THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
i89i 
do the poor cattle, and the owners ditto. One step to¬ 
wards better times would be to get a thick growth, that 
would shade the ground well and then never let it be 
eaten too closely again. We cannot take all, clear to the 
very roots, with impunity. There are pastures treated in 
this sensible way that will carry three times the stock to 
the acre, and they always have good picking. 
This is a broad question. There are a great many points 
that come under it, such as fall or spring plowing, and the 
matter of the earth mulch, or stirring the surface in our 
cultivated fields. This is the next thing to it, and takes 
the place of shading, until our crops grow up. The 
thoughtful farmer will certainly “ all the year through 
(as far as possible) be on the watch to keep his land 
shaded,” and something growing. I have just been cut¬ 
ting some wheat on poor bowlder clay land. The last time 
it was in wheat before this year, we put straw on part of 
it, and let the wheat grow up through it. Where there 
was straw there was some wheat (the exposure is bad- 
northwest) and a heavy growth of clover. Where there 
was no straw there was practically no wheat and but a 
feeble growth of clover. Early in the winter, this last 
time, we put straw on the whole clay spot—about two 
acres. I do not want better wheat than grew where the 
first straw was put. It was all lodged, so we had to cut it 
one way. What caused this ? How much was due to the 
shading of the ground by the straw and the increased crop 
of clover ? Who can tell ? What crop shades the surface 
so much as clover ? What crop brings up land so fast ? 
How much has the former to do with the latter ? Would 
I could tell. It certainly was not the manurial value of 
the straw which increased the crop, for this would hardly 
amount to more than one good load of manure to the acre. 
These are points the writer has studied over a great deal 
of late years. All our manure now goes on the surface, on 
the young clover, so as to get its feeding value and mulch¬ 
ing or shading value also. T. B. terry. 
Summit Co., O. __ 
A LISTENER’S NOTES. 
Some Things That Are Talked About. 
Rose Bugs In The Soil —Mrs. Mary Wager-Fisher 
sends this note. ‘‘Iam always interested in anything I 
see pertaining to the destruction of rose slugs and bugs, 
but particularly the latter. But so far as the bug goes, I 
believe that it will never be exterminated until the soil in 
which its eggs are laid, is treated in Borne way to destroy 
them. I have observed that when I transplant a rosebush 
into fresh soil, for a year the bush is practically exempt 
from bugs ; while in succeeding years they appear in 
hordes, with great suddenness, and devour literally every 
rose and bud, after a certain date. Do they not rise from 
the ground under the bushes? The rose worm seems more 
amenable to experimenters at least—a sensitive body and 
no wings to fly away on.” 
English Agricultural Bane.— American farmers are 
not alone in complaining about exorbitant rates of inter¬ 
est. The English agricultural papers are now discussing 
the need of “cheap capital for farmers.” It is claimed 
that British capital is sent to foreign lands for investment, 
while thousands of acres of naturally good English laud 
are unprofitable because of a lack of money to restore 
them to fertility. Thorough scientific farming on these 
lands would pay better rates of interest than South Amer¬ 
ican bonds ever will. Among other schemes suggested 
for relief is the establishment of the national agricultural 
bank, with suitable branches, so that money could be 
loaned directly to the farmers on real security. In this 
way, it is claimed, a combination of capitalists might be 
made that could loan money at profitable rates and yet 
eliminate the middlemen, whose commissions add so much 
to the present cost of loans. It seems certain from reports 
at hand that English capital is shy of investments in farm 
improvements, often preferring foreign loans of a dubious 
character. It is hoped that the proposed national agri¬ 
cultural bank would remedy this unpatriotic state of 
affairs. England being a compact little country, a bank 
of this character might be successfully operated. In the 
United States, however, the cost of maintaining branch 
offices, looking up land titles and other necessary ex¬ 
penses would prove almost as expensive as the present sys¬ 
tem of middlemen and agents. Have the Farmers’ Alli¬ 
ances ever tried to apply the principles of the building 
and loan associations to the settlement of the mortgages ? 
Chinese Tea Culture.— We hear much about the in¬ 
tensive farming of China. Chinese soil supports such a 
heavy population that we can only conceive of a country 
where every ounce of fertility is saved and where every 
foot of ground is thoroughly worked. This is the story 
most writers tell us. It is therefore quite surprising to be 
told that China tea, the great export product of the coun¬ 
try, has fallen off in quality because less attention is given 
to its cultivation than formerly. Japan and India have 
given great attention to improved tea culture. The former 
country has made many special experiments with the tea 
plant, which have been printed in both Japanese and Eng¬ 
lish. The Chinese seem to be backward in this respect. 
Chas. Denby, the American Minister at Pekin, sends the 
State Department an account of the efforts made by Mr. 
E. Pinches, to establish a model tea farm. He proposes to 
establish, at government expense, a tea garden in which 
the latest tea machinery and buildings are to be used. 
After saying that the Chinese system of pruning the tea 
bush and picking the leaves is far inferior to the practice 
in India, Mr. Pinches says: “ I have always found the soil 
round a Chinese tea bush caked so hard that a fork could 
scarcely penetrate it. If this soil were properly loosened 
by forking round the bush, more moisture would get to 
the surface roots of the bush, and thus insure a more rapid 
rise of sap, which again would, of course, mean increased 
quantities of leaf.” This is a surprising statement to make 
about a nation of market gardeners. It is confidently 
claimed that unless the Chinese adopt new machinery and 
methods, they will lose the bulk of their foreign tea trade. 
The Farmers Club. 
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
(Every query must be accompanied by the name and address of the 
writer to Insure attention. Before asking 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.] 
GROWING PEACHES IN THE “COLD NORTH.” 
A Maine Subscriber asks the following questions: 1 . Not 
long since I read a statement made by a Northwestern 
fruit grower, that peach trees bent down in the winter for 
protectif n must not be covered with earth, for that would 
kill them. How about this ? 2. What are the hardiest 
peaches ? 
Laid Down In a Shallow Pit. 
1. In climates in which peach trees must be “ laid down” 
to protect them from severe cold, I understand that the 
most approved practice Is to lay them down, if in a light, 
dry soil, in a shallow pit or trench dug for the purpose; in 
heavier or more retentive soils, upon the surface, cover¬ 
ing them with earth ; straw or some equivalent substance 
being next to them, both beneath and above, to prevent 
actual contact with the soil. In a light soil, with porous 
subsoil, I doubt if serious injury would result if the straw 
were omitted. 2. In the Michigan Fruit Belt Hill’s Chili, 
Keyport White, Golden Drop and perhaps one or two 
others rank among the hardiest. [pres ] T. T. lyon. 
Peter M. Gideon’s Method. 
1. I have heard the statement that an earth covering Is 
not a safe winter protection for peach trees in Minnesota, 
and I know that all trees thus covered in the winter of 
1884-5, were found to be dead when taken up in the spring; 
but that may have been an exceptional winter. So far as 
I know, this kind of covering has not been used since. 
Twice in the last 30 years apple trees that were dug and 
buried late in the fall came out in a similar condition. 2. 
I am unable to name the hardiest varieties, as all varieties 
are too tender here to be risked without covering. The 
method of growing peaches in Minnesota as practiced by 
Peter M. Gideon of “ Wealthy Apple” fame, and others, 
is as follows. After the ground is fitted by deep plowing 
and fine harrowing he digs trenches about one foot apart 
and running north and south, wide and deep enough to 
receive the roots and having a ridge of earth in the center 
coming to within six inches of the surface level. When 
complete it has somewhat the appearance of the letter W. 
The trees are set over this ridge with about half the roots 
on each side from six to twelve feet apart in the row, and 
with no roots running lengthwise of the row. One or 
two-year-old trees are used. For winter protection the 
trees are laid down and the center ridge becomes a pivot on 
which they turn. Before bending them down two or three 
shovelfuls of earth are removed from the base of each and 
after the tree is down, enough is thrown back so that no 
roots are exposed to the air. The trees are all laid In one 
direction (preferably toward the south) and then given a 
liberal covering of straw, slough hay or corn fodder, with 
some brushor poles laid over to prevent the covering from 
being blown off. After spring has opened the covering is 
taken off and the trees are raised to nearly an erect posi¬ 
tion and soil enough is packed over the roots and about 
the base to keep them in position. After the first season 
this process does not seem to check their growth. As mice 
sometimes get under the covering and gnaw the trees, it is 
necessary to place some poisoned grain or corn meal where 
they will find it. J. s. Harris. 
Houston County, Minn. 
Lamp Traps for Insects. 
L. C. 12., Cruso, N. C.—l send The Rural some Insects 
caught by a lamp and pan of water in my orchard. I wish 
to know if they are dangerous enough to warrant my 
going into the investment of lamps for their destruction. 
Ans.—T he package contained a lot of miscellaneous frag¬ 
ments of insects which are so badly damaged that deter¬ 
mination is not possible. There were, however, several 
different species of Agrotis and Noctulds which are the 
parents of cut-worms, and also fragments of a number of 
Geometrids and Tineids, parents of measuring-worms and 
leaf miners. Nearly all of the specimens sent are injurious 
in their early stages. The use of trap methods accom¬ 
plishes by no means as much good as is generally supposed, 
for the specimens caught are mainly males, and females 
which have already laid their eggs. 
Crimson Clover for a Pennsylvania Farm. 
W. K. S., Parkesburg, Pa — Some time ago I saw a sug¬ 
gestion by a prominent writer that clover would probably 
do better if no Timothy seed were sown in the fall. I tried 
it. In the spring I sowed seven quarts of clover seed and 
two quarts of Timothy seed per acre. The wheat has not 
been cut yet; but, so far as I can see, there Is very little 
clover. Now the question arises, what shall I do for hay 
next year and for green manure the year following ? If 
The Rural recommends Crimson Clover, shall I sow on 
wheat stubble, or will I have to destroy what Red Clover 
there is and plow or use the Cutaway harrow ? I suppose 
rye sown in August will make good green manure. 
Ans.—T here is little doubt in my mind as to the success 
of Italian or Crimson Clover in the section where this in¬ 
quirer resides. Situated as he is now in relation to hay 
or green manure for next year, the very best thing he can 
do is either to plow his wheat stubble, or put it in good 
order with the Cutaway harrow, and seed it with Italian 
Clover—12 pounds of seed to the acre—in July, if practicable, 
or early in August. It will yield more hay per acre than the 
561 
Red Clover, and will be ready for the mower by the mid¬ 
dle of May with him. If so wed in his corn after the cultivator, 
at the last cultivation, it will surely give him another field 
for hay, or a splendid crop to be turned under the follow¬ 
ing May. As a green manure this clover Is vastly superior 
to rye, and is ready to be turned under earlier in spring. 
For an early pasture it is without a rival. The only defect 
about it is that there is hardly enough in the plant to 
withstand the frigidity of more nothern climates. 
Since writing a few little notes on the merits and value 
of this clover, I have had scores of inquiries for seed, and 
to save further trouble in that respect, I beg to state that 
I do not grow the seed I use myself, nor am I an agent for 
any one who does grow it. Several farmers in this county 
and in Delaware grow the seed for sale. Doubtless if they 
advertise in The Rural New-Yorker they will obtain cus¬ 
tomers. J. w. KERR. 
Caroline Co., Md. 
Hen Manure for a Fertilizer ; Tannery Ashes. 
A. K. D., Ray's Hill, Pa.— I have about 675 pounds of 
dry hen manure, and about 15 bushels of partly leached 
wood ashes; what shall I mix with the hen manure to 
make a good fertilizer for wheat, and how much shall I 
apply per acre ? South Carolina rock Is worth $18 per 
ton and cotton-seed meal about $23 per ton ; I can get all 
the tannery ashes that I want at about three cents per 
bushel, delivered on the farm; the ashes are from spent 
red oak bark; which would be the cheapest fertilizers, re¬ 
sults considered ? 
Ans.—A fertilizer specially designed for seeding to grass 
and wheat should show a guaranteed analysis of 4 per 
cent of nitrogen, 7 per cent of phosphoric acid and 5 per 
cent of potash ; or, in an application of 400 pounds per acre, 
there would be applied 16 pounds of nitrogen, 23 pounds of 
phosphoric acid and 20 pounds of potash. The 675 pounds 
of hen manure contain about 12 pounds of nitrogen, 12 
pounds of phosphoric acid and only six poun is of potash. 
To make a mixture equal to the standard, some substance 
rich in the last two elements must be added to the manure. 
Leached ashes vary in composition; probably your 15 
bushels (900 pounds) contain 13 pounds of phosphoric acid 
and 11 or 12 pounds of potash. At three cents per bushel 
of 50 pounds, the tannery ashes would cost $1.20 per ton 
and would furnish about the same amount of phosphoric 
acid and nearly twice as much potash as a ton of leached 
ashes. Both kinds of ashes are too bulky for mixing with 
the hen manure. At the price given we would buy all the 
tannery ashei we could get and broadcast heavily, using 
nitrate of soda or some other form of nitrogen in the spring. 
With the materials mentioned we doubt if a profitable 
mixture of the hen manure could be made. We would 
prefer to mix it with dissolved bone-black and muriate or 
sulphate of potash and use it on potatoes, or use it alone on 
corn. Hen manure alone is better suited for corn than for 
any other crop. Its average composition is nearer, in 
its proportion of nitrogen to potash and phosphoric acid, 
to the standard corn fertilizers than those for wheat or 
potatoes. At the present values of fertilizing materials, 
the 675 pounds of hen manure are worth but $3.12, and it 
would cost at least $1.00 to properly mix it with other sub¬ 
stances, as It would have to be ground or crushed. We 
would not use hen manure as a basis for a mixed fertilizer 
unless we had a large quantity of it, and could mix it with 
concentrated forms of potash and phosphoric acid so as to 
avoid great bulk and weight. The last report of the 
Pennsylvania Experiment Station contains an interesting 
statement regarding the value of tannery ashes. From 
the figures there given it would seem as though there 
were few cheaper sources of potash and phosphoric acid; 
while each ton also contains nearly 1,300 pounds of lime. 
A Small Asparagus Patch. 
Subscriber (address mislaid.)—I want to set out a small 
asparagus patch, and would like any information The R. 
N.-Y. can give me. 
Ans.—S elect strong, one-year-old plants in preference to 
older one3. Plant in trenches 18 inches deep, not less than 
four feet apart, the plants being at least two feet apart in 
the trenches—three feet would be better. The soil should 
be moderately fertile, and, unless quite rich, should be fer¬ 
tilized every summer after the cutting season is over. The 
object of such deep planting is to keep the crowns from 
getting so near the surface as to be injured in cutting the 
shoots, as the tendency of the roots is to work upward. 
The trenches should be filled gradually, the roots being 
covered but two or three inches when planted. Theground 
should be kept well cultivated and free from weeds. Cut¬ 
ting may begin usually the next year after planting, and a 
full crop will be possible the third year. The life of a good 
bed is practically unlimited. We know of vigorous beds 
which have been cut for 60 years. They have had the best 
of care, however. Asparagus Culture, an English work, 
will be mailed from this office for 50 cents. 
MISCELLANEOUS. 
Black Walnuts in New York.—W. H., Norwich, N. Y.— 
The Black Walnut is indigenous in central New Yo**k. 
The most successful method of growing trees is to plant 
the nuts, as soon as gathered, where the trees are to grow. 
Trees have a long tap root and transplanting is liable to 
injure them. They may, however, be transplanted if great 
care is taken. The nuts may be placed in sand when gath¬ 
ered instead of being planted at once, and planted in spring, 
or the trees may be purchased of nurserymen. 
Farm Help in Connecticut. —A. R., Perry, N. Y.— 
There is complaint of a general scarcity of reliable farm 
help through the southern and eastern parts of Connec¬ 
ticut. Wages i un from $15 to $20 per month and board for 
best hands. 
