1893 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
493 
Chemicals to Cure Daisies. 
G. C. M., Sunsicle, N. Y. —I have a field of 10 acres 
that has produced clover, Timothy and clover, and 
now yields Timothy and daisies. It is well worked 
down smooth, while the stones, large and small, have 
been carefully removed. I cannot give it barnyard 
manure, as other parts of the farm must have it. If 
commercial fertilizers will make it produce good hay, 
I would prefer to use them. 1. If I put on potassium 
after mowing this season, in what shape should it be— 
that of chloride, carbonate or nitrate ? How much to 
the acre, and what would be the probable cost at New 
York city, f. o. b., per ton. 2. What form of phos¬ 
phoric acid should be used, and how much per acre ? 
3. What should be applied for a spring fertilizer in 
connection with this fall dressing ? 
Axs.—Including the nitrogen to be used in the 
spring, we should use at least 500 pounds per acre of a 
mixture containing 4% per cent nitrogen, 7 per cent 
phosphoric acid, and 5 per cent potash. We should 
apply the potash and phosphoric acid in the fall, and 
use the nitrogen early in the spring. For potash, use 
the muriate which contains about 50 per cent of pure 
potash, or 50 pounds per acre for the dressing pro¬ 
posed above. For phosphoric acid you may use raw 
bone flour or a superphosphate. The raw bone phos¬ 
phoric acid is not at once available, but it will contain 
about three per cent of nitrogen, together with about 
20 per cent of phosphoric acid. For use in the spring, 
use nitrate of soda. In our own case, we should ex¬ 
periment about as follows : On one acre use two bags 
of special grass fertilizer, one in the fall and the other 
in the spring; on three others at the rate per acre of 
50 pounds of potash, 200 of basic slag, with 150 pounds 
of nitrate of soda in the spring ; on another try 50 
pounds of potash and 250 of a good superphosphate 
per acre, with the same amount of nitrate of so:ia ; on 
the balance, 50 pounds of muriate, 200 of ground raw 
bone, and 50 of nitrate in the spring. This would 
make an excellent experiment, but, if you do not wish 
to experiment, we think the muriate and superphos¬ 
phate, with nitrate of soda in the spring, will be 
cheapest We would not guarantee, however, that 
chemicals will breed the daisies out of the field. It 
may be so overrun with this weed that plowing and 
reseeding are needed. 
Grass Worse Than Banquo’s Ghost. 
E. T., Pope'8 Ferry , Ga .—What is the best method of 
destroying Nut grass ? I have tried repeated applica¬ 
tions of salt and other things without avail. The 
Elmira (N. Y.) Farmers’ Club advised prevention of 
blooming for two years as a sure remedy. The often- 
mown parks of a neighboring city do not attest the 
correctness of this. Like Binquo’s ghost, it is there 
still. 
Axs.—This Nut grass is the Cyperus rotundus of 
botanists. It is also known as Hydra cyperus or Coco¬ 
grass. It belongs to the Sedge family and is one of 
the worst pests known in portions of the South. From 
the base of the stein a root descends perpendicularly 
six to eighteen inches, and then produces a small 
tuber. From this tuber horizontal fibers extend in 
every direction, producing now fibers at intervals of 
six to eight inches, and these immediately shoot up 
stems to the suface of the earth and throw out lat¬ 
eral fibers to form a new progeny. This process is 
interminable, it is said. The only means by which this 
“ grass” can be extirpated, so far as we are informed, 
is to cultivate the spots where it grows every day 
throughout the entire season. In their perpetual 
efforts to throw their leaves to the light, the roots 
become enfeebled. But this is a rather heroic treat¬ 
ment. 
What Makes the Cows Scour? 
J. B. IF., Arena, N. Y. —What are the cause and cure 
of scours in my dairy of cows ? It began almost a 
week ago and nearly all have got it now. Their past¬ 
ure is the same as it had been in the past, and I do not 
think the trouble is caused by any weed they have 
eaten. They fall away in flesh and also in their milk 
from eight quarts to one in two or three days, and two 
or three are almost dry. 
Axs.—An epidemic of scouring of this nature may 
be due to various causes, but usually it is owing to 
something in the food or drinking water. With the 
food it may be quantity, quality or some element that 
acts as an irritant. Overfeeding, especially on suc¬ 
culent food or too heavy a grain ration, is liable to 
cause scouring in cows. Unwholesome or stagnant 
drinking water also frequently causes trouble. The 
cause may be in the management of the animals, by 
which they are not watered regularly or only after 
too long intervals so that they drink too much at once, 
or are given active exercise after a hearty drink of 
cold water. Exposure so as to produce a chill, or 
climatic changes might be a cause. In fact, almost 
anything which deranges or interferes with the diges¬ 
tion may be followed by diarrhea. Your history of 
the trouble gives us no clue as to the probable cause 
in this case. If there appears to be no other cause 
and the trouble continues, a change of food or drink¬ 
ing water or both may be desirable. Medicinal treat 
ment will probably not be required. The attention 
should be mainly directed to discovering the cause, so 
as to remove or avoid it if possible. A little old hay 
once daily would be better than an all-grass ration. 
If grain is being fed, reduce it at least one-half or 
suspend feeding altogether for a few days. In obsti¬ 
nate cases one quart of linseed oil may be given, and 
the dose repeated in two or three days if not purged. 
Then give one ounce each of laudanum, Jamaica gin¬ 
ger and sodium carbonate, in a quart of well boiled 
starch gruel, three or four times daily. Discontinue 
the medicine as soon as the diarrhea is checked. 
F. I,. KILBORXE. 
Mnst Lime for Bordeaux Mixture Be Fresh ? 
G. A. P., Wilawana, Pa .—Is it necessary to use fresh 
lime in the Bordeaux Mixture, or will air-slaked lime 
do as well ? From my reading I have received the im¬ 
pression that the sulphate of copper is the fungicide, 
and that the lime is not necessary to destroy the fungus 
spores. In the direc’ions accompanying my sprayer 
fresh lime is recommended, also in other formulas for 
the Bordeaux Mixture. 
Axs.—I cannot say positively that air-slaked lime is 
as valuable in making the Bordeaux Mixture as fresh 
lime. An Italian chemist has paid some attention to 
this subject, and comes to the conclusion that air- 
slaked lime, if used in larger quantities, say one-fourth 
more, is as good as quick-lime. However, I should not 
like to recommend it upon the investigations of one 
man, and should advise the use of fresh lime in the 
preparation of Bordeaux Mixture. What the active 
principle of the Mixture is, is still unsettled. It is 
known that the sulphate of copper is broken up in the 
presence of the lime and that several compounds are 
formed, and in all probability those compounds in 
which copper is present are the ones that have a fun,' i- 
cidal value. The sulphate of copper used in forming 
the Bordeaux Mixture cannot be found when the Mix¬ 
ture is prepared, but only the materials which go to 
form it. e. a. lodf.max. 
To Kill Insects In Grain. 
A. J., Grape Creek, 111 .—Two of my wheat bins are 
infested with little white worms about half an inch 
long. They have black tips, weave webs in the wheat, 
and live on it. Are they what is known as the English 
grain moth ? What will rid the bins of them after the 
wheat is removed ? Can they be destroyed in the 
wheat without removing it ? 
Ans.—W ithout seeing specimens of the worms, it is 
impossible to say whether the pest is the Angoumois 
grain moth (Qelechia cereallella), the Mediterranean 
flour moth (Ephestia kuhniella), or the Indian meal 
moth (Ephestia zem.) Either species is common, and 
often does great damage to stored grains. The best 
way to rid a bin of wheat of these pests is to treat it 
with bisulphide of carbon, a volatile explosive liquid 
requiring precautions in using. One pound of this sub¬ 
stance is sufficient to treat one ton of grain. Pour 
the liquid into a shallow dish, and place this on the 
surface of the grain in the bin. Close the bin imme¬ 
diately and make it as nearly air-tight as possible with 
blankets, if the cover does not fit tightly. Keep it 
closed for two or three days. As the fumes of the 
bisulphide are heavier than the air, they will permeate 
the whole bin and will destroy all animal life. The 
fumes are very explosive, so no lights of any kind 
should be brought near the bin for several days. A 
second treatment may be necessary in some cases. The 
bisulphide of carbon can be bought in small quantities 
cf druggists. Fifty-pound cans may be obtained 
directly from the manufacturer, E. R. Taylor, chemist, 
Cleveland, O., for 10 cents a pound. 
Cornell Ex. Station. m. v. sringkrt.axd. 
Texas Onions Without Manure. 
C. IF. G., Lyles, lexas .—I wish to make a specialty 
of cabbage and onion raising, transplanting the 
onions. The land is an old farm, the soil, of a sandy 
nature, has been farmed about 20 years by Mexicans, 
principally in corn, and nothing has ever been put on 
it to keep up its fertility, but it still produces fair 
crops, which have to be raised by irrigation. The 
water is of an alkaline nature, not very strong, but 
enough so to leave a white, salty crust on top of the 
ground after several waterings. It is impossible for 
me to get manure of any kind, and while cabbages 
and onions do fairly well, it is so much work to pre¬ 
pare the ground for such crops that I wish to raise 
the largest crops possible. Fertilizers cos', very high 
here, and I would like to know reasonably well what 
to buy to give the best results, and how to apply the 
same. I think the alkali in the water would furnish 
all the potash necessary ; if so, what would be best to 
secure the best results, or would it be best to use a 
complete fertilizer for each crop ? 
Axs.—Phosphoric acid and nitrogen in some form 
are what you need, and we would advise you first and 
foremost to try fine, raw bone flour as furnishing 
both phosphoric acid and nitrogen. Cotton-seed meal 
or cotton-hull ashes ought to be cheap near you. The 
meal contains considerable nitrogen, but not enough 
phosphoric acid. From analyses of irrigation waters 
in Arizona, we do not believe the water brings enough 
potash to the soil. 
To Kill Off a Quack. 
IF. T. D., Dundee , Pa. —What is the inclosed grass? 
How can I get rid of it ? One of my fields is half 
this grass this season. Last season it was in wheat, 
and the year before in potatoes, and that cultivation 
did not destroy it and my farmer says that on ac 
count of the many roots it has and its toughness he 
could hardly plow the field or cultivate the potatoes. 
Will it make permanent pasture, or is it a desirable 
grass for hay? What does my soil need to raise clover 
instead of this ? 
Axs.—This is Quack grass, Creeping wheat, Twitch 
grass—Triticum or Agropyrum repens. It is really 
a valuable grass, but it is ob jectionable because of its 
running root stems which soon take possession of the 
soil. We have had a deal of experience with it, and 
it is quite at home at the Rural Farm. Our way of 
exterminating it is to put the land in corn and culti¬ 
vate it freely during the hottest and driest part of 
the season. The roots are thus exposed and killed. 
As to whether it will make permanent pasture, our 
experience is that in four or five years the roots be¬ 
come so crowded in the soil that they literally kill 
each other, and the growth of grass becomes short 
and comparatively worthless. The largest yield of 
corn ever raised at the Rural Farm was upon an old 
Quack sod. We think our friend might raise fine 
crops of clover after corn cultivated as above described. 
Soil That Has Lost Its Savor. 
B. IF. P., Grand Rapids , Mich. —On my farm near 
this city there was formerly (perhaps 20 years ago) a 
salt well and works, and in places where the brine 
ran to waste nothing whatever will grow, not even 
weeds. The land looks well, and we are working 
these barren places in the same way as the rest of 
the field. Is there anything we can apply to this 
land that will bring it back to its former fertility ? 
Axs —We would suggest a liberal application of 
lime or plaster, mixing it thoroughly with the soil. 
The sure way to cure the soil is to flood it and wash 
the salt out, but this is not practicable. 
When to Use the Manure. 
F. V. C, Indianapolis, Irul. —I have a piece of clay 
land now in corn, which promised fair and which I 
wish to put in potatoes next season. I intend as soon 
as I have finished cultivating corn to sow to rye for 
fall and winter pasture for cows, and then plow it 
under in the spring. I also wish to dress it heavily 
with stable manure from horses bedded with saw¬ 
dust. When should this be done ? Some of my 
neighbors advise to spread on rye and plow under; 
others to plow under rye and harrow first, and then 
spread manure and harrow again before planting. 
Which will give the better results? 
Axs.—We should put the manure on the rye during 
the winter, and then plow and harrow the field just 
before planting the potatoes. This will give a better 
rye crop to be plowed under. We do not believe in 
putting fresh manure and sawdust directly on pota¬ 
toes, as, in our experience, it has injured the quality 
to do so and will surely cause scab. It is also easier 
and cheaper to haul the manure during the winter. 
A New Pear and Plum. 
S. G., Eylon, W. Va. —Is there a pear named Chadron? 
Is there a plum named Lincoln and has The R. N.-Y. 
tried it ? 
Axs.—We know nothing of the first. The Lincoln 
plum is from the seed of the Green Gage and is said to 
be wonderfully prolific and partly curculio-proof. 
The plums are large, often measuring over two inches 
long and as much in diameter. The color is a dark 
red with bloom, the flesh yellow, sweet and juicy. It 
is a freestone. 
MISCELLANEOUS. 
B. Holmes Jr., Albany, N. Y.—The sample you send 
is White clover which varies from white to rose color. 
We could not distinguish the color of the heads sent; 
they were too dry for that. 
Crimson Clover, Cabbage Insect. —Subscriber—1. The 
value of Crimson clover for hay is much the same as 
that of Red clover. It will thrive on soils too poor 
for the latter. It is an annual which will stand ordin¬ 
ary winters as far north as New York. Occasionally, 
however, it is entirely killed by the winters. It is of 
thrifty, quick growth, and herein consists its chief 
advantage over the Red sort. We would not advise 
sowing it on any land that is not well prepared ; nor 
would we hope for a paying crop on soil too poor for 
Red clover. The price is about $12 per 100 pounds. 
2. We could not identify the insects from the currant 
leaf sent. They seemed to be green fly or aphis. For 
this there is virtually no remedy. Tobacco water or 
kerosene emulsion will kill the pests by contact; but 
it is hard to reach them, as they prefer the under side 
of the leaf, which soon curls enough to give protection 
against any spray. 
