202 
MARCH 14 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
NOTES FROM THE RURAL GROUNDS. 
Trials of New Potatoes. 
Continued 
For many years past The R. N.-Y. has tried all the new 
potatoes sent to It for trial or announced in catalogues. 
They have been planted in the rich soil of its garden, and 
concentrated fertilizers have been used in liberal quantity 
—fertilizers analyzing high in nitrogen, potash and phos¬ 
phoric acid. It was assumed last spring that nothing 
would be gained by the use of additional fertilizers, so 
that the trials made for 1890 were allowed to depend upon 
the accumulated fertility of the soil. From a few experi¬ 
ments made, not yet reported, it appears that the addition 
of nitrogen would have materially increased the yield, 
giving additional proof—if proof were needed—that nitrate 
of soda and ammonia salts do not remain in the soil from 
year to year. The trenches, as in years past, were dug 
about six inches deep and three feet apart. Two inches of 
soil were raked back and the pieces (two to three strong 
eyes) were placed upon this one foot apart. 
Ideal from M. Crawford & Son, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. 
Four pieces. As early as Beauty of Hebron apparently. 
Yield, 11 pounds, or at the rate of 665 bushels to the acre. 
Ovate, rather truncate, much flattened ; 32 in all, none 
very large, 10 small. Eyes medium as to number and 
prominence. Not tried as to quality. 
Six Weeks Market, introduced by J. A. Everitt & Co., 
Indianapolis, Ind. Seed well preserved, one tuber hollow- 
hearted. Eleven pieces planted. Yield 15 pounds, 
or at the rate of 300 bushels to the acre. There 
were 28 large, 36 small. Pink skin. Shape variable, in¬ 
clining to round elliptical. Not earlier than Early Rose. 
Of very good quality, but often dark-colored and hard in 
the middle. There is no reason why such new varieties 
should be disseminated. The name is an absurd one. 
Michigander, from G. R. Baxter, Hillsdale, Mich. Two 
pieces planted May 5. Raised from seed of Blue Victor, 
crossed with Jersey Peachblow. One hill yielded nine 
rather small, buff-white tubers, the other 11 small tubers 
with pink eyes. 
Illiad, also from G. R. Baxter. Four pieces planted. 
From seed of E. ito 3 e. Yield 4% pounds or 275.25 to the 
acre. Baff-whlte skin, varying from round to ovate—16 
large, 24 small. Eaten September 30. Dull white flesh, of 
fair quality only. 
Mrs. Foraker (second year’s trial). Four pieces 
planted. Yield, four pounds, or at the rate of 242 bushels 
per acre. In all 44 tubers, 24 marketable. Shapely, ob¬ 
long, flattened, few eyes. Eaten August 18. This may 
not be called a first-rate potato. It is “ breaking,” but 
scarcely “mealy.” A trifle soggy as grown in this moist 
soil. 
Early Market (‘‘L. B.”— no other name or address 
came with it). Vines first to die. Four pieces planted. 
Yield, 5 % pounds. Pinkish-buff skin—20 marketable, 10 
small. Variable in shape. Round one way,—one third 
longer than broad. Unshapely. The yield per acre at the 
rate given above would have been 332.75 bushels. Eaten 
October 10. Flesh nearly white; quality fair. 
Mack’s Seedling, from W. S. Grases, Tompkinsville, 
Lack. County, Pa. Three pieces planted. Yield, 5% pounds, 
or at the rate of 463.83 bushels to the acre. Early. Pink¬ 
ish skin, rather long, round. Eyes medium. Not desir¬ 
able as to shape—22 marketable, 10 small. Nearly white 
flesh, somewhat nutty, close-grained and of good quality. 
Miller’s Seedling, from above. Two pieces yielded 
five pounds, or at the rate of 605 bushels to the acre—20 
marketable, five small. Late. White skin, round, twice 
as long as broad, shapely. Few eyes, not prominent. 
Flesh nearly white, dry and mealy. Eaten September 22. 
Old Dominion, from Wm. Daniels, Farmville, Prince 
Edward County, Va. Two pieces yielded 3% pounds, or 
at the rate of 178 bushels per acre. Late. White skin, few 
eyes, long elliptical. Shapely, small—11 marketable, 19 
small. Eaten October 16. Nearly white flesh, fair quality. 
This came from seed sent out by The R. N.-Y. 
Early Illinois, from F. Woodman, Lily Lake, Ill. “ I 
depend on this variety for an early potato,” he writes. 
“ Splendid the year around. Mealy, excellent when small. 
Never get soft, small top, no blossom. Earlier than Early 
Ohio. Better yielder, few small.” Three pieces yielded 
six pounds, or at the rate of 484 bushels per acre. Seemed 
as early as Early Ohio, which they resemble. Round 
ovate, pinkish-white, good shape. Eyes medium. Twenty 
in all, 12 small, none very large. 
Naples White Rose, from M. Eichberger, Naples, 
N. Y. Five pieces yielded eight pounds or at the rate of 
387.20 bushels to the acre. Intermediate. Flat-oblong, 
very few eyes, buff white skin. Shape uniform, 36 market¬ 
able, 29 small. Eaten October 6. Fair quality, dull 
white flesh. 
Naples Pink Eye, from same. Five pieces yielded 
seven pounds, or at the rate of 338.80 bushels to the acre. 
Intermediate. Oblong, flattened, few eyes, 24 marketable, 
18 small, pink skin. Eaten September 23. Flesh dull 
white, soggy. 
Eichberger’s No. 22, from same. Five pieces yielded 
six pounds, or at the rate of 290 bushels to the acre. 77 
small, 12 larger; but scarcely any were of marketable 
size. Early. Round; peculiarly mottled with pink and 
buff. Eaten October 7. White flesh of fine quality. 
Eichberger’s No. 8 (well-preserved seed). Six pieces 
yielded 10% pounds, or at the rate of 423.50 bushels to the 
acre, 32 marketable, 28 small, none large. Buff-white 
skin, some russeted, few eyes, round flattened. Eaten 
October 10. Good quality, nearly white flesh, not mealy 
but fine-grained. 
Many other varieties were raised, but they were sent 
without names. 
WOODEN WATER PIPES: HOME-MADE FLOAT. 
Some weeks since a correspondent asked for information 
in regard to the durability of wooden pipes for conducting 
water underground. In the summer of 1873 my father laid 
common pump logs, made of white pine, to conduct water 
from the bottom of a cistern to a trough in a yard below. 
A stop-cock was placed at the end in the cistern and 
operated by a rod running to the top. In this way the 
lower end of the pipe, being left open, was exposed to the 
air, and several lengths next the trough had to be replaced 
several times; but four or five rods from the end, 
where the pipe was buried about four feet deep, It was 
found in the summer of 1889 (or after 16 years), to be per¬ 
fectly sound. At this point we attached galvanized iron 
pipe to conduct water into the basement of the new barn 
which stands near. I have not the least fear that the 
Home-Made “Float.” Fig. 69. 
wooden pipe will not last as long as the iron. It is laid in 
heavy yellow clay; possibly In sandy or gravelly soil 
enough air might reach it to cause decay. 
A description of our water-works may interest some of 
your readers. The water is first pumped from a well into 
a large cistern by means of a windmill. The cistern is 
located on the hill side above the barn, so that the water is 
conducted into the basement, but, unfortunately, not high 
enough to enable it to rise above the floor of the horse- 
stable except when the cistern is full. We have a 
common pitcher pump to raise the water for the horses. 
In the covered yard or “cows’ bed-room” there is a large 
trough with a self acting valve which always keeps the 
trough full. I have attempted to show the arrangement 
in the sketch, Fig. 69. I intended when we first put in the 
piping, to get a valve with float, etc., at the plumber’s; but 
when I found the price was $6, I concluded either to make 
one myself or get along without the luxury. I took a com¬ 
mon stop-cock and made a lever of three-eighth-inch iron 
to fit it, and stapled the end to a block of pine eight inches 
square and about a foot long. This arrangement has been 
in use nearly a year, has always kept the trough full, and 
has not been touched. Of course, the cattle had to be 
fenced away from the end of the trough containing the 
valve. A fence is built around the trough so that the 
cattle cannot get into or foul the water, but have to put 
their heads under a two-by-six-inch plank to reach it. 
See Fig. 70. JAS. M. D. 
Minnesota City, Minn. 
BLACKBERRY CULTURE; SMALL FRUITS IN 
ORCHARDS. 
I think in the “Culture of Small Fruits” by Mr. 
Powell, his methods are widely open to criticism, when 
he advises us to allow the blackberries to “ fill up the 
whole land ” and so “ keep down weeds and grass without 
attention.” As I see it, better far, if practicable, to plant 
them in long rows, seven or eight feet apart and keep 
them thin by passing the cultivator shallowly up and 
t i i 
End of Water-Trough. Fig. 70. 
down the sides once a week or fortnight during the grow¬ 
ing season. This also keeps most of the weeds down and 
the ground mellow. As in the case of corn, there is more 
danger of their being too thick than too thin. If they are 
in partial shade, so much the better. Nor should the canes 
be “cut in the spring to six feet.” They should be 
“ pinched ” at 2% feet, and be thus prevented from ever 
reaching the six feet point. No wonder he has raspber¬ 
ries, he gives them a chance. Give the blackberry a 
chance also; it is worthy of it. 
I cannot think that growing “ currants and red rasp¬ 
berries in alternate stools” is the best way. What is 
gained ? No ground is saved, but I think'much is lost in 
labor and crops. Perhaps I do not understand him. 
The longer I plant the less I double up the fruits in 
planting. Each needs a special management and one 
often interferes with the other. Yet currants, gooseber¬ 
ries and black raspberries do very well in a young orchard. 
Blackberries sprout too badly, and, in eradicating them 
when the orchard comes into bearing, the roots of the trees 
are injured. Where land is not worth over $50 an acre, 
make up your mind that you want to double before doing 
so; there are plenty of vegetables with which to fill vacant 
spaces. 
It is better here, where anthracnose is so bad, not to 
pinch back the black raspberries, but to allow them to 
grow at will, trimming them back to proper proportions 
in the spring. If the Bordeaux Mixture proves a remedy 
for this disease, then we can pinch again. 
The Rural speaks of the Rochester Grape. Here it 
does not bear well, is rather more free from rot than the 
Concord, but is not at all remarkable for quality ; there 
are many others that are better in every way, as I now 
judge. B B - 
FarmiDgdale, Ill. 
WHAT CROPS TAKE FROM THE SOIL. 
Fertility as a Financial Factor. 
The following note states, in a few words, what hun¬ 
dreds of farmers have been asking themselves: 
“ I have been going it blind, as one might say, with re¬ 
gard to fertilizers. First, what amounts of fertilizing 
elements are contained in one bushel of the following 
crops : Wheat, barley, oats, corn, beans and potatoes, and 
in one ton each of clover hay, Timothy, wheat straw, 
oat, barley and bean straw ? What are these elements of 
plant food worth, figuring them at the same price we have 
to pay for them in phosphate; that is, how much is one 
pound of potash, phosphoric acid, or nitrogen worth ? If 
I can understand this part, I can easily tell whether I am 
raising certain crops at a profit or not. The knowledge 
would also help one to place a value on the use of land ; 
for example, a neighbor wishes to rent land to be planted 
to potatoes; how much shall I ask him per acre ? This 
crop may take three times as much plant food as some 
other. The articles from the New Jersey Experiment Sta¬ 
tion have opened my eyes to many things. L. s. A. 
Monroe Co , N. Y.” 
Prof. E. B. Voorhees sends the following reply : 
The amount and proportion of the plant food elements 
contained in any farm crop, vary somewhat according to 
the variety grown, its method of culture, time of harvest¬ 
ing, etc. The averages given were secured from a large 
number of analyses, and may be safely used as a basis for 
calculating the amounts contained by the different crops 
mentioned. In all cases per cent or pounds per 100 are given: 
Nitrogen. Phosphoric Potash. 
Acid. 
Wheat. 2.00 0.96 0.35 
Barley.. 1.52 0.*2 0.4S 
Oats. 1-96 0.76 0 59 
Corn. 1.45 0.62 0.39 
Beans. 4.00 1.16 1.20 
Potatoes. 0.33 0 12 0.45 
Clover. 1.99 0.36 1.63 
Timothy. 1.00 0.36 1.30 
Wheat straw. 0.51 0.09 0.74 
Oat straw. 0.65 0 22 1.22 
Barley straw. 0.50 0.19 0.93 
Bean straw. 0.68 0.41 2.59 
The chief commercial sources of these elements are 
nitrate of soda, sulphate of ammonia, dried blood, am¬ 
monite, tankage; ground fish furnishing nitrogen, bone 
black and S C. rock superphosphates furnishing available 
phosphoric acid ; and muriate of potash, sulphate of pot¬ 
ash, kainit a«d sylvinite furnishing potash. The value of 
these materials, or the commercial value of the elements 
varies, as in other articles of trade, according to supply 
and demand, market manipulation, etc., and bears no 
relation to their agricultural value, which depends upon 
soil, season, crop, skill in using, etc. In the schedule of 
prices of nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potash, adopted in 
1890 by the experiment stations of Massachusetts, Connec¬ 
ticut and New Jersey, to be used in calculating the value of 
commercial fertilizers, organic nitrogen is rated at 17 cents 
per pound; available phosphoric acid at eight cents; potash 
as sulphate at six cents, and potash as muriate and as 
kainit at 4% cents. While it is true that these prices, or 
even greater, would have to be paid, if fertilizers were 
bought to supply to the soil, the elements contained in the 
crops harvested.it would not be fair to assume that as they 
existed in the crops they would be as valuable, pound for 
pound, as in the forms in which they exist in commercial 
fertilizers ; first, because contained in larger bulk of other 
materials, and, second, because of their insoluble and less 
available character. The only commercial source of these 
elements in forms similar to those existing in the crops, is 
barnyard manure, which, of average quality, at $2 per ton, 
would furnish nitrogen at 12 cents; phosphoric acid at six 
cents and potash at four cents per pound. These prices, 
though only relative, may be safely used in calculating 
comparative values of plant food elements in farm crops. 
Prices of Wool.—A subscriber in New York asks the 
following question: “Can The Rural tell us why native 
wool has been going down in price since the McKinley 
Bill passed?” Wm. MacNaughton’s Sons,of this city, write 
as follows : “ We have not perceived any diminution of 
prices on choice lots. Usually at this season of the year, 
stocks are very much depleted and the assortments are 
ragged and not inviting. Manufacturers to a great ex¬ 
tent had invested in raw material some time previous to 
the passage of the Tariff Bill, and would ofaly purchase at 
some concession on ordinary lots. Exceptionally choice 
lots have brought full prices. We see no reason why the 
near future should not see an advance in prices and a more 
healthy feeling, and everything tends that way.” 
