822 
THh RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
the entire absence of horns, and the docile and peace¬ 
ful disposition that seemed to characterize every ani¬ 
mal. “ A few of these steers were dishorned when we 
selected them from the buffalo stockyards, and after 
having- some experience in the past in feeding- animals 
thus treated, which resulted so favorably in nearly 
every respect, we were quite willing to attempt the 
work of dishorning the remainder ourselves. We 
have no use for horns, and for the best welfare of all 
concerned, we believe it a most humane act to remove 
them.” 
The manger referred to above, deserves more than 
a pas.sing notice. The earth floor of the stable made 
it difficult to construct a substantial and durable 
foundation sufficient to secure the long manger to, 
without the aid of upright supports that would 
naturally obstruct a free pas.sage on all sides of it. 
To overcome these objectionable features, oblong 
stone supports were firmly set in the ground at con¬ 
venient distances, projecting the required height for 
the manger to rest upon. Holes were then drilled in 
the tops of these supports, in which dowells, having a 
thread cut at the upper end, were firmly set with 
melted lead. To these, the bed-pieces 
of the manger were fitted and securely 
bolted down. A strong and permanent 
manger has thus been constructed that 
has proved entirely satisfactory. The 
fattening animals are secured with chain 
halters, with nose pieces of leather. 
This method has thus far proved re¬ 
liable, and it is attended with perfect 
.safety; it seems more desirable than the 
closer confinement in stanchions. 
I. I). COOK. 
(To he continued.) 
THE R. N.-Y.’S PROGRESS WITH 
TOMATO HYBRIDS. 
Last year we explained that in 1892 
several plants of the little Currant to¬ 
mato were grown with a view to cross¬ 
ing this species with the common tomato 
or, more correctly, with our own varie¬ 
ties produced by crossing through many 
years the best well-known .sorts. The 
Currant tomato—botanically Lycopersi- 
cum pimpinellifolium—bears its berries 
in tw'o-sided racemes of about a dozen, 
the berries averaging in size scarcely 
larger than a Fay’s currant. The hybrid¬ 
ized seeds were sown in 1893. The habit 
and foliage of the plants were about 
intermediate between those of common 
tomatoes and the Currant tomato. The 
fruit, as seen by Fig. 221, while borne in 
racemes like the Currant, and perfectly 
round, was many times larger, and, like 
it, all were two-celled and of a deep, 
orange-red color. They began to ripen 
earlier than any other kinds, and con¬ 
tinued to ripen in great quantities until 
frost. These were again crossed with 
the best of our crossbreeds, including 
Peach crosses, from which the Terra 
Cotta sprang, and the seeds were planted 
last spring. The results are exceedingly 
interesting. Fig. 222 shows the average 
size, some of the vines bearing the fruit 
in racemes like the Currant grandmother. 
It will be seen that there are five cells 
instead of two. Fig. 223 shows the 
most marked changes in shape, size, flesh 
and cells. They were long-keepers, and 
in quality, much the same as the popular kinds of the 
seedsman. 
During the past season, these were again crossed 
with the best of our crossbreeds, the results of which 
we hope to make known to our readers next year. 
AMONG THE CRIMSON CLOVERERS. 
BOOSTKI) OUT OF THE RUT BY THIS PLANT. 
Drawing Nitrogen from the Delaware Air. 
Near Dover, Del., are the fruit plant farms of Slay- 
maker & Son. With land naturally adapted to the 
business, and made exceedingly rich by judicious ma¬ 
nuring and high culture, these gentlemen produce 
every year an amount of plants and fruit almost 
incredible. Noticing a wonderfully heavy growth of 
Crimson clover several inches high, I inquired of Mr. 
A. W. Slaymaker, “ What use have you for Crimson 
clover on a plant farm ?” 
We use it in rotation,” he replied. “Immediately 
after the fruit crop of strawberries from a field has 
been harvested for the season, we plow it under and 
plant corn. At the last working of the corn in July, 
we sow Crimson clover liberally all through it, which 
attains quite a heavy growth on our land the same 
fall, as you see it now. Next March we list the ;6eld 
by throwing two furrows against each other with the 
plow, exactly where each row of strawberries is to 
stand. The plants are then .set at once on these 
ridges with the Bemis transplanter, and we invariably 
have better results from this method than from equally 
good land clo.se by that has been heavily manured 
instead of having the clover upon it.” 
Setting Plants by Machinery. —“Speaking of the 
Bemis transplanter, do you consider setting plants by 
machinery a success ? ” 
“ Most decidedly so. We use the machine for setting 
all kinds of plants, even cabbage and celery. Not only 
is the work done more quickly and at much le.ss ex¬ 
pense, but much better than when done by the average 
hand.” 
“ At what distance apart do you set strawberry 
plants, and what is the cost per acre ? ” 
“Weset them in rows three feet apart, and 18 inches 
between plants in the row. With plants properly pre¬ 
pared, three men with a steady team and the trans¬ 
planter will set four acres per day. Allowing $1 per day 
for each man, and for the team and machine, the 
cost of setting one acre is 81.2.5.” 
“ Do you use the transplanter in setting sweet po¬ 
tato plants ? ” 
“ Yes, and it does most .satisfactory w^ork on them, 
too.” 
A New’ Raspberry. —“Have you anything new’, that 
is, notyetinti’oduced, that is likely to prove an acquisi¬ 
tion ? ” 
“Yes, we have that, most decidedly, in the Miller 
red raspberry, which w’ill be introduced by the trade 
next spring.” 
“In what respect is it better than the Cuthbert, 
which seems to be the standard red raspberi’y here ? ” 
“ Principally in its earliness, hardiness and shipping 
qualities. It began ripening here June 11, was fully 
as prolific as Cuthbert, and is the firme.st and best 
shipping berry we ever saw. It has been grown here 
for market for several years, and has never yet shown 
any signs of winter killing, when the Cuthbert and 
Thompson’s Early, growing near by, suffered consid¬ 
erably.” 
“ How is it for size, color and quality ? ” 
“ The berry is as large as the Cuthbert, and holds 
its size well until the end of the season. The color is 
bright red. which does not fade. It will hold its color 
after shipping longer than any other variety, In, 
quality, it is of the very best, having a rich, fruity 
fiavor entirely its own.” 
Crimson Clover for Pasture. —Mr. T. C. Roe, 
whose fine farm lies about a mile east, and across the 
river from Dover, is a retired business man. He is 
now a very enthusiastic and successful farmer, having 
as fine a country home as could be desired. His 
residence was photographed for exhibition at the 
Chicago Columbian Fair as a model farm dwelling of 
Delaware. Mr. Roe called my attention to a field of 
3.5 acres on which was a heavy stand of Medium and 
Crimson clover mixed. This field was in corn in 1893. 
At the last cultivation of the eorn in July, he sowed 
clover seed over the whole field, using one bushel of 
Crimson, and five bushels of Medium clover seed well 
mixed. This took well, and gave an excellent stand. 
The field has been used as a pasture this season, and 
has supported at times as high as TOO head of horses, 
cattle and sheep. The Crimson clover gave very early 
pasture, before the other was high enough to graze. 
Enough of it went to seed to secure a heavy stand of 
it again this fall, so that the field is in excellent shape 
for another season’s pasturage—being thickly set 
with both varieties. 
Crimson Clover and Brains. —A short 
distance from Mr. Roe, and adjoining 
the village of Dover, lies the farm home 
of Frank Moncur. Preferring a home 
in the country, and having a natural 
taste for rural pursuits, he purchased 
his present farm home of 63 acres three 
years ago. It was literally an abandoned 
farm, and as forlorn a place as could 
be imagined, being covered with sassa¬ 
fras and other wild bushes and trees. 
The soil had been impoverished by con¬ 
tinual cropping until it could hardly 
sprout cow peas, and a dilapidated house 
and a tumbledown shed constituted the 
buildings. In three years’ time, under 
the careful and intelligent superintend¬ 
ence of the owner, the sassafras bushes, 
briers, et<}., have been grubbed and 
cleared from the entire farm. New 
barns have been built and the dwelling 
thoroughly repaired. Neat fences divide 
the farm into convenient fields, and the 
soil, by the liberal use of stable manure 
from the village, and two heavy crops of 
Crimson clover plowed under, has been 
made quite productive. Mr. Moncur 
showed me one field of 12 acres that has 
produced this season nearly 1,200 bushels 
of ears of merchantable coTn. This 
field now has upon it a fine stand of 
winter oats of good color and healthy 
appearance. Mr. Moncur has taken The 
R. N.-Y. for a number of years, and cred¬ 
its it with many valuable ideas which 
he has put into successful practice. 
E. GEORGE. 
Crimson Clover in New Jersey. 
Good morning ! neighbor H. I see 
your clover is looking well ; what kind 
is it ? ” 
“ That is Crimson clover.” 
“You must have sowed it on good 
ground.” 
“ Well, yes ; it had been a pasture for- 
six years, and was quite well covered 
with manure which I had spread. I 
then drew on horse manure at the rate 
of 20 loads to the acre, spread it 
evenly, and all was plowed under. 
After plowing, I put on as much more, and thoroughly 
harrowed, after w’hich the seed was sowed as evenly 
as possible.” 
“ But I thought Crimson clover was used to bring 
up worn-out land ? ” 
“ Yes, so it is ; but I wanted to see what it would do 
on good soil.” 
“ Do you intend to cut the crop ? ” 
“ No ; I shall plow it under in April or May, and 
plant the field to potatoes.” 
“ You, of course, will expect a large crop ? ” 
“ Well, under such treatment, I see no reason why 
I should not have, do you ? ” 
“ No ; certainly not, and I shall watch the crop with 
much interest. By the way, how did those potatoes 
you planted under straw this year, turn out ? ” 
“ Oh ! they were a complete failure. I didn’t get my 
seed back, but I shall try it again another year, plant 
earlier, not cover so deep, and I shall look for better 
results.” 
“Did you use whole potatoes for seed, or cut them?” 
“1 used whole potatoes, and covered them at least 
15 inches deep after the straw was trodden down, but I 
shall not cover over eight inches deep next time.” 
“ Good morning.” ABEL. 
Morris County, N. J. 
