7i2 
TIIR RURAT. NEW-YORKER. 
TWO FERTILIZER EXPERIMENTS; WHAT DO 
THEY TEACH? 
Peas That Needed Fertilizer. 
Last season, 1893, I planted an acre to peas, putting 
in one-third for extra early, one-third for medium, 
and one-third for late. I put 400 pounds of potato 
fertilizer in the drills, and 100 pounds of nitrate of 
soda on the one-third acre of early. 1 harvested from 
that acre, 100 bushels of peas, and after taking olf the 
early peas, I set the one-third acre to cauliflower and 
cabbage, and had a good crop in October. This season, 
I planted two acres of peas, but used no fertilizer, and 
harvested only 107 bushels. The last two acres were 
on both sides of the fli'st acre, and just as good land. 
On one-half of the fii'st acre this season I set tomatoes, 
using no manure or fertilizer, and have picked nearly 
300 bushels. c. K. c. 
Newark, N. Y. 
An Unsuccessful Fertilizer Experiment. 
The land, a loose, sandy loam soil, was deeply 
plowed, in April, and planted to R. N.-Y. No. 2 pota¬ 
toes, May 2. The rows were three feet apart and fur¬ 
rowed out with a shovel plow. The potatoes were 
dropped by liand, and covered with a one-horse culti¬ 
vator. No fertilizer was applied in the drill on ac¬ 
count of the heavy wind which prevailed at the time 
of planting. The next day, the fertilizer was applied 
on top of the potatoes, and well woi-ked into the soil 
with hoes and rakes. The ground was harrowed once 
a week until June 1.5, the date of the first cultivation, 
when another application of fertilizer was made on 
each side of the rows, making a total of half a ton 
per acre of Mapes potato manure. The potatoes were 
liarvested October .5. The five rows receiving the fer¬ 
tilizer yielded just the same as five rows which had no 
fertilizer, 1.5 bushels, or at the rate of 130 bushels per 
acre, which was the average of the whole area planted. 
Did the fertilizer have a fair chance ? Is it worthy of 
further trial ? I shall watch the wheat and grass. 
Kent, (). G. M. B. 
II. N.-Y.—Here are two opposite results. What les¬ 
son can be learned from them ? The first experiment 
goes to show that fertilizers surely pay on the soil 
where the peas ere gT*own. There is a direct contrast 
between the fertilized and unfertilized fields. Not 
only that, but the crop of tomatoes shows the lasting 
effect of the fertilizers since a good crop was produced 
the year after it was first applied. The use of the 
nitrate of soda on the peas was not the best policy. 
Reas do not need extra nitrogen, and this nitrate 
would probably have given better returns on the cab¬ 
bage and cauliflower. As to the potato experiment— 
we do not know what to say. The drought has inter¬ 
fered with many such experiments, and we do not be¬ 
lieve the fertilizer had “a fair chance.” AVe would 
try it again on a small scale. 
AN EXPERIMENT WITH MULCHING PO TA TOES. 
Having a lot of refuse straw one and two years old, 
1 concluded to try the experiment of mulching a part 
of a field of potatoes. In order to give each variety 
a fair chance, I divided the mulching among all the 
varieties—Ilux-al New-Yorker No. 2, World’s Fair, 
Early Ohio, Early Illinois and Late Rose. The straw 
was put on during the first three days in July, after 
the last cultivation. We had no rain that wet through 
the mulch until September. The land was a Timothy 
meadow, and had grown one crop of corn previous to 
this season. No manure had been put on it for at 
least five years. It was plowed in April, and well 
prepared with a disk harrow. The potatoes were 
planted 1.5 inches apart as nearly as possible, by hand, 
in rows three feet and eight inches apart—or the 
same as corn. 
The latter part of May we had a hard freeze which 
killed all of the leaves, and among the Ohios, Early 
Illinois and Late Rose, about one-fourth of the plants 
were killed outright. The Rurals and World’s Fair 
were the only varieties that remained a perfect stand 
to the end of the season. The vines of the Early 
Ohios died the last of July, both the mulched and un¬ 
mulched. There was no difference noticeable ; they 
yielded 21 bushels per acre, including everything 
large and small. The Illinois kept green a little 
longer, those not mulched dying first. Those not 
mulched yielded 33 X bushels per acre; those mulched, 
;57 bushels. The World’s Fair were all mulched ; the 
vines commenced dying the last of August, but were 
so nearly dead when the rains came that they did 
them no good. They yielded at the rate of 96 bushels 
per acre, with few small ones, but they were below 
average size; all were smooth and good shape. The 
Rurals were also all mulched ; they commenced to die 
soon after the World’s Fair, but were still somewhat 
green when the rains came, and remained in that con¬ 
dition until the last days of September, Avhen killed 
by frost. They yielded 140 bushels per acre of mar¬ 
ketable jjotatoes. Occasionally there Avas an ill¬ 
shaped tuber among them, but as a rule they were 
.smooth and of good shape. The Late Rose, not mulched, 
Avere partially dead Avhen the rains came, but soon 
took on a fresh greenness, and were perfectly green 
when cut by frost. They yielded 106 bushels per 
acre of very irregularly shaped tubers, many of them 
small and green. Those that Avere mulched, kept per¬ 
fectly green through the whole season (not a sign of 
blight) until killed by frost. They yielded 133 bushels 
per acre, of much better size, but fewer in the hill, 
than those not mulched. They were someAvhat ill¬ 
shaped, but not .so bad as tho.se not mulched. 
At the present prices of potatoes here, 85 cents, we 
made 3^23 per acre by mxilching the Late Rose. The 
labor of mulching cost us S6 per acre, leaving a net 
profit of $16 per acre. Had Ave had a good .shower 
after putting on the mulch, it would have, in all prob¬ 
ability, increased the yield greatly. The straw Avas 
put on about six inches deep, but is noAv not over two 
inches on an average. The que.stion noAv confront¬ 
ing us is as to how to get rid of the straw, as we do 
not want to burn it. dwigiit iierkick. 
Illinois. 
SOME POINTED POTATO POINTS. 
A season unusually hot and dry has afforded us 
ancrther chance to test the drought-resisting qualities 
of different varieties of potatoes, and brings out aneAv 
the value of the R. N.-Y. No. 2. 1 Avould have been a 
feAv hundred bushels better off had I returned more 
of the money sent me for seed of this variety, as the 
result of an advertisement in one issue of The R. N.- 
Y. I greAv but three varieties by the acre this season, 
and they yielded as follows : Freeman, 100 bushels 
per acre ; Empire State, 107 bushels; R. N.-Y. No. 2, 
102 }^ bushels. Hut these figures do not tell the whole 
story. Very few of the Rurals Avere under market¬ 
able size, Avhile one-third of the Freemans Avere un¬ 
marketable by reason of size. The Empires Avere not 
nearly so bad as the Freeman, nor so good as the 
Rural. You can judge pretty Avell what variety 1 
shall plant next year. 
The Green Mountain is quite a favorite in this sec¬ 
tion, and deservedly, but so far as I knoAV—and I 
knoAv of several—every trial between it and the Rural 
under the same conditions, has re.sulted in a victoiy 
for the latter, chiefly because of its drought-resisting 
qualities. 
A trial of a fcAv pounds of the Carman No. 1, leads 
me to think that it is a worthy successor to the No. 2, 
though further trial is necessary before I Avould Avant 
to pronounce it fully equal to it. Very fine cutting, 
Avith dry Aveather after planting, gave me a poor send- 
off, but potatoes of good size were numerous at dig¬ 
ging time ; small ones scarce. 
lloAA" much does the matter of .shape have to do, in 
determining the marketableness of otherAvise smooth, 
fair and shalloAv-eyed potatoes ? There is a sort of 
proverb in these parts that “ The market demands a 
long, Avhite potato.” Will TiiE R. N.-Y. and its i-eaders 
pass upon the axiomatic character of this dictum ? I 
doubt its truth. So far as my experience goes—not 
very far to be sure—the market is more concerned 
about size, smoothness and color than about shape. 
One thing I notice in favor of the round potato is that 
a second period of groAvth due to Avarm rains after a 
long drought, almost never throws it out of shape ; 
Avhile the long potato Avill groAV bay-windoAA^s and 
lean-tos Avithout limit. 
1 made a test of the value of fall plowing for pota¬ 
toes Avhich may interest R. N.-Y. readers. The field 
Avas a meadoAV AAdiich had been mowed three or four 
seasons, being a portion of a recent purchase Avhich 
had not been under regular rotation. The greater part 
of it AA'as ploAved last fall. About one-fourth of an 
acre on one side of the field Avas left and ploAA^ed this 
spring just before planting. It and a fourth of an 
acre adjoining, Avere fitted and treated as nearly alike 
as possible. Natural conditions and positions of drains 
Avere equally favorable. In fitting the ground last 
spring, I felt a difference in the condition of the soil 
in Avalking over it, and judged then that a potato 
Avould feel more at home in the fall ploAving than in 
the other. The strips Avere dug and picked up sepa¬ 
rately, and there proved to be a difference of 25 bushels 
per acre in favor of the fall ploAving. No difference 
AA^as noted in the condition of the potatoes as regards 
scab or worm eating. Whether the fall ploAving of a 
clover sod of one year’s standing, Avould be equally 
advantageous, I do not knoAV, but I doubt it some. 
Trumbull County, O. c. G. avilliams. 
The “ Weather Serahce.—D. A. N.’s reply in re¬ 
gard to the Weather Bureau is rather a stale bit of 
sarcasm. The value of the Aveather predictions is 
gauged, to a considerable extent, by the individual’s 
knowledge of meteorological matters. One should be 
able to read a Aveather map. The adoption of local 
predictions, will make them of more value, j. w. b. 
HOW MUCH FOR SPRAYIHG AN ACRE OR TREE? 
SPRAYIXG AS A NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESS. 
What price should I receive for spraying fruit trees at different 
times, once with Paris-green, and once with Bordeaux Mixture ? 
I would like to know as I intend to spray my neighbors’ fruit 
trees next spring. ii. c. mcd. 
Pattersonville, N. Y. 
An Estimate for Illinois. 
I think it easier to estimate the cost per day, since 
the cost per tree or acre would depend mainly upon 
the size of the trees, or the surface to be sprayed. 
Much will depend in any case upon the conveniences 
for filling the tank or barrels, and much depends upon 
the nozzle. One may use a heavy spray, save time 
and Avaste material ; or the mist form, and waste time 
but .save material. With large trees, inexpensive 
London-purple and convenient water, the machine 
plan seems preferable ; but for small trees and vines 
and where the Bordeaux Mixture is used, the other 
method is better. I estimate that one man Avith an 
assistant should mix and use 50 pounds of blue vitriol, 
worth, say, $3; 50 pounds of lime, Avorth, say, 25 cents, 
making eight barrels of Bordeaux Mixture. The as¬ 
sistant will cost $1.25 ; the man, team and machine, 
$4.50, making a total cost per day of $8. I AvoAild also 
use London-purple, costing 25 cents. For the Paris- 
green spray, count out $1, calling it $7, and the mark 
Avill not be widely mi.ssed. I favor using lime Avith 
the arsenical compounds to prevent leaf burning. 
Sangamon County, 111. ben.i. buckman. 
Cost of Applying Bordeaux Mixture. 
The necessity for applying some fungicide to fruit 
trees and grape vines has been so thoroughly demon- 
.strated the past feAV years, that a consideration of 
the nece.ssary cost of each application is in order. 
That the operation may be more economically and 
efficiently performed by an expert, or one Avho makes 
it his business, than by the ordinary farmer and fruit 
groAver, seems reasonable to every one. It Avill be 
necessary to consider the cost of the materials used, 
the time employed in preparing the mixture, the help 
nece.ssary, the average amount that can be accoin- 
pli.shed in a day, and, finally, the total cost of a day’s 
Avork Avith the necessary help to Avork the sprayer. 
All comparative experiments have demonstrated the 
superiority of the Bordeaux Mixture as a fungicide, as 
Avell as a vehicle for applying Paris-green or London- 
purple as an insecticide. The kind of sprayer to be 
used, also demands consideration. While the knap¬ 
sack sprayer has advantages in applying to vines or 
small fruits in locations difficult to be reached Avith a 
barrel on Avheels, yet Ave Avould hardly expect that a 
person competent to prepare and apply the mixture, 
Avould make a business of spraying Avith one of these 
machines. The Automatic or self-working sprayer, 
necessarily AA’astes mxich material in passing over 
irregular or stony ground, and does its Avork less thor¬ 
oughly, so that its use Avill not be considered in this 
article. 
Assuming then that a sprayer on a barrel or cask on 
wheels Avill be used, I make the folloAving estimate of 
cost. This is based on an experience Avith the Field 
Force Pump Co.’s Duplex and Empire sprayers for six 
years. Cost of preparing the mixture, common kero¬ 
sene barrels holding from 45 to 50 gallons to be used : 
For each barrel, eight pounds of bluestone (sulphate 
of copper) and six pounds of lime, costing 50 cents ; 
dissolving bluestone, slaking lime, adding Avater, per 
barrel 50 cents. Making the cost of 50 gallons of the 
mixture $1. For the first spraying of a vineyard, this 
Avill treat about 600 vines ; for the second spraying 
about 500 vines, and for the third 400 vines. To work 
the sprayer, tAvo horses, a good boy, and two men will 
be needed, and they Avill apply to a vineyard or 
orchard five barrels of the mixture a day. The cost 
of this force will vary in different localities. Here the 
OAA’ner or foreman Avould have $3, the man $1.50, and 
the boy to drive and pump, $1 ; the team Avill cost $2, 
making the Avages $7 per day. To this should be 
added Avear of sprayer, 50 cents per day. 
By the above calculation, 3,000 grape vines could be 
sprayed in a day Avith five barrels of the mixture at 
the folloAving cost: 
Five barrels Bordeaux Mixture.$5.00 
Three men and team. 7.00 
Wear of sprayer. 50 
Cost of spraying 3,000 vines.$12.50 
Fifty large apple trees would require about one barrel 
of the mixture and the same time for its application. 
I have said nothing of the cost of Paris-green. 
Three or four ounces to a barrel is sufficient; the 
owner of the orchard could furnish it, and there would 
be no additional cost for its application. My owm ex¬ 
perience has made me doubtful of its value. It is so 
