1891 
4oi 
T 
they imported car-loads of Italian and Hungarian pauper 
laborers, not because they liked them better, or because 
their labor is superior, but because they engaged them at 
European wages. The indignation of the populace was 
aroused, and bad not the law shielded the paupers to¬ 
gether with the contractor, they would have been com¬ 
pelled to flee. But the American laborer had the consola¬ 
tion of standing aloof with nothing to do. This is protect¬ 
ing American labor 1 This is certainly an object-lesson for 
the Allentown laborers, and very suggestive for outsiders. 
These wrongs cannot be righted, unless we the farmers 
and laborers of every State in the Union follow the ex¬ 
ample of Kansas and elect our own Representatives to 
Congress and State Legislatures; and this is being done 
in spite of the opposition of both great political parties. 
Right will and must prevail. 
But the greatest and most urgent reason of all for 
opposition to the present condition of affairs and one that 
should never be lost sight of by the American laborer, is 
that whenever we want a reduction on any article, or ask 
for any equalization, either in taxation or representation, 
the monied aristocracy squeal, and why ? Because they 
are antagonistic to the labor element, and the louder they 
squeal, as is the case with regard to our present tax bill in 
Pennsylvania, the more'determined should be our opposi¬ 
tion, for the reason that what is favorable to them is most 
undoubtedly unfavorable to the labor element. 
I am fully convinced as a farmer that we want free 
coinage of silver, with the Sub-Treasury scheme, a reduc¬ 
tion of tne tariff on manufactured goods, and the collec¬ 
tion of taxes on all kinds of property equally. And if 
these are to be secured we cannot rely on the intrigues of 
either of the great political parties, but must unquestion¬ 
ably get there ourselves. w. M. BENNINGER. 
Northampton County, Pa. 
NOT UNITED; THEREFORE NOT WINNING 1 
I was present at a farmers’ gathering not long since 
when an informal discussion was in progress, and I was 
much impressed by the difference of opinion expressed by 
three thinking men as to the best means of overcoming the 
stagnation which affects farms and their produce. One 
man regarded the demonetization of silver as the cause of 
all the trouble, and held that there was no relief possible 
for the tillers of the soil until silver was remonetized and 
freely coined. Number two agreed with number one in 
thinking that the amount of money in the country was 
too small, but he was willing to see bank notes issued to 
increase the circulating medium. Number three differed 
radically with the other two, as he argued that until the 
tariff laws are essentially changed or the tariff wholly 
abolished, farmers cannot look for an improvement. Here 
were three representative men, above the average in intel¬ 
ligence, all members of the Grange and of the Farmers’ 
Alliance in the same town, yet each has his own idea of 
how his class is to be benefited and these ideas do not 
agree. What chance would one have of getting a load of 
grain to market should he hitch a team to each end of the 
wagon and another midway and start the three in different 
directions. There are points in which farmers of intelli¬ 
gence agree. Why not push these to a successful issue 
before attacking measures upon which they cannot unite? 
The tax laws are still unrevised. Why ? We were not 
united as to what revision would do us the greater amount 
of good, and '• between two stools fell to the floor.” It is 
to be hoped that those legislators who defeated the Listing 
Bill by vote or silence may find the farmers united against 
their reflection. The Listing Bill may not be the very 
best bill for our needs, but it is a long step in advance of 
the present system. 
Why can we not see our own best interests and work for the 
good of our class so firmly and unitedly, that the measures 
which we truly need for our protection must becme laws? 
We need make no war against tbe rights of others, but we 
must insist tnat what corporations are pleased to call their 
rights, shall not wrong us. 
We must study the “ greatest good to the greatest num¬ 
ber,” and, forgetting all slight difLrences ot opinion, we 
must all pull in the s»me direction. L. 1 bTKNER. 
Seueca County, N. Y. 
The Farmers Chib. 
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
[Every query must be accompanied by the name and address of the 
writer to Insure attention. Before as*lng a question, please see if it is 
not answered in our advertising columns. Ask only a few questions at 
one time. Put questions on a separate piece of paper.] 
Mixing Bones, Hen Manure and Ashes. 
A. M., Milford, Ind.—l. I have two acres of onions on 
marsh land, with a considerable mixture of sandy loam. I 
have one ton of hen manure and can get all the ashes I 
want for the hauling. I can also get bones for $5 per ton. 
Would those articles make a good fertilizer for onions ? 
How should they be proportioned ? Would it be proper to 
add salt and air-slaked lime ? Would the addition of any 
other material improve the fertilizer ? 2 . I can get hun¬ 
dreds of tons of ashes for hauling them ; will it pay me to 
use them as a fertilizer ? 3. Bones can be bought here at 
$5 per ton ; would it pay me to buy and manufacture them 
into fertilizer for the farm ? 4. What would be the most 
Bimple way to burn bone black ? 
ANS.—1. Hen manure, ashes and ground bone would 
furnish all the essential elements of plant food, though 
any combination of them furnishing reasonable amounts 
of potash and phosphate would make a mixture low in 
nitrogen. It would be advisable to apply the ashes separ¬ 
ately, since the lime which they contain would be likely 
to set free the ammonia if mixed with nitrogenous mater¬ 
ial. A liberal manuring for onions would consist in the 
application per acre of one-half ton each of the hen manure 
HE RURAL NEW-YORKEI 
and ashes, and of 500 pounds of the ground bone. There 
would probably be no advantage in the addition of salt or 
air slaked lime 2. Emphatically yes, if your land re¬ 
sponds at all to manuring with potash and phosphoric 
ac'd. In the Ets ^ru Slates hard-wood ashes art con¬ 
sidered cheap at $12 per ton. 3. Whether it will pay you 
under the conditions named, to manufacture bones for use 
on your own farm, depends again upon whether your land 
responds profitably to the use of nitrogen and phosphoric 
acid. With proper machinery it would be a money-mak¬ 
ing business to grind bone at $5 per ton, making the total 
cost $10 per ton. At this price it could be shipped to the 
East with profit, as ground bone retails here for $35 per 
ton. 4. There is no good method for making bone black 
on a smqll scale, and so far as fertilizing purposes are 
concerned, bone black or charred bone presents no advan¬ 
tages over bone ash, the latter of which can be made by 
firing a heap composed of layers of wood and bone. In any 
case it is a wasteful process to make either bone-black or 
bone ash if the sole object is to secure the phosphate, since 
the nitrogen is entirely lost. In making bone-black on a 
large scale the nitrogen in the bone is converted into 
ammonia, and thus absorbed in sulphuric or hydrochloric 
acid, forming either sulphate or chloride of ammonia, pro¬ 
ducts quite as valuable as the bone black itself. Bone- 
black and bone ash unless treated with sulphuric acid a 
disagreeable and expensive operation on a small scale are 
not more available as food for plants than fine ground 
bone, hence disregarding the nitrogen altogether, there 
would be no advantage in converting bofle into these 
forms. E. ® VOORHEES. 
New Jersey Experiment Station. 
Pea Pods In the Silo. 
P. P. IF., Milford, Del.—I am offered the pea pods from 
two canning factories for the hauling. What is their 
value as a feed for stock ? Some say that they are more 
valuable than good corn ensilage, corn and all. Is that so ? 
If hauled and put into a silo 14x17 feet at the rate of four 
to five tons per day, will they keep ? Would it be better 
to run them through a cutter ? If any of this ensilage 
was left when we wanted to fill the silo with corn, could 
the latter be put right on the top of pea pods and, if so, 
would it keep all right ? 
Ans. —We have submitted this question to some of the 
best ensilage authorities in the country. It is printed 
here more in the hope of drawing out facts from those 
who have tried this plan of preserving the wastes of can¬ 
ning factories in silos than with the expectation of answer¬ 
ing it. On page 356 of The R. N.-Y. Prof. E. W. Stewart 
was quoted as saying : “ The succulent pods of green peas 
will make an excellent ensilage if properly preserved, 
having more value as a milk food than corn ensilage. 
They have about twice as much albuminoids, about the 
same carbohydrates, but less fat. These pods would keep 
better if run through a cutter into the silo. They should 
be ensiloed as soon as possible after the peas are shelled. 
A very even distribution of the cut pods should be made 
over the silo, and a heavy pressure given when the ensi¬ 
lage is covered.” One would think that for preserving 
such a crop a silo like that used by Mr. Colcord for his 
patent “preserved forage” would give the best results. 
In this silo a heavy pressure is given the ensilage while a 
tube runs out of the bottom of the silo through which the 
air and juice can be drawn. If by means of the silo the 
wastes of canning factories can be utilized, nearby 
farmers can certainly secure an abundance of cheap food 
for stock. We call for information from all who have had 
any experience with such foods. 
Strawberries, Etc. 
R A. T.. Hampton,Fla.—1. Are the Haverland, Jewell 
and Parker Earie riirawberrles pistillate or staminate va¬ 
rieties ? Are they good shippers and productive ? 2. Would 
they be likely to succeed as iar south as middle Florida ? 
3 Wnere can they be obtaim d ? 
Ans —Haverland is pistillate and not firm enough for 
sale distant shipment. Jewell is also pistillate. It is as 
firm as the Sharpleis. Parker Earle is perfect (we hope 
our friends will not use the incorrect name of “stami- 
nate”) and will ship fairly well. 2 Parker Earle origi 
nated in Texas. We do not know how the others will 
thrive so far South. 3. Of almost any nurseryman. 
The Pear Tree Slug. 
Several Subscribers. —On page 341 a correspondent tells 
about an enemy of the pear tree. Will he not describe it 
still further ? 
Ans.— In a recent number of The Rural this slug was 
referred to as a black demon, I know of nothing in the 
kingdom of bugs or insects so loathsome and disgusting. 
It beats the half-grown potato beetle. In its habits and 
character it really bears a likeness to his Satanic Majesty. 
Any one having a summer’s experience with it can trace 
the resemblance. The insect which has passed the winter 
in the ground in the chrysalis state will soon (last of May) 
come forth as a little fly a quarter of an Inch long. The 
pests are called saw flies from the saw-like appendage 
which the female carries and uses to cut slits in the leaf, 
where she deposits the eggs one in a place and from one to 
three in a leaf. The fly is glossy-black, with four trans¬ 
parent wings, with yellow legs and black thighs, the hind 
pair being black at both extremities and yellow in the 
middle. When the tree is jarred upon which the nuisances 
are at work, they at once “play possum ” after the man¬ 
ner of the curculio family. The eggs hatch in about two 
weeks. The slug is at fir*t white (angel of light 1) but soon 
a slimy, sticky substance issues from the body and colors 
the upper part a brownish green. It changes its skin four 
times before reaching fu 1 size; it is then half an inch long 
or more and a filthy black, in shape like a polliwig. Now 
it puts in its best licks devouring the leaf. It soon puts 
off its slimy coat of black, dons a jacket of clean yellow, 
falls to the ground, crawls in, changes to the chrysalis 
state and after two weeks the fly crawls out ready for 
business attain. The same routine is follow d as before. 
In about, a month the second brood of stags enter the 
ground and become chrysalids for the wint r. Fortunately 
for the pear grower they do not stand t he winter very well; 
but there are often enough left to causi* serious damage. I 
have used fresh air-slaked lime effectually, but it is some¬ 
times disagreeable to apply it. Hellebore or any of the 
arsenites applied in a spray Is sure death, but the latter 
could not be safely used for the second brood on bearing 
trees. w F. BIRD. 
Washtenaw Co., Mich. 
Russian Apricots. 
IF. A. R , Nlaqara-on-Lake, Canada.— Last spring I 
planted over 800 Russian Apricots. I am told on all sides 
that I have made a mistake in doing so, because for various 
reasons they will not produce a crop. Is this true ? If so, 
what had I best do ? Could they bs successfully grafted 
with plums, and what variety would be best ? The peach 
thrives here. 
Ans.—I n answer to the above inquiries Messrs. Ell- 
wanger & Barry, of Rochester, N. Y., write : “We have 
not propagated the Russian Apricot, nor have we offered 
it for sale, as we have never been satisfied of its value. 
We would not venture to say that it is possible to graft 
plums successfully on those apricots.” 
Repairing an Underground Silo. 
H. C., Hampden, Va.— My silo was built underground 
when silos were in their infancy in this country. It was 
planked up with oak plank. It has given way, and I pro¬ 
pose to build a grout wall 10 inches thick. I shall put in 
yellow locust studding four feet apart all around with the 
faces even with the inside of the wall. They will be stayed 
across the top and bottom to prevent any possible chance 
of the walls giving way. I will tack tarred paper on the 
studding and ceil up with matched hard pine, which will 
complete the job. What does The Rural think of this 
plan? Will common lime mortar do, or had I better use 
cement? The latter will cost a good deal more. Were it 
not that the old silo is in the right place, I would prefer to 
build of lumber above ground. I have found out by ex¬ 
perience that the nubbins of corn should be quite hard 
before the crop is cut; and also that no rain or dew should 
be on the corn when put into the silo. I put it In whole, 
lapping it shingle fashion. When feeding time comes I 
open one end and cut down thin slices with a broadaxe. 
Ans.—A better way than to “face’’the studding into 
the grout wall would be to build a rough stone wall 
where the wall must come, and then build the silo inside 
of this, using 2x4-inch stu idtng set flatways against this 
stone wall, and to these na’l the lining boards. I would, 
however, avoid the expense of a stone wall by building 
the silo wholly above ground, and of wood. Then nostone¬ 
work would be needed. If you must rebuild the silo in 
this underground silo pit, build the wall cheaply, and use 
white lime. The stone walls then simply become retaining 
walls. Before setting it In place paint the studding 
well with gas tar and gasoline—about half aud half—and 
be sure to have the lower ends of the studs well soaked, as 
well as the siding that will come next to the stone work. 
The tarred paper put on the studding to ceil over, will do 
no good, as it will spring away from the lining boards, 
and cause only a waste of paper and time. In building I 
doubt if you will like a single thickness of matched hard 
pine as well as two thicknesses of cheap but sound lum¬ 
ber, put on horizontally, with a half lap, so as to break 
joints. Then if tarred paper is put between these boards, 
one gets the benefit of it, for a double-boarded silo would 
not match the boards or even joint them. Simply single 
surface them, and nail them on well, and then when the 
silo is complete, paint it well on the inside with gas tar 
and gasoline. Commence to paint at the top. Do not try 
to get the print on very thick, but let all that will do so 
run into the cracks. This paint is cheap, dries thoroughly, 
and does not give a flavor to the ensilage. The paint of my 
silos has been on nearly three years, and the ensilage has 
not “started” it in any way. I think if H. C. will count 
the cost of labor in “ shiDgling in” whole fodder, and 
then “axing” it out, he will cut his fodder into the pit 
hereafter. _ JOHN GOULD. 
MISCELLANEOUS. 
Curl Leaf.— J. W. J., Evansville, Ind.—The trouble with 
the peach leaves you send us is curled leaf. Some author¬ 
ities say this is caused by bacteria. It generally occurs 
most frequently on wet, heavy land, and when a warm 
spell of weather is succeeded by cold and wet. It is un¬ 
usual for it to occur so early in the season. It is not gen¬ 
erally regarded or treated as a disease, as the affected 
leaves usually drop off and are succeeded by others, so no 
ill results follow. Good drainage and thorough culture 
are probably the best preventives. 
A Fertilizer for Beans-J. W. W., Somerset, N. Y.—In 
regard to the q restlon “ whether 800 pounds of air-slaked 
lime, 50 pouuds of nitrate of soda, 200 pounds of fine 
ground bone phosphate would make a good manure for 
field beans,” nitrate and phosphate are good as far as 
they go. Potash would be needed also. The lime may or 
may not be of any service. If satisfied our land would be 
benefited by lime, we would spread it separately. There 
is no reason for going to the trouble of mixing it with the 
others. 
Currant Seedlinqs, drapes, etc.—A. T. T., Northwood 
Park, N. H.—Currant bushes from seed will not prove the 
same as the parent stock. They are sure to differ more or 
le 3 S. We do not know the “ Lightning Milk Jar.” We 
should say that the Empire State Grape will ripen its fruit 
as far north as your State., We have been unable, after a 
long search, to find a book outside the regular medical 
works, that gives the names and medical properties of 
roots, herbs, barks, etc. 
