizers  do  you  use,  and  how  much 
per  acre  for  wheat  ?  Also  when  the  preceding  crop 
has  been  liberally  fertilized  ?” 
“  Of  late  years  I  have  invariably  followed  my  potato 
crop  with  wheat,  and  as  I  fertilize  the  potatoes  liber¬ 
ally,  say,  1,500  to  2,000  pounds  of  potato  manure  per 
acre,  I  do  not  use  much  fertilizer  on  the  wheat  crop, 
finding  from  experience  that  enough  of  the  plant  food 
from  the  potato  manure  is  left  to  insure  the  wheat  and 
subsequent  grass  crops.  I  use  the  complete  manure, 
“A”  brand,  say,  250  to  300  pounds  per  acre.  If  the 
field  has  not  been  in  potatoes  or  other  crop  that  has 
been  liberally  manured,  then  I  use  the  complete 
manure  for  heavy  soils,  500  pounds  per  acre,  or  the 
complete  manure  for  general  use.  This  may  seem  a 
large  quantity  of  a  high-grade  complete  manure  to  use 
on  the  wheat,  but  I  am  led  to  adopt  it  as  the  result  of 
a  practical  experience  in  my  early  use  of  these  fertili¬ 
zers.  After  making  a  few  rounds  with  the  drill  we 
found  that  there  was  not  enough  fertilizer  going  out, 
only  150  pounds,  and  we  opened  the  gauge  wider  to 
250  pounds,  and  after  a  few  more  rounds  wider  still  to 
400  pounds;  and,  finally,  the  last  few  rows  the  appli¬ 
cation  was  500  pounds  per  acre.  The  result  in  the 
growth  and  harvest  of  this  crop  showed  plainly  the 
advantages  of  the  increased  quantity  ;  the  field  pre¬ 
sented  almost  the  appearance  of  successive  steps.  I  t 
was  just  such  an  experience  with  potatoes  that  led  me 
to  go  from  400  pounds,  and,  finally,  up  to  1,500  to  2,000 
pounds  per  acre.” 
“  What  quantity  of  farm  marnire  for  wheat  per  acre 
do  you  use  with  or  without  fertilizers  ?” 
“  I  do  not  use  farm  manure  for  wheat.  What  I  have 
I  use  on  corn  ;  sometimes  on  grass  lands  after  mowing.  ” 
“What  has  been  your  yield  of  wheat,  rye  and  grass?” 
“Some  years  I  have  reached  as  high  as  37  to  40  bushels 
per  acre  on  an  entire  piece  in  favorable  seasons ;  on 
portions  of  the  field,  single  acres,  over  40  bushels.  In 
poor  seasons  the  crops  runs  down  to  15  to  20  bushels 
per  acre,  but  this  is  seldom.  With  grass  it  is  a  rare 
thing  to  fail.  On  large  fields,  50  or  60  acres,  I  average 
1  )4  to  two  tons  per  acre  ;  the  average  on  portions  of 
the  field  is  two  to  three  tons  per  acre.” 
“  IIow  would  you  vary  your  method  for  rye  ?” 
“  Only  to  the  extent  of  reducing  the  quantity  of 
fertilizer  used  about  one-half.” 
“  How  would  you  vary  your  method  for  seeding  to 
grass  without  grain?  ” 
“  I  would  not  omit  the  grain  when  seeding  to  grass, 
as  it  would  be  next  to  impossible  to  keep  down  the 
weeds.” 
“  Do  you  buy  New  York  manure?  If  so,  at  what 
price?  ” 
“  I  have  not  for  years  bought  New  York  city  stable 
manure.  While  I  can  get  the  right  kind  of  fer¬ 
tilizers  at  the  present  prices  I  would  not  want  to  buy 
manure  at  anything  like  the  prices  asked.  I  would 
not  use  it  on  wheat  or  potatoes. 
Farmers  as  Commercial  Florists. 
ANY  PROFIT  IN  THE  BUSINESS  ? 
The  business  of  growing  flowers  for  the  market  has 
made  wonderful  strides  in  the  last  decade.  As  wealth 
lias  concentrated  in  the  large  cities,  it  has  tended  to 
produce  a  spread  of  aesthetic  taste,  and  with  this,  has 
furnished  the  power  to  amply  indulge  such  tastes, 
without  regard  to  the  expense.  Hence  the  demand 
for  flowers  has  been  enormously  increased  of  late  yeais 
and  hence  a  corresponding  development  in  the  business 
of  growing  them, 
From  time  to  time  The  R.  N.-Y.  has  been  in  receipt 
of  inquiries  in  relation  to  the  flower  trade.  These  in¬ 
quiries  cover  a  wide  ground.  Tt  is  desired  to  know  if 
it  be  possible  for  farmers  and  gardeners,  or  their  fam¬ 
ilies,  to  spend  a  part  of  their  time  in  growing  flowers 
for  the  city  trade — what  the  necessary  houses  for 
growing  them  cost,  what  flowers  are  best  for  amateur 
growers  to  handle,  how  they  can  be  sold,  can  ladies  do 
such  work,  etc.,  etc. 
There  can  be  no  doubt  that  gardeners,  or  others, 
who  have  the  necessary  leisure,  can  profitably  grow 
flowers  for  the  markets  of  the  large  cities,  always  as¬ 
suming  that  they  are  not  situated  at  points  so  remote 
that  express  charges  would  not  be  too  onerous. 
There  is  practically  no  demand  for  flowers  grown  in 
the  open  air — summer  flowers.  The  city  florists  have 
more  than  enough  for  this  very  limited  trade.  After 
June  1,  the  exodus  of  city  people  to  the  rural  districts 
begins,  and  before  July  1,  a  very  large  part  of  the 
flower  buying  community  are  out  in  the  woods,  or  by 
the  sea  shore. 
A  greenhouse,  18  or  20  feet  wide  by  100  feet  in  length, 
with  boiler,  hot-wrater  pipes  for  heating,  all  complete, 
Portable  Roof  for  Hay  Stack.  Fig.  152. 
can  be  constructed  for  about  SI, 200,  where  the  work  is 
done  by  contract.  Where  the  farmer  can  do  a  large 
part  of  the  work  himself,  the  cost  may  be  materially 
decreased,  as  much  of  this  expense  is  for  labor.  Having 
a  definite  plan  and  specifications,  with  the  help  of  a 
carpenter,  the  farmer  ought  to  put  up  his  hothouse  at 
a  price  much  below  the  figures  named.  Smaller  houses 
cost  more  in  proportion,  if  furnished  with  hot- water 
heating  apparatus,  which  we  believe  most  florists  to¬ 
day  consider  best,  and  they  also  think  a  house  of  100 
feet  in  length  is  most  economical  in  other  respects. 
From  these  figures  an  idea  can  be  obtained  as  to  the 
cost  of  smaller  houses. 
If  any  farmer  is  contemplating  steam  heating  appar¬ 
atus  for  his  home,  he  can  very  cheaply  add  a  green¬ 
house.  Tt  will  only  be  necessary  to  put  in  a  boiler  a 
little  larger  than  his  house  demands,  and  it  will  fur¬ 
nish  steam  for  the  greenhouse  as  well  as  the  residence. 
The  steam  may  be  conveyed  in  pipes  wrapped  in  non¬ 
conductors  of  heat  and  laid  below  ground  for  a  con¬ 
siderable  distance  with  very  little  loss  of  heat.  If  it  be 
not  desired  to  expend  much  money,  small  greenhouses 
may  be  built,  and  the  heat  furnished  by  flues  running 
through  the  beds,  as  was  described  on  page  139  of  The 
Rural.  It  is  well  in  selecting  a  site  for  a  greenhouse, 
to  secure  one  sheltered  from  the  severest  winds  and 
one  where  the  sunshine  will  be  available. 
When  we  have  our  greenhouse  what  shall  we  grow** 
This  is  a  most  important  phase  of  the  business.  Very 
many  amateurs  and  beginners  have  made  the  mistake 
of  spreading  their  energies  over  too  wide  a  field.  They 
have  undertaken  too  great  a  variety.  It  is  far  better 
to  select  only  a  few  lines  at  first,  the  fewer  the  better, 
among  those  in  which  failure  is  least  probable,  adding 
to  the  list  as  the  demands  of  the  market  and  increasing 
skill  will  suggest  ?  Among  the  things  which  are 
recommended  for  beginners  are  carnations,  smilax,. 
violets,  mignonette  and  some  of  the  bulbous  plants 
These  are  always  in  demand  and  are  generally  success¬ 
fully  grown.  Violets,  which  have  been  a  most  unces 
tain  crop  of  late  years  among  the  professional  florists, 
owing  to  the  prevalence  of  the  leaf  blight,  have  gener¬ 
ally  done  better  in  newer  places,  notably  among 
amateur  florists.  One  of  the  largest  florists  in  the  city 
informed  us  a  few  days  since  that  the  finest  violets  he 
had  received  this  season  were  from  a  lady  amateur, 
who  had  grown  them  with  but  limited  facilities.  The 
gentleman  alluded  to  said  he  knew  of  several  ladies, 
who  had  gone  into  the  business  and  who  were  success¬ 
ful,  being  now  in  receipt  of  a  comfortable  income  from 
their  greenhouses. 
There  are  plenty  of  commission  men  in  the  flower 
trade,  to  whom  flowers  can  be  consigned,  if  it  be  not 
convenient  or  expedient  for  the  grower  to  personally 
dispose  of  them.  This  is  generally  the  better  way,  as 
the  commission  men  can  generally  do  better  with  them 
than  the  grower,  and  the  commission  is  apt  to  be  less 
than  the  expenses  attending  a  personal  supervision  of 
their  sale. 
Cover  for  Hay  Stack. 
Some  time  ago  The  Rural  favored  its  readers  with 
the  description  of  a  hay  barrack,  which  is  undoubtedly 
an  excellent  thing  for  the  large  hay  maker,  but  it  is 
quite  out  of  the  question  with  the  small  farmer  whose 
supply  of  hay  is  determined  more  by  his  own  need  or 
by  the  rotation  of  crops  followed  out  on  his  farm. 
It  frequently  occurs  that  on  these  smaller  farms 
there  are  produced  a  few  tons  more  hay  than  there  is 
mow  room  for  in  the  barn,  and  this  must,  as  a  rule,  be 
stacked  out,  with  no  protection.  A  large  proportion 
of  it  is  always  lost,  and  in  case  of  pure  clover  it  had 
better  be  left  in  the  field  than  stacked  without  protec¬ 
tion  from  the  weather. 
The  following  is  a  practical  roof  or  covering  in  use 
by  me,  and  which  is  known  to  serve  its  purpose  well. 
The  required  materials  are  a  number  of  one-inch 
boards,  a  foot  or  more  in  width,  and  as  long  as  the 
stack  to  be  covered,  some  wire,  such  as  is  used  for 
slat- wire  fencing  and  some  staples,  the  whole  shown 
at  Figs.  152  and  153. 
Reginning  at  the  ridge,  a  board  is  laid  on  and  the 
wire  which  extends  down  each  side  of  the  stack,  is 
stapled  fast ;  a  second  board  is  placed  under  this  so 
that  the  lap  is  about  two  inches  or  a  trifle  more,  and 
stapled  fast  as  shown  in  the  design.  This  is  repeated 
on  either  side  of  the  stack  after  the  fashion  of  a  com¬ 
mon  board  roof  until  it  reaches  well  down  toward  the 
ground.  Finally,  to  prevent  the  wind  from  blowing  it 
off,  it  is  weighted  down  by  hanging  a  heavy  stone  to 
the  end  of  each  wire.  For  a  long  stack  the  cover 
should  be  made  in  three  sections,  the  middle  one 
slightly  overlapping  the  other  two.  .1.  marion  shull. 
Farming  According  to  the  Season. 
DOES  IT  EVER  FAY  TO  FLOW  CORN  ? 
It  is  easy  enough  to  plant  large  fields,  grow  immense 
crops  and  make  stacks  of  money  out  of  them  on  paper, 
but  it  is  not  so  easy,  even  with  long  experience  and 
skillful  management,  to  do  these  in  practice.  The  best 
laid  plans  of  many  a  farmer  gang  aft  aglee.  I  have 
seen  two  good  and  careful  farmers,  living  not  more 
than  two  miles  apart,  plow,  plant  and  cultivate  their 
fields  of  corn  exactly  alike  in  every  respect,  and  while 
one  was  rewarded  with  80  bushels  of  No.  1  grain  per 
acre,  the  other  poor  fellow  husked  barely  20  bushels 
of  shriveled  nubbins  from  each  of  his  acres,  though  he 
toiled  and  moiled  every  whit  as  hard  as  the  first.  A 
single  heavy  shower  of  rain  falling  upon  the  farm  of 
the  first  at  exactly  the  right  time  made  him  a  bounti¬ 
ful  crop,  while  the  farm  of  the  second  was  left  to  parch 
week  after  week  and  become  a  desert  of  dust,  and  his 
crop  to  curl,  wither  and  utterly  fail. 
Rut  this  is  one  of  the  accidents  of  farming.  We  can¬ 
not  control  the  weather,  and,  as  no  two  seasons  are 
alike,  the  farmer  is  obliged  to  prepare  himself  to  meet 
every  emergency,  and  to  know  how  to  farm  to  suit  the 
season,  or  down  he  goes.  Fortunately  it  happens  not 
more  that  about  once  in  10  years  that  a  season  in  this 
country  is  so  inauspicious  as  to  utterly  baffle  the  skill 
of  an  expert  farmer.  Ordinarily  he  can  keep  matters 
so  well  in  hand  that  an  unfavorable  seeding  time  or 
harvest  does  not  prevent  him  from  reaping  a  fair  re¬ 
ward  for  his  toil.  This  is  where  skill,  forethought  and 
good  management  tell.  The  farmer  who  so  plans  his 
campaign  for  the  year  as  to  provide  for  every  emer¬ 
gency  is  the  one  who  wins,  while  the  fellow  who  goes 
at  it  on  the  supposition  that  the  season  will  be  a  glori¬ 
ously  favorable  one  is  the  one  who  is  disconcerted  and 
utterly  defeated  four  years  out  of  five.  The  expert 
farmer  is  the  one  who  knows  how  to  take  the  best  ad¬ 
vantage  of  every  condition,  and  to  do  exactly  the  right 
thing  every  time. 
I  once  -worked  a  few  -weeks  for  such  a  farmer,  and 
several  times  during  my  stay  with  him  he  did  things 
that  I  thought  at  the  time  were  very  foolish,  but 
which  resulted  exactly  as  he  intended  they  should. 
•One  night,  in  the  midst  of  wheat  harvest,  a  very  light 
shower  fell,  and,  as  the  sky  remained  overcast  with 
