November 18 
and by spring, it will nearly all go to pieces, and help 
keep the soil loose on top.” i 
“ What is your experience in using manure or 
chemical fertilizers ? ” 
“ For manuring, each one must use his own judg¬ 
ment as to whether he can better use manure or fer¬ 
tilizers. I have used nitrate of soda once, 200 pounds 
per acre and it gave me too much of a growth ; it was 
not of so good quality, but I got about 150 pounds 
more from one acre than in other years. At the same 
time I had used 800 pounds of sylvinit and 4,500 pounds 
of salt on the same piece. I cut 5,500 pounds ; I h-.d 
too much. I would not advise using manure either on 
or under the plants when first set. I believe more 
plants are killed or injured by the manure when first 
set than from any other cause. Give them good clean 
soil to start in, and then after they are well started 
apply the manure on top. Some may think that I 
advise the use of too much salt, but I only tell what I 
do ; I will say that salt will not kill asparagus if 
it is applied two inches deep. I have covered aspar¬ 
i,jp The farmer who depends upon the crops usually 
raised on the farm for his profits, if he can sell manure 
for $3 per ton, would better engage in dairying, pasture 
his entire farm, buy feed for his live stock in winter, 
and get rich selling manure. 
In point of fact, the market value of manure in 
i country places is not more than $1 per ton. It is 
i freely bought and sold et that price, and, in some 
i cases, true economy will warrant the use of 25 loads to 
the acre at one time. The commercial value of the 
. plant food contained in the manure has very little to 
do with the question. The price of manure itself 
and its practical value when used in producing 
crops are the important factors in the problem under 
consideration. 
In the vicinity of my farm there are several fields 
where formerly large crops of corn and other grains 
and grass were grown. Now through lack of fertility 
they will not produce a paying crop of any kind. 
Twenty-five loads of good manure per acre would put 
those fields now practically worthless, in condition to 
produce the first year 15 to 20 tons of en¬ 
silage corn, the second year 50 bushels 
of pease and oats, and the third year 
2 K ions of clover to the acre at one 
cutting. At the end of the three years, 
the land would be in shape to begin a 
profitable course with less manure. 
The profit on the three crops would 
pay for the manure used and the land 
from being practically worthless, would 
be valued at least at $50 per acre. 
If a few acres of this land in its 
poverty should be bought and attached 
« to a farm already in excellent condi¬ 
tion, would it be true economy to be- 
| gin improvement by applying five tons 
of manure to the acre ? That amount 
would not produce a corn crop the 
i first year, and I do not believe that 
the yearly application of five tons for 
five years or 25 tons in all would show 
as much net profit and soil improve¬ 
ment at the end of that time as 25 tons 
used the first season would at the end 
of three years. Lack of space forbids 
that I should at this time make the 
estimate and strike the balance be¬ 
tween the two methods. The practical 
farmer in doing this will not overlook 
the added expense for labor in work¬ 
ing the land for the longer period. 
Lowville, N. Y. c. s. bice. 
make so much difference if the roots are small, if they 
show this well-developed crown. If they show only 
one or two buds of the right kind, they will come out 
all right.” 
“ Would you plant anything among the asparagus ? ” 
“ Yes ; after the asparagus is set, I cover about two 
inches with good soil, after which the land may be 
planted with potatoes between the hills one way, and 
covered the same as the roots. As each crop comes 
up, work the soil around the plants, thus leveling 
tbe surface and keeping the weeds down.” 
“ What is to be done in the fall?” 
“ After taking out the potatoes, cut all seed bearing 
asparagus stalks and burn them. Give the bed a good 
cultivating, leaving the tops of the asparagus. By 
spring they will about all have disappeared. In the 
fall or winter put on two tons of salt per acre, and 50 
to 75 bushels of slaked lime. I would buy the lime and 
slake it on the ground. At this time apply more 
manure. If manure cannot be had, I would cover 
with any coarse stuff; buckwheat straw is good.” 
“ What do you do the second year ? ” 
“ As early as the field can be worked 
in spring, I harrow and mix with the 
soil, and break up all this coarse stuff 
so far as possible, raking the rest be¬ 
tween the rows. Beans or squashes 
may be planted the second year if they 
are not put so close that the vines will 
pile up on each other. The roots 
should have a good start; take off all 
seed stalks as before, and this should 
be done every fall, as it saves much 
labor and vexation of spirit while 
cutting young grass.” 
Important Facts About Cutting. 
“ When do you expect a crop ? ” 
“The third year we are ready to 
cut some, and this is the moBt important 
part of all. While cutting for market, 
cut everything, no matter how slender; 
if not large enough for market, use it in 
the family or leave it on the ground. 
By leaving any of this small stuff to 
grow up, it takes the strength from the 
others, and the hill soon stops sending 
up strong shoots.” 
“ Any cultivating done now ? ” 
“ If weeds start up we use the culti¬ 
vator and hoe, and let nothing grow 
but what will bring something in the 
market.” 
“You think the cutting is a very 
important part of the business ? ” 
“Yes; my way of cutting seems to 
me the best of any I have yet seen. I 
don’t allow the knife to go into the 
ground at anytime. If one gets in a t 
hurry, and thinks that by cutt ng two 
or three inches in the ground, he will 
gain by so doing, he should stop and 
think for a moment. Let it stand one 
more day, and the grass will be up 
so it can be cut above ground, and one 
can see what he is cutting. Thus we 
get all good sweet meat, and will not 
push the knife into some young shoot 
not yet out of the ground, which must 
be the case if cut under ground.” 
.“What is the best tool with which 
to cut ? ” 
“ A short knife. I use a good, steel 
table knife, cut off about one-third 
from the point, grind sharp on the end 
and one edge. As the cutter takes 
hold of the young shoot with one 
hand, he puts the point of the knife to it close to the 
ground, and as soon as the skin is cut it will break. 
With a little practice, one will cut quite even for 
length. I have sometimes cut twice a day to have it 
nice, and that is what pays. Another very important 
thing is not to put the foot on the hill while cutting 
or crossing the field. By being careful in all these 
things, one can have about all his asparagus cut 
straight and even, and that is what tells in the 
selling.” 
“ This extra work pays, does it ? ” 
“I never have, in 15 years, had to go into the 
market with a load of grass unsold. The same parties 
have it every spring, and pay me a price that gives 
me a good profit.” 
Steam Power in Manure Making. 
The discussions which appeared in 
The R. N.-Y. of November 4, on the 
subject of applying manure, are in- 
teresting and valuable to the, novice in 
P||| » agriculture. From the sum of the 
testimony it appears that a general 
rule is not applicable. The quality, 
the time and manner of applying the 
SpS? manure, the nature and condition of 
the soil, and the kind of crops raised, 
preclude the possibility of making a 
common rule for every farmer. 
A little experience taught me that it 
pays to make manure of the very best 
quality. So I employ steam power, 
and cut and grind all feed for stock. 
We even cut ~the bedding used for 
horses, cattle and hogs. Eight to ten 
two-horse loads of this kind of manure 
per acre are found quite sufficient for 
most of our crops. When convenient, 
this fine manure is taken direct from 
the stable to the land, and is then easy to spread. At 
other times, it is taken from the stable to the barn 
yard and deposited under cover where the stock 
tramp on it. This retains considerable moisture, 
although under cover and is often hard to spread from 
its compact nature. 
We follow the soiling system in a limited way. In 
September, about three acres of land is seeded to rye 
which we begin to cut and feed in the early summer 
when it has attained a growth of about two feet. As 
soon as a half acre is taken off, the land is plowed and 
about five two-horse loads of this fine manure spread 
and harrowed in. Then two bushels of corn are 
sowed broadcast and harrowed three times over thor¬ 
oughly mixing manure and soil, and covering the corn. 
When the next half acre is taken off, this process is 
repeated until the whole three-acre lot is seeded to 
corn. The amount of green feed taktn from this lot 
during the summer and fall, of rye and corn is marvel¬ 
ous. This top dressing of fine manure well mixed with 
the surface soil, works like magic on corn. In a few 
days, it is so far advanced that the ground is covered, 
and no condition of weather, not even drought, pre- 
Foliage of the Agnes Emily Cabman Bose. Fig. 246, 
agus two to four inches with gas lime to kill it and 
quack grass; it did kill the quack, but not the aspar¬ 
agus, but made it grow finely. I sell all my grass in 
bulk, and do not tie up any. My cut from one acre 
gave me about 4,000 pounds last season.” 
HOW MUCH MANURE TO THE ACRE ? 
This question is an important one and should receive 
careful attention. If $3 is the real value of a ton of 
manure, then even five tons to the acre cannot be used 
without loss in raising ordinary farm c r ops. Five tons 
at $3 per ton, with 40 cents added for drawing and 
spreading would amount to $17. With that amount of 
manure, an average crop of oats would not be more 
than 40 bushels to the acre. At 40 cents per bushel 
they would sell for $16 and the farmer would have the 
straw to make up the loss of $1, and pay for the use of 
land and for labor. Again, a yearly top dressing of 
five tons will not insure an average of more than two 
tons of hay to the acre. This at $9 per ton would 
bring $18, and leave a balance of $1 per acre to pay 
for use of land and harvesting and marketing the hay. 
Odds and Ends About the Crop. 
“ Do you continue to cut out the seed stalks ? ” 
“Yes, about the middle of October I always have them 
all cut and taken out so that there shall be no young 
seedlings to start up in spring. I leave all the rest 
of the tops on the ground uncut until spring; they 
form a good mulch. I put the manure in among them, 
