1892 
THE  RURAL  NEW-YORKER 
from  Florida  to  Virginia.  They  almost  unanimously 
say  that  the  late  home-grown  potatoes  are  much  better 
for  spring  planting  than  the  Northern  grown,  some 
placing  them  100  per  cent  better.  The  general  opinion 
is  that  while  they  make  a  better  crop  than  the  Northern 
seed,  they  are  also  better  able  to  withstand  the  vicis¬ 
situdes  of  oar  treacherous  spring  weather.  One  grower 
in  Florida  wrote  that  he  planted  this  spring  part  of  his 
crop  with  Northern  seed  and  part  with  home-grown. 
The  frost  in  March  destroyed  his  Northern  potatoes 
entirely  and  only  cut  back  the  tops  of  his  home-grown 
ones,  which  made  a  fair  crop.  Others  say  that  by  care 
in  selecting  seed  they  have  used  home-grown  seeds  from 
8  to  11  years  without  change  and  they  are  still  better 
than  Northern  seeds. 
The  superiority  of  the  Southern  seeds  is  no  doubt  due 
to  the  fact  that  they  are  such  a  short  time  out  of  the 
ground  that  they  are  entirely  unsprouted  at  planting 
time ,  and  their  growth  is  from  the  strong  terminal  buds, 
while  the  Northern  potatoes  have  all  been  sprouted 
over  and  their  growth  is  from  the  weaker  lateral 
shoots. 
Southern  Potato  Markets. — Most  of  our  growers 
grow  the  late  crop  almost  altogether  for  seed  ;  but 
there  is  great  room  for  development  of  this  crop  as  a 
food  crop.  All  the  Southern  cities  are  still  supplied 
with  table  potatoes  all  winter  from  the  North.  The 
price  of  potatoes  here  is  seldom  lower  than  $1  per 
bushel  and  generally  much  higher.  The  fact  that 
these  late-grown  potatoes  can  be  kept  unsprouted 
until  May,  adds  greatly  to  their  food  value,  or  at  any 
rate  to  their  palatability — for  we  know  how  the  starch 
disappears  from  a  sprouted  potato  and  it  cooks  clammy 
and  sweetish.  Our  growers  could  easily  develop  this 
crop  and  supply  our  home  markets  at  as  great  a  profit 
in  winter  as  they  now  do  the  North¬ 
ern  markets  in  spring,  and  then  too 
there  are  many  people  North  who 
will  give  a  good  price  in  late  spring 
for  good  unsprouted  old  potatoes, 
rather  than  use  the  green  new  ones, 
and  this  demand  our  growers  can 
easily  meet.  With  a  climate  that 
allows  them  to  grow  and  ship  a  crop 
of  early  potatoes,  sow  cow  peas  on 
the  same  land,  mow  a  crop  of  cow 
hay  ’n  August,  and  then  plant  an¬ 
other  crop  of  potatoes,  all  in  one 
season,  our  Southern  growers  ought 
to  work  the  bonanza  before  them. 
Some  of  them  are  doing  it  with  a 
liberal  hand.  There  is  in  our  New¬ 
born  district  one  farm  on  which  of 
potatoes  alone  nearly  800  barrels 
were  planted  this  year  for  the  early 
crop  and  on  this  farm  $23,000  worth 
of  commercial  fertilizers  were  used 
this  spring.  w.  F.  massey. 
Profit  From  a  Stony 
Farm. 
NO  GOVERNMENT  LOAN  WANTED  HERE. 
A  very  progressive  young  farmer  is 
C.  E.  Chapman,  of  Tompkins  County, 
N.  Y.  He  has  only  about  90  acres 
and  does  mixed  farming.  While  visiting  his  place,  I 
asked  the  following  questions : 
Some  Facts  About  Fruit. 
“  What  makes  the  difference  in  the  size  of  that  row 
of  apple  trees  ?  ” 
The  trees  had  all  been  set  at  the  same  time,  but  in 
a  part  of  the  row  where  they  had  made  a  large  growth, 
the  ground  was  cultivated,  whereas  where  they  looked 
stunted  stones  prevented  cultivation.  They  had  been 
set  in  good  shape  in  large  holes,  and  all  the  difference 
arose  from  the  cultivation. 
“  I  notice  the  trees  are  open-topped  not  choked  with 
limbs.  Do  you  believe  in  trimming  young  trees  ?  ” 
“Some  claim  that  trees  will  grow  faster  when  not 
trimmed  ;  but  wagon  loads  of  brush  have  been  taken 
from  this  row,  while  those  beyond  have  never  been 
trimmed  since  they  were  planted.  Both  rows  were 
set  at  the  same  time,  and  on  the  same  kind  of  soil,  and 
had  the  same  care.  My  neighbors  don’t  believe  in 
trimming — I  do.” 
The  trees  that  had  been  trimmed  were  twice  the 
size  of  the  others. 
“What  varieties  are  the  most  profitable  in  this 
locality  ?  ” 
“Baldwins,  Rhode  Island  Greenings,  Kings,  and, 
for  a  fall  apple,  we  think  highly  of  the  Chenango 
Strawberry.  ” 
“  What  kind  of  pears  do  best  on  your  soil  ?  ” 
“  Anjou,  Bartlett  and  Lawrence.” 
“  I  see  you  devote  some  space  to  strawberries  ;  what 
varieties  do  you  cultivate  ?  ” 
“Crescent,  fertilized  with  May  King  for  the  main 
crop.  I  have  a  number  of  different  kinds  under  trial, 
but  as  yet  none  superior  to  these.  Among  raspber¬ 
ries  I  have  Ohio  and  Gregg  for  black,  and,  among  the 
reds,  the  Cuthbert  and  Shaffer.  The  Kittatinny  always 
rusts  here.  I  have  just  learned  to  grow  blackberries. 
I  never  let  them  get  over  three  feet  high  ;  there  are 
plenty  of  canes  in  the  rows,  and  the  rows  not  over 
seven  feet  apart ;  then  they  shade  the  groxxnd  so  as  to 
kill  the  weeds.  I  stxxdy  economy,  and  this  is  their 
natxxral  condition  when  gx-owing  wild.  Black  rasp¬ 
berries  and  strawberries  I  always  set  in  check  rows.” 
Here  was  an  acre  that  had  produced  seven  crops,  and 
bade  fair  to  yield  another,  and  it  can  be  worked  both 
ways,  and  thus  the  ground  is  left  level,  and  the  soil 
does  not  become  dry  so  soon. 
“  How  do  you  cultivate  strawberries  ?  ” 
“I  cultivate  both  ways,  until  the  time  for  the 
runners  to  set,  as  I  find  the  field  can  then  be  hoed  in 
one-eighth  of  the  time.” 
“  How  much  small  fruit  do  you  grow  ?  ” 
“Just  about  what  my  home  market  requires,  as  I 
don’t  like  to  consign  on  commission.” 
Jerseys,  Cheshires  and  Brown  Leghorns. 
At  the  barn  I  found  a  small  dairy  of  Jerseys,  one 
heifer  17  months  old  having  her  first  calf  and  showing 
milking  qualities.  Out  of  curiosity  Mr.  Chapman 
measured  her  bag  and  it  was  two  feet  nine  inches  in 
circumference. 
“  Do  you  believe  in  breeding  heifers  so  yoixng  ?” 
“  I  prefer  that  each  should  have  her  first  calf  before 
she  is  two  years  old  than  later,  if  properly  fed  and 
grown.” 
“  What  do  you  call  ‘  properly  fed  and  grown  ?’  ” 
“  A  calf  should  be  fed  on  new  milk  for  a  few  weeks 
until  the  stomach  is  capable  of  digesting  skim-milk 
and  oil  meal  enough  to  make  growth,  hay  being  fed 
from  the  start.  I  raise  all  my  cows  because  I  cannot 
bxxy  those  that  have  been  properly  fed  while  young.” 
Mr.  Chapman’s  barn  is  supplied  with  running  water 
so  that  each  animal  can  drink  at  any  time  she  pleases, 
and  he  says  he  noticed  an  increase  of  milk  and  butter 
at  once  as  soon  as  he  supplied  the  water.  Early  matur¬ 
ity  and  development  are  all  right;  but  in  no  case  would 
he  let  his  stock  deteriorate  for  the  want  of  proper  care 
and  treatment. 
“  I  see  you  keep  some  hogs.  What  is  your  method 
of  feeding  in  winter  ?  ” 
“  I  feed  flat  turnips  and  beets  mixed  with  bran  and 
give  plenty  of  water.  I  don't  have  any  trouble  with 
sows  eating  their  pigs.  The  wintering  is  cheap  and 
the  stock  are  in  fine  condition.” 
“  I  see  you  also  devote  some  attention  to  poultry.” 
“  Yes,  I  keep  about  100  Brown  Leghorn  hens  for  win¬ 
ter  laying.  They  are  of  fair  size,  with  yellow  legs, 
and  fine  lacing  of  the  necks,  and  are  bred  especially 
for  laying.” 
“  Do  you  use  brooders  ?  ” 
“  Yes  ;  by  their  means  I  can  raise  100  chicks  as  easily 
as  20  with  a  hen.  There  is  no  danger  of  lice,  and  the 
little  things  are  not  liable  to  be  destroyed  by  vermin, 
nor  are  they  subject  to  sudden  changes  of  weather.” 
“  What  kind  of  a  brooder  ?  ” 
“  I  have  a  home-made  concern,  costing  about  $2,  and 
it  answers  all  purposes.” 
A  POTATO  TALK. 
“  Aside  from  small  fruits  and  poultry,  what  is  your 
other  crop  for  getting  money  ?  ” 
“  Potatoes.” 
“  In  looking  over  the  fields  last  year,  I  saw  thatyoxir 
4l  I 
potatoes  had  been  kept  clean.  How  much  per  acre  does 
it  cost  you  to  grow  them  ?  ” 
“  From  $20  to  $25.” 
“  What  are  your  best  varieties  ?  ” 
“  At  present  for  early,  the  Chicago  Market ;  for  late 
the  Monroe  Seedling.” 
“  Do  you  change  your  seed  often  ?  Will  varieties 
run  out  ?  ” 
“  There  is  no  known  method  that  will  prevent  them 
from  running  out,  because  of  soil  deterioration,  the 
attacks  of  insects,  fungus,  etc.  We  do  not  plant  the 
seeds  of  potatoes  bxxt  merely  cuttings,  and  hence  get 
no  new  life  by  planting.” 
“  How  do  you  get  new  vai-ieties  ?  ” 
“  I  keep  experimenting  with  new  kinds  ixutil  I  find 
one  adapted  to  my  soil  and  location  and  try  to  have  a 
supply  of  seed  on  hand  as  my  old  kinds  fail.” 
“  What  new  kinds  shall  yoxi  plant  this  season  to 
test  ?  ” 
“  Freeman,  Vick’s  Perfection,  some  seed  grown  in 
Scotland,  Early  Rochester  and  Troy  Seedling.” 
“  Where  do  you  market  your  potatoes  ?  ” 
“Most  go  for  seed  pxxrposes  and  some  to  private 
families.” 
“  What  is  that  piece  of  ground  marked  off  for  and 
staked  and  numbered  ?  ” 
“  That  is  to  be  planted  with  scabby  and  diseased 
potatoes,  under  the  direction  of  the  Experiment  Sta¬ 
tion  at  Geneva,  N.  Y.  The  object  is  to  find  remedies 
for  these  diseases. 
Sixteen  years  ago  Mr.  Chapman  ran  in  debt  for  his 
90  acres  of  land  and  by  strict  economy  and  counting 
closely  the  cost  of  production,  with  the  object  of  get¬ 
ting  as  much  as  possible  for  his  labor,  he  has  succeeded 
so  that  he  owes  no  man  anything,  while  he  has  added 
good  buildings  and  made  other  im¬ 
provements. 
Chautauqua  Co.,  N.  Y.  D.  L.  carl. 
Note. — The  R.  N.-Y.  has  visited 
Mr.  Chapman’s  farm.  Mr.  C.  is  a 
hai*d- working,  progressive  man  who 
deserves  great  credit  for  his  success, 
which  has  been  reached  under  cir¬ 
cumstances  that  would  have  dis¬ 
couraged  many  a  man.  Mr.  C.  is  fully 
alive  to  new  and  progressive  ideas. 
He  has  a  Babcock  milk  tester,  with 
which  he  has  tested  most  of  the 
cows  in  the  neighborhood.  His  pota¬ 
toes  and  fruit  are  grown  cheaply, 
because  he  wastes  no  time  in  useless 
work.  A  visit  to  his  farm  ought  to 
silence  any  man  who  joins  in  the 
chorus  that  “  farmin’  don’t  pay  !  ” 
The  Management  of 
Fairs. 
SOME  TIMELY  SUGGESTIONS. 
The  premium  list  lies  at  the  very 
foundation  of  success  in  the  case  of 
fairs ;  for  it  determines  the  stand¬ 
ing  of  each  person’s  exhibit  and  its 
value  to  the  exhibitor.  If  the  tak¬ 
ing  of  a  premium  at  the  fair  is  to  be 
of  any  value,  outside  of  the  money 
award,  it  must  be  a  guarantee  that  the  exhibit  ap¬ 
proaches  perfection;  no  “fairly  good”  article  is  worthy 
of  a  premium  whether  there  be  competition  or  not.  In 
all  breeding  classes  of  stock,  all  the  animals  should  be 
purebred  and  registered.  The  registry  list  is  the  only 
guarantee  the  purchaser  has  that  the  animal  is  what 
it  purports  to  be,  and  that  it  can  produce  offspring  of 
as  good  a  quality.  The  fair  association  that  offers  a 
premium  for  a  grade  bull  or  stallion  virtually  says  to 
the  public  that  such  animals  are  fit  to  breed  from,  and 
when  a  premium  is  awarded  such  stock,  confirms  the 
statement  with  a  prize.  In  conversation  with  some  of 
the  best  breeders  of  the  country,  I  have  sometimes 
said  :  “  You  live  at - ,  why  do  you  not  show  at  your 
county  fair  ?  ”  The  answer  has  come  :  “It  costs  more 
than  the  premiums  are  worth  to  make  the  exhibit,  and 
if  I  get  the  premiums  they  are  apt  to  be  a  positive 
damage  to  me.  The  managers  pay  no  attention  to 
registered  stock,  and  it  is  not  a  good  advertisement  to 
have  people  question  the  purity  of  one’s  exhibits.”  I 
know  a  gentleman  in  Wyoming  County,  N.  Y.,  who 
this  spring  refused  to  sell  a  bull  calf  that  was  off  in 
color,  because  he  said :  “  I  am  afraid  it  would  turn  up 
on  some  county  fair  ground  as  a  specimen  of  my  stock.” 
It  is  possible  to  make  the  premium  awards  at  county 
fairs  of  just  as  much  value  as  an  advertisement  as  are 
such  awards  from  the  State  Agricultural  Society. 
What  is  true  of  stock,  is  equally  true  of  other  things. 
In  looking  over  the  list  of  prizes  for  about  50  country 
fairs  I  find  that  every  one  of  them  offers  premiums  in 
the  Ladies’  Department  on  nearly  the  same  articles 
for  which  thsy  gave  them  20  years  ago.  The  premium 
list  is  not,  as  it  should  be,  an  indicator  of  the  progress 
of  the  times,  dettin  (?) ,  crochet,  hair  flowers,  etc. ,  stand 
