1892 
493 
THE  RURAL  NEW-YORKER. 
from  his  face  on  taking  a  seat  on  the  piazza  steps 
where  his  two  town  cousins  were  seated,  lazily  fan¬ 
ning  themselves  under  the  impression  that  they  were 
warm,  when  their  precious  selves  had  not  felt  the 
heat  of  a  single  sunbeam  during  the  whole  day. 
“Well,  25  years  ago  this  spring,”  he  commenced,  and 
the  cousins  knew  by  his  tone  that  a  story  was  to  be 
told  and  they  moved  nearer  the  toil-worn  farmer, 
“  Mary  and  I  were  married  and  moved  on  this  farm. 
It  wasn’t  such  a  pretty  place  then  or  so  well  fixed  as  it 
is  now ;  but  we  were  young  and  hoped  for  better 
things.  Our  friends  and  relatives  kindly  remembered 
us  with  both  useful  and  worthless  presents.  An  old 
maid  aunt  came  visiting  the  very  day  after  we  com¬ 
menced  housekeeping,  and  what  did  she  bring  us  for  a 
wedding  present  but  two  ducks.” 
“You  see  I  wanted  to  give  you  something  nice  and 
I  brought  them  myself  so  as  to  be  sure  you  would  get 
them  safely,”  she  explained. 
“  With  a  sinking  heart  I  took  them,  and  with  them 
began  trouble.  Morning  and  evening  they  were  on 
hand  when  I  went  to  feed  the  hogs  and  with  the  polit¬ 
est  bows  and  expressions  of  gratitude  would  they  stand 
and  scoop  up  the  corn  as  fast  as  my  two  hogs  could 
shell  it  off  the  cob— their  appetites  were  prodigious. 
My  hogs  didn’t  seem  to  fatten.  In  vain  would  I  slip 
around  the  barn  to  the  hog  lot  and  quietly  place  the 
corn  before  the  hogs.  Almost  instantly  quack  !  quack! 
and  those  two  ducks  would  come  waddling  through 
the  lot  just  as  if  they  owned  all  creation.  I  felt  like 
killing  them,  but  then  the  old  maiden  aunt  held  the 
moitgage  on  the  farm  and  l  was  afraid  of  displeasing 
her,  especially  as  she  regularly  visited  us  every  week 
to  see  how  ‘  the  dear  duckies  were  getting  along.’” 
“Corn-planting  time  came.  I  had  plowed  and  got 
ready  that  large  field  yonder  where  I  was  cultivating 
corn  to-day ;  so  early  one  morning  I  started  out  to 
plant  the  crop.  We  didn’t  have  planters  and  handy 
tools  then  as  we  have  now.  We  always  dropped  the 
kernels  by  hand,  but  I  prided  myself  on  being  able  to 
do  a  neater  and  better  job  by  dropping  two  rows  at 
once,  and  thus  saving  half  the  work.  With  a  sack 
containing  about  a  peck  of  very  choice  grain,  which  1 
had  just  purchased  at  a  fancy  price,  I  started  across 
that  long  field,  carefully  stepping  off  the  distance  and 
dropping  the  corn.  My  thoughts  were  deep  on  the 
monstrous  yield  I  was  going  to  get  from  this  choice 
seed,  and  I  never  once  took  my  eyes  off  the  ground  until 
the  other  end  was  reached,  when  I  straightened  my 
back  and  shifted  the  position  of  the  sack  to  see  how 
nearly  gone  was  the  precious  seed.  Quack  !  quack  ! 
came  those  waddling  ducks,  each  right  in  a  corn  row, 
their  bright  eyes  fairly  shining  as  they  greedily  gath¬ 
ered  up  every  grain  of  that  seed.  I  got  mad  in  a  min¬ 
ute.  A  stick  lay  handy,  and  it  didn’t  take  me  two 
minutes  to  prepare  the  way  for  a  bounteous  dinner  on 
duck. 
“What  about  the  corn  and  the  old  maiden  aunt?  Well, 
you  see  I  emptied  those  ducks’  craws  and  just  replanted 
that  corn.  The  old  maiden  aunt — well — to  the  day  of 
her  death  she  never  forgave  me.  There’s  no  mortgage 
on  the  farm  now,  and  there  has  never  been  a  duck  on 
it  since  then.”  farmer's  girl. 
[Every  query  must  be  accompanied  by  the  name  and  address  of  the 
writer  to  insure  attention.  Before  aaklnK  a  question,  please  see  if  it  is 
not  answered  in  our  advertising  columns.  Ask  only  a  few  questions 
at  one  time.  Rut  questions  on  a  separate  piece  of  paper.] 
Every-Day  Fertilizer  Questions. 
E.  L.  B.,  Sellersburg,  hid. — 1.  What  chemical  ele¬ 
ment  or  elements  are  necessary  to  the  production  of 
wheat,  oats,  corn  and  Timothy?  2.  Can  these  ele¬ 
ments  be  purchased  in  the  crude  but  pure  state,  and 
can  a  fertilizer  be  made  by  mixing  them  with  a  suit¬ 
able  base,  as  ashes  or  pulverized  soil  ?  3.  If  so,  where 
can  they  be  purchased,  at  what  price,  and  in  what 
proportion  must  they  be  mixed  to  make  a  good  fertil¬ 
izer  ?  4.  What  will  be  the  effect  on  the  crop  and  soil 
of  scattering  old  straw  over  a  wheat  field  in  the  fall 
just  after  sowing  ?  5.  Will  The  Rural  analyze  soil 
sent  it  and  report  the  results,  stating  its  deficiency, 
etc.  ?  6.  What,  in  brief,  is  a  good  method  for  bring¬ 
ing  up  an  exhausted  soil  ? 
Ans.— 1.  Of  the  12  or  14  elements  necessary  to  plant 
growth, only  three  are  likely  to  be  deficient  in  any  arable 
soil,  viz.,  nitrogen,  phosphorus  and  potassium.  The 
last  two  are  commonly  spoken  of  in  compounds  as 
phosphoric  acid  and  potash.  These  are  the  only  ele¬ 
ments  that  we  usually  apply  to  the  soil  directly  as 
plant  food  and  in  varying  proportions  according  to 
crops  and  the  fertility  of  the  soil.  2.  These  elements, 
or  chemicals,  as  they  are  commonly  called  in  trade, 
may  be  purchased  of  extensive  fertilizer  dealers  in  the 
larger  cities.  We  recently  purchased  of  H.  J.  Raker, 
New  York  city,  sulphate  of  potash,  90  per  cent  pure  ; 
muriate  of  potash,  80  per  cent  pure,  and  nitrate  of 
soda,  90  per  cent  pure.  The  prices  of  these  chemicals 
in  the  market  vfiry  from  time  to  time,  so  no  definite 
price  can  be  ascertained  except  by  applying  to  some 
dealer.  The  following  are  the  trade  prices  for  the 
year  1892,  adopted  by  Massachusetts,  Connecticut  and 
New  Jersey  Experiment  Stations,  and  are  those  for 
which  the  respective  ingredients  could  be  bought  for 
cash  for  six  months  previous  to  March,  1892,  at  retail 
in  our  large  markets  in  the  raw  materials  which  arc 
the  regular  sources  of  supply  : 
Cents  per  pound. 
For  nitrogen  In  . . 
For  nitrogen  In  nitrates . 1,>-u 
Organic  nitrogen  In  <lry  and  tine-ground  tisb,  meat  and 
blood .  u,-u 
Organic  nitrogen  in  cotton-seed  meal,  castor  pomace, 
tine-ground  bone  and  tankage . 
Phosphoric  acid  soluble  in  water . 
Phosphoric  acid  soluble  in  ammonium  citrate .  p” 
Potash  as  high-grade  sulphate .  ’>•*? 
Potash  as  kalnlt  .  ]•“ 
Potash  as  muriate .  •  *-° 
The  term  “good  fertilizer”  does  not  convey  a  defi¬ 
nite  idea  without  knowing  to  what  class  of  plants  it  is 
to  be  applied,  for  what  might  be  a  good  fertilizer  for 
one  class  of  plants  under  certain  conditions,  might  be 
very  poor  for  other  plants  under  different  conditions ; 
but,  in  general  terms,  a  fertilizer  for  wheat,  corn 
and  oats  ought  to  contain  from  10  to  12  per  cent  of 
available  phosphoric  acid  and  from  five  to  six  per 
cent  of  potash.  These  chemicals  may  be  mixed  w  ith 
fine  soil,  or  land  plaster,  for  a  fertilizer,  without 
any  injurious  effect  to  the  plant  food,  or  with  wood 
ashes,  if  used  immediately  after  mixing.  4.  The  spread¬ 
ing  of  partially-decayed  straw  thinly  on  wheat  imme¬ 
diately  after  sowing,  is  practiced  with  good  results  in 
certain  conditions  of  soil  and  exposure.  Where  the 
wheat  is  likely  to  suffer  from  the  severity  of  the  win¬ 
ter  in  exposed  places,  the  straw  will  give  a  protection 
as  a  mulch,  and  help  in  many  localities  to  hold  the  snow, 
which  serves  as  a  still  better  protection.  The  straw 
may  be  of  benefit  as  a  mulch  to  retain  moisture 
on  very  light  soils.  5.  We  do  not  make  analytes  of 
soils.  <>.  Farmyard  manure  that  has  been  well  cared 
for,  anti  made  lrom  grain-fed  animals,  in  connection 
with  clover  either  plowed  under  or  fed  for  manure, 
and  an  intelligent  use  of  high-grade  commercial  fer¬ 
tilizer  with  thorough  tillage,  will  certainly  restore 
fertility  to  an  exhausted  soil. 
Rye  to  Fertilize  a  Vineyard. 
P.  W.  J.,  Pontiac,  Mich. — My  vineyard  needs  fertiliz¬ 
ing.  Phosphates  are  very  expensive,  and  manure  is 
scarce,  llow  would  it  do  to  sow  rye  soon,  say  by 
August  15,  and  p?ow  it  in  with  a  one-horse  plow  when 
it  heads  out  next  spring  ?  Has  any  one  ever  tried  this 
plan  in  the  vineyard  ? 
Ans. — The  rye  alone  will  add  but  little  to  the  actual 
fertility  of  the  land.  By  plowing  it  well  under,  you 
will  improve  the  mechanical  condition  of  the  soil  and 
secure  a  large  amount  of  organic  matter,  but  there 
will  be  but  little  more  actual  plant  food  than  there 
was  before.  Rye  used  alone  as  a  green  manure  is  slow 
and  unsatisfactory.  It  is  valuable  when  used  in  con¬ 
nection  with  chemicals.  We  do  not  believe  the  rye 
alone  will  satisfy  you,  but  if,  in  connection  with  it, 
you  will  use  wood  ashes  or  ground  bone  and  muriate 
of  potash,  you  will  probably  obtain  satisfactory  re¬ 
sults.  We  should  use  the  bone  and  potash  in  varying 
quantities,  from  100  pounds  each  per  acre  up,  around 
tne  vines  and  worked  in  with  a  cultivator.  It  is  a  mis¬ 
take  to  advocate  rye  as  a  complete  green  manure  like 
clover.  The  rye  consumes  nitrogen,  while  clover  sup¬ 
plies  it.  For  good  results  rye  should  always  be  used 
with  chemicals.  Its  chief  value  lies  in  its  mechanical 
action  upon  the  soil. 
Something  About  Celery. 
W.  A.  K.,  Franklin,  Pa. — 1.  What  are  the  best  com¬ 
mercial  fertilizers  for  celery?  2.  What  is  the  best  time 
to  market?  3.  How  often  should  it  be  watered  and 
how  much  (by  the  new  celery  culture  of  Mr.  Nivens)? 
4.  How  large  should  the  plants  be  when  set  out  ?  5. 
Would  the  Mapes  potato  manure  do?  I  have  some  of 
it  left  and  would  like  to  use  it  if  it  will  serve. 
Ans. — 1.  The  Bowker  Fertilizer  Co. ,  Boston,  Mass., 
make  a  special  Celery  Fertilizer,  which  has  given  good 
satisfaction.  The  Mapes  Company,  New  York,  make 
a  special  fertilizer  for  vegetables.  If  you  have  enough 
of  the  potato  manure  you  can  safely  use  that  and  ex¬ 
pect  good  results.  2.  This  depends  somewhat  upon 
your  market.  If  you  are  near  a  summer  hotel  there 
will  be  a  demand  for  it  all  through  August,  Septem¬ 
ber,  and  a  part  of  October,  and  you  can  sell  it  in  the 
way  described  by  Mr.  Nivens,  viz.,  in  tight  crates  with 
the  roots  in  water.  You  can  send  it  to  the  larger 
markets  up  to  Thanksgiving.  Whether  it  will  pay 
you  to  pit  and  keep  it  for  winter  sales  will  depend 
upon  the  way  you  are  situated.  3.  Mr.  Nivens  waters 
often  enough  to  keep  the  ground  always  slightly 
moist.  It  is  never  allowed  to  become  really  di*y.  In 
this  way  the  amount  of  water  used  must  depend  upon 
the  amount  of  rainfall.  4.  Mr.  Nivens  uses  plants  not 
less  than  four  or  more  than  six  inches  high. 
Eggs  in  Cold  Storage. 
A.  T.  (}.,  Welcome,  Otsego  County,  N.  Y. — I  have  about 
1,000  hens,  and  want  to  put  my  eggs  in  cold  storage. 
1.  How  is  the  place  made,  and  ,2,  how  operated  ?  3. 
Are  good  cold  storage  eggs  as  good  as  fresh  ones  ? 
Ans. — A  cold  storage  establishment  would  not  be  a 
profitable  investment  for  you  simply  for  storing  eggs. 
Such  buildings  are  expensive,  and  most  of  them  are 
operated  under  patents  for  which  a  royalty  must  be 
paid.  Ice  is  not  used  in  the  cold  storage  warehouses 
of  this  city,  the  refrigerating  is  done  by  the  ammonia 
process  and  by  the  aid  of  costly  machinery.  We  do 
not  know  whether  eggs  could  be  handled  successfully 
simply  by  storing  them  in  a  room  kept  cold  by  ice.  3. 
No  egg  is  as  good  as  a  fresh  one.  A  witty  writer  has 
said  there  are  only  two  kinds  of  eggs — good  and  bad. 
Refrigerated  and  limed  eggs  are  used  by  bakers  anti 
by  others  also  for  cakes,  puddings,  etc.;  but  they  are 
not  put  on  the  table  to  be  eaten  as  eggs  in  any  good 
hotel  or  restaurant.  You  can  ship  eggs  to  this  city 
and  have  them  stored  in  cold  storage  warehouses  for  a 
moderate  price. 
Fall  Sowing  of  Peas. 
H.  S.,  Secaucus,  N.  J.—L  want  to  sow  Canada  field 
peas  in  the  fall — two  bushels  per  acre  after  thoroughly 
preparing  the  land,  part  in  potatoes,  part  in  fodder 
corn — by  manuring,  plowing  and  harrowing.  In  the 
early  spring  I  want  to  sow  oats — two  bushels  per  acre 
on  top  of  the  peas,  the  oats  and  peas  to  be  used  for  soil¬ 
ing  milch  cows  in  May  or  June.  My  idea  is  to  sow  the 
peas  in  the  fall  instead  of  sowing  them  and  the  oats 
together  in  the  spring,  so  that  the  peas  will  obtain  a 
good  growth.  Some  of  my  neighbors  advise  me  not  to 
sow  them  in  the  fall,  claiming  that  they  would  be 
injured  by  frost;  others  say  that  the  ordinary  Canada 
field  pea  is  a  spring  pea  and  not  a  winter  variety.  I 
did  sow  peas  and  oats  last  spring,  but  the  peas  did  not 
grow  as  well  as  the  oats  and  for  that  reason  I  want  to 
sow  them  in  the  fall. 
An 8. — This  plan  is  impracticable.  The  peas  would 
be  winter-killed  and  if  not,  oats  could  not  be  sown  on 
them  in  the  spring,  and  if  they  could,  they  would  not 
be  ready  for  use  in  May  or  June.  But  if  the  land  is 
prepared  by  plowing  in  the  fall  the  peas  and  oats  may 
be  sown  together  early  in  the  spring  and  covered  by 
the  cultivator  or  an  Acme  harrow,  and  the  crop  would 
be  ready  for  cutting  in  June  or  early  in  July.  All 
Canada  and  other  peas  are  sown  in  the  spring.  There 
are  several  kinds  of  Canada  peas,  small  vines  and 
large.  The  b"bt  for  this  use  is  the  Black-eyed  Marrow¬ 
fat,  which  has  a  large  vine.  This  mixed  crop  is  cut 
when  half  the  peas  are  past  bloom  and  the  young  pods 
are  to  be  seen. 
Miscellaneous. 
Sweet-Apple  Vinegar.— A.  A.  8.,  Greenville,  N.  Y. — 
If  the  cider  from  sweet  apples  has  more  sugar  in  it,  it 
will  make  the  sourer  vinegar.  Vinegar  is  made  thus  : 
The  cider  first  goes  through  the  vinous  fermentation, 
which  converts  the  sugar  into  alcohol,  during  which 
process  it  evolves  gas — sparkles.  The  next  process  is 
the  oxydizing  of  the  alcohol— uniting  with  the  oxygen 
of  the  atmosphere,  which  converts  it  into  acetic  acid 
and  thus  makes  vinegar.  The  latter  process  is  a  slow 
one  when  the  cider  is  in  a  cask.  Drawing  from  one 
cask  to  another  in  a  little  stream,  exposing  it  to  the 
air,  will  materially  hasten  the  process.  The  more 
sugar,  the  more  alcohol  ;  the  more  alcohol,  the  more 
acetic  acid,  and  hence  the  sourer  the  vinegar. 
“  Evergreen  Blackberry." — P.  O.,  Monrovia,  la.— The 
plant  which  parties  are  trying  to  sell  your  people 
at  $1.50  each  is  a  European  variety— Rubus  fruti- 
cosus — often  alluded  to  as  R.  laciniatus.  It  thrives 
finely  where  it  can  stand  the  climate.  The  berries  are 
rather  small  and  of  only  fair  quality.  The  thorns  are 
terrible,  and  it  is  generally  valuable  only  as  a  curiosity. 
It  will  be  the  merest  folly  for  any  person  to  pay  the 
price  demanded  for  it,  expecting  any  practical  returns. 
Worms  in  Strawberries. — B.  M.,  Joliet,  Ill. — As  to 
your  strawberries  of  which  you  say  :  “The  worms  ate 
all  the  leaves,  leaving  the  bare  stalks  so  I  did  not  get 
any  berries  ?  ”  if  there  are  any  worms  left,  spray  or 
sprinkle  the  plants  with  a  weak  solution  of  Paris- 
green  or  Eondon-purple.  Get  the  cultivator  in  them 
as  soon  as  possible  and  they  will  probably  recover. 
Irrigation  would  help  them,  if  that  is  practicable.  If 
for  any  reason  you  do  not  wish  to  use  the  arsenical 
poison,  we  are  of  the  opinion  that  the  kerosene  emul¬ 
sion  freely  used,  would  answer. 
Anthracnose  on  Raspberries. — W.  A.  F.,  Homewood, 
pa. — The  trouble  with  your  black  raspberries,  which 
“  dry  up  when  almost  grown,  though  they  have  been 
thoroughly  cultivated,  and  have  had  a  liberal  dressing 
of  fertilizer  both  this  year  and  last,”  is  doubtless  an¬ 
thracnose.  The  Bordeaux  mixture  sprayed  on  the 
canes,  beginning  in  early  spring  before  the  leaves 
appear  and  continued  until  the  blossoming  time  is  said 
to  prevent  the  disease. 
Hen  Houses.— B.  W.,  New  York.— We  are  preparing 
a  series  of  articles  on  hen  houses  that  will  fully 
answer  your  questions. 
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