THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
577 
1891 
and ewe that have not only been twins, but also descended 
from twins. To spilt a hair—I would rather select for a 
stock ram a lamb sired by a ram that frequently begot 
twins than a twin if the latter was but an isolated in¬ 
stance. In the first instance breeding would be relied 
upon ; in the other, feeding or an instance more or less of 
the nature of a sport. Fertility in all kinds of stock runs 
closely in families, and this of itself reflects the influence 
of breeding in this direction. JOHN A. craig. 
The Farmers Club. 
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
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Cause of Scab in Potatoes. 
N. R., Dutchess County, N. Y. —What is the cause of the 
scab on potatoes ?—they look as if they were eaten by worms 
or grubs. I was told that they would grow smooth if potato 
special manure was used, and I have used it for several 
years and my potatoes are just as scabby as they were sev¬ 
eral years ago. I am inclined to tnink the cause lies in the 
soil—a sort of scab or eruption. 
Ans.— On page 302 of this year’s volume the Rural printed 
pictures of two scabby potatoes and a synopsis of Dr. R. 
Thaxter’s experiments in transmitting the disease from 
one tuber to another. The whole thing will be found in the 
Annual report of the Connecticut Experiment Station (New 
Haven) for 1890, Dr. Thaxter concludes that “scab” Is a 
disease of the skin of the tuber which is communicated from 
one tuber to another by contact—as small pox, scarlet fever 
and other diseases are similarly transmitted from one hu¬ 
man being to another. There are certain conditions of soil 
and manuring that are more likely to cause the disease 
germs or fungi to develop than are others. The chemical 
fertilizers may not act directly to kill the fungi, but they 
usually give a poorer field for their development than when 
stable manure is used. The chances are better with ferti. 
lizers than with manure, but there is no certainty of pre¬ 
vention with the present combinations of chemicals. It is 
to be hoped that future studies of the cisease will give us 
some clue to a treatment of the soil, that will prevent or 
cure It. 
Cutting Potato Seed ; Tlle-dralnlng a Well. 
J. R. McM., Buryettstown, Pa. —1. How does T. B. Terry 
cut potatoes for planting to increase the yield from the 
seed pieces ? 2. Can I convey the water from a small 
spring a distance of 16 rods through a soil part of which 
is wet and needing drainage, and the remainder dry ? Will 
the water escape at the joints in passing through the dry 
ground ? 
Ans.— 1. The potatoes which I cut last season to increase 
the yield were early potatoes. I kept them in the cellar, 
not in the pit with my ordinary seed. They were kept 
cool so that the sprouts would not start very early. As 
soon as they did start in the least, we spread the seed out 
to a single thickness and let in the full daylight. (We have 
curtains of thick black cloth over the cellar windows to 
keep the place dark. These are readily raised by pulling a 
string when one goes into a room and wants some light.) 
The sprouts thus grew tough, green and stocky, and were 
one-eighth to one-fourth of an inch long when we were 
ready to plant—the first of May. They would not readily 
break off in handling. Now, nearly every eye showed two 
or three little green points, although some had but a sin¬ 
gle one, and small at that. Occasionally one had not 
started. First we cut the tuber to one aye. Then every 
eye In which two or more little sprouts had started we 
divided with great care so as to give each little point 
about an equal amount of tuber. The eyes that had started 
only one sprout, and that rather feeble, we did not split, 
although with care enough these might be readily split in 
the center and each side be made to sprout. We did not 
carry the division as far as one might, by any means, but 
simply far enough to seed 1% acre well with 165 pounds of 
potatoes. Finer cutting would have required still finer 
tillage, just as one-eye cuttings require more than whole 
seed. When the sprouts first start out on a potato, you 
will notice that you will usually see two or three little 
points. After growing a little, one goes ahead and the 
others shrink back. For fine cutting one wants all these 
little points visible. 
2. You had better lay a pipe to take the water from the 
spring to the watering place. Tiles will do on clay sub¬ 
soil where there is plenty of water. But the water will 
soak out of them, between the joints, in the dry, gravelly 
ground, in a dry time, and be lost, j usb as readily as it 
soaks in in a wet time. This I know by experience. The 
waste pipe of our cistern at the house is a string of drain 
tiles only about three or four rods long. When the cistern 
gets full and a four inch pipe brings the water from the 
entire house roof, little water flows out of the end of the 
waste drain. It is laid through gravelly loam, and the 
water soaks out. I have the same principle at work in a 
number of places on the farm, that is, I have short drains 
to drain little wet spots, or springy places, or little basins 
in the subsoil, by carrying the water down a little to 
where the subsoil is more porous, and the water will soak 
away and never flow out of the end of the drain. In fact, 
these drains have no outlet, and have given perfect satis¬ 
faction for years, and will doubtless as long as I live. 
Sometimes it was not convenient to get an outlet, and at 
others we wished to avoid the trouble of caring for so 
many. I have just been cutting very heavy wheat on three 
such spots, where there would have been none without 
these blind drains. I have two slightly springy places 
drained with tiles, and the water is carried some 30 rods 
to an outlet through clay subsoil. They run and deliver 
plenty of water in wet weather, but when it gets dry, 
although it is nearly always wet around the outlet, no 
water is running. There is so little water running in the 
drain that the clay absorbs it. If you want to increase 
the supply of water in wet weather by getting the drain¬ 
age from that wet land, or if you wish to drain the land, 
why, put in a pipe from the spring directly through, and 
a tile drain from the wet land to the watering place. The 
expense will be slight. T. B. terry. 
Wheat That Is Weak in the Back. 
E. C. H , Troy, 0 —Many farmers hereabouts have cause 
long to remember the wheat harvest of 1891. Last season 
the wheat crop here was poor, generally, on all kinds of 
soil, while this year it was almost universally good on all 
soils, but a large proportion of it lodged and the difficulty 
of cutting, and the waste were very great. Six times in 
two days my self-binder was stopped to procure repairs 
from town, (2L miles travel each way) while neighbors all 
around were in similar trouble. Now our farmers are 
much interested in wheat that will stand up. If there is a 
deficiency of silica In the straw, it is not because of its 
scarcity in the soil. Is the plant for some reason unable to 
assimilate the proper quantity—as animals sometimes 
have bones that are too weak for their proportions ? Can¬ 
not our learned men at the experiment stations analyze 
stalk and soil, and give some information in time for the 
coming wheat ? I had a 12-acre field of oat stubble and a 
larger field of corn, which were adjoining; the former 
was plowed three times, and as often harrowed, rolled, 
etc., while the wheat was sown in the usual manner in the 
corn field. Both were lodged easily by the heavy rains. 
A third field on poorer ground stood up passably well. Is 
a great deal of tillage and manuring to be punished in this 
way as a general thing ? Much loss and inconvenience 
also arise from the lodging of the corn stalks. We are not 
given to understand that there is usually any lack of silica 
in the soil, and (at least in my case) every stalk of straw 
and corn is returned to the fields. There seems to be no 
deficiency in the number or strength of the roots, but the 
stalks are too weak. We are getting too much down and 
shriveled wheat and too much unmerchantable corn. Do 
they not need to be planted differently, so that they can 
get more light and air ? 
Ans.— Plants vary greatly as to silica contents. Some, 
like Horse-tail (Equisetum) have over 5u per cent of silica 
in the ash; others have scarcely any. Fine corn has been 
raised without any silica. There is no proof that weak 
stems are due to a deficiency of silica. Some kinds of 
wheat are notable for weak stems wherever grown. Again, 
one season the stem is weak and the grain lodges, while in 
another season the same variety on the same land will 
stand until harvested. An application of lime, plaster, 
wood ashes or salt often seems in some way to give greater 
strength to the straw. 
More about "Chemicals and Clover.” 
J. L., Glanworth, Ontario —1. With regard to the use 
of chemicals and clover on that New Jersey farm, I would 
like to know what is done with the straw and corn stalks 
and feed of that description if the owner keeps only such 
a small amount of stock ? 2. What amount to the acre of 
fertilizers does he use? 3. I have a field that grew fall 
wheat this year, which is somewhat infested with thistles; 
would it pay to sow buckwheat to be plowed under this 
fall ? 4. In plowing down clover for potatoes, when should 
it be done—in fall or spring ? 5. Would it pay to sow rye 
this fall to be plowed under for potatoes in the spring, and 
how much should I sow per acre ? Would it be possible to 
use the trench mulch system in planting that way ? 
Ans.— 1. The article on page 478 seemed to answer this 
question. All straw, stalks, etc. are put on the grass sod for 
corn. The cows and mules are fed on stalks. The re¬ 
mainder of the stalks are either worked over by the hogs 
or rotted down in the yard the ooject being to decay them 
as soon as possible. Large quantities of the straw are used 
for bedding and the rest as an absorbent in the barnyard. 
When possible many of the stalks are sold to nearby dairy 
men. As was stated on page 478, Mr. Lewis believes it 
would pay him to chop up all his stalks and straw simply 
to make them decay faster and give easier handling. 2. 
This year’s potato field averaged about 1,260 pounds per 
acre, while something over 250 pounds per acre went on the 
corn field. Mr. Lewis expects to “work up” to 1,800 pounds 
per acre with profit. 3. Probably; what crop is to follow 
it ? 4. Mr. Terry plows the clover in the spring with good 
success. On the New Jersey fertilizer farms corn follows 
clover, which is plowed in the spring. 5. Yes; we think so. 
It is well to have the ground continually covered with some 
crop. Mr. Lewis writes that under certain conditions it 
will pay him to sow rye in the corn field and plow it under 
for potatoes. If the rye ground is well plowed and thor¬ 
oughly worked up with a good harrow, perfect trenches 
can be made. 
"Chemicals and Clover” for Timothy. 
H. T. P., Addison County, Vermont.—I have a small 
farm of about 150 acres all paid for, but I am in debt for 
part of my tools and stock. There are quite a good many 
bad weeds in my grass such as chicory, wild carrots 
and daisies; could I plow the land sow to oats and apply 
about 500 pounds of some standard fertilizer to Timothy ? 
Would the fertilizer be likely to remain to benefit the 
grass crop after the first year or two ? Would it be better 
to use 1,000 pounds ? My meadows are quite level—some 
loam with a clay subsoil; some alluvial muck, etc. They 
yield now about one ton of poor hay per acre. When 
newly seeded to clover they will cut, say, tons; but not 
for more than a year or two. I want to raise about three 
tong of good Timothy per acre and other crops in propor¬ 
tion. Keeping stock and feeding the hay is too slow a 
business and carries too many weed seeds back on the 
farm. What brands of fertilizers are the best? To me to 
spend $300 would look likequitea bigrisk; but if the money 
will come back in the end, it would be all right. I be¬ 
lieve all farmers must do something to increase the yield 
of hay and grain. 
Ans.—W e always hesitate about advising an outlay of 
cash in a new and untried venture. We can only say that 
in other places with soil much like that described here, 
chemicals have paid well. We would sow wheat or rye in 
preference to oats. This will enable our friend to start the 
new plan this fall and also give a surer chance for the 
grass to start. If there is a market for rye straw, we would 
sow rye—if not, wheat. The fertilizer will certainly “ re¬ 
main to benefit the grass.” There can be no question upon 
that. In seeding to grain we would prefer to use 500 pounds 
per acre, and, later, yearly applications of 250 to 300 pounds 
per acre to the grass. New England is a natural grass 
country and we have no doubt that an average yield of 2>£ 
tons of Timothy per acre is easily possible. We would sow 
clover on the wheat in the spring—mainly for the good it 
would do the newly broken ground. Of course, 500 pounds 
of fertilizer will not produce a good crop of wheat and also 
give profitable crops of grass year after year; but with 
yearly applications of fertilizer the yield can be kept up at 
a light cost and with little labor. The surest way to use 
fertilizers is in a rotation where potatoes or some other 
crop that is largely water can receive a heavy dressing of 
fertilizer and pay an immediate return for it,—leaving the 
residue for subsequent crops of wheat and grass. This is 
the surest way, but it may not be practicable in the present 
case, as it may involve too much labor or our inquirer may 
not be so situated as to find a profitable potato market. If 
the object is to develop a good Timothy hay farm without 
keeping stock, fertilizers on wheat or rye, with subsequent 
yearly applications to the grass, will answer. We would 
cut the weeds before they go to seed, plow the ground early 
and work it thoroughly. The Mapes, Stockbridge and 
Bradley fertilizers are all good. 
Inseot Injuring Red Raspberries. 
F. T., New Uaven, Conn.— What is the inclosed insect 
which was found on a red raspberry bush ? 
Ans.— The insect is the raspberry geometer—Synchlosa 
rubivoraria (Riley). It is a small “ measuring-worm ” or 
“looper”(a little more than a half-inch in length,) that 
loops its bcdy in walking in the shape of the Greek capital 
letter Omega, by bringing in its two terminal pairs of legs 
in contact with its three interior pairs, being destitute of 
the three intermediate pairs with which most caterpillars 
are provided. Wnen resting, which it does in its looped form 
and not extended in a straight line from the branch after 
the manner of many of the geometers—It looks so unlike a 
living object, that it would doubtless be passed unnoticed 
unless it were accidentally seen in motion. A number of 
spines project from various parts of its body, upon which 
and to other points the larva has fastened the anthers of 
the raspberry blossoms and other bits of vegetation, so 
thickly as almost to conceal its true form—no doubt serv¬ 
ing the purpose for which they were employed, viz., con¬ 
cealment from its enemies. Its fondness for using the an¬ 
thers for its covering is remarkable: one of the two spec¬ 
imens sent is almost entirely covered with them. Writers 
have remarked upon this peculiarity. The caterpillar is 
found upon the raspberry when it has ripened or is nearly 
ripe; earlier, in all probability it feeds upon the blossom 
and the young fruit. Nothing is known of its early 
stages. When full-grown it assumes the pupa stage 
within a slight cocoon, and in a few days gives out the 
perfected insect, which is a delicate moth of about a half¬ 
inch expanse of wings, of a pale green color, having both 
pairs of wings traversed by two whitish cross bands. As 
the insect is never injuriously abundant, no remedial 
measures are needed against it. If my memory serves me 
aright ([ am writing in the mountains away from books), 
Mrs. Mary Treat has given in the American Entomologist, 
Volume I or II, an interesting account of her observation 
upon this insect, under the name of Aphlodes rublvera, 
telling of her great disappointment upon learning that 
some one else had previously seen this grotesque creature 
and had given It description and name. Saunders, in his In¬ 
sects Injurious to Fruits, has figured and described it. 
N. Y. State Entomologist. j. A. lintner. 
Treatment of Over-Luxuriant Small Fruits. 
W. W., Canada. —1. I have a fine patch of red rasp¬ 
berries and keep them thinned out between the rows, but 
they grow so thickly in the hills that the fruit has little 
chance of ripening; what is the best way to treat them ? 
Would It be best to thin out the new wood ? What is the 
proper time to cutoff the tops for next season’s wood ? 2. I 
have also some gooseberries growing in the same thick busn, 
but the wood is fine and runs to a great length often on 
the ground, where it strikes roots. I trim them out in the 
spring; but do not cut them back; should I do so ? 3. 
Ought red and white currants to be shortened In spring or 
pruned ? 
Ans.— 1. Red raspberries should be confined to from three 
to five canes per hill. All others should be treated as 
weeds as they appear. We would at this time (though bat¬ 
ter earlier) thin out as above. 2. If gooseberries make too 
rank a growth cutting back is advisable. The ordinary 
way is to cut out a considerable part of the oldest wood 
each fall or spring and to cut out all other shoots that 
promise to make the bushes too de_ise. 3. The same should 
be the treatment for currants. 
MISCELLANEOUS. 
Potted Strawberry Plants.—W. P., Kingston, N. J.— 
As to the 500 Gandy and 500 Bubach No. 5 Strawberries, 
potted plants that have been treated j ust right would be the 
best. The cost would be considerable, however, and, as a 
rule, we are free to advise our readers to choose strong 
runner plants. Plant at once. 
Strawberries for Home Consumption.— N. D. S., Del- 
phos, Ohio.—For home use we would select from Charles 
Downing, Cumberland Triumph, Parker Earle, Suarp- 
less, Middlefield, Pearl and Parry. May King, Michel’s 
Early and Lovett’s Early are good early kinds, though 
Michel’s Early in dry seasons is rather small. 
